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Jessi Spring emailed me to let me know they need to postpone moving forward with a HV/adoption because they have been very busy. I let her know to reach out to me when they are ready and we’ll move forward at that time.
John and Bonnie have been alerted. John let me know they will help if they are available when the Springs are ready:
Thanks for letting us know.
Keep us in mind, we will try to help when we can.
John
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2024 at 12:15 PM
From: “Annecy Airedale”
To: bonitadawnw@gmail.com, “JE Riggs”
Cc: “Pat Hairston”
Subject: Re: Home visit for Spring family
Hi, Bonnie and John,Just got an email from Jessi asking we postpone the home visit.
They’ve got a lot going on right now and have decided it’s not the
ideal time to move ahead. I’ve let them know to reach out to me
when/if they would like to move ahead; when/if they do, I’ll be in
touch so we can get the ball rolling again.Pat, I’ll note this on the MB.
Best,
Mary
******
No problem, Jessi! It’s always better to postpone than go into a new
‘dale before you’re ready, no matter the reason! I’ll let John know.
When the time is right, just let me know and we’ll get the ball rolling again.Best,
Mary
On Sun, Mar 3, 2024 at 5:31 PM Jessi Spring
>
> Hey Mary.
>
> Thank you for your email and your work coordinating all this. Would it be okay if we cancel this home visit for now? We don’t have the time to dedicate to this right now. Thank you!
>
> JessiApplicant: Jessi and Aaron Spring
Interview Date: 2/16/24, with follow-up on 2/21/24 to get HW information
Status: Move to HV status
Notes: Both Jessi and Aaron joined me on the call. They dearly miss their Aire-girl, Lily, who they lost last Fall. They noted they ‘have an Airedale sized hole in their hearts.’ Lily was chipped when spayed and chip was registered.
The family has almost 10 acres, all of which is fenced, with about 6 acres being wooded. Fencing is regular field fencing – wire grid with 6” squares and is dug into the ground; no gaps or holes, and drive is gated.
Jessie homeshools their 14 YO daughter and Aaron is a firefighter whose schedule is 24 hrs on, then 48 hrs off so it is rare that someone isn’t home.
The Springs told me they would be interested in volunteering, including fostering, although they are thinking an older dog for fostering.
Vet Report: The office sent me a copy of Lily’s visit last year – 4/21/23. Rabies and DHPP are noted. I wasn’t sure what the heartworm status was (o/d HWT was checkmarked -think it means owner dispensed treatment but no specific treatment was noted) so reached out to the Springs – Lily was on Trifexis. Apparently, the office is not very well organized or technical, although Aaron told me they were wonderful vets as far as care.
References: Both the groomer (Ashley) and the Springs’ personal reference (Tiffany) highly recommended them as dog owners. Both noted the Lily was always in good health, well behaved, well taken care of, and considered a member of the family. Lily was super sweet and well behaved. She was a good weight, regularly groomed, and very social (the Springs told me she loved to hop into the UPS truck to visit the driver). When Lily got sick (Von Willebrands/Von Willhelms disease?? – I noted Wilhelms but couldn’t find a link to an actual Von Wilhelms, although found Von Willebrands in dogs – possibly from a snake bite??), they were always on top of it.
Dog Requested: No particular dog requested however, the dog must be okay with other dogs and cats. Their cats are mostly outside cats but I did speak with them about how I taught Megan to accept my cat; doing this by showing her that the cat was also a valued member of the pack.
They generally prefer a female and would like a dog on the younger side – up to about 3 years of age. Having recently lost Lily, they still feel the trauma of loss and would like to have a dog that is younger with the expectation that they will have many years with together.In their application, they noted they would like a dog they can train as a therapy/assistance dog. I asked if there was a specific job they wanted the dog to do and Aaron noted wanting to train the dog to be an ESA, which is quite different from training for an official service/assistance dog. The dog would need to be smart and trainable and in tune to human emotions.
The Springs also have a deposit on a Welsh Terrier puppy they will be picking up in early March. I asked where they were getting their Welsh and they mentioned Kim’s Puppies in Virginia. Kim’s doesn’t appear to be an AKC registered breeder but they told me she’d been breeding for 35 years.
