Airedale Rescue

Mixed breed? old? Sickly? Aggressive? Poorly bred dogs who can never really be fully at home as a favored housepet?

Modern dog rescue is anything but! Although most dogs come into rescue with issues of some sort, airedale rescue will not place a dog in a foster home until it's behavior and health can be evaluated.

Upon intake into Airedale Rescue, a dog is taken to an available foster home. In a foster home a dog is:

• taken to a vet immediately, brought up to date on all vaccinations, wormed, hip x-rayed if needed, and treated for any medical problems.
• allowed to participate in a home environment and evaluated in how it interacts with humans, other dogs, children, and other pets.
• put on a high quality food to improve skin and coat, lose or gain wait according to vets recommendations, and help the dog feel the best it can.
• put into beginning training to learn to walk nicely on a leash and have good house manners.
• spayed or neutered, at no cost to the future adopter.

Sick or aggressive dogs are never adopted into homes and a good rescue will be 100% honest about a particular dog's strengths and weaknesses-- since placing the dog in a permanent home is in everyone's best interest.

Many perspective dog owners have their heart set on a puppy- but would you give up 6 months of cuteness for an already housebroken dog, A dog that won't chew your shoes, or a dog who doesn't need four visits to the vet within the first few months?

Here are some rebuttals to common misconceptions about purebred rescue dogs:

Most are really mixed breed dogs - Airedale Rescue rescues Airedales and only Airedales. Occasionally airedale rescue has contacts with other groups with Airedale mixes up for adoption, but all dogs rescued and adopted out by airedale rescue are judged to be purebred by experienced Airedale owners.

Most rescue dogs are old, I need a trainable puppy - A good percentage of airedales end up in rescue because they are simply too rowdy as puppies or young adults. Many people buy airedales loving the look of the breed but unaware of the exercise and training needs. Without discipline and training, Airedale puppies can wreak havoc on a home and overwhelmed owners frequently pass their young, healthy, exuberant dog on to rescue because he is "just too much".

Rescues are always sickly - Some Airedales do come into rescue with medical problems, but no dog is ever placed without a full veterinary exam. Dogs are fully vaccinated, wormed, treated for any other conditions, and allowed a reasonable recovery time in foster care before being adopted into a permanent home.

Rescues tend to be aggressive - No responsible rescue group adopts out aggressive dogs. Morally and legally it is an unacceptable practice. Rescue dogs may need clear leadership to help them establish their role in the family "pack", but follow ups by rescue volunteers and/or consultations with behaviorists before adoption are always available.

There's always a reason the dog was given up - Such as an owner ignorance or unwillingness to train? Most rescue dogs come into rescue through neglect/shelters, through losing an elderly owner, or their family moving to a place they cannot keep dogs. It's not just "bad" dogs that end up in rescue

They never look "right" - A purebred rescue will probably never pass for a show dog, but they are 100% airedale. If you insist on a jet black, saddle perfect tail length, or perfect ear set you may have to wait a bit longer, but the dog you picture will come along. Even the most handsome, well bred dogs can be found in rescue through unfortunate circumstances.

A rescue will never really see us as his family - It's a fallacy to believe that a dog must live in a home since puppy hood to feel like a member of the family. Rescue dogs always have an adjustment period (ranging from just a week or two to several months) but always bond with their new family and home eventually.

Rescue dogs can't be shown - In conformation? No. But all Airedales placed by Airedale Rescue look purebred and are thus eligible to pick a show name and register for a ILP number from the American Kennel Club. The ILP number will allow a rescue Airedale to compete in obedience, agility, flyball, tracking, or other AKC dog sports just like any registered purebred.

If you are looking for a dog to casually show in obedience, agility, flyball or other dog sport- rescue may be the perfect option. Instead of gambling on a puppy who, as an adult, may lack the drive or discipline to excel in your sport, you'll have the opportunity to choose a developed, adult dog with the perfect drive and personality for your sport-- and a dog who's ready to begin training right away.

Need more reasons? Check out the Top Ten Reasons to Adopt a Rescue Dog

If you think a rescue dog might be right for you, contact one of the following groups to see photos and descriptions of Airedales available for adoption in your state:

• Airedale Terrier Club of America - Rescue & Adoption Committee - Clearinghouse for information and contact information for reaching a local Airedale rescue volunteer.
• Airedale Terrier Rescue & Adoption, Inc. (ATRA) - Midwest US
• Airedale Rescue & Adoption of Delaware Valley - New England
• Airedale Rescue Group (ARG) - Southern US
• SouthWest Airedale Terriers (SWAT) Rescue - SouthWest US
• AireCanada - Canadian Airedale Rescue

(have we forgot your Airedale rescue group? email webmaster@airedalebreeder.com to be added)