Grommy
All we had to do was to drive to Eastern Washington to pick up a stray Airedale to bring him to Seattle. We had an option to keep him or pass him on to the NWAR for adoption. Right, like that was ever going to happen. He was ours from the moment his foster family brought him out of the truck. I squatted down to be on his level and we bumped foreheads. Who sticks their face in a strange dog’s face? Not a typical thing for me, but it just happened and became “our thing” that we repeated again and again to express our affection for each other. His foster name Louis didn’t fit, so he became Gromit (Grommy) - after the center character of Wallace and Gromit cartoon. He had a huge bold spot on his hip, a scab, a result of who knows what. We wish we knew because that could have explained and helped with treatments of his many illnesses, but he wasn’t talking. Well, he was talking plenty when he found the need. He never directly engaged in other dog’s horseplay, but he loved to stand in the middle of a commotion and bark: “that’s disorderly!.” On walks, he’d stand in a donkey stance and with his head defiantly down look up at us: “that’s OK, I’ll WAIT until you figure out that this is NOT the direction we are going to go”. He had plenty to say when we came home after venturing out without him, which wasn’t all that often as we took him with us everywhere, even to friend’s parties when our internal sense of courtesy told us otherwise. He was our family and we only cared to go where he was welcome. Dealerships had to let him test drive the cars that were purchased with him in mind and when we moved to California, the house we chose had to fit his needs. He smiled when we came to the off-leash dog beach park for the first time, but never warmed up to ocean waves: too unpredictable and those who want to jump in are just silly. He liked to observe. On his last day he asked to go on a drive. Not a walk, he wouldn’t step out the door that was opened for him. Instead he turned around, went into the garage and stood patiently by the back of the car where seats where permanently folded just for him. “I’ll WAIT until you figure out that we are going on a DRIVE, not a walk”. So, we did. We drove up and down the coast for three hours. The day was gorgeous and the waves as picturesque as ever, speckled with wake boarders and surfers. We had our windows down and felt happy. Then we relaxed at the house, it was a Saturday after all, a perfect day topped with dinner that was gobbled up with a huge appetite. Two hours later he was gone. Nothing too unexpected as he’s been having frequent choking episodes for the last month, but still shocking. Yes, rainbow, yes the feeling of peace, but also shock and futile attempts to make sense to find peace in our mind as we had in our hearts. Today we went on a walk to all his favorite places and could walk much faster that he could lately, but kept feeling that he’s raced ahead to his beloved park and knows that we’ll catch up and join him in his chase after silly rabbits.

Annie
Annie was the perfect dog. Boy, oh boy, did she loved her daddy, Ken. She also loved her sister, Jena and baby niece, Eden. She was one of the only airedales that would snuggle with a wild toddler; it was hard to say "bye, bye, dog, dog." She loved to sneak into her daddy's bed, hated having her picture taken, and was terrified of thunder. She loved baby Eden, protected her, and loved to lick any leftovers off her face. She was the best car rider, and loved to sit up in the back seat on road trips. Annie was met at the Rainbow Bridge by her big brother, Jackson, and they will run and play Annie was the perfect dog. Boy, oh boy, did she loved her daddy, Ken. She also loved her sister, Jena and baby niece, Eden. She was one of the only airedales that would snuggle with a wild toddler; it was hard to say "bye, bye, dog, dog." She loved to sneak into her daddy's bed, hated having her picture taken, and was terrified of thunder. She loved baby Eden, protected her, and loved to lick any leftovers off her face. She was the best car rider, and loved to sit up in the back seat on road trips. Annie was met at the Rainbow Bridge by her big brother, Jackson, and they will run and play together again. They will wait together on their daddy and for their joyful reunion. Until then, Annie will be watching over her family, not from her bed in the living room, but from a higher place. We love you Annie Fannie.

Chelsea
October 12,2013 Apologies about Chelsea... Damn, .. Oh Damn. DAMN! There are discrepancies in a thinking being's life. One of them is mortality. To understand such is to come to the reality of non-continuance. And so on.... Our Chelsea.. the tears fall and my key pad us wet. It will be wet forever more. She died in her 14th year, of a foxtail that had imbedded it self, working into her lung from the outside. It took her a year to die from it. I am so ashamed. The love of my life I let down, and she never doubted me... She would ask... Put her head in my lap... " But Dad. it hurts, awful" I would look but could find nothing. An entire year this unconscionableness went on!!!

Cisco
Cisco Kid - Dec. 2nd, 2004 - Oct. 24th, 2013 Cisco was loved, cherished, and adored from the first time his little black nose made it's entrance into the world to the last time he lay down with me at his side and took his last breath. He was a typical Airedale, in, on, and around everything, anytime, anywhere. He had a longer laundry list of "disposed of" items by the time he was two than most dogs do during a life time. Cisco loved life with a zest. He had the most charming grin that greeted me in the morning combined with his "it's a new day!" attitude that made every day we shared together very special. My heart bleeds, but his legacy will live on, if it were not for Cisco I would have never known the truly wonderful people in the Airedale world. You all are just a tremendous group of folks, the honor is mine. Godspeed my love, until we meet again.

Bailey
We knew her time was coming close, but Greg and I have such a hard time deciding when is the right time for our dogs. We want to hold on to them for as long as possible. Bailey was a fighter to the end. She went on a short walk last night and had a good breakfast this morning. Even went out to do her business :) But at around 8:30 she suffered a severe seizure. So I ran her down to the vet. She was not moving at all and didn't really know where she was. The vet said she thought she might have something neurological going on, like a tumor or something...along with her other many problems. She wasn't responsive. So at that point I decided it was time to let her rest in peace. Bailey was a great dog, and I think she was pretty happy the last year and a half of her life. Greg and she were great friends. We are going to miss her.