Airedale Terrier Rescue and Adoption www.aire-rescue.com

Why rescue a purebred dog?

Every year, thousands of animals end up in shelters across the country through no fault of their own. They are dropped off because of allergies, a new baby, a move into an apartment, they grew too big and are too energetic.
At the shelter, they have a limited time to appeal to a new owner, charm their way into someone's heart.
We at Airedale Terrier Rescue and Adoption are already charmed by the King of the
terriers. We have a large volunteer network in place to take homeless or unwanted Airedales and find them a loving new home.
What this means is ATRA has taken the Airedale out of the shelter, cleared the cage and freed up shelter funds for the next dog or cat.

What is an Airedale?

The Airedale terrier is the largest of the terrier breed. Smart, energetic and strong-willed with a sense of humor, the Airedale is considered the King of the terriers. Its distinctive black-and- tan coat is wiry and it is equally at home as a sporting dog or a family pet.

Who are we?

ATRA is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization. We cover 13 Midwestern states:
Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada.

Our Mission

ATRA is a volunteer-operated nonprofit organization dedicated to new beginnings
for displaced Airedale terriers. We try to place every dog possible and carefully screen all incoming dogs, consulting experts when necessary, to identify those with socially unacceptable behavior. Of these, we work with the ones who can benefit from training and re-home only those we know can be placed safely. We provide spay and neuter services and essential vet care to place them with new carefully matched permanent adoptive homes. We provide public education through handouts, individual counseling, our Web site, canine events, community referrals and our monthly newsletter.
The pictures below are of an Airedale when she was rescued and after a few weeks of love, good care, grooming and love.

What does Rescue do?

Rescue organizations take in neglected, homeless, abused or surrendered
Airedales. We don't run shelters; all dogs go to either a boarding facility or a volunteer's home for fostering. All dogs are checked for health and temperament before they are released to a "forever" home. Before leaving Rescue, an Airedale will be up to date on all vaccinations, spayed or neutered, and groomed.

How do I adopt an ATRA 'dale?

Fill out an application, available on the ATRA Web site at aire-rescue.com
A volunteer who will discuss rescue and set up a home visit will contact you. Your
references (given in the application) will be checked. After approval, ATRA will work
with you to find the right dog for your family's lifestyle. We will not place a dog in a
situation we do not think is conducive for the dog OR the family.

Getting involved in Rescue

You can make a huge difference in a dog's life by joining rescue. ATRA always
welcomes new volunteers. We need help transporting dogs from their old homes to new or to a boarding facility.
We always need foster homes for Airedales in transition. ATRA has several large fundraisers every year in various parts of the Midwest that allow volunteers a chance to help in many ways.

Want to know more about the Airedale?

• The Airedale terrier is the largest of the terrier breeds.
• The Airedale was one of the first breeds used for police duty in Germany and Great Britain; the breed was used for wartime guard, messenger duty, rodent control, hunting birds and game.
• The Airedale's coat is tan with black markings on the sides and upper parts of the body. The coat is dense and wiry.
• Life Span: 11-14 years
• Height: 22-23 inches at shoulder
• Weight: 50-60 pounds
• Airedales are a good-natured and fun-loving breed. They have an excellent reputation
  with children, but should always be supervised during play.
• Airedales in the White House: Three
  Woodrow Wilson, Davie
  Warren Harding, Laddie Boy
  Calvin Coolidge, Paul Pry, originally named Laddie Buck
• The versatility of Airedales is such that President Theodore Roosevelt was prompted to remark, "An Airedale can do anything any other dog can do and then whip him if he has to."
• The author Albert Payson Terhune sums up the Airedale: "Among the mine-pits of the Aire, the various groups of miners each sought to develop a dog which could outfight and outhunt and OUT THINK the other miner's dog. Out of the experiments emerged the modern Airedale. He is swift, formidable, graceful, big of brain, an ideal chum and guard.
  There is almost nothing he cannot be taught if his trainer has the slightest gift of teaching. Every inch of him is in use."
• Times an Airedale has won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Show in New York: Four.
  1933, Ch. Warland Protector of Shelterock
  1922, Ch. Boxwood Barkentine
  1919, Ch. Briergate Bright Beauty
  1912, Ch. Kenmare Sorceress
• The Rescue and Adoption Procedure endorsed by the Airedale Terrier Club of America Rescue and Adoption Committee is that before placement, all rescue dogs must be:
  spayed or neutered;
  groomed and bathed;
  Checked for heartworm and parasites;
  Brought up to date on all shots;
  Carefully evaluated for temperament and personality.
• Prospective adopters must be thoroughly screened and evaluated for a suitable Airedale. Prospective owners must fill out an application, be interviewed in a home visit by an ATRA member and must sign a contract guaranteeing certain behavior towards the adopted dog.

• Average cost for rescue and placement is $450 per dog.
• ATRA rescue statistics:
  1999 200 dogs
  2000 229 dogs
  2001 255 dogs
  2002 193 dogs
  2003 198
• 2004 224
• 2005 296
• 2006 210 (8/1/06)