Last Updated:
3/8/2023 6:50 PM


 
Rainbow Bridge

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SPOT
Unknown - March 11, 2013. Spot came to us at the age of 14+ after her owner had passed away. Living her life as an outside dog in less than ideal conditions, she quickly acclimated to family life - sleeping inside on a dog bed, a warm bath, special meals, and above all, being doted and loved on. Spot craved hugs and would snuggle her nose into the crook of my neck for as long as I could sit with her. Although she didn’t have much time left, she gave me what I always will regard as one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Thank you, sweet soul, for the invaluable lessons you taught me about senior dogs and above all, unconditional love…


Bella
BELLA May 1996 – March 6, 2013 Our sweet Bella was brought to us at our home in Hoquiam WA by our daughter, who had picked her up from Connie in Portland. For the first couple days, she patiently sat by the door waiting to be claimed by her real owners, but was a polite visitor. Days later, we went back to our home in Seattle, and when we checked progress on our office remodel, she charged off the unfenced 2nd floor deck the moment we opened the door, was only slightly fazed for a couple seconds, then proceeded as if to say “no big deal”. This was just the beginning of our adventures with her. She settled in well, and we’d like to share some of her antics through the years: • We have a cabin at Priest Lake, ID. As the pack leader, she was always closely followed by our Small Munsterlander. One day, a call came from the Forest Service Camp Attendant about ½ mile from our place. Bella had been raiding campers’ food supplies, going as far as opening their ice chest to find the tastiest morsels. • She was a digger, bar none. (We wound up lining our Seattle yard with concrete pavers, and the Aberdeen yard with buried cyclone fence). On one of her many escapes, she & the Munster were gone over 12 hours, only to be spotted miles away – humorous now, very worrisome at the time. They especially loved to dig their way out in Grays Harbor, only to be located many hours later, muddy black up to their tummies, and oh so very happy. Another incident proved much riskier – in a Seattle escape on a Sunday, they had found rotting chicken breasts still enclosed in plastic on their Styrofoam store trays, and we are certain, to prevent the Munster from getting even a bit, she quickly gulped it all down. Later, she bloated, and after a rush trip to the emergency vet, 10 pounds (not a typo) of rotten chicken, Styrofoam, plastic, and meat tray sponges were surgically extracted from her tummy. • In another incident, because we knew her to be a garbage thief, we placed child-proof locks on our under-kitchen-sink cabinet. She realized she could not manipulate the lock, so she removed the entire cabinet door by its hinges. To her last day, she remained curious, and overcame all her ills. Just a couple days ago, she socialized at our local off leash, but wore out after about five minutes. She survived many an antic of her own doing, and even a horrible episode of Immune Hemolytic Anemia. Finally, old age and melanoma were her foes, and we knew it was time to let her go, rather than let her deteriorate further. We will miss her very large personality, her “urging” bark (other owners will know exactly what we mean – you do not ignore an Airedale), her tenaciousness, her incredible strength, her curiosity, her playfulness, her smile. She was one very smart girl – e.g., she hated water, but sat patiently for baths; she would gum pill pockets and eat everything but her arthritis pill, a never ending twice daily challenge; despite mobility issues, she would still graze our other two dogs bowls immediately after finishing her own, and when we recently got a stainless refrigerator, her nose trails indicated there wasn’t a time she passed the fridge w/o checking for food! There will never be another dog like her, but with time, and with the help of NWAR, we hope to find another Airedale to call our own (actually, she was not ours, we were hers to rule, but sometimes she let us think we were the bosses). Bye bye


