Annie McCrea
Annie Airedale February 9, 1999 - March 1, 2010 Goodbye dear Annie, Curly Rugface, Sweet ShopDog, and Queen of Sleep. You blessed our lives with your terrier silliness as you shook your toys and made them fly across the room. You made everyone smile as you zoomed along with your teddy bear head hung out the car window. Food and hidden snacks were your speciality; the chocolates hand carried from Italy were the best. You loved your pack of Zipper and Kyivksy but never could be confinced to swim leaving that to labs and mutts. You said no to fetch but had the patience of Job stalking mice and moles, squirrels and chipmunks. Now we release you to be on a heavenly walkabout; seeking out more special treasures. We love you girl and miss you. We miss your smudgies and your happy-food-dance. Your memory lives in our hearts.

Edgar
Edgar, May 12, 1999-June 12, 2010 Edgar came to us when he was 2 years old because his family were getting a divorce and they couldn't keep him. Their loss was our wonderful gain. Edgar has been our best boy and we have loved him so much. Edgar was gentle with a nudgy nose when he wanted attention or a treat and a constant tail wag at the sound of our voices. He was a born comic. He could mime a bark when he was told to bark quietly for a treat. Edgar was a big fan of Animal Planet and he would settle himself down in front of the TV after his morning meal and bark until it was turned on. He liked us to watch it with him and would back in between our knees for a full body massage and scratch. He loved everyone that came to visit and he was showered with love in return. He made so many friends on his daily walks in the park. He traveled with us everywhere and loved the motorhome trips and car rides. When he was younger the only way he showed annoyance, if we popped out without him, was to shuffle the sofa cushions on to the floor. His favorite game was “go find it” and he knew every place the cookies were hidden all around the house and would sit quivering with excitement until we said the words and he would go off like a rocket on his hunt. As he got older Edgar developed fat cells and a 2 pound lipoma on his hip which had to be removed but he made a great recovery. Then at 10 years, 9 months Edgar was found to have a large mass on his spleen which turned out to be a 7 pound tumor. The surgery to remove it was touch and go but we couldn't bear to lose him and at first it seemed to be a resounding success and the biopsy showed the tumor was benign, as far as they could tell, and a month later he was full of life and enjoying his walks again. It was not to last as he started to go downhill as he turned 11 years old and this time there was no saving him. We are broken hearted and there is a huge void in our lives. We have thought we could not cry more tears and still they come. His Mom misses the soft curly head tucked under her arm and the kisses on demand and his Dad misses walking his best buddy every day, rain or shine. Everywhere we look we see him and we will never forget the pure joy he gave us for just over 9 years. We picture him trotting over the rainbow bridge. Edgar – forever in our hearts.

Teddy
Teddy May 18, 2003 – March 25, 2010 Teddy came into our lives via NW Airedale Rescue after an apparently very difficult first 20 months of his life. We were advised he had ‘special needs’ and had probably been both neglected and abused. He had a great fear of the garage, unknown people, particularly guys, and we knew for sure something had happened previously when the first time we took skis off the car he just freaked out. We are sure he saw them as big sticks, not skis. He quickly bonded with our older female Airedale, Brittany, and they thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company. Teddy was the sweetest boy we have ever known—no aggression at all, and very welcoming to any other dogs who wanted to come visit. However when new people entered our home, it took him a number of their visits before he became comfortable with them. He was very animated and a typical behavior was while on his daily walk he would all of a sudden turn and run back to us and just jump up and down, smile, and nuzzle us with his nose as if to say all is right with the world. He loved us and we dearly loved him. Two days before he died he had to have his spleen removed and he died from complications. He was such a strong boy and seemed to be in such good health - we still can’t believe he is gone. We truly loved this boy and will never forget him. Al and Joyce Hornish

Brindle
Brindle was such a sweet, sweet girl. She was such a small Airedale with a distinct marking on her back; a white round spot. Brindle simply wanted to be loved. We certainly loved her and gave her so much attention and visa versa. We were heartbroken when she was diagnosed with an incurable heart condition. Everything the doctors tried did not work and she crossed over shortly thereafter. We only had her for two years but what wonderful two years those were. We still miss our girl and think of her often.

Mollie 4/19/1999-1/4/2010
This week, we lost a member of our family. She was our Airedale Terrier, 3 1/2 months shy of 11 years old-or almost 77 in dog years. For our two girls, 17 and 19, this was the most immediate experience of dying they have known. Mollie's final days served as a family catharsis in all the sadness and tears. My wife and I discovered our kids have strengths we never fully appreciated. Mollie was a great experience in all our lives and our girl's first dog at ages 7 and 9. They have grown up together. Mollie was too sweet to ever moonlight as a guard dog. Yet the girls always saw her as a protector. A comforting sentry at any hour of the day or night. Mollie shared all family occasions, reveling in Christmas presents and birthdays---such happy times. Mollie would have been a great mother to many puppies. Most of all, Mollie was a constant companion and friend. Many days my wife and I would come home from work tired, frustrated or angry. Mollie was always there with her tail wagging and unconditional love. In her final days, Mollie taught us a lot about how to die with grace and how to deal with it. In the days before she died, our girl's cousin, Lori, the world's most compassionate veterinarian, offered timely and realistic advice. Her lungs and heart were failing and she went downhill quickly. The only humane course was to put her to sleep. It could have been maudin, but it wasn't. As sick as our Airedale was, she never lost her congenial sweetness or her genial smile. She never complained. We all told her how much we loved her. After kissing her and whispering our love in her ear, she slipped away softly, leaving her warmth and endearing fragrance with us one last time. Bye-Bye Mollie. We'll see you in Heaven.,