Kerry Blue Terriers Rescue dogs placed in 2010

Below are stories and updates on some of the Kerries placed by the Foundation during 2010.

Index of 2010 Rescue Kerries

Note

Bear, Male from Wisconsin

Rescue Coordinator: Sharon Arkoff
sharonwrites@HOTMAIL.COM

Poor Bear was raised in a puppy-mill, and sold to a home that was not prepared for his need for attention. Frightened and sick, Bear never had much of a chance to flourish in his one and a half years of life -- until now. Realizing that he was not a good match for them, Bear's family asked the Foundation for help in finding a new home. Bear has been confined to a crate for most of the day in his previous home, but when released follows his humans from room to room in fine kerry style. He reportedly walks nicely on a leash, when he has the chance, and is able to meet and greet other dogs appropriately. Bear is quite shy, according to his previous family, and may have some health issues related to diet, stress, and confinement. Nonetheless, he is still a puppy, and his zest for life is just waiting in there for the right people to come along and help Bear see what a fun, safe place the world can be when you are a kerry blue terrier!

From: jbruno@RALDEN.COM
Subject: [KBL] Fearful Roberto's new life in San Francisco
Date: July 30, 2010 1:43:32 PM PDT
Reply-To: jbruno@RALDEN.COM

The story of most dogs who come through Rescue is often a long series of events with many hands helping along the way. They are all kinds of dogs, with all kinds of issues, or none at all - just bad luck. They all just need someone to give them another chance at life in a loving family.

Back in April I got an email from Linda Lee, a Foundation Rescue Coordinator, asking if I would mentor a family who had a Kerry, just over 18 months, who was extremely fearful of new things and sounds, and chronically vomited and had diarrhea.

The family had purchased the dog from an online line breeder, who they thought was reputable, but it turns out to be a notorious puppymiller, peddling 13 different breeds online.

"When we met the breeder, she had trouble getting Bear out of the crate in her car and when she got him out of the crate he just cowered in her car. She put him on the ground and he was so scared he didn't even move. Her stories of a loveable, kissy puppy that lived inside were obviously not true. He was not groomed, he was matted, and he stunk of excrement and urine."

I sent an half dozen emails to the owners, filled with information I thought might be helpful, but never heard back from them. I suspected they were at the point of overload; a job which took the husband out of town often, and a busy family life with 3 children. Implementing even simple changes in their routine may have been too much for them to handle at the time.

My good friends in San Francisco Kathie & Steve, had recently lost their 16+ year old Kerry, Sebastian. Kathie had grown up with a Kerry, so she had the breed in her blood. Sebastian had originally been on the shy side, and they had worked through that. At his advanced age he required lots of extra care; special diet, and more walks and potty breaks, which they were easily able to accommodate in their schedules.

I thought that they would be a good fit for a dog needing some extra attention. But it was not so easy.

The family was ready to relinquish the dog, but they were in a remote part of SE Wisconsin and we had trouble finding anyone nearby to help us in evaluating, fostering or transporting him to the Twin Cities airport to fly to his new life.

After weeks in a holding pattern, finally I begged one of my Kerry cyber pals in Minnesota, Mary, might she not have a friend or family member who could help? Her brother Jim helped transport Bear to the airport, so finally at the end of June Bear was outbound to his new life as "Roberto" in San Francisco. Kathie and I talked about strategies for making sure Roberto was safe during his first days when he was bound to be confused. Fearful dogs often bolt when frightened. We decided when picking him up at the airport, it would be safest to keep him in the crate until he was safely inside the house, before opening the door. When he was finally home Kathie opened the door to the crate, but he remained huddled in the back.

Hours later, when it was bedtime, Kathie decided frightened or not, he needed a potty break - it had been over 12+ hours since he was put in the crate. Although the crate was dry and clean - he clearly needed to potty. Steve & Kathie had to resort to picking up the back end of the crate to help ease him out (far less frightening for him than crawling in after him and dragging him out).

For the first few days he was very stressed and fearful. They left the crate with the door open in the family room, available to him if he needed a safe place, but he never once retreated to the safety of his crate, fearful as he was, he chose not to hide from his new world. When stressed his ears went back, and he did lots of spinning.

Also his tail was tucked; tucked tightly between his legs, constantly. It was tucked so tight that a week went by and he had a vet exam, and no one realized that he had not been neutered, he tucked so tight that he retracted his testicles! My pilates teacher marveled at the strength of his pelvic floor!

He settled in the kitchen and family room, his safe area. Initially he barked and growled at anyone who entered, including Kathie and Steve.

He also seemed unfamiliar with normal household sounds, and barked and growled at the sound of the refrigerator compressor, coffee grinder, garage door, and much more.

The great news was that he was super food motivated, which is so essential when training a dog, especially a fearful dog.

Roberto had a history of vomiting a diarrhea. When he arrived he would vacuum his food, unchewed, in seconds. So Kathie's strategy was to feed him 3-4 very small meals a day. She started him off on a diet of rice and chicken (in a bowl which was hand held) to help iron out any gut issues (other than one nighttime bout of diarrhea the first day, he has not vomited and his stool has been normal). They also started bit by bit to hand feed a small amount of kibble, and the introduction to fruit, eggs, meats and veggies being served at the human table, and Natural Balance roll - a high value training treat.

The hand feeding quickly helped Roberto get over his initial fear of his new owners and new environment. Over the next days and weeks he became accustomed to his new family and surroundings and was comfortable in the house. Within about a week, he was relaxed enough in the house to untuck his tail, and soon it was up and actually wagging. That is a remarkable turnaround for such a fearful dog. Adopters of some of the Puppymill dogs know how this is such an important milestone!

As he got used to the feeding schedule, he started to slow down when he ate, and actually start chewing his food.

He soon became accustomed to his supervised outings in the yard, except for the odd noise from afar. But walking around the neighborhood was a fearful adventure.

Kathie she decided to start Roberto with a 6 am walk when the streets were pretty much empty. He went along but his tail was tucked, and he pulled to get back to the safety of his own home.

Over a few weeks, while on that early morning walk, Roberto's tail came up and he was started to slow down and take the time to sniff and smell along the walk. Still whenever a neighbor's garage door opened or someone was out walking or jogging, he barked, tucked his tail, started his spinning and pulled towards home.

Roberto started playing with a few toys. He received a gift of a soft bone shaped toy that Kathie throws for him to retrieve, to help him run off some of his energy.

He also loves running up and down the stairs, checking on Steve in his office, and keeping an eye on food related activities in the kitchen. The stairs are another way for him to wear off excess energy.

Last week I went to San Francisco to meet Roberto myself. I was to be the first house guest, the guinea pig, I assured Kathie that there was nothing I hadn't seen with the Kerries I had adopted.

Kathie and Steve spoke with Eileen Andrade, a former Foundation Rescue Coordinator about finding a trainer to help them manage Roberto and help him overcome his fears. He had already had one session with is new trainer, so I followed the instructions that the trainer had set out.

When I entered the front door, he was half way up the stairs and barked and growled at me, tail tucked. I ignored him and went into the living room and sat down, avoiding making any eye contact with him.

For a fearful dog he was still very curious, and curiosity got the better of him and he kept sneaking in to check me out. I started by tossing a few kibbles on the carpet in his direction, which he grabbed then quickly retreated.

However after just a few kibbles, he was feeling brave and safe enough to take the kibbles directly from my hand.

Roberto very much wants to have contact with people, in spite of his fears. During the week I was visiting, we introduced him to five new people, all following the same protocol. Greeting guests at the door with a baggie of kibble, instructing them to ignore him and avoid eye contact upon entering, and taking a seat in the living room. As Roberto's curiosity got the better of him, we had guests toss kibbles one at a time onto the carpet, and then gradually work up to hold a kibble one at a time in the palm of their hand.

One of the guests he met was my 2.5 year old niece, Paige. Although she has not grown up with a pet, she had just returned from 3 week with my father who has a 2 year old puppy who she adores. Roberto gently licked her palm to free the kibble that was lodged between her chubby fingers. She squealed with delight and eventually gave him a big bear hug.

Roberto is a quick learner, and knew some commands; "sit" "down" and also lifting his paw to do a high five. I spent a few minutes with him on the "high five" and whenever he wanted a treat from me he sat in front of me and with a high five politely let me know what my job was!

Kathie and Steve like to have guests and entertain, and in order to help Roberto ease into his new life, they have scheduled introductory visits with a bunch of dog friendly friends, to help Roberto understand that new people are a great thing, with baggies filled with treats.

