Mercedes the Beautiful Airegirl

Today my partner Kris and I went to pick up Mercedes in Angleton from her family who chose to surrender her to Airedale Rescue. Mercedes is fourteen months old and on her second home. Her most recent family acquired her from a guy over in League City back in August/ September. Not so sure about him but I'm thinking he wasn't that great as he wouldn't give them any sort of papers, vet. or otherwise regarding her background. Seems to be the case a lot. Oh yeah- she's never been spayed either. "Deep Growl" from me. These other people had an Airedale for twelve years that never ran off of their property, even without fencing. hmmm. Rare, especially for a 'Dale. But they were lucky for the most part. They loved their girl from the sound of it but unfortunately she succumbed to cancer. The family thought Mercedes would be like their previous girl but no, she wasn't. She likes to run and play with all the farm animals on their road and even gets along with the chickens and had made friends with the donkey. Good so far? Well, she started running off for a day or two at a time, then longer periods and more frequently. They couldn't fence in their property- I don't know the exact reasons. Started keeping her tied on a chain on the quite large back deck so she'd stay at home but we all know that's no life. The family did the right thing and called our Texas team to make arrangements for Mercedes to find a perfect forever home where she'd be safe and loved.

When we went to pick her up this morning I didn't know what we'd find. Would it be a sad and broken 'Dale tied to a tree; a wild and crazily exhuberent puppygirl with no training; you never know. But Mercedes is the prettiest, sweetest, goofiest, kissy, well-mannered for a happy go-lucky goober-head puppygirl that you could ever want. The lady and her husband had bathed her but she still needed a better bath as she was pretty stinky and we could smell her from the back seat and I could feel things on her that I was hoping weren't ticks! They weren't. Sooooo......

I'd found a walk-in doggie wash down by the medical center the other day online and decided she was getting a good bath before we took her to Houston for her Vet. appt. and surgery so she'd be clean and lessen the risk of infection. So we said our goodbyes (Kris was worried the lady would cry and then she would start crying but it wasn't too bad) and we were off on the adventure. She rode like a champ; just like she'd been on done this long distance ride thing before. Of course she hasn't. It takes us about an hour to get into Houston from the coastal area where we live and from where Mercedes had recently been living.

The Scrub-A-Dub Doggie Wash is a cool place. I got great ideas for my own bathing and grooming area which will come eventually. Mercedes bathes and blow dries like an old timer and I was able to bring in my own tools and shave her belly and personals. Uh, oh. A little swollen on the belly and her teats/ nipples seem funky and protruding. We were afraid of this but we'll know for sure by tomorrow from the Doc. Her hair is wiry and she has a lovely hard coat unlike my Bentley's. His is beautiful but soft and curly. After I dried her she looked like a wooly bear cub and smelled like cuke-melon and gave us the most wonderful all-over face kisses.

Then we were done and it only cost 16 dollars and I used almost 4 bottles of shampoo and the owner let me use her powerful dryer and everything! Off to the other side of Houston to meet Ellana at the Vet. and poof-- our little adventure was over much too quickly. Sweet and sad. Would love to be able to foster her but we can't because we're in the middle of moving closer in for Kris's job transfer and my Vet. Tech. school location in the Fall. Sucks. But the right situation will present itself eventually, it always does. Though I did find out that Kris is an Airedale magnet. Of course Bentley fell in love with her but this goofy Aire-girl fell for her too. Kris told me that this Rescue stuff will be hard for her to participate in but she's good to go knowing it is for the greater good and is a big part of my heart and life.

Bentley still needs a big 'Dale to play with. I just don't play bitey-face that well with him and God knows I try. The little chihuaha's are too small and he only gets to play with his buddy Kobe in Austin every couple of months. But we'll be closer in to Houston where there are dog parks and we'll be closer to the other Airedale people so he can meet new friends! "Soon Mama," Bentley tells me.

I was sad leaving her, Mercedes, today at the Vet. but she will do just fine I know in my heart. I wish I could take them all but it's not a perfect world, is it?

Karen