Good morning, Cierra,
I apologize for my delayed response. It’s been a crazy week with lots
of ‘squirrel’ moments distracting me! Will did let me know that he
visited with you. I’m so glad you were able to coordinate a time for
the three of you to meet, and that you were able to meet another
Aire-family.Congratulations to you both as you get ready to bring your 5 week old
foster baby into your home! I know you must both be very excited!I think it best to hold off on any volunteer opportunities until you
both get firmly settled into the rhythm of life with a baby in the
house. You will have enough on your plates, I suspect, as you
transition from being just dog-parents to also being the parents of an
infant! We would definitely want to hold off on transporting a dog
during one of your regular family travel events since we often don’t
know how a dog will behave with children, especially infants,
particularly within the narrow confines of a vehicle.A dog’s tolerance for children could also be an issue when it comes to
fostering since many of the dogs we bring in are complete unknowns –
either complete history being unknown or just experiences around
children – and we would want to ensure that with any placement the dog
is fully comfortable with babies/children and the baby is safe.Let us know when you’ve settled into your new parental ‘groove’ and if
there is an opportunity to assist with a shorter transport that just
you or Andy could take on individually, we could get you scheduled in
for that. Down the road, once you’ve settled in and you are fully
ready for fostering, if there is a dog with a known love for children,
fostering could be a possible consideration.We all wish you the best as you embark on your new adventure of human
parenthood!Mary
On Fri, Feb 23, 2024 at 7:12 PM Cierra Ferrell
>
> Hi Mary,
>
> Will and I had a great visit last Friday! I just wanted to check in and see if there was anything else you needed from me.
>
> Thanks,
> Cierra Yactayo
> 409-656-9729
>
>
>
> > On Feb 5, 2024, at 4:23 PM, Annecy Airedale
> >
> > Good afternoon, Cierra and Will,
> >
> > I would like to introduce you two for the next step in our application
> > process, the home visit. Cierra, Will Smith is a long-time Airedaler
> > and ARG volunteer and
> > lives not too far from you. I know you and Andy will also enjoy
> > meeting another “Airedaler!”
> >
> > Will, currently, the Yactayos are interested in just volunteering but
> > because in the future they also may be interested in fostering,
> > perhaps adopting, in the future, so we are going ahead with the home
> > visit so that, if/when they decide to foster and/or adopt, they are
> > ready to go.
> >
> > Will, you had mentioned the week of February 12 as being open for you;
> > Cierra, if that week works for you and Andy, please determine a time
> > between the two of you which is convenient for all of you. If that
> > week doesn’t work, just shoot Will some availability so he can check
> > his calendar.
> >
> > Thank you and best wishes,
> >
> > MaryFollowed up with the Cindy Fry on 1/21/24 to schedule a time for a phone interview but have still not heard back. Assuming they do not want to pursue but will move forward if I do hear back from them.
HOME EVALUATION FORM – Will Smith
To the Home Evaluator: This form can be used when doing a home visit to evaluate a potenial
family for a rescued Airedale. Adop on or foster applicants you are visi ng have already met
preliminary criteria by having their Adop on Applica on accepted and have passed the telephone
interview.When doing a home visit, please a empt to get as much informa on as asked for on this form. Ask
ques ons, where appropriate, and get as many details as you can about the home environment.
Some of the ques ons on this form may not apply to a par cular home so use your own judgment.If possible, bring a friend or another rescue volunteer with you on the home visit. This helps both for
the purpose of having another pair of eyes and ears to assist you in making a complete evalua on
and for your own personal safety.Name: Andy & Cierra Yacato
Address: 2200 Tal Heim Dr Birmingham AL
Phone: 409-656-9729
Email: cierramadre1997@gmail.com Co-Adopter’s Email: a.194@icloud.com
Size of Home [esmate square footage if possible]:
2500 sfSe ng [check all that apply]:
⬜Rural
⬜ Semi rural
X Suburban
⬜ Semi urban
⬜ Urban
⬜ Wooded
⬜ Open acreage
⬜ Waterfront
⬜ Highway frontage
⬜ Neighborhood street frontage
⬜City environment
⬜Property bordering on park/fieldCondi on of Home [check all that apply]:
Immaculate
X Well-kept
Lived in but clean
Exterior un dy
Interior un dy
Exterior unkempt/poorly maintained
Interior trashed/dirty
Describe the home interior:
[Include type of furnishings, flooring, and general appearance. For example, “an ques with museum
atmosphere,” “shabby furniture,” “brand new furniture and/or carpet,” “badly stained carpet,”
“hardwood/ vinyl flooring with some carpet/rugs,” etc.]Well taken care of and well decorated. Vinyl Plank Flooring
Accommodations:
[Describe what accommodtions the home has for a dog and where the dog will be le when the
owners are not at home. For example, “crate in kitchen/laundry room,” “baby gate across kitchen,”
“no crate planned,” “pen in basement,” “pen in garage,” “outdoor run,” etc. Include complete
description of any pen or kennel [chain link run, dirt run with chicken wire, etc]. Will the dog ever be left chained out or left unattended in a fenced-in yard? Describe the fencing, if any, and consider
security of fence.]The dogs have the run of the main level 24/7. Dog beds are located in the bedroom. The dogs also
have the run of a fenced in back yard and are never put on a chain. I didnt see locks on either gate in the yardChildren:
[Give ages of children, if any, and pay special a en on to the behavior of the children, the parents’
responses and method of discipline, and the children’s interactions with other pets. Note whether
parents always supervise young children with other pets and if the parents seem to expect the child/
children to be “responsible” for the care of the pets.]