It hasn't even been a month, and every day Roberto opens up a little more and embraces his new life. He is still fearful and uncertain of new people, sights and sounds, and there are certainly many challenges ahead. But he is well on his way to a new life in San Francisco, with his tail up and wagging.

I was thrilled to play a small part in helping this young dog find a new home a start a new life.

PS did I mention that he is gorgeous; with the most beautiful, dense coat and he has the sweetest, most gentle, personality ever!

Duncan, 2-year old male

Hi! My name’s Duncan. I am a two year old healthy, neutered, male Kerry. I weigh about 35 lbs. And I live with two cats – not every Kerry can say that! I will play with other dogs out in the yard and I have a female friend who is a Wheaten terrier.

But I do have a problem I need help with. I can be very protective of my food and toys – especially my toys! My owner and I did some work with a trainer, so I learned the commands “drop it” and “leave it.” I respond really well to training, especially when I get praise and treats. But sometimes I forget to be good when people come into the house and try to take things away from me.

I need to find a special home where my new family will have the time, patience, and skill to work with me, care for me . . . and love me too! I need a home without small children (adults only please) and no other dogs.

Jack a 3 year old male

Jack is a healthy three year old male Kerry, currently living in the Cincinnati area. Jack is a sweet dog, good around people, including children. Squirrels, rabbits and cats – beware!

Jack’s owner died recently, so now he is in the same household as his brother. Jack needs a new home because he does not like his brother and dog fights ensure. Jack wants to be the alpha male, so he will need his new family to be firm, consistent and caring. Obedience training for Jack will be a must.

Jack gets along with female dogs and could is probably live with a female dog if the family is dog savvy, otherwise it would be preferable if he were the only dog in the household.

Jack needs a caring family with a large fenced yard w

here he can play. He also needs people who are experienced terrier owners and have the time, energy and patience to provide him with the love and training he needs. Jack will also have to be neutered by his adoptive family.

Jack is in a foster placement, away from his brother. But he needs to find his forever home soon as his foster family will not be able to keep him too much longer because of their busy schedule. Jack, who turned four in August, is a healthy boy weighing just under 40 lbs. He has been checked by a veterinarian (heartworm negative) and has now been neutered.

Jack’s foster family confirms that he is indeed a loving family dog, good with people of all ages! He is housebroken, a true gentleman in the house, and walks well on a leash. In his foster home he is smitten with (and submissive to) a 10 year old Kerry female. However, Jack really needs a securely fenced yard in which to play! If he sees anything of interest, he will try to dig or leap his way out. Once pursuing a distraction, Jack has no interest in coming back when called.

Jack needs a forever family (definitely no cats!) who will love him, watch over him, and continue to work with him. In a terrier experienced home it is likely Jack will get along with a female dog friend. So, if you are a terrier experienced family with a securely fenced yard (high fence please!), consider submitting an application to adopt this sweet boy.

Logan, a 5 year old male in Utah

Logan is a 5 year old, neutered male Kerry in Salt Lake City. Logan is currently being boarded with a trainer, who is addressing aggression and issues with dominence, that his previous owners could no longer handle. It seems as though Logan was spoiled and given little guidence when he went into his previous home, and as we all know, this can cause dominence issues with Kerries. According to the trainer, Logan just needed guidance and a firm hand. He has shown little aggression since being with him, but can be aggressive if one comes to close to his food.

Marley

Four years ago (2006) Marley was found wandering the streets of Pasadena as a young puppy. His rescuers love him, but have relocated and find they now are no longer able to provide him what he needs. I have met this young male and found him to be delightful and affectionate, immediately sitting at my feet to ask for itches and rubs.

He loves to take walks, play hide and seek with two people who each have treats, and he likes to run and jump with people outside. He is semi-independent and will spend hours with his stuffed toys, which he likes to suck on. He has a soft loose-curly coat and a very waggy natural tail.

He has been walked on leash, and also allowed to go offleash at dog parks and at the beach, where he he sticks close. He is not an escape artists and generally does not run off. His one vice is to be protective at home, and while this may require some training or system when strangers come into the house, it is a typical trait for a Kerry Blue.

He is great with kids, who come up to him all the time when he is walked, and pet him. On walks he is either disinterested in cats, or sometimes interested but not overly aggressive. He is good with other dogs who are not aggressive toward him. While on leash, when another larger dog passes, he really wants to go meet that dog and will pull strongly to do so. But, he is not aggressive and seems to just want to meet the other dog.

Marley’s owners are willing to wait for the right home, but only for a month or so. Would you be the forever home for this delightful Irish Gentleman?

From: monroy04@msn.com
Subject: Update of Marley for website
Date: January 25, 2010 7:27:04 PM PST

Marley has found a new home! He is now living amongst the squirrels and in the snow of Boulder Colorado. His travel to his new adventure went very well after spending a slumber party evening at the home of Danielle Monroy, partying it up with her two Kerries, Blaire and Jimmy. He boarded his luxury flight with Pet Airways via Hawthorne Executive Airport (traveling in first class with his stuffed animal companion and in flight snack biscuits). "Onward!" he said with a bound, never looking back.

The following is an accounting of his new accommodations as related by his new owners Cindy and Kaye.

From: Danielle Monroy
Subject: Update on Marley
Date: March 14, 2010 12:23:28 PM PDTF

Marley is having a fantastic time with his new family! He even has a new baby sister, which makes him feel Big, Brave, and Beautifully loved!!!

From: Cindy
Subject: Update on Marley
Date: March 29, 2010 7:03:58 PM PDT

Attached are a few more photos. Marley in his muscle shirt on St Patrick's Day. (He attended the Boulder parade.) And a couple of photos with his new sibling, Polly.

Kerrie, 4 year old female

A few weeks ago (12/2009), former rescue Maddie came back into the Rescue system, now renamed Kerrie. Despite probably being neglected and/or physically abused in her childhood, Kerrie is a darling, funny girl, and extremely soft-tempered. Her favorite thing is snuggling with her humans (she is very generous with hugs and kisses, and determinedly follows you from room to room), or maybe her favorite thing is romping around a nice yard -- sometimes doing a fine version of "faster than a speeding bullet!", perhaps with alittle "freeze in place, stick my head in the snow, explode out of the snow, and then go calmly explore the trees again." Or maybe her favorite thing is playing with other dogs, once properly introduced, as Kerrie has not had much chance to practice doggie social skills.

Kerrie had been living for the past year in a quiet home with a senior kerry, with whom she gets on very well except that he doesn't play with her to her satisfaction. She is fearful when meeting new people, and is very afraid of men -- though she is willing to overlook a Y chromosome if it means getting a belly-rub (I'll post pictures to the web site shortly). But, she's getting over her fear alittle bit every day -- meeting new women and children now is almost without issue. She is fine with young children (gives kisses and tolerates children's hugs, though she is afraid of lots of noise and activity from children), walks nicely on a leash, and is a pleasure to have in the car. In her foster home, she is enjoying lots of walks and doing better every time when meeting new dogs. She will start obedience classes soon, to give her confidence and socialization, and help her learn to trust humans and look to them for guidance when she's scared. Kerrie is a pretty girl, albeit a bit.... ahem... tubby at the moment. She has a soft silver coat on body and legs, and a little coal-black head complete with lick button (when you tap her nose, out comes a small pink tongue for a lick). She is not in the traditional kerry trim, but could probably pull it off in another month or two, when her legs grow out. Her ears don't appear to have been set.

For Kerrie, an ideal home would be one where the owners have time to give the attention she so craves, and where there is a nice male for her to play with and from whom she can gently learn the ropes of being a full member of a caring, attentive family. A one-dog home would also be a good match, if given opportunities to play with other dogs so that she can supplement her exercise and enjoy her newly developing canine social skills. A fenced yard and/or other means of exercise are a must, as Kerrie very much enjoys dropping her fears and zooming around full of zest for life and zest for squirrels. She would enjoy older children, especially if allowed to sleep in their bed, and younger children are not necessarily an exclusion. She is about four years old, fully housebroken, is a polite eater, and while she has a bark that could bring down tall buildings, she does not bark excessively (she does bark at scary noises, and if she's out in the yard and someone walks by with a dog). She will chase cats, but as soft-tempered as she is, could probably be trained out of it very quickly.

Does anyone out there have a male who's looking for some more playtime and companionship, or does anyone know of a family that is looking for a dog and could commit to Kerrie's ongoing training and socialization? She will reward you with affection, loyalty, and all the kerry sparkle we count on from this breed.

