This year, Life to the Max is proud to be a part of the Airedale Rescue Quilt promotion which is now underway at http://www.airedalerescue.net/a_day_in_the_life/. We have donated seven Life to the Max books to their annual fundraiser to use as incentives to buy raffle tickets. If you do not already know about the Airedale Rescue Quilt, here is some information about this unique project.

The Airedale Rescue Quilt originated with a core group of Airedale enthusiasts who had another common interest: Quilting. These members put together an Airedale Quilting Bee website and decided to make a quilt with pictures of their passion, Airedales, to be raffled to raise money for National Airedale Rescue. The proceeds help to re-home/re-educate every purebred Airedale that comes into Airedale Rescue’s care. Although many people suggested that this project seemed impossible, the members of the Airedale Internet community, who often resemble the feisty, focused breed they love, were determined that this project would happen.

A quilt that raises $15,000 can help out 30 healthy Airedales, yet well over 600 Airedales were reported to have entered Airedale Rescue groups in 2007. Although a $15,000 donation from the Airedale Quilting Bee may seem to be a lot of money, it doesn’t stretch far with the costs of bringing an Airedale into Rescue and finding a Forever Home. Sadly, we see a lot of Airedales in Rescue as far too many people get an Airedale because of the Teddy Bear look, forgetting that pet ownership continues even when the puppy/dog eats a hole in the Oriental carpet … or de-stuffs the sofa.

All the Rescue Quilts show humorous and imaginative design, and the quality of workmanship makes them into pieces of art. Airedale Quilting Bee members, all over the country, make up the pieces, then send them to a designated member who puts them all together, and adds the finishing touches on the Rescue Quilt. Now the Airedale Rescue Quilt is ready to head to Montgomery, Pa., where during early October each year, there is an All-Terrier “do”. This do is where the finished Rescue Quilt is to be raffled off. Everybody with a ticket has equal chance of winning, as you don’t have to be present for the draw.

The 2008 quilt depicts “A Day in the Life of an Airedale”. The scenes will be familiar to all who cohabit with this wonderful breed, starting at the crack of dawn when the Airedale “greets” the owner who would prefer to remain in bed and ending with a sleeping Airedale, dreaming of the high points of the day. For a sneak preview, go to www.airedaleterriers.org/quilts/ and click on the 2008 quilt at the bottom of the page.

I received this link to a story about Little Janey who is an Airedale stray that was found in Mesa, AZ with a badly broken pelvis. http://www.airedaleterriers.org/azjaney/ She could have been hit by a car or she could have been horribly abused. Either way, this baby needs help. If she needs an operation, it could be between $2,000 to $4,000. So please donate to Airedale Rescue and earmark the funds for Southwest Airedale Terrier Rescue or Arizona Fund to help Janey get the medical care she needs. How someone could just drive away or abuse a dog like this just makes me cry.