No children as of my visit but they are picking up a 5 week old foster baby next weekFamily Environment:
[Describe the behavior of the adults among themselves, and to any other pets or children. Are they
respec ul, hec c, noisy, loud, quiet, commanding, etc.?]The dogs are crazy and not well behaved but the owners tried their best to handle them without
losing their tempers. The owners interacted well together.
Life-Style Compromises:
[Has the applicant thought through life-style compromises pet ownership will require? Give details.]
I dont think that they’ve thought through addi onal dogs or how their current dogs are going to
interact with a 5 week old baby. The dogs were so wild that I wouldn’t let a baby anywhere near
them.
They are also very busy and it was extremely difficult to set up a mee ng that involved both of them.
I gave them a blank slate to schedule a mee ng for the next 9 days and they gave me one op on. I
tried to reschedule and was told that they couldn’t accommodate that.
Other Pets:
[Describe number, type, age, and gender of the other pets and give complete description of their
apparent health and well-being. Things to note would be skin or flea problems, condition of nails,
overweight or underweight, type of collar, id tags other pets have, etc.]
5/6 year old Airedale – he was in great physical shape but needed a haircut. Proper weight and
looked very healthy. VERY rambunctious and not well behaved.
5/6 year old Goldendoodle – he was in great physical shape. Proper weight and looked very healthy.
VERY rambunctious and slightly be er behaved than the Airedale.
Owner Interaction With Other Pets:
o Describe the relationship all family members seem to have to other pets. – they both seemed
to love their dogs
o What role will the dog play in applicant’s life? – pet
o Are the other pets treated like family members? – yes
o How do the other animals behave? – both dogs didnt behave well and didnt seem to listen to
the owners. Both dogs jumped on me aggressively, tried to lick my face and both almost
knocked me over on separate occasions. I’m an athletic 6’ 2” and 200 lbs so both dogs ran into
me really hard.
o If applicant is looking for an additional dog, or cat why does applicant what another?
o Does applicant believe that the new dog will “train” old dog or vice versa? – didnt discuss this
o Has applicant ever owned more than one dog or cat at the same me? – currently
o Is applicant prepared for the increased work, expense [including vet cost], and commotion? – I
dont think so. They didnt seem prepared for what the currently have
o How commitied is adopter?
o What are the owner’s responses to behaviors good and bad? – begging the dogs and
apologizing to me
o Do owners demand perfection or have unreasonable expectation regarding behaviors?
o Do other dogs in the home obey happily? – NO
o Are the other dogs out of control and undisciplined? – YES
o Do the owners appear to know some basic training techniques? – their solution to the
problem was to try and distract the dogs with toys, put the dogs outside and then beg the
dogs
o How do the animals react to the owner’s response? – they didnt
Important Ques on to Answer:
o Explain that re-homing a dog is stressful for the dog.
o That o en the rescued dog they want to adopt or foster may have training accidents, even if
they are housebroken, while they are in their new home or foster care, for the first few
weeks.
o Ask the applicant what they would do or how they would react to the new dog having an
accident.
What was their reply?
They seemed to think that they will do whatever it takes to make things right but I have my doubts
a er witnessing the terrible behavior of their current dogs.
Additional Informa on:
o Please describe any additional information about the home environment that you feel is
pertinent.
o Is there anything in general or specifically that would cause you to feel uncomfortable about
placing a dog or cat in this home?
o If so, what?
o “Gut feelings” are considered important. Would you feel comfortable leaving your own dog
with the applicant?
o Explain. – I was asked to evaluate their fitness to be a fosterer, adopter and volunteer. I
wouldn’t be comfortable giving them a dog in the current situation but short
term fostering may be an op on. As far as volunteering, it would depend on what they are
asked to do. I explained what transporting is like since that’s what I’ve done the most of and I
wasn’t comfortable that they had thought through that process. It also depends on the
demeanor of the dog being transported as I think they could handle a low-key, chilled out
dog.