Sammy
On September 1, 2011 Sammy the German Shorthaired mixed mutt finally met his best buddy Juno. Once we got Juno from the NW Airedale Rescue, they were inseparable. When they were in the yard, if one of them found something interesting, the other one had to come and see. They would work together to dig, chase, or walk the perimeter of the yard just to make sure all was well. When they would run out in the open field they would often run at each other and then barely miss. They thought that was so fun. They never did hit which is a good thing for little Sammy. He was pretty nimble. Sammy was the alpha dog, however. Being in the home first and a male, he assumed the role. Juno went along with that just fine. Even though she was nearly three times larger, she always let him take charge. Even when taking long walks, Sammy had to be just a little in front. We received some pretty funny looks at such an odd couple. Sammy never had so much fun in all his 13 years. He played like he was 13 months. He was in amazing condition and could keep up with Juno on a hike up Little Mt. Si. That big girl kept the little guy young. Unfortunately Cancer took over and Sammy suddenly became ill. Sammy would stop to sniff and Juno would dig a hole so he could smell the earth. She made sure he was safe. He was only sick for about two weeks before he passed. Sammy still walked the fence line with Juno until the very end. Juno is a happy-go-lucky Airedale and seemed to not have a care in the world. I didn’t think she would really notice Sammy was gone. But when I went to let her out, she just stood at the open door. She didn’t fly out through the sunroom and across the threshold of the sliding door. She just stood in the house and looked out. She was waiting for the daily ritual of the race to see who could make it through the slider first. It has only been a few days but Juno hasn’t walked the perimeter of the yard yet. I hope she ventures out soon so she can relive some happy memories. Dogs bring so much joy to our lives and we do our best to make a happy life for them. I know Juno brought great happiness to our Sammy.


Bertram
2009 - January 24, 2013. We are so sorry to have to tell you that Bertam passed over at 4:25 this afternoon. Indeed, today has proven to be a terribly sad and rainy day........... Gabriel and I just came in from the side garden area of our home where we painfully laid our dear loving friend to rest---the special place he always sneaked off to whenever we left the gate open that announces the lush garden area. Bertram loved hiding among the many large leafted ferms located under the red plum tree. Of course, he always left us gifts there. Why, oh why, is it always so very diffiuclt to say good-bye to a dearly loved wonderful soul? Bertram, sweetheart, you deliberately stole our hearts and you will forever live within our hearts as has Sir Milo, Waldo, Sir Beekman, and Jenny have done. We lovingly welcomed you and have appreciated your giving all your love to us. We have returned the same in exchange. We are presently "tilting" our heads to you as you faithfully tilted yours (exactly 5 degrees for your "charm" routine) to us. God love you, you wonderful, wonderful creature. This afternoon he came home from his ride and walk (the 2nd one of the day!) Then he stopped on the porch as usual to insist on drinking out of the watering can. (It was always clean water like any other clean water, but to him it was special because it was somehow different from what was in the house.) When he had it in his mind to do that he could not be stopped!) He finally came in the house sat down on the rug in front our chairs and started to hiccup. We thought it was because he drank too fast. All of a sudden he droped his head over and I could feel him going. When he was gone his right ear was standing up like a "skunk cabbage" the way he used to keep it cocked when he wanted to be asleep but still tuned in for any developments in our house that he would insist on being a part of. I guess he planned on keeping" tuned in." We were worried about him last night because he suddenly had gone back to not eating and were trying to formulate a plan. We know what they say about "The best laid plans..." but we feel better that we tried. We loved him so much that we would have even been grateful for the ghost the ghost of his personality that had was occupying his body. We were missing a big part of him already. Somehow, I don't think he was able to live with that compromise. I think he just knew he couldn't stay with us any longer and was looking off into eternity these last few days with us. These last few days we had with him, and the few flashes of his former personality we had because of your help; count as an eternity to us. We can't begin tell you about how much we have appreciated all your help during his troubles. You couldn't have been more wonderful to Bertam and us. First when you brought him together with us, and secondly, when you came up with all those ideas to help when even the least little one made a big difference! We will call you soon.


Tasha
1999-December 31, 2012. Tasha brought joy to us and to so many people around her. She had the loveliest disposition, and was so friendly and outgoing to everyone she encountered. We miss her very much, but have such great memories to remind us of her.

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