From: mattsuebuehler@HOTMAIL.COM
Subject: [KBL] Update on Kerrie the rescue
Date: April 24, 2010 7:11:27 AM PDT

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to send a quick update on Kerrie. She flew from Sudbury, MA to Colorado Springs, CO via PetAir on Feb 18th. Many thanks to her foster mom, Sharon, for the long drive from her home to Long Island, NY for the flight. After reading about the airlines, I would not put her on a commercial plane. PetAir treated her like family.

Anyway, Guinness, the resident Kerry, is very happy to finally have a sister. They play together wonderfully and get along great. There is only about 1 1/2 years difference with Kerrie being the eldest at almost 5 yrs old. She is still a little shy of men, but she will wag her tail and walk towards my husband, but not within petting distance. Funny thing, though, she has no problem hopping into bed at night and sleeping at his feet. She will also cuddle between us on the couch. Speaking of wagging her tail, she is so happy that when her tail wags, her whole body wags with her. She will look towards Guinness when unsure of what to do in a situation, such as bark or jump. I hate to say he is not always a good example.

It's great having 2 kerries that get along so well. Thankfully, Kerrie likes to join us on our runs or walks into town and likes to go squirrel hunting with Guinness. They both go to doggy day care 1-2 days per week just to play with other dogs and I'm happy to report that the day care "mom" says that Kerrie plays with all the other dogs and is a "social butterfly".

Kerrie also has a good appetite and eats anything I'm eating such as squash and broccoli. Guinness is such a picky eater and takes his time eating. I have to watch them because Kerrie will eat her food like it's going out of style and finish off Guinness' if he walks away.

Lastly, we are just grateful that we have a female kerry to round out our family.

Molly, 2 1/2 year old female in Minnesota

Jim and Judy rescued Molly from their local shelter in November of 2008 as a Poodle Mix. It wasn’t until February 2009 that they realized they had a Kerry Blue Terrier. Initially Molly had some dog aggression with their 7 year old beagle, Eddie, but within time, they were able to minimize this and Eddie became very instrumental in helping Molly learn the finer points of being a dog. While Molly was always very good with people, it became very apparent from that start that Molly had very few social skills in the dog world and had some dog aggression.

Molly is now about 2 1⁄2 years old. She has been to basic obedience class and moved on to advanced agility classes. Molly was making great progress until something still unknown changed for her. While she and Eddie were known to have their little spats in the past, they were few and far between, usually with a reason. While upsetting and something that was constantly being worked on to minimize, the bark was always worse than the bite and they were generally very social with each other. But within 5 days in the first week in March 2010, something changed for Molly. Her aggression appeared to be unprovoked, frequently happening throughout the day - she was going for Eddie’s throat. Eddie was starting to show injury. Due to the severity of the aggression and the ongoing escalation, it was decided to re-home Molly to keep both dogs safe and happy.

Molly has had a thorough checkup at the vet and is in good health. She is spayed, up-to-date with her vaccinations, and micro-chipped. Except for targeting Eddie, Molly has not changed. She loves people and also loves her cats. She will chase the cats if they run, so initial supervision to see how they are interacting is recommended. Molly has also been good in the company of children who have visited her home. Her groomer and vet both comment on her good behaviors when they are handling her. She knows many of her basic obedience commands and has been having lots of fun in the agility classes! Molly responds well to positive training methods.

While she will interact well with some dogs, Molly needs to be watched carefully as she will show aggression with certain dogs, especially if challenged. However, with the exception of Eddie, she gives warning signs, so the issue is manageable. While she is also a resource guarder of her toys - and sometimes of her humans – it is only with other dogs. Molly has never shown any of these behaviors toward people. She may play a game of keep away with you, but all in fun! So, given her issues with other canines, it is essential that Molly be the only dog in a household where she can bond with her own humans.

While Molly is a ‘work in progress,’ she has made great strides within a structured and loving environment. Her family will miss her greatly, but they know that being the only dog in a household is best for Molly.

Mister Neo, a 6 year old male

Neo came into Kerry Rescue after he was surrendered to the Montreal SPCA. Nadia Bourassa, Rescue Coordinator for Quebec, assessed him and found him to be friendly, responsive, and intelligent although somewhat out of shape. Since September, Neo has been learning what is expected of a Kerry as a member of a family in his foster home. He is becoming quite the gentleman and deserving of his new title, Mister Neo or perhaps Monsieur Neo keeping in mind his French Canadian heritage.

Mister Neo arrived not understanding anything except his name and when he heard it, his tail and whole rear end wagged feverishly. His tail still wags at the sound of “Neo” and anytime when he is happy which is most of the time. It appears that Neo had no training and was left to his own devices for the 8 to 10 hours his owners were at work each day. Today, Mister Neo has learned the basic etiquette required of a good house pet. He plays in the yard, loves his walks and is in better physical condition than when he arrived in foster care.

Neo will follow his foster mom and dad from room to room, just sitting, waiting and wanting to be near his people. He is excited to greet people but never jumps on them. Neo is reliably house trained and has never chewed anything except his own toys. Removing squeakers is his prime objective with a new toy! He has two favorite toys and entertains himself playing with them, even tossing them and running to catch them. He loves to place a toy in your lap sometimes allowing you to toss it and sometimes teasing by holding it with his front paws then taking it before you can grasp it. Like most Kerries, Neo has endless energy. He is a small Kerry, standing about 17 inches and weighing 30 pounds. To see him play, you would think he is a puppy, but Mister Neo is a gentleman of 6 years. The foster family’s veterinarian assessed Neo as being a very healthy dog. He had been previously neutered and since living in foster care a benign cyst was removed from his side and his teeth were cleaned.

When Neo was surrendered to the Montreal SPCA, it was noted that he was dog aggressive. He is living in foster care with two resident Kerries and his foster family has worked to teach him how to be a part of the pack. Neo has made great strides in getting along with the resident Kerries.

An adult home providing consistency and dedication to continued training would be best for Mister Neo. He does best in a calm predictable environment and would love to be an only dog. Of course, companionship for at least part of the day and a fenced yard would be a must for him. A daily dose of love by snuggling with his people, gentle words, and a treat or two is all Neo wants. He has spent too much of his life alone and he deserves better than that.

The sweet, loving Kerry that was always the heart and soul of Neo is now visible as a result of unconditional love and appropriate training. He has moved beyond the loneliness, inattention, and lack of training of his former life. Adopting Neo will not be a labor of love, it will be a joy because he will return your kindness with years of devotion.

Blind Suzie has Issues

In early March, Foundation rescue coordinators learned of a 5-year-old Kerry in Ohio in need of rescue. Anonymous KBTF rescue volunteers who scan the internet for Kerries had found her listed on CraigsList as "KBT in need of a new home." Infomation about her spread quickly through the rescue coordinator network and the situation became more urgent as "Suzie" was listed as "not spayed." Imagine how quickly a puppy miller in the mid-West could have gotten her for breeding and that would have been Suzie's last day of freedom as the cage door slammed shut. But there was one more complication: Suzie was completely blind (think how much patience a miller would have had with a blind Kerry bitch).

At the young age of two, Suzie's granddad let her out of the house by mistake, Suzie went for a jaunt and a car hit her a block from home. One eye was immediatley lost and one eye remained but became covered by scar tissue.

Now five, Suzie's life was becoming increasingly minimized. She was left alone for 10 hours a day, her companion Lab moved out six months ago as Suzie's family split apart, and we believe her family, while loving Suzie, didn't work to make her life interesting. We don't believe she ever went for walks, car rides or family outings. Suzie's life was on the couch, all day, every day. Finally Suzie's Dad realized that someone out there might adopt Suzie and give her a happier life, as well as pay for typical Kerry health and grooming expenses that he could no longer afford.

Agatha Hughes in Philadelphia agreed to foster Suzie and offered to make the 900 mile drive to mid-Ohio and back to get her. Suzie was a trooper for the entire trip and really enjoyed the motel-overnight experience, a first for her! Suzie has been in foster care now for nearly two weeks and Agatha reports that she is doing beautifully. Two weeks ago she was matted to the skin, with eye, ear and all-body staph skin infections. Medication is clearing up those problems. Grooming has revealed a nice looking Kerry underneath the massive mop of a coat.