Conclusion:
Approve Applicant
X Do not approve applicant (for adoption)
X Approve a er additional counseling of applicants (for volunteering in some situati ons)
and/or
Approve a er modifications to the home environment
Please describe:
Additional comments:
Home Evaluator’s Signature:
Date: 2/17/24
Contact information: Email & Phone No.: willsmithis@gmail.com, 205-914-9455Applicant: Mary Beth and Joe Schriver
Interview Date: Sunday, 1/28/2024
Status: Approved for Home Visit; request Joe be available as well. As the Schrivers lease their home, HV volunteer should request seeing a confirmation of their lease noting dogs are allowed.
Notes: Good call with Mary Beth. The Schrivers are experienced Airedalers having had 5, as well as a Welsh Terrier; they got their first Airedale together in the 80’s, although Mary Beth grew up around Airedales as her grandmother bred them.
The Schrivers have been in their home for three years. Because they rent, I let Mary Beth know that we will need either a copy of their lease showing they are allowed pets, or the landlord’s phone number, to confirm. They lost their last Airedale, Logan (13 YO), in December so this shouldn’t be a problem but I do think we should confirm.
Since losing Logan in December, the Schrivers are pretty lonely. In the past they’ve generally had two at a time so were rarely without a dog. Her love of her dogs/Airedales was very evident when I asked her to tell me about her dogs. Many years ago, they did have an Airedale hit by a car (they were living in another house). The dog was chasing a deer which ran across the road; the deer made it but the dog was hit and killed. They did rehome one dog many years ago. He was a very large dog who became overprotective of their children; he once jumped up on a kid – although the child wasn’t hurt. Between the overprotectiveness and his large size, they worried about the neighbor kids who would often come into their yard so they contacted the breeder whose son took the dog. At the time, the only had an e-fence; she told me that in hindsight, they should have put up a real fence.
Mary Beth notes their current home is fully fenced where both side and back doors open into the yard; a solid fence will prevent another dog running into the road since when that happened in their previous house, there was only an e-fence.
The dog’s area is fully fenced with a 4-5’ fence. They are quite near a very busy road (Hwy 17) so I asked if there was a barrier, in case the dog escaped, to keep it from getting on the road. She told me that it is thickly treed.
Vet Report: The vet confirmed that their most recent dog, Logan, was fully vaccinated and up-to-date on HW and Flea/Tick (Simparica Trio). Previous dog were treated by a former vet up north.References:
Marlo Shields: Marlo has known the Schrivers for over 8 years and notes they are wonderful people. They are very caring and loving and will provide a great home for a dog.Doris Soltes: Doris has known Mary Beth the 10 years; they are both friends and coworkers. She notes her experience with Airedales and that the dog will be loved and cared for. Over the years they have shared many stories about their ‘fur babies,’ including having talked about Mary Beth’s desire to adopt a rescue from ARG.
Dog Requested: The Schrivers don’t have grandchildren locally but they do visit a few times a year so they will need a kid-friendly dog. They also would like a dog-friendly dog since their son has a whippet and he will visit, and they also like to walk and engage with other dog walkers, and go to dog parks. They are in their 70s and are looking for a smaller, rather than larger, dog; they don’t have a hard-line preference for gender but would likely prefer a female as the females are often smaller.
I received a reply from one reference, Gabby, who notes the Yactayos are ‘awesome pet parents’ and she highly recommends them.
Applicant: Cierra Yactayo
Interview Date: Sunday, 1/21/24
Status: Thoughts: The Yactayos are possibly interested in fostering and/or adopting at some point so I suggested we go ahead and schedule a HV to get it out of the way. Cierra was fine with that but since I have not heard back from either of the Yactayos’ references, I recommend for the time being just approving them for Volunteering. Another alternative would be to schedule the HV – we do know their dogs are kept up to date medically and with all preventatives so the vet has confirmed good care. Cierra is on FB and looking at the photos posted, the dogs definitely seem to be living the good life.
*If I do hear back from the references, I will provide an update.
Notes: Cierra and Andy Yactayo sent in an application expressing their desire to volunteer with ARG. We discussed different ways they could volunteer, including helping to transport and at some time possibly fostering. We also discussed possibly making initial interview calls, such as the one I was doing with them, or home visits.
The couple has a 5 YO Aire-male, Alfie, who is clearly well loved, as is their 5 YO GoldenDoodle male, Huckleberry.
Both are well socialized, although Alfie is the more outgoing of the two, and get along with other dogs on walks and at dog parks. Huckleberry is a bit reactive but still very friendly, Cierra told me. The dogs both wear collars and are microchipped/registered. Cierra is on FB and there are some great photos of their two dogs living the good life.
