AIREDALES ON PARADE

Dolly & O'Clancy shown with the kind permission of Mary & Milt Gade
Thanks to Karen Clouston for the Airedale Graphics

Cartoon Anim
O'CLANCY
GADE

On 22 November 1998, Oliver was delivered to Mary Gade, to join Dolly and again make the Gade House a Two-'Dale Home . . . the story of The-Dog-Formerly-Known-As-Oliver-Babcock, begins here.

Mary writes: "O'Clanc is 85 pounds now and the muscles in his hind quarters are finally starting to build up. They were terribly atrophied from his long confinement."

"O'Clancy has come along way in a short time, but still has a long way to go. He is so terribly insecure and frightened to death if left alone. We are working on the separation anxiety . . . . He is also very fear aggressive. He is totally house-trained; [he] scratches the door to go out. [He] lets me bathe and groom him (we use a muzzle at the vet).
"He is more terrified in the evening when it gets dark. If he could only talke! The poor babe. I adore him and he adores me but is on the defensive many times due to his horrible treatment in the past. He has more baggage than any dog I have ever seen, but we are gaining . . ."

Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked in my warm new bed.
I'd like to open my baggage
Lest I forget,
There is so much to carry -
So much to regret.
Hmm . . . Yes there it is, right on the top
Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss,
And there by my leash hides Fear and Shame.
As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave -
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.
I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage?
Will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things -
And take me right back?
Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage,
To never repack?
I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage -
Will you still want me?

-- Evelyn Colbath

This is the notecard Mary sent the photos in . . . isn't it cute?? It is a photo of a hooked rug designed by Polly Minick; she and her two Airedales, Dixie & Pepper, are featured in the July issue of Better Homes & Gardents , pages 160-161. The card is sold by and benefits ATRA (AIREDALE TERRIER RESCUE & ADOPTION)

On 26 March 1999, Mary writes: "O'Clancy the heavyweight! He now weighs 90 pounds, up from 60. AND he's wearing the collar Mrs. Bones so generously donated."

(Here is that first picture of Oliver/O'Clancy, to compare him at 60 pounds with today's weight of 93 pounds.)

"Hugs from Mom (notice how big his head is compared to Dolly's . . .

". . . Sweet talkin' in the back 40. (he's a big, stocky boy with short legs)."

On 15 December 1999, Mary writes: "It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that I sent Clancy back to his maker Friday, November 26th. We only had him 13 months and it was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made. I don't think I will ever be quite the same. Poor Clancy was too badly damaged before he came to us and such a tragic life he must have had.
"It was too difficult to share this, until now, although some of you knew. I want to thank you for your kind words and understanding. I pray that at last, he is at peace."