When Agatha drove to Ohio, she was buoyed by the vet report from three years ago saying that laser surgery might remove the scar tissue from the remaining eye and restore some sight. However, on the day she picked Suzie up, Agatha had trouble finding Suzie's eye underneath all the hair. Back in Philadelphia, Agatha's vet revealed the sad news. Due to the long term physical neglect by Suzie's family, there was no remaining eye. It had atrophied due to infection and the family had not even noticed. So, she is a blind girl for life. But that does not mean a sad girl for life!

Agatha says Suzie is the sweetest Kerry she has ever met, that she listens, is madly affectionate and thrilled whenever invited to go outside. She has become well known in the neighborhood and is 100% non-dog aggressive. She does just fine with Agatha's female, Lily.

Information and tips abound online about living with a blind dog as well as e-lists for blind dog owners, and even a comprehensive book, a total guide from training to games-for-blind dogs. Agatha finds it is not nearly as difficult as it sounds and Suzie is learning her way around the house and yard. She moves easily along major routes throughout the house that she has memorized and explores new parts gingerly and patiently until she knows them. She can be easily re-directed with sound if she is headed for a collision with a wall or furniture and there have been very few of those.

Suzie is not yet available for adoption until she is spayed and has eye surgery to permanently close the second eye to preclude further eye infections. The only reason that Agatha may not be able to adopt her is that her current home has a massive yard but is not traditionally fenced. There is an invisible fence for the other Kerry but training for an invisible fence requires the ability to see warning flags during training.

What an amazing job Agatha, a Foundation volunteer, accomplished in obtaining Suzie, working through a lack of communication with the owner for days at a time and the logistics of the whole trip which included her taking her own Kerry along.

From: agamemnon@navpoint.com
Subject: Blind Suzie is Adopted
Date: June 4, 2010 7:59:18 AM PDT

Issues aside, Suzie is a fabulously brave and extremely loving Kerry, and she and I are very grateful to the Foundation for rehabilitating her medically AND giving her a whole new lease on life. Thank you so very much. Watching her transformation over the last two months has been terrifically rewarding. And, given time, I think a trainer and I will figure Suzie out. Meanwhile she is an EXTREMELY happy girl -- which is why she needs a trainer -- Suz is living life to a Kerry version of the "fullest!" .... And there is nothing wrong with that.

The Kerry fall is a fab thing to have if you are blind ---- like a mass of antennae telling you what you are about to bump into! All blind dogs should have them.

Paddington

Paddington was rescued by the Foundation, and placed in Montana. Here is a report from his new family:

Greetings from Montana.... Thought you might enjoy a visit with a happy dog; Paddington.

We are still working very hard to housebreak this gorgeous blue man, so these pics are taken from our side yard, where Paddy feels most comfortable as grass is not an option to his feet! He has a fabulous temperament and is a joy to have around! Tail up and ready for another day with me and the girls! He is a great eater and has been busy building up his muscles and his weight. He loves morning treats and sunshine on his back....glad our weather has been cooperative. Loves to strut his stuff with nightly walks with his dad.

Seamus, 11-year old in MA

Older Man Likely to Commit Theft....
... of your heart. Once this man wraps his arms around you and gazes into your eyes, well..... you will be lost. :-) Certainly he melted my knees in seconds. :-)

Meet Rescue kerry Seamus, whose owner passed away, leaving 11-year-old Seamus in the care of his vet. In not the greatest shape when he came in, Seamus is still on the skinny side, but that detracts nothing from his sophisticated charm. Seamus loves meeting new people, loves walks, and is still perfectly capable of standing up on his hind legs to gently wrap his front paws around you and give you a quiet hug.

Seamus is in good health for his age; maybe a bit stiffer and slower than a young dog, but so are many of us. He gets eye drops daily, but other than needing a few more pounds, he is in fine shape! He does need to follow a fairly regular schedule for potty breaks, as is understandable. It's difficult to say how his hearing is, as it appears to be selective to the opening of the treat jar. He probably has some hearing loss, but again, I think alot of it is selective -- after all, he is a kerry blue, and a guy. (Sorry, guys! Just kidding. :-) ).

He has been enjoying the busy life of his vet's clinic, is happy to meet other dogs, accepts treats gently, and does not seem overly obsessive about cats. The best home for him would be one where he could bond with his new owner (not likely to be a problem; Seamus is a very engaging, interested kerry), and enjoy lots of moderate walks, hugs, treats, and small adventures. We find that many senior rescue dogs really enjoy being around activity, perhaps as a change from the isolation they may have experienced as their former owners grew increasingly unwell.

As you can see, Seamus is currently shaved quite short, as his coat was very matted when he came in, but he has plenty of soft dark fur, and he is fairly tall, making him tall, dark, and handsome - of course. He is the Cary Grant type. Now, we all know that the older the barrel, the sweeter the cognac, folks!

Seamus is being fostered in Massachusetts. If you are interested, please complete an Adoption Request Form.

Rescue kerry Seamus is settling in to foster care quite well, finding his way around and enjoying his outdoor time. In fact, he loves nothing more than sleeping on the deck in the 90-degree sun. He does not want to come inside, and he does not want to be in the shade. He has a huge bowl of water, and is perfectly content. I leave the door open for him (to the delight of the mosquitos and flies), and he is happy as a clam. It's alittle disconcerting to see him lying sprawled in the sun, but he loves being outside so much, I think maybe he didn't get out much in his former life. And, maybe the sun feels good on his old bones. We would really like to find a wonderful home for Seamus, despite his age; with two other kerries in the house (one a spunky 3-yo foster), we can't give Seamus the attention he deserves. Maybe someone knows of someone, perhaps an older couple that enjoys walks and working in the garden, and who has a soft spot for dogs but isn't looking for a challenge.

At 11 or 12, Seamus is not that old for a kerry, but he is a senior in spirit. He really just wants to go on gentle walks, putter around the yard, check in with his people every so often for alittle loving, give quiet steady hugs, and sleep. But he is very food-motivated. If it comes from the meat or dairy aisle of the supermarket, he's your man. He has the "I'm starving. Look how sweet I am. Don't I deserve an entire rack of lamb?" expression down to a science. He is not as skinny as when he arrived, because I chose to ignore the vet's advice and I am feeding that boy up. Seamus' former vet is a very passionate, caring person, newly graduated from vet school, and in my experience these vets are wonderfully bright, giving, caring, committed, etc. -- but they are young and overly idealistic. :-) The vet recommended keeping Seamus skinny because thin dogs live longer. I know this is true, but for me it's about quality of life more than quantity, in Seamus' case, and Seamus was ravenous when he came here.

Youth and idealism among recent veterinary school grads. :-) When we had the late Duffy, the very impassioned and newly minted vet at the oncology teaching hospital stoutly declared that she would not refill Duffy's anti-inflammatory medicine unless he had $700 worth of diagnostic testing every month to make sure his kidneys were working well. Duffy was already at least 12 years old, and had been given 2-4 months to live because he had a head full of inoperable cancer, that was asymptomatic as long as he got his one little pill a day. We didn't care about the long term perfection of his kidneys. We cared about him not choking on his own nosebleeds. Anyway, our local vet had us sign a release form and then the local vet gave us the refills, and Duffy lived another adventurous, happy-go-lucky, bouncy year or so -- asymptomatic until the end.

Anyway, see who you can think of for Seamus, folks. He is a sweet boy and deserves his own people.

From: sharonwrites@HOTMAIL.COM
Subject: [KBL] Rescue Boy Seamus: We have ignition!!
Date: August 4, 2010 9:01:11 PM PDT

A quick update on Seamus, a 12-year-old kerry boy who came into the Foundation's rescue system when his elderly owner passed away. Though 12 is actually.... um.... younger than we are used to, Seamus is a very old kerry in personality and body. He is friendly and is very responsive to food, but hasn't really been engaging with the family, and spends all his time, when not on walks or when let out in the backyard, sleeping alone in the garage or the mudroom by choice. We walk, we pet, we groom.... just not doing it for him. I've never known a kerry who didn't follow his people from room to room, but, there you go. He was also escaping at every opportunity and heading off up the street on his own, and he will keep going (at a determined walk) until caught. He can't hear and he can't see very well, so he can't find his way home (or he doesn't want to). Maybe he wants to go back to his first home or even to the vet's office where he lived for a couple months; who knows.

