SAM'S STORY

A note from Jeanne Plauth, an Airedale Rescue volunteer in Central New York State: Sam, the big Airedale, came into my life when the telephone rang; it was Lisa Ashton calling to say, "Jeanne, I have a dog you would just love since he is a real big love". The time was October 2004 and he did come to live with me within days. Lisa had rescued him from the backyard of an elderly man who was clearly not able to care for himself, or his dog chained outside. She had kept Sam for an evaluation and was now ready to place him. Sam when he came to rescue; he had probably never had a haire cut in his entire life!! After a bath & a clip, needed to completely get him out of the matted coat he was encased in, Sam was delivered to me. He nestled right in from the first night, stretched out along the full length of his fleece bed. When he got up, he was like a foal trying to get all his legs in the right place he was so big. With any dog, going over him was part of my routine since I like to know my dog's body completely so you know what is normal and what is new over time. There were two areas of concern, one on each rear leg, and I scheduled an appointment with my vet whom I have known for over 25 years. Within twenty four hours of Sam coming into my life, my vet told me, with tears in his eyes, that I should just take him home and keep him happy since the diagnosis was Lymphoma. He offered to discuss chemo and the latest advancements but I said no. The following month and a half was filled with wonderful times with Sam. Due to his size, my niece, who raises dairy goats, gave me a goat coat for him and we were able to get a daily walk in with his tail wagging the entire time. He barked at the horses up the road as if to say, "I am almost as big as you!" Sam in his goat coat: We figured he was about eleven. The goat coat I wanted on him so he would not have to use any energy to make body heat and be warm, especially after the hair cut which took him right down and losing all that hair on him for so long. I wanted him to know every comfort there was for the time he had left. Lisa had him for about a month and then he came here. I wanted to try to make it to Christmas, but he did not make it. But he had the time of his life for the last few months and knew what it was to be cared for. There were frequent visits to the vet with concern that it was time when he would have a bad day. But each time he rallied. One time at the emergency clinic, I was sure it was the end of our time together. Sam could hardly walk. Then he saw a yellow Labrador puppy and suddenly felt better! "Not yet," said the vet and back home we went. We took each day as a gift. When I raked the fall leaves, he jumped in the pile and rolled all around with a grin on his face. When we got the season's first snow, he stood out in it and licked the snowflakes that landed on his nose. We eventually did run out of time and it happened very quickly. I called my vet and this time "it was time" since Sam was having difficulty breathing due to a mass in his neck. He died in my arms as he was told what a good dog he was. Sam, Sam, the Rocket Man was now on another journey. Lisa Ashton felt so badly this was the sudden end to a dog she had in mind for me; I would not have changed a thing. I would not have missed the opportunity to have Sam no matter how short our time together. I will always be the lucky one Lisa chose to have him. He was meant to be my dog. It turned out that the original owners had an ad in the paper for an Airedale for sale for $100 several years ago. I called and the dog had just been sold. He was a one year old and was chewing their pool furniture so he had to go. Now over ten years later, the dog in that ad was now Sam, although we do not know how he made his way to the old man's home in the later years of his life. But he was meant to find his way to me even though it was years later. He was meant to be my dog. While Sam's body was being cremated, I drove to his previous home and walked all around the now abandoned property to release the spirits from sad times there when he was tied to a dog house adjacent to a cold rushing stream. I sent all feelings of love and tenderness his way. I took bolt cutters to the heavy chain there so it can never hold another dog. I told my dog, the dog that was meant to be my dog, to go on to the Bridge. We did not have much time together, but it was the best of times. Anyone who has not had the chance to love an old dog is missing an experience you will not regret. Certainly there is sadness, but the love transcends. There is something special about an older 'dale. In order to have a complete "Bucket List" loving an older Airedale must be on it!

OLD DOG Darling, the hesitation in your step makes my heart ache, knowing that you're wondering, hoping, is this the last home? will I have to move again? how will she know who I am? Beautiful, I see your history in your eyes and in those small quirks, in your startles and starts. oh, I know I'll never know the whole story of you but together we can patch things up, heal old wounds, soothe old fears. Beloved, I respect your years, and I promise you will grow old with me in comfort, in love, in safety. and when your years are done, I will see you through your passing, and keep you close in my arms, in my heart. You will live forever. T. Nesbit, in Memory of Duchess Claire June 2001

CLOSE WINDOW