It's a dog's life!

This is the four-legged member of our family - Trudi, our rescued Airedale. We've had several rescued Airedales in the past, including a number of foster dogs, but right now we have onlyTrudi.

Airedales are hunters, they chase with a passion. They'll listen when they feel like it and they have a great sense of humour (if you don't have one, don't own a 'dale!) They're sweet dogs, that need to be with their people and aren't content if not actively involved in your life.

We volunteer with Airedale rescue, although since Ben came along we haven't been able to be as active as we used to be. The organizations we represent are ATRA www.aire-rescue.com and AireCanada www.airecanada.com

Trudi's Story: In the winter of 2003 she was found lying by the side of a road. The people that found her thought she was dead, but when they discovered that she wasn't they rushed her to the nearest vet and took off because they didn't want to have to pay the bill. She was frozen, dehydrated, and many other things that were found later. Once she was back up on her feet she was turned over to the local animal shelter. From there she eventually found her way to Airedale rescue. Her foster family nursed her back to health, had her spayed and treated for a pyometra. We adopted her as soon as we were allowed to. She came to us with big black bald patches where she'd had frostbite. We weren't sure that these would ever grow back in, but they all did - except the very tip of her tail. She's been in great health ever since!

I'll share more of her story and post more photos of her another day...

Great opportunities

to help others seldom come,

but small ones surround

us everyday.

- Sally Koch-