However. He is always very interested in our outdoor cat's bed on the porch, and in sniffing out all the spots she sleeps on the porch or on the stone wall. Yesterday, as it happened, she was sitting on the stone wall, which is eye-level for Seamus, when we came outside. He can't see much (the vet says one eye appears totally occluded and the other one has some function but not much), but a black and white cat at eye-level..... Well. Guess who got his mojo back!! Seamus jumped the two-foot high stone wall and took off after kitty across the lawn. Very impressive. He lost kitty almost immediately, but he was still very proud. Later we took him to the town concert at the local park (running kids, dropped ice cream cones, kites, bikes, balls, picnics, etc.) and he was Mr. Man About Town. Going up to everybody, tail wagging charmingly, making sure he met every single other dog there, woo-hoo. My 6-year old ran all over the soccer fields with him, with Seamus galloping right along (sort of).

Back at home, he is beginning to lie down for a few minutes in the kitchen and living room with us, before eventually heading back to the mud room, and he is much perkier and that tail is going to hurt someone. :-) He is suddenly much more interested in other dogs we meet on our walks (the advantage of senility is that he thinks the dogs are new every time he meets them), and I think we will go to doggie daycare next week to further stir up those sluggish neurons. And, when we're all out in the unfenced front yard he has begun keeping an eye on me (for whatever that one eye is worth) and checking in with me every few minutes, instead of bolting for points unknown. Good boy, Seamus!

The only down side is that if he perks up much more, he will be too fast on walks for 15-yo Andrew to keep up, and also he trips and falls over low obstacles. Eye-level, he's okay, as long as it's not on his blind side, but he has fallen a couple times, while going along as his newfound, relatively speedy jog, when he didn't see a rock or root in the trail. In any case, go, Seamus, go! Glad to see the glimmerings of a kerry in there.

And, I cut the stupid pom-pom off his tail and he looks much better. That's probably why he's perked up. He has shed the shame of the tail pom-pom.--Sharon

Lyndi Lu, an 8-month-old female

Rescue Coordinator: Priscilla Harvey
PnDHarvey@aol.com

Meet Lyndi Lu, an 8-month-old Kerry puppy in the hands of rescue from an owner with too many dogs. Lyndi is a sweet girl with lots and lots of energy and little training. Smart though, and affectionate. In her foster home she plays hard but is comfortable around adults and older children alike. She will do best in a home with another dog with similar energy and someone home during the day. Lyndi has a strong prey drive, so no cats or other small animals!

Lyndi is partially housetrained and learning to walk on a leash. Not in a straight line yet, but the four paws are trying hard to stay on the ground. She is not a fussy eater and has been crated at night. Lyndi Lu will absolutely needs classes, either puppy kindergarten and/or obedience. Lyndi will be spayed before she leaves her foster home. She is located on the east coast.

From: PnDHarvey@aol.com
Subject: Lyndi Adoption
Date: July 16, 2010 3:28:42 PM PDT

Lyndi Lu was adopted on July 13, 2010 and is in her new home in Wash., DC.

Sam, 7-year old male in WA

Rescue Coordinator: Lynn mathers
KERIBLUE@aol.com

Sam has been in foster care for a short time and we have a very good feel for the family that would be perfect for him. He was adopted from an animal shelter last July and according to his last family "He is the perfect pet!" They felt he needed a new home since their child was now walking and since they didn't know what his back ground was they thought they should probably wait a few years before getting another dog.

An active lifestyle: Sam may be 7 yrs. old but he has energy to burn! He will chase after the ball but will not bring it back! He loves to go on walks so the minute he sees you get the leash he is bouncing all over the place. It must be made clear though that Sam I Am has his preference in that he HATES wet grass! He also can't wait to go in the car for rides, and doesn't care if they are short or long. Sam wants to be more with his people and can't just be left outside on his own.

Grooming: As you can see, Sam came into foster with an absolutely adorable haircut. As he didn't care for the 1 1/2 year old baby that he was living with pulling on his coat, he has received a more conventional Kerry clip, and while it is very short, it will grow out evenly and be absolutely beautiful.

A large secure yard: see above! He wants to investigate then find a warm dry patch and he will lay frog style while he suns himself

People: Sam loves everyone, but may do better with older children. Sam had a long hair cut before his grooming and he didn''t like his coat to be pulled on. He has currently been living with a 3 year old little girl who has fallen in love with him and he loves her. He will follow her and she certainly follows, sits and lays with him and hugs him constantly. Being left alone is fine for him but he would prefer it to be just short times if possible.He has been 100% safe loose in our house while we've been out.

Other pets: Sam is friendly with the other Kerries, Airedales, Norwich, and cats in his foster home. He will be fine with any other dogs and cats. We have even had him out with the horse and he hasn't shown any interest. He does love to pull you to meet up with another dog but as soon as the meet and greet nose touch is over he's done. Doesn't care because he has more important business in meeting the people on the other leash!

Health: Sam is neutered, healthy, recently micro chipped and housetrained. At 7 he has a small soft fatty lump on his right shoulder and his teeth will need to be cleaned toward the end of the year. He has had obedience classes but would benefit with new classes with his new owner to create a working bond. This is a requirement of all our rescue placements. He is a lovely purebred, silver Blue boy

Sam was adopted on August 1, 2010.

Riley

Rescue Coordinator: Sharon Arkoff
sharonwrites@HOTMAIL.COM

Riley is out of rehab (see story), and is ready for adoption. The requirements will be VERY rigid, because while Riley is beyond charming and is a handsome and loving goofball most of the time, if he is not given very clear structure and guidance, his Mr. Hyde side still can emerge and it is not pretty.

Three-year-old Riley is very much a textbook kerry blue male -- full of bravado, but also a complete goofball much of the time. He is very handsome, trim and with a gorgeous headset, arched neck, and body position especially when.... uh, um, seeing a cat. At the time of coming into Rescue from a neglectful home, Riley had very serious issues with aggressive resource-guarding, especially when it came to toys or food. Riley has learned his lessons well during his month in a training boot camp, and now will calmly sit or lie down on command when it's supper time, instead of challenging his humans. Riley has a lovely response to the basic obedience commands, is fully housebroken, is neutered, is very smart and fast (rally obedience, anyone? Agility?) and is a funny dorky affectionate boy who loves to chase tennis balls and his kong. He will bring the toy back to you and drop it on your feet only when you're not looking; clearly, a standard game of fetch is beneath him. Riley loves all people and has shown nice manners around my young chilren. He tolerates baths without a grumble though he finds them humiliating, and has lovely manners for gently taking treats from your hand. He remains mystified by frogs and by lakes and flowing water -- he will stand on a bridge and watch the river beneath it for as long as you let him, and he has fallen into a local pond twice, having attempted to figure out what the water was while standing on a steep bank. Maybe he is admiring his reflection and his lovely silvery coat with its darker points?

Because Riley will probably always have issues deep down, he must go to a home that will provide more-than-average structure and guidance. Too much freedom definitely is too much of a good thing in Riley's case! He needs to engage in some work (such as obedience training or agility) to get his brain and body working calmly together, and to help him feel balanced and looking to his humans for instructions when he is frustrated or excited. The best home for Riley would be one that could manage some sort of schedule of training and exercise into Riley's day and stick to that schedule, and who could work with the occasional grumble from Himself. A home with older children or adults able to engage him in appropriate physical play would be nice for Riley. An owner who'd like to pursue obedience or some other structured canine activity would be fantastic for Riley's busy mind and general zest for life. Riley has a very strong prey drive, so a home with no cats woud be necessary. Riley gets along very well with the elderly senior male kerry in his foster home, and is learning how to pass dogs he meets on the street without having to give the other dog the unabridged "I'm a kerry male" routine. A large, securely fenced yard would be wonderful, as Riley loves chasing his tennis ball and keeping the yard clear of rabbits and squirrels, or simply romping with his people as they pretend to chase and play-bow with him. Riley loves walks, car rides, and adventures of all sorts! If you're looking for a keen, strong-willed but very rewarding kerry, maybe Riley is your man!

Reiley was adopte in August, 2010.

From: sharonarkoff@YAHOO.COM
Subject: [KBL] Remember Riley? (Long)
Date: November 6, 2010 8:43:32 AM PDT

I thought I'd post this message to the list because so many people were hoping Riley, our gorgeous young male with serious territorial aggression issues, would "make it," and so many people contributed to the cost of his rehab.