The noted budget for each dog is $500, which seems very low to me but I don’t know the price differences between care in the city of Atlanta, which is pricey, and Birmingham, AL.
Transport: I asked Cierra how far they would be willing to drive for a transport. She told me they travel regularly (about 1x/month) to Atlanta and also regularly to Mobile, AL where Andy’s family is. They also go to Pensacola a lot, so driving a few hours to relay a dog in transport is not a big deal for them.
The Yactayos are open to fostering in the future and possibly even a future adoption, so I went ahead and got a send personal reference and called the vet. I mentioned that we would need to do a homevisit at some point in time if they want to foster/adopt and Cierra told me they were fine with doing a home visit sooner rather than later. Doing a HV earlier would also give them an idea of what a home visit entails, as well as allow them to meet another Airedaler in the area.
Vet Report: Per the Vest Ridge Animal Clinic, both Alfie and Huckleberry are neutered and kept up to date on all vaccines, flea/tick, and HW (HeartGard) prevention.
References: ** Unfortunately, neither reference has gotten back to me. I reached out to both via text but when I didn’t hear back, I texted Cierra on Sunday, 1/28, and asked her to follow up with them; while I thought it odd both might go into spam, I thought it best to have her directly contact them. On February 1 at noon, I’d still not received any response from either reference so I again texted Cierra to let her know of the lack of response.
Kelsey Cain: ??
Gabby (Hunter?): ??
Dog Requested: NA
Applicant: David Coven
Interview Date: December 14, 2023
Status: Move to HV – suggest discussing a GPS tracker since a previous Airedale was a jumper and got out of a park fence more than once and ended up being hit by a car.
Notes: David previously had two sisters, Lulu and Zebo, he adopted in 88/89. Zebo passed from cancer at age 5, Lulu was hit by a car – she was a jumper and had previously jumped the fence at a dog yard and been gone for a few weeks. Lulu’s jumping out twice and being hit by a car is a concern, but he currently has a 6’ wood fence that should keep a dog in. The dog will be chipped. His ADT Milo passed at age 12. He’s had no ADTs since Milo. In the last 34 years, in addition to his 3 ADTS, he’s taken in a number of mixed breeds; all fixed and most passing from natural causes, such as aging, cancer, and other illnesses. At one point, he had 7 dogs at the same time.
David works from home and is looking for a companion. He is interested in training his next dog to be a service dog. Battle Buddies is an organization he’s interested in that trains service dogs.
Currently, his ½ acre property is only fenced on one side, with plans to fence in the other three sides; I stressed that the yard must be fully fenced. (Note: per his neighbor’s reference the yard is now fully fenced) David’s application noted there was no pool, although Google Earth does show one. I asked about that and he told me the pool had been removed.
A typical day would consist of visiting a park in the AM or a nearby lake with trails, and playing in the yard; he works from home so has flexibility. He enjoys hiking and running . He is rarely, if ever, gone for longer than 3 hours. When traveling or gone long, David has a trauma therapist neighbor and they take care of each other’s dogs.
David understands that it takes time for dogs to adjust to a new home/owner and considers his dogs family.Vet Report: Per the vet, all his dogs were in excellent care, fully vaxxed and up to date with HW/Flea/Tick. They took care of at least five of his dogs – Lulu, Zebo, and Drago (ADTs), Manny and Tilda – all of whom passed in the last year due to different issues/age. They took care of these dogs since he first got them.
References:
Jenn Walker: Jenn had nothing but praise for David, telling me he took impeccable care of his dogs, is kind and loving, and her dog would stay with David when she needed to be gone for longer than she was comfortable leaving the dog. She is his next door neighbor. She noted his yard is fully fenced so I’m guessing this happened between my initial call with David on 12/14 and my reaching out to her on 1/8. She noted David really needs a companion now that his last dog, Tilda, has passed. They have long had an agreement that if something happens to one of them, the other will take their dog(s).Ben Pruitt: Ben noted David was amazing with his dogs and they were crazy about him; they were a huge part of his life. He told me he would definitely leave his dog with David should there be a need.
Dog Requested: David is interested in a a dog on the youngish side, but open to a 7 or 8 MO if that is what’s available; no preference for male or female. The dog would need to get along with other dogs, not playing too rough, having food/toy aggression with other dogs/people. He would work with a trainer on any issues.
DECLINED: Tested for heartworm but no HW prevention given.
