An Online Diary of Airedale Rescuer Francis Martin
March 23, 2007
“Meet Sarah, a two-year-old Airedale with severe demodectic mange. She was an owner give-away and was to be put to sleep if no one responded to the ad on Petfinder. The owner had bought her to use as a breeder, but her skin ‘allergies’ had prevented him from breeding her.”
Demodectic mange is a treatable mite infestation that dogs can have at birth, according to Martin. “Her skin was infected, and she had oozing, smelly sores. I was constantly cleaning up blood drops that fell from her wounds.”
April 1, 2007
“Sarah continues to improve daily. Her sores are drying out, which is good; however, they’re causing her to scratch like crazy…. Earlier today, she met and played nicely with resident Airedales, Ben and Harry. I was very pleased with their interaction and think they will all be good friends soon.”
Martin painfully tells of Sarah’s former life. “She spent her first two years, out in the elements,” Martin said. “She came to me shortly after the ice storm, and I couldn’t help but think about her being outside in that weather.”
May 6, 2007
“Sarah just seems to be a normal dog now. She has a great appetite, loves to run and play with her buddies, and loves to chew on anything she can get her teeth into! She is now a typical two-year-old Airedale; a vast improvement from two months ago.”
Martin, a third-grade teacher at Hoover Elementary in the Tulsa Public School system, started out in Scottie rescue – a 10-year pursuit. She still has her Scotty named Mikey, along with Sage Marie, a Cairn Terrier, who is “the boss of the family, even though she’s the littlest,” Martin said.
Martin’s brood – for today – also includes four Airedales: Henry and Ben, permanent residents, and Sarah and Annie, foster dogs.
“Annie is moving to her new home in Fayetteville tomorrow,” Martin said. “She’s about 6 or 7-months old – it’s much easier to adopt out the puppies [like Annie].”
June 13, 2007
“The Dr. tells me that I am FREE of mange! No more medicine or medicated baths! I am also spayed now and am feeling great and looking beautiful. I am ready for my people to come and adopt me so I can settle into my permanent home as a beloved member of the family.”
Applications to adopt Sarah and other Airedales come in through the Oklahoma Airedale Rescue Society’s web site, www.okairedales.com. “We screen the applicants through an adoption application, a home visit, and even a vet check,” Martin said.
“We want to make sure that people know what they’re getting into,” Martin said. “[Airedales] need agility work, long walks and quite a bit of grooming. If you leave them alone too long in the backyard, they may dig.”
Martin is quick to tell why she loves Airedales, with their often comical personalities. “They remind me of the comic Robin Williams. They are quirky, funny and free entertainment.
“Airdales are very athletic dogs, and they need a lot of stimulation,” Martin said. “They learn quickly if you give them structure. They become confident, social and calm.”
August 18 – a new start for Sarah
And there is good news for Sarah.
On Aug. 18, the once neglected and largely forgotten Airedale, will join her new family in Henderson, Nevada, near Las Vegas.
“She is going to live with an active, retired, educated couple who are home all day,” Martin said. “The woman walks every day, and they live in an active senior village of homes.”
Martin said the couple’s previous Airedale had died, and that they were ready to adopt another – a secret they are keeping from the neighbors.
“The neighbors wanted them to get another Airedale so much, they even offered to help take care of the dog, if that was what it would take,” Martin said.
“Sarah will be part of the community,” Martin said. “People in the neighborhood gather at the plaza at night for coffee, and they all bring their dogs. She will be loved – and that’s what matters most.”
And now, for the rest of the story:
I fell in love with Sarah the instant I saw her. She was so beautiful and healthy looking. As soon as I hugged her I knew it was for keeps.
When we got home, there was a banner on the door from a neighbor, welcoming her to her new home. She walked right up to my husband and kissed him. That won him over! Then she explored the yard. She found a rabbit hole under a rosemary bush. She didn’t come out with a rabbit, but she sure smelled of rosemary. Then she discovered koi in a pond. She watched them for awhile and was only a little bit tempted to dive in after them.
She follows me around during the day and sleeps in our bedroom at night. Sarah has found a wonderful home, but more importantly, we have found a wonderful buddy.
I wish more people would consider adopting rescue dogs. There have been a lot of people to thank for our having this dog, but the biggest appreciation goes to Frances Martin in Tulsa for her patience, dedication, and love of dogs. If it were not for the efforts of Frances Martin, a wonderful dog would probably be dead today. It gives me chills to think what this dog went through. This is our third rescue dog and our third happy ending.
Joyce Jensen, Henderson, Nevada, Sarah’s new Mom