My own favorite memory of Riley is of the last day he spent with me, and we went for a walk in the local conservation land. I could let Riley run off-leash as long as he had his 30-foot training lead attached, and that way he could run and chase squirrels, etc. while I kept company with Riley's slow senior housemates, Seamus and Andrew. Riley had always been alittle afraid of water -- he was fascinated by lakes and streams, but could not get up the courage to get his feet wet. This time, though, he summoned all his courage and stepped into the water! You have never seen a dog more proud of himself. A few minutes later, we came across a black lab and her owners near a small pond, and of course the lab invited Riley to play. Despite his total ineptitidue at meeting other dogs (Riley's natural inclination was to charge, rush, snarl, growl, spin, and bite at his leash at the sight of another dog, which understandably upset the other dogs' humans), Riley loved, loved, loved playing with other dogs. To see him drop the emotional baggage of his early years and learn to play with friendly, well-socialized dogs was enough to make you cry, every time. So, here is the lab enticing Riley to play, and Riley desperately wants to, but..... the lab keeps running into the pond! Poor Riley hovered on the bank, barking, bowing, wagging, just beside himself over what to do. Then two more dogs came running out of the woods, and they jumped right in. Then, someone found a huge stick and took that into the pond! This was all too much for Riley. He cast aside his fears and leaped, ears and legs flying, into the drink! He then spent the next 15 minutes galloping in, out, through, and around the pond, sometimes with all four dogs holding on to the stick as they ran, while we owners stood there and took bets on how long it was going to be before the dogs tried to run through a 4-foot gap in the trees while all still gripping their 5-foot stick. Every so often, Riley would run back to me, his little glowing face just absolutely suffused with delight, his ears back in the "I'm so happy I'm going to burst" position, sit (good dog!), and look up at me as if to say, "Mom! Mom! Mom! Did you see me? Did you? This is just the Best Day Ever!"

However. Apparently that was not the best day ever, because he's having even better ones with his new home, as his owner relates below. Now, this does not mean that Rescue can take on any more aggressive kerries, or that we can repeat Riley's success, or ever find another adopter who was willing to work with a Riley. We want every kerry owner to invest in professional-level training with kind, clear, consistent methods from the start, so that a dog never gets into Riley's situation. However, lecture over, I thought everyone who
followed Riley's case might enjoy this message:

You mean my Ry-Guy the little love machine!?? He has turned into such a love bug.... [...]What a HUGE transformation this dog did with lots of love, attention and repetitive patterns and rules to follow, I think it will inspire anyone who may be having issues with behavioral problems!! He even drops toys/shoes on command now. I tell him almost everyday how PROUD I am of him and how much we love him! He eats it all up :_)

Millie, 5 year old female in Georgia

Rescue Coordinator: Sharon Arkoff
sharonwrites@HOTMAIL.COM

Millie was an owner-turn in at a South Carolina shelter, because the owner "had too many dogs."

Millie is petit at 22 lbs. but eating ravishly at he foster home. She is house broken, well trained to walk on a leash. She is good with other dogs, both male and female.

Millie is doing very well, a few weeks into foster care in the southeast. She continues to prove herself a darling, loving, eager to please little kerry, and once we understand alittle more about the health issues that probably caused her to end up in rescue (she had a particularly virulent fungal infection in her paws upon arrival and she was just plain too skinny), she will be a jewel of a companion.

Though on the diminutive side, Millie is all kerry and is very happy to join in the fray when her kennel-mates announce company or announce dinner, etc. She is patient and sweet for her daily medicinal treatments for her paws, and would desperately love her own person(s) with whom to be a velcro kerry indoors -- but especially in her present kennel environment, she has plenty of pent-up energy to burn off , and she would love a large securely fenced yard and an owner who will enjoy taking her for walks, to run errands, to the dog park to show off her spunky kerry moves, etc. Because Millie so desperately craves attention, she will do best in a home where someone is home most of the day, and can include her in their activities - there may be some history of separation anxiety, which could be managed by her finding the right forever home. Millie walks nicely on a leash. She is untested with cats and young children, but would probably love a pack of little kids to swarm over. Millie is going to the local veterinary teaching hospital shortly to make sure we have addressed her health issues, but potential adopters should be aware that based on her prior history, Millie may always be at risk of a return infection in her paws and may have the occasional mysterious malady. Frankly, though, we believe Millie will be very healthy given proper routine care.

For whatever reason, her former owner felt unable to be the right person for Millie, and turned her in to a shelter rather than contacting the Foundation. We are fortunate that volunteers were able to pull Millie from the shelter and move her into a caring foster environment. Accordingly, we are hoping to find a very committed new home that sees Millie's delicate constitution as an opportunity to make a real difference in the life of a kerry, rather than as a burden.

As with any kerry placed by the Foundation, professional training to make sure Millie and her new family get off on the right track will be mandatory.

Millie was adopted in September 2010.

Tucker, a 2 year old male Kerry mix

Fostered in Georgia
Rescue Coordinator: George Hanna

Meet Tucker, a kerry mix (and a very, very cute one, as you will be able to see from pictures soon to be posted -- he looks like a kerry but his tail is undocked and his tail looks alittle retriever-ish) rescued from a high-volume, high-kill shelter in Mississippi, thanks to the wonderful dedication of a shelter worker who contacted the Foundation. Tucker is one or two years old, very playful, very loving, very sweet. He completely stole the shelter volunteer's heart, such that she was willing to make an extra effort for this one out of 250 dogs. Tucker is undergoing treatment for heartworm and will be neutered, and is getting up to date on all his vaccinations. Tucker came in to the shelter with hair six to eight inches long all over his body, and may have been living on the streets, so may not be housebroken -- but as smart and eager to please as he is, that should take very little time. Tucker may have some fur mixed in with his kerry hair, so may not be suitable for someone who has allergies to non-kerry breeds.

From: sharonarkoff@yahoo.com
Subject: Tucker
Date: November 9, 2010 11:03:31 PM PST
To: johnv@impulse.net

Tucker was adopted and moved to Ohio.

Sharron Arkoff

A little about Harrie…
a 3 year old male

Fostered in California
Rescue Coordinator: Danielle Monroy at daniellemonroy@msn.com

Harrie Harrie is an excellent companion and a “Velcro dog.” Because he craves affection, he is eager to please and follows commands willingly. He consents to having his eyes cleaned and feet wiped, and doesn’t mind being touched in sensitive areas like his tail, feet, and ears. He will jump into the car by himself and onto the grooming table with a treat or two. Harrie has never destroyed anything – he doesn’t mess with household items, like magazines or towels. If you are reading, watching TV, or working at the computer, Harrie will curl up beside you – he is a champion power-napper as well as a good watchdog.

Kate, his foster mom with Harrie.

Harrie likes being where the action is – he is eager to meet new people and dogs. He is a dream to walk (doesn’t pull!) and sits to have his harness put on. He loves to explore new places and is quiet in the car (so long as not left alone). In the yard, he comes when called and generally sticks close by. His favorite things are belly rubs and the garden hose.Harrie’s special needs…

Harrie gives a lot of love, but also needs a lot of love. He is not used to being left alone and greatly dislikes it, so he will be most successful with a family that can spend much of their day with him and also help him learn to cope with spending time by himself. This will require putting work into desensitizing him to his people’s comings-and-goings and helping him learn that being left alone does not mean he has been abandoned. This means providing boundaries, being consistent in training, and having him work for praise and affection. Too much affection will make him a less confident dog and increase his anxiety when left by himself.

His previous owners said that Harrie has a history of food aggression. However, his foster family has not witnessed so much as a dirty look from him around food. Precautions have been taken when people are eating and when preparing his meals, but he allows his foster family to kneel next to him while he eats, add kibble to his bowl while he eats, put their hands in his bowl, and even play a “trade game” where his bowl is taken away in exchange for another bowl with similar food. Despite these encouraging observations, his adoption family should still be prepared to take precautions with and around food. He loves treats (more so than toys) and takes them gently from your hand.

Harrie also spooks at sudden, loud noises and jerky movements around his face (e.g., infants in strollers shaking their hands). He is not car-wise, so walkers need to be vigilant near roads and parking lots.

Harrie is celebrating his third birthday this month, and is being fostered in the San Diego area in Southern California. He is microchipped and has all of his shots.

Harrie looking out the window of his new home

11/4/10

Harrie was adopted a few days after he arived in our rescue program. He is now living in San Diego, CA.

11/9/10

Update from his new family:

Thank you so much for allowing Harrie to become part of our lives.

He is wonderful. We introduced him to his new neighborhood and home yesterday, and this morning, we took him to Balboa Park which he loved.

He is settling in very well. Kate [his foster-mom] did a marvelous job with training. Her calm, self-assured nature was just what Harrie needed.