Good afternoon, Seth and Karen,
Because the continued health and safety of all our dogs is of utmost
importance to Airedale Rescue Group, we do require our adopters and
fosters to have a continuous history of heartworm prevention.The reason we require a track record of heartworm prevention is
because heartworm is a very painful death and treatment is also
extremely hard on the dog. In seven to nine months, heartworms can
move into the heart and if you’re only testing for heartworm annually,
there is a chance of the dog dying from the parasite before it has
even been identified in the dog. Signs of heartworm disease may
include a mild persistent cough, reluctance to exercise, fatigue after
moderate activity, decreased appetite, and weight loss; symptoms that
can also be indicative of other issues causing the potential for
heartworm to be dismissed. As heartworm disease progresses, pets may
develop heart failure and the appearance of a swollen belly due to
excess fluid in the abdomen. Dogs with large numbers of heartworms can
develop a sudden blockages of blood flow within the heart leading to a
life-threatening form of cardiovascular collapse. This is called caval
syndrome, and is marked by a sudden onset of labored breathing, pale
gums, and dark bloody or coffee-colored urine. Without prompt surgical
removal of the heartworm blockage, few dogs survive.In the U.S., heartworm affects 1 in 100 dogs annually, so it is not a
rare occurence.Assuming heartworms are identified in time, your dog will need several
months of an injectable treatment called melarsomine. This drug has to
be given slowly and carefully because if you kill off the worms too
quickly it can be dangerous for your dog. Unlike intestinal parasites
that are eliminated via bowel movements, heartworms that die slowly
decay in the lungs and a dog’s activity must be severely restricted
because overtaxing their lungs can be dangerous during treatment.
Additionally, while humans don’t usually get heartworm, most
preventive heartworm medications also protect against intestinal
parasites like hookworms and roundworms, which are definitely
contagious to humans, so protecting your dog from heartworms also
protects you from other parasites.Please consider visiting the American Heartworm Society website
(www.heartwormsociety.org) for more information about heartworms and
the importance of taking preventative measures against infection.We do wish you and your Wolfhounds the best – hopefully George’s left
leg issue will be resolved soon!Mary McEneaney
On Mon, Jan 8, 2024 at 6:52 PM kmkfc
>
> Hi, Mary!
>
> We have consistently given flea and tick treatments for all of dogs, but we really haven’t been faithful with heartworm treatment. We do test regularly. We’re scheduled to take George to his vet on Thursday for a follow-up and further investigation of a new issue he developed very recently with his hind quarters (left leg? Crazy situation), so chatting with the doctor and getting a prescription for heartworm treatments wouldn’t be an issue at all!
>
> Graciously,
>
> Seth and Karen Cohen
>
>Applicant: James and Liz Smith
Interview Date: December 10, 2023
Status: Very much liked these two: Move to Home Visit
Notes: One of the first things I caught on their application that I loved was under the question asking the names/ages of all permanent residents, they included Reggie. Definitely a good sign he’s considered a member of the family.
Their address is Chapel Hill but the area they in is pretty rural. The family has about 6 acres of land and although they do not have a tangible fence, they do have an invisible fence. There is a lot of wildlife in the area: deer, coyote, rabbit, fox and the usual other critters so I talked with them about the fact that invisible fences do not keep critters out of their property, as well as the fact Airedales have high prey drive. The dogs are trained on the fence so they’re not just thrown out and forced to figure it out and they are never out unsupervised. The dogs are walked on a 6’ lead but they also use longer leads for training, playing fetch, etc., even on their property. Dogs stay inside when no one is home.
Jim is retired and he often takes the dog(s) for long walks, The children are very involved with the dogs, not only feeding and filling the water bowl, but also outside playing and walking.
Bella was their first Airedale. They rescued her at 6 months and she lived 12 years with; the rescue was the RescueMe.org site. She had some health issues so they spent time investing in rehab.
Pool: the couple has a pool but the dogs are not outside unsupervised. They told me that Bella wouldn’t go in but Reggie likes to stomp in mud puddles and then clean his feet in the pool. Reggie knows how to swim.
Vet Report: Both Bella (now deceased) and Reggie, have been kept up to date with all vaccines, HW, and flea/tick prevention. “They look to be excellent clients.”
References:
1. Anthony Kesselmark: “They are a great family. Top notch people and their dogs have been no less than family to them and not a pet. Reggie was a great addition and Bella was one of their kids. Any dog would be beyond lucky to be in their home.” “You won’t regret it with them.”
2. Michael Nevitt: “I would enthusiastically recommend Liz and Jim as owners for one of your pups. I’ve known them for almost 12 years and they are an amazing family. Your pup couldn’t find better, more caring forever homes.”Dog Requested: Walter
Reggie grew up with Bella and the only issues with other dogs he has had have been with small yappy, “fluffy” dogs. He’s a bit shy at first; not alpha, although not docile.
