QUINCEY MOORE

On ValentineÕs Day 2005, Mare Moore writes: It'll be ten years next month that my husband and I have been joyfully owned by our "Quincey", or "Sandaires Quincey" as is recorded on his registration papers. He is a registered purebred male Airedale Terrier and a fine specimen of that noble breed in every way possible (proud Mom here!). Quincey came to us quite by accident (some of the best things in life happen when you least expect them, don't you think?!) as we weren't really looking for another dog at the time. We were still mourning the loss a year & a half prior of our little Wire Fox Terrier, Jake, at the tender age of just six years from cancer. Our beloved 13-year-old cat, Spaz, had also passed away within a few months of Jake, so it'd been a double blow for us from which we were having great difficulty recovering. A new kitten, Poker, had recently come into our home and his comical antics had been providing some relief from our grief and edging us ever closer to the thought of sharing our lives with another dog, as we'd always had a dog & a cat together in our household. One day, my husband called me from work to say that there was an ad in our local newspaper for a nine-month-old purebred registered male intact Airedale Terrier puppy and did I think we could go see him after my husband got off work that day. We had decided that we'd like to stay with terriers as we really enjoyed many of their characteristics, however, the breeder in our area from whom we had gotten our little Wire Fox had since retired back to his homeland of Sweden and we were in no position to afford importing a dog from overseas, no matter how much we may have wanted to! So, we had discussed the possibility of acquiring a "King of Terriers" as there were several breeders within a few hours of our home, but then this ad appeared! Well, we went to see him and fell absolutely head over heels in love!! It was truly love at first sight, at least on our part. We were SO impressed as this perfect little gentleman made his way across the living room floor of his owner's house to greet and meet us . . . we were in total awe as neither of us, who had had dogs our entire lives, had ever met such a sedate and well-mannered nine-month-old PUPPY???? before! We incredulously asked why they were selling him as it was obvious the two little girls in the house were madly in love with him and he with them and he was so unbelievably quiet & obedient! THIS was a puppy???? We were a tad stunned by the reply: "He wasn't aggressive enough," the woman said! They lived in a rundown part of town right behind a strip bar and the husband worked all night, so the woman & two little girls were alone every night. Apparently, drunks relieving themselves in their yard and on their house and banging on their door at all hours of the night was a frightening and all-too-common occurrence. Well, we were just too happy to arrange to take such a non-aggressive, loving & gentle boy off their hands . . . in a heart beat! Within a few weeks of having him at home, we came to realize from his reactions to swift hand movements near his head, loud noises and objects like sticks or bats held in the hand, especially by my husband, that his timidity and submissiveness was most likely due to this poor lad having been repeatedly BEATEN into obedience!!!! One day, I was opening the mini window blinds when the wand (stick) fell off onto the floor. I bent down to pick it up and as my arm came up holding it, my sweet little Quincey went running hell-bent for leather into the corner, cowering and shaking and drooling in terror, screaming at the top of his lungs!!!! It took me over two hours, with tears streaming down my face, to soothe and quiet my frightened boy, petting and talking to him and showing him the stick was harmless and that he'd never, EVER be hit in this household, not for any reason, we don't believe in that! The former owner (the husband) probably thought beating him would encourage his aggression but instead it did the opposite, making him timid and afraid of his own shadow. It took several years of love, patience and encouragement to prove to this dear boy that anything stick-shaped (and hands about the head) could be fun and not tools of pain but we persevered and today he acts more like a puppy than he did when he actually was one! People often exclaim in disbelief when they learn he'll soon be 11 years of age!!! He is truly the light of our life and continues to bring us much love, joy and laughter. We thank our lucky stars we were able to get past our grief and answer that ad . . . we feel that we were meant to be together as he has helped us to heal as much we have helped him. It's been a match made in heaven!

The Airedale can do anything any other dog can do and then whip the other dog. -- Teddy Roosevelt

If you have a Second-Hand 'Dale and would like to share her/his story, please e-mail me.

Be sure to visit FRIENDS OF AIREDALES MEMORIAL FUND. Your memorial will make a difference in an Airedale's life.

Back to AIREDALES ON PARADE/SPOTLIGHT ON RESCUE

Thanks to Karen Clouston for the Airedale Graphics

 INTRODUCING MISHA (@RB), APRIL, CARI & RICO

Remember to bring along your virtual pooper-scooper!