12/18/10

More pictures from his new family:

Harrie

Goody in the Midwest

Fostered in MO
Rescue Coordinators: Jo Harder and Mimi Karsh

A true lady has graced Foundation Rescue with her prescence: meet Goody, a 10 year old (almost 11) former show kerry who finds herself in need of a loving home due to her owner's death. Goody is a lovely, elegant kerry -- still full of humor and fun and sparkle, but admirably past the age of needing to play tough with other dogs or test her humans. When I asked how her manners were and whether Goody ever pulled hard on the leash, for instance, her guardian was shocked. "Oh, no!" she said. "Goody would never!" Now, there's a ringing endorsement of an extraordinary kerry girl. (Goody's guardian admits that Goody has reverted to jumping up on people as they go into the house, but that’s correctible if it's a concern to a new owner. "She’s getting away with it because her friends all feel sorry for her," her guardian explains.

Goody was started with obedience work a few years ago and did very well, and her guardian thinks that since Goody seemed to enjoy the limelight in the conformation ring, she might shine just as brightly in competitive obedience, if that were of interest to a new owner. Goody just had some cosmetic work done to remove a few cysts (benign) and is in excellent health and is up to date on all bloodwork and vaccinations. Goody eats special food (one of the Science Diets) to help control urinary tract infections that may have been an issue at some point, but has no other issues. She is a charmer and craves affection, and will happily drape her entire body over a friend, given the opportunity. Goody has not lived with young children, but when a neighbor brought some over to play, Goody seemed to enjoy them very much. Her guardian is of the opinion that Goody would put up with just about anything from anyone as long as it included an animal cracker and/or belly rub. Goody would be happiest in a home where someone was home most of the day to give her extra loving and nice long walks, as she has been living alone (with many visits from friends) in her late owner's house for awhile, and is getting lonely and very much wants company and attention.

Goody is in the Mid-west, and her guardian would love her to stay in the area so she could keep in touch, but Goody can travel for the right home. Goody gives every sign of having years left to give a lifetime's worth of kerry affection, fun, and intelligence to a new family -- without the drama of a teenager in the house.

Goody was adopted and moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The story of how Goody was transported.

Jack II

Rescue Coordinator: Priscilla Harvey
PnDHarvey@aol.com

Adoption Write-up

Here's Jack, the latest lovable Kerry that just found a new home. Jack, six, was turned in to the Foundation and fostered by David and Priscilla Harvey whom he delighted with his true Kerry shenanigans. Jack had just the right person waiting for him with open arms and Kerry experience, and was adopted in a heartbeat (even though Jack ate some of the cake intended for his new friends). His delightful personality and spirit is already missed in his foster home, but Jack knew a good deal when he saw it and went off happily to his new family.

July 2010 Update

Jack II is adopted.

July 27, 2011 Update

Jack with his new family.

Jack II

Marley2, 4 year old male in New Hampshire

Rescue Coordinator: Sharon Arkoff
sharonwrites@HOTMAIL.COM

Marley Poor Marley. World's wriggliest, licking-est, most affectionate, highest-jumping, and fastest kerry boy, but he just could not adjust to a human baby in the house, and his mom felt it was time to find him a home where he could relax and get lots of attention and exercise and playtime. We picked 4-yo Marley up at his former home in NH; he was obviously well-loved and well-cared for; aside from being an absolutely sparkly and very friendly little guy, with a gorgeous silver/black coat, he came with a file that documented all his shots, neutering, flea and tick prevention, and even two of his baby teeth, carefully saved in a baggie. (I'm hanging on to those in case his former owner ever decides she wants to have them back, after all. Re-homing Marley was not an easy decision for this family.) Marley was a model passenger on the way home, very interested in everything, but happy to curl up in the passenger seat once we reached the highway. At our house, he greeted 12-yo Seamus more or less appropriately --- there was some macho posturing that Seamus couldn't be bothered to notice, but Marley was prone to some inappropriate behavior that absolutely traumatized poor Seamus, who retired in horror to the mudroom. Marley was obviously confused about his new surroundings, but was willing to play with his toys and was entirely appropriate with school-age children. He is careful with his mouth and teeth even during exuberant play -- if I put my hand in his mouth while we were playing with a toy, he would back right away. Once I asked him if he wanted to go for a walk, and he barked an enthusiastic "YES RIGHT NOW NOW NOW NOW!" I put my hand out to say, "Give me two seconds" and Marley without thinking very gently took my hand in his mouth as if to pull me toward the door. As soon as he realized what he was doing (a fraction of a second) he let go with submissive ears and a general aspect of, "Ooh! I'm sorry! I know that's not right. I just was so excited about the walk!" He is a very cute little guy, and with such an expressive face and personality, and got to spend the night sleeping at the top of our bed, hugging a pillow.

The next morning, Marley's new dad arrived, and after a fun walk around the neighborhood to get acquainted, a very curious and excited Marley hopped into his new dad's truck and headed home. Marley is now in his new home with a 4-yo kerry sister to play with, and she is making sure he knows all her rules. Marley will get to run in a nice yard, play with lots of other dogs (who hopefully will help him learn, uh, um, appropriate methods of making friends), go on walks into town and go to the beach, and generally have a great, great new life with a new set of people who already love him bunches.

We are so grateful for the wonderful care that Marley's first home gave him, and the generosity of his new home in covering his few expenses. But, of course there are so many rescues that are more challenging in any number of ways. Marley's angels must already have been looking out for him, but if you would like to support another rescue kerry, please consider becoming a kerry rescue angel with a donation for the other kerries still looking for the right home.

Marley II is adopted.

Romeo, an 8 year old male

Fostered in Washington
Rescue Coordinator: Lynn Mathers at keriblue@aol.com.

Romeo Because all kerry males are dark and handsome, it seems unfair to actually have given one the advantage of the name "Romeo," but, he does have the melting eyes. Romeo is an 8-yo (in a couple months) neutered male who enjoys other dogs, used to happily go to work with his humans, enjoys walks but is not a fitness fanatic, and enjoys draping himself romantically across the foot of his owners' bed at night. He is affectionate and wants to be near his family, but he is not overly needy. Unfortunately for his devastated family, Romeo suffers from great inner torment when it comes to his love for his family's children vs his terrier sense of duty and loyalty, and is stressed by the dynamic of active young children/doorbells ringing/general family chaos all at the same time. Accordingly, his family would like to see him rehomed into somewhat quieter quarters, without children and with someone who has time for some reassuring and consistent obedience training, where he can feel more secure. Romeo Romeo likes meeting other dogs and people and though he will chase cats if they run, his owners confess that he is actually, ahem, not as brave as some other romantic heroes, and may have some chicken in his DNA (apparently he is always happy to back down from a potentially challenging situation). However, we will not dwell on the inner chicken within such a solid leading man (Romeo weighs about 55 lbs). Instead, we will think of soulful dark eyes and unlimited capacity for affection, and therefore art thy Romeo. Romeo is in the northwest, but can travel for the right home.

Romeo was placed in Phoenix, AZ during December, 2010.

From: Sharon Arkoff <sharonwrites@hotmail.com>
Subject: Romeo follow-up, for Website
Date: December 4, 2010 4:31:52 PM PST

Romeo's new mom writes:

WELL!!!!! Unbelievable, Romeo is sitting in my chair, acting like he has been here forever. He likes Bailey, Bailey likes him. He likes Bentley, Bentley likes him. I brought the his throw from Portland in and placed it on the ottoman and he jumped up on it and immediately into my chair. He acts like he has been here forever. In fact, he keeps head butting me to get my attention and get off the computer. I may change his name to "Velcro". Tomorrow is another day but it appears Romeo's arrival at his new home is successful. Will check in with you tomorrow, right now it is a contest on who can get the most attention. Romeo is winning so far. This is going much better than I had anticipated.

Day Two:
Romeo acts like he has lived here forever. He learned immediately the right place for his "eliminations" with the help of Bailey and Bentley. Very curious about everything but very settled into his surroundings. Very crowded in my recliner last night. I chose to sleep with the canine family and that became very interesting. Romeo assumed his position next to me (actually half on top of me) and stayed right there until 3:30 this morning. All 50+ pounds of him. After going outside, he was back in the recliner and then moved shortly thereafter to the ottoman where his animal print throw and pillowcase from Portland were very familiar to him.