We discussed Walter’s need for training to walk on a lead and the fact that he’s a digger and runner. They will keep him on a leash when outside, like their other dogs. They know to be extra diligent with leash walking the first few months until he gets really settled in.
Liz and Jim like Walter’s age and the fact he’s lived with children, another dog and even cats. And that “he needs a home and is in North Carolina.”
Applicant: David Dennett-Smith
Interview Date: November 5, 2023
Status: Decline.
There are a lot of questionable issues with David but before I could organize my thoughts and write up my notes, he called me to tell me that he couldn’t at this time adopt due to a back issue he’s developed. He could not carry a dog if necessary, especially important since he currently lives in an apartment upstairs. He’s also on the blood thinner Warfarin. He asked we put this on hold. Given his age and back issues, which are not generally easy fixes, I agreed since I think it’s unlikely we’ll hear from him again. If I do hear back, I will let him know that without confirmation of the HW treatment and flea/tick, we cannot adopt out a dog to him.
Notes: David is 74. He previously had 4 Airedales, most recently a female named Cleopatra. His father had Airedales when he was growing up. David clearly has a love of Airedales but he did tell me that he is not as ‘walkable’ as he used to be and would pay someone to walk the dog.
The first odd things I noticed were an incorrect street for his apartment (he put Roswell Rd. not Delk) and he put down ‘Marietta Vet” for the Johnson Ferry Animal Hospital. By themselves, no big deal but there were other issues. He was very flip about Johnson Ferry Animal Hospital, telling me they ‘were worthless’ and ‘the vet ‘ was a bit of a disaster….he’s old and not doing anything’ and sent him elsewhere to have Cleo put down, which makes me wonder if she really didn’t need to be euthanized and the vet was just doing the right thing by not doing so. I checked the online reviews and JFAH can’t be that bad given they have received: 4.+ stars (63 reviewers) on Google, 3 stars on Yelp, and 4.6/5 on FB.
At no time could he remember the name of the other vet that supposedly provided the HW/flea/tick meds, or who had euthanized Cleo.
Vet Report: The vet’s office told me that Cleo had had her teeth cleaned and been fully vaccinated but they had no records of any heartworm treatment or of any flea/tick meds. When I told him I’d spoken with the vet and they had no records of the missing meds, as noted above, he told me he couldn’t remember, then said he’d gone to another vet but couldn’t remember that vet. He called me a few days after this and said Cleo had gotten a shot but he for HW but couldn’t remember what flea/tick med he used, or the other clinic where he says she got the treatment.
Applicant: Nancy & Scot McCombs
Interview Date: 11/23/2023
Status: Move to HV, pending receiving vet records showing vaccination, HW, flea/tick status
Special Note: Nancy found a young female available in Florida. I checked with Jo-Ann Bates and she is not through Sunshine Airedales. Nancy was hesitant to call due to possible scamming so I suggested she create a list of questions that would get into specifics, e.g., type of HW, when last vet visit, who vet is, etc. If they’re scammers, a lot of questions will put them off and they likely won’t have prepared for them. Also advised if they ask for money up front to back off, letting her know we do not ask for the adoption fee until the handoff has been done. She will keep me posted so I will update the record as needed.
Notes: Both Nancy and Scot were on the call with me. Nancy grew up with an Airedale who would follow her everywhere. After they married, they had schnauzers but she always wanted another ‘dale; they rescued their ‘dale Ellie when she was 3 YO and had her for 10 years before they let her go due to cancer. She also had hip dysplasia.
My first question was to ask them about their past dogs and you could tell there was a strong love and bond between the McCombs and Ellie, as well as a strong love for the breed. They talked about how she was the sweetest, best companion and how much they miss her. Ellie passed in 2016 but since they knew they would be moving from Forsyth County (NE of Atlanta) to Vidalia (3 hours SE of Atlanta), they held off so that when they did adopt again, they would be bringing the dog into a stable household.
Both are now retired so the dog will only be left alone (along with the other dog in the house, a Yorkie) for about a few hours at a time. They often take the dogs with them if they can. They mentioned having a truck so I asked where the dog would be in the truck – they have an extended cab so the dogs sit in the back seat and never in the truck bed.
They have about a ½ acre lot and she notes they have a 5’ ornamental iron fence and a swimming pool. The dogs stay inside and do not have access to the pool when they are not home.
The McCombs have a son who is not too far away and who has a mastiff. The mastiff will stay with them when the son travels, their Yorkie, Boodie, stays with him if they travel. They also can board at the vet if necessary; they don’t feel comfortable leaving the dog at a day care.