There is a place for ALL animals, sometimes it is difficult to find that place. We are all fortunate to have found what appears to be the right place for Romeo. I have been so anxious (as you know) about this process. My dogs are precious to me and when I was greeted at the airport by a very frightened and confused Romeo, I quite honestly said to myself: "What the heck have I gotten myself into". With aircraft overhead and airport noise adding to the confusion, I felt I needed to get him out of there immediately. I drove home and unloaded his crate into the garage and talked to him for a minute and let him out. He was very happy to get out of the crate and he was then allowed to sniff Bailey's nose thru a partially open door for a minute and then you have received the rest of the story. I am slightly embarrassed, pleasantly relieved of anxiety and feeling kind of silly that I was worried about the worst possible scenario and shocked at how quickly the three accepted each other. Yesterday was a good day, today will be even better and each day from now on will be very good.

Andy, a Pre-Holiday Rescue

Fostered in Oregon
Rescue Coordinator: Danielle Monroy at daniellemonroy@msn.com

Andy This past week (November 24) the foundation rescued yet another fantastic dog. Andy was living in the Northwest and because of changing family circumstances, after 6 years he needed to be re-homed. How lucky for everything that a fantastic family had been waiting in Southern California to provide a forever home. Andy flew from Portland, Oregon to Burbank, California where I was waiting with baited breath. You see, I had never seen this dog and had no idea what we looked like. Imagine my surprise when out of the crate comes a very clean and shiney, very fluffy and exuberant Andy! Near perfect color, confirmation, and so excited he was spinning in circles! Even the Airline Counter girl took his picture he was so handsome. I drove him to our meeting spot, and handed him over to his new dad.

Here is a little update after a few days in his new environment:

"After the first night, he has settled in great. I'm pretty sure he knows he is here for good and loves being here. Weve had a few friends over and Andy barked a little but warmed up right away. There were two boys 3 & 5 and he was perfect with them. Later my inlaws were here and he was the same way. Andy made his rounds for attention from everybody.

He gets very excited for his walks and has a hard time sitting to get his harness and leash on, but once its on, hes pretty good on the walks, he pulls a little, but we are working on it. He can sit and stay pretty well without distractions around, but when on his walks he can get distracted pretty easy. He hasnt been around another dog, however Laceys brother in coming into town tomorrow and bringing his lab, so that will be Andys first test with another dog.

He has a little dance he does when hes excited when you come home or we are playing outside, he spins in circles and jumps around. Its pretty fun and we always know when he is excited to see us or ready to play. He can fetch and bring the ball back when he wants too. He has no food or toy aggression, I can pull bones and toys out of his mouth without any problems. He does not beg for table scraps and doesnt jump on furniture. All in all, hes a pretty good boy. We are more than happy to have given him a new home. "

More photos of Andy at his new home in San Diego (12/19/10)

Andy

From Barry, the dogs new Dad, sent today, Valentine's Day, 2011:

Just wanted to give you a quick update on Andy. He is doing wonderful and seems to be very happy, considering his tail wags non stop even when he seems to be sleeping. We had his 4th obedience training class today and he is the senior member of the class, but seems to have an hand up on most of them knowing the basic commands, but its always good to reinforce them. He is also learning new things in the class as well. He is getting some socialization and has gotten a lot better around the few other puppies in the class although he still has a few outbursts, but he is learning the other dogs are there to hang out too, not attack him. We had him at a closed in baseball field this weekend, no one else was around so we let him run free and he loved it, but didnt stray too far from us and always came when called. All in all, he has been a wonderful addition to our family and we are excited as much as he is to be here. Thanks again for matching him to us, he has been the perfect dog.

Barry

Andy Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2011 22:08:17 -0700
From: goduke21@yahoo.com
Subject: Andy

Andy had his 7th birthday this week and I thought I would send a picture of him with his birthday hat on after he got groomed by Carol. He is doing really well and are so happy with him. He has been the perfect dog for us; you did a great job matching him with us.

He has gone through beginner and intermediate training and has done pretty well, although he still has his moments. He's been a hit on our cul de sac, the kids love him and Andy loves the attentio; he can't get enough of it.

Well, hope everything is well. Take Care.

Barry

Invincible Izzy, a 6 year old female

Rescue Coordinator: Jo Harder
joseeks@sio.midco.net

Izzy Before Rescue

Izzy After Grooming

Izzy Great news on all counts from Izzy's foster mom, who is heartbroken at the thought of sending Izzy to a new home but who has some other obligations coming up. Izzy's foster mom reports that Izzy just keeps on showing herself to be a loving, funny, luxuriously affectionate, spunky kerry girl -- equally expert at lying in your lap or in chasing squirrels (chasing, yes. Catching... not so much). She loves chasing bees and butterflies, too. Funny girl. Izzy does not like the rain, and will hide under the bird bath to avoid getting rained on if ordered outside to potty when it's raining. Izzy is now fully housetrained, though there may be an accident in her crate if she has been alittle too stubborn about going out in the rain. Though she is protective of her crate and toys where a canine "brother" is concerned (via "the stare;" there have not been any fights or bites), an elderly Tibetan Terrier "sister" is allowed to sleep in Izzy's crate, etc. without Izzy batting an eyelash.

Izzy Like many kerries, Izzy does hate the doorbell with a passion, and insists on being the first to the door so she can yell at it, though if taken by the collar and removed from the door, she handles this with.... well, not grace, but compliance. She has told her "brother" in no uncertain terms that she must be the first to answer the door, but again, responds to her foster mom's corrections and redirection appropriately. But, as strong as her hatred of the doorbell is, that's how strong her joy in meeting new people is! Properly introduced, her little tail just goes crazy and she will sit or stand in front of a visitor gazing at them with adoring eyes, taking as much loving-on as they're willling to give. Izzy is a bit leery of dogs walking past her yard, and will bark appropriately but not incessantly. If she sees a neighbor working in their yard, she'll bark to announce and then, if greeted, the tail is off and wagging.

Izzy behaves beautifully for grooming and baths.

Izzy would do best in a home where she could be a major center of attention, and get lots of lap time and perhaps be allowed to sleep in her humans' bed. She is a healthy, active girl -- her foster mom calls her "Busy Izzy" -- so a home with active owners and a large fenced-in yard and other means of regular exercise, such as regular hikes or jogs or trips to a dog park, would be wonderful. As with any kerry, gentle, consistent obedience training will help Izzy bond with her new family and understand what is expected of her -- as well as be a way for her to get yet more attention from her people. :-) A situation where someone is home for most of the day or can take Izzy to work with them is essential, as Izzy is a tight-bonding dog and would not be happy left alone for too many hours in the day.

Izzy was adopted by her foster family in December 2010.

Andrew, 14-year old male

Rescue Coordinator: Sharon Arkoff
sharonwrites@HOTMAIL.COM

Andrew came in with Kerrie, his "sister," in November 2009 (Kerrie went to Colorado in Spring of this year), but since he was so old, we just never questioned even putting him up for adoption, especially since his former owner had said that she didn't think he'd live out the year. Andrew was a very "young" 14-yo, with no problems at all except for being deaf. I'm keeping Andrew.

November 2010 Update:

Another perfect, handsome, loving, giving, funny kerry gone across the bridge. We had Andrew for, I think, one year to the day; he came into rescue
just before Thanksgiving of last year, and now here we are again -- but without my furry shadow. Andrew's hind legs were giving out and he was getting scared because of it, and his passing was peaceful and caring, but for me, a year was not enough. Andrew believed that whither I went, he should follow, no matter how short the journey -- all of "his" spots in the house are ones where he could keep an eye on me. It's odd now to get up out of a chair and not hear him getting up to follow me. I know it sounds gruesome, but I will feel better when we get his ashes back, and I can tell myself that some part of him is home again, near me, where he always felt he should be.

The other parts of him I'm going to assume are off chasing the cat that he could never catch. One thing about elderly rescues is that you never got to see them with youthful strength and agility, so it is nice to think that now Andrew is off chasing the cat and getting close enough to feel heroic in his own mind.

2010 Rescue Kerries Placed

Index of 2010 Rescue Kerries

Note

Bear, Male from Wisconsin

Duncan, 2-year old male

Jack a 3 year old male

Logan, a 5 year old male in Utah

Marley

Kerrie, 4 year old female

Molly, 2 1/2 year old female in Minnesota

Mister Neo, a 6 year old male

Blind Suzie has Issues

Paddington

Seamus, 11-year old in MA

Lyndi Lu, an 8-month-old female

Sam, 7-year old male in WA

Riley

Millie, 5 year old female in Georgia

Tucker, a 2 year old male Kerry mix

A little about Harrie…
a 3 year old male

Goody in the Midwest