Family: The McCombs have two children and 2 grandchildren, one of whom has Downs Syndrome. They like to gather at the McComb house with their son bringing his Mastiff, Shaq. Shag and Boodie get along very well. They are both male but neither is alpha.
They would like a younger dog -puppy or adolescent – because their feeling is that a younger dog will be more adaptable to their current dogs. When I asked about M or F, they didn’t really have a preference although I did suggest perhaps a female might be best since having three males could be too much and cause an issue. Average size is fine – Ellie was about 100 Lbs. but they don’t feel they need such a large dog. They just want the right dog.
Vet Report: I’ve not yet been able to reach the vet because they are closed over the holiday weekend. Nancy and Scot are out of town but she will check her email to see if she has a receipt in their that provides the reminders/last date given for Boodie. If the doesn’t have that, I’ll reach out to the vet Monday.
References:
Donna Granberry: Responded to my request for information noting that they adore their dogs and she wouldn’t think twice about allowing her dogs to stay with them, or allowing them to purchase or adopt a dog. They would be a great home for a pup, she said.Nancy Clark: No word back yet. Will update when I hear from her. Suspect it’s due to the holiday.
Dog Requested: We discussed a female possibly being a better fit than a 3rd male. The dog will need to be okay with little children, including one with Down’s Syndrome, and with other dogs, both small and large. Size-wise they are not picky, she mentioned ‘average size’ so perhaps anywhere from 50 to 75 lbs.
Additional note: Have the boyfriend, Scott, present for the home visit as the dog spends a great deal of time with him, with and without Gina.
Applicant: Gina Fox
Interview Date: November 4, 2023
Status: Move to HV; but I think a face-to-face discussion of the fecal testing issue (see below) is warranted.
Notes: I enjoyed speaking with Gina. She spoke lovingly of her recently deceased Airedale, Cash, whom she had to put down due to cancer. Gina rescued her first Airedale, Blue, 20 years ago (possibly from us??) and had him for 4 years before he passed from cancer; he was 6 when she adopted him. She got Cash as a puppy.
Gina and her boyfriend have been together for 15 years and they generally go back and forth between their homes, while also having a summer beach place together. Gina goes into the office 2, maybe 3, days/week and would generally drop Cash off for the day so he wouldn’t be alone and could hang out with his bloodhound friend. Both she and her boyfriend, Scott, have fenced yards (Scott has a dog door) and their lake house is dog friendly with a large, fenced, 12’ x 24’ deck and they also will take them with them to the beach, go swimming, and take them on the water. We discussed making sure the dogs can swim. They also enjoy leash walking them.
Gina often took the dog with her when she was out and about in the truck – I confirmed Cash would be in the back seat of the truck cab, in a harness, and not unsecured in the truck bed.
When discussing Boone, Gina told me she would do whatever training was recommended and would follow the advice from Cindy.
Vet Report: This took a few days because the woman with whom I spoke at the vet couldn’t find the records but fortunately, Gina had her copies. The only concern I had with Gina was the vet records. Cash had his annual exam with updated vaccines, and annual Proheart 12 shot, on March 16, 2023. What was not done was Fecal and HW tests. I asked Gina why a fecal wasn’t done and she said that he’d had no problems so they didn’t feel it was necessary. The ProHeart 12 shot apparently eliminates the need for testing unless more than a year passes between injections. Only after a year is a heartworm test considered necessary and Cash received his shot within the appropriate time period. I’m not familiar with ProHeart but not testing seems to be the standard but I’ve not heard of not doing a fecal because there are no issues??
Reference: I spoke to Ruth Kopp, Gina’s neighbor and reference. Ruth keeps Gina’s dog when she is out of town with Scott and Gina keeps Ruth’s dog. Ruth told me Gina is a wonderful dog owner. They have been neighbors for 15 years. Gina takes her dogs on long walks on a daily basis and also would take Cash with her in the truck when she could. Ruth told me Cash was always well groomed and a happy, healthy dog who was much loved. She told me her boyfriend Scott is also a big dog lover and has always interacted well with the dogs.
Gina’s second reference was her boyfriend, Scott, who is more a household member than independent reference, so I did not call him.Dog Requested: Gina expressed an interest in Boone, however she has since also expressed a possible interest in one of the two male puppies who have just been received into ARG, or even possibly fostering both. She is only interested in a male because her boyfriend has a female hound who prefers to be the only female. She had mentioned not wanting a puppy and wanting a dog closer in age to her boyfriend’s 7 YO bloodhound, but those two cute 5 month old puppies seem to have got her considering a larger age difference.
