Our Mission

Airedale Rescue and Adoption of the Delaware Valley (ARADV) provides prompt and safe assistance for any Airedale who has no responsible owner or breeder to meet his needs. Simply put, our purpose is to find a suitable, loving home for any Airedale who needs one.

We abide by the policies and guidelines of the Airedale Terrier Club of America Rescue and Adoption Committee.

ARADV only places dogs in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. If you live in another state and wish to adopt an Airedale, please go to the Airedale Terrier Club of America’s Rescue and Adoption Committee site to locate a volunteer in your area.

Our Principles

ARADV adheres strictly to the policies set forth by the Airedale Terrier Club of America’s Rescue and Adoption Committee. Before placement, each rescued Airedale Terrier will be:

• spayed or neutered;
• permanently identified with a microchip;
• checked for heartworms, parasites, and other health issues;
• brought up to date on vaccinations required by law and appropriate to the age and health of the Airedale;
• carefully evaluated for temperament and personality in order to be adopted into an appropriate home;
• bathed and properly groomed.

AND

• prospective adopters will be thoroughly screened and evaluated for a suitable Airedale;
• we assess each rescued Airedale Terrier on an individual basis in order to place each dog into the loving, forever home best suited to the needs of that particular Airedale;
• all rescue dogs will be placed as house dogs with a securely fenced yard;

ARADV strives to educate the public regarding the Airedale breed and responsible dog ownership. No ARADV volunteer conducts rescue activities for personal profit. All profits from fundraising activities, fees, and donations will be used only for the benefit of rescued Airedales.

Airedales in Need

Most of our dogs are great animals who have lost their homes through no fault of their own.

Dogs lose their homes for many reasons: an owner gets sick or dies; a dog gets picked up by a shelter as a stray; a family moves and is unwilling or unable to take the dog along; people get married (or divorced) and can no longer take care of the dog; an owner’s job begins to require a lot of travel; people have a baby and decide they no longer have time for a dog; or someone chooses a breed of dog which is not suitable to his or her own temperament or lifestyle.

We learn about Airedales in need from a variety of sources. We are notified by shelters, groomers, veterinarians, breeders, or we hear via the grapevine.

Does ARADV get many Airedale puppies?

Rarely do we have puppies. Our dogs can be any age, from active adolescents to sweet geriatrics.

What is Airedale Rescue?

Every year, hundreds of Airedales in this country find themselves in need of new homes. Sometimes they are lost or abandoned, and sometimes, owners really do have to give them up, but most have simply become an inconvenience. “Excuses” are varied: a new baby, a move, a new spouse, a divorce, a new house, a new job. Rarely are these life changes any reflection on the dogs.

Good breeders accept responsibility for dogs they produce, and take back those whose owners are giving them up and place them with new owners, much the same as we do. Rescue is here for all of the other Airedales who need new homes.

What does Rescue do with a dog?

All of our rescue dogs are groomed (properly clipped) and bathed, taken to a vet for necessary inoculations and heartworm testing, and receive any required veterinary treatment. All are microchipped and spayed or neutered before adoption.

The rescue dog lives with us in a foster home while temperament and behavioral evaluations are made to determine the most appropriate type of home for him or her.

How old are they?

Most dogs are past the puppy stage. Many are two-to-four years old, some are five or six,
and occasionally, we get older, or younger, dogs. Very often the young ones have started out in a “non-Airedale” home, so have been allowed to develop some bad habits, not easily dealt with. Older is usually better!

Will an adult dog bond with me?

Quite frankly, we’re always amazed by the number of people who think they want a puppy. There are many benefits to owning a mature dog. They are housebroken, past the chewing stage, you know what they look like and what their personality is like. Today’s busy lives are much better suited to the needs of an adult dog. Dogs of any age will “bond” to you!

“Older dogs” (over 8) are wonderful and easy, and they, too, deserve to live out their lives in a happy and loving home.

Should I get a male or a female?

This is a matter of preference. Many people tend to think a female will be gentler and easier to train. This isn’t necessarily the case, as it really depends upon the individual dog. Some of the males are extremely sweet and gentle, and the females can often be feisty and territorial.

Is there an adoption fee?

Because of the expense of inoculations, heartworm checks, microchipping, treatment for anything that needs medical attention, and spaying/neutering, as well as boarding fees for some dogs, we do request what we feel is a very reasonable adoption fee of between $100 and $400, depending upon the age of the dog.

Just before delivery to their new home, our dogs are again clipped and bathed, and supplied with a new leash and Martingale collar.

What are the requirements?

We require a fenced yard for our adoption dogs. Most Airedales are quite adventurous and find it impossible to stay at home when there is a whole world to explore. An Airedale needs space to stretch his legs and poke around without a person always attached to him. This can only be done safely in a fenced yard. This is not to say that your entire property must be fenced – just a portion of the back yard, directly accessible from the back door.

We do not allow our dogs to be chained outside, so that is not an alternative to a fenced yard. Isolated or free-standing pens are not acceptable. We are skeptical about invisible fencing for Airedales, but we do realize that it may be appropriate for some dogs. Discuss it with us, if relevant.

While we are adamant about fences, there are extremely rare circumstances, due to a special owner or special dog, when we might reconsider our position. Dogs without fences would always have to be walked on a leash.

Families with children must have a fenced-in yard. All dogs must be “house dogs,” and preferably sleep in your bedroom.

Will I get papers with the dog?

No. We do not release papers with the dogs. Usually, we don’t have them, and they simply are not necessary for your enjoyment of your pet. If we know the dog’s birthday, we will provide you with that information.

How does the adoption work?

If you are interested in adopting an Airedale, please visit our Adopting an Airedale page to see an Introduction to Airedale Rescue, an Adoption Application, and a copy of the Placement Agreement that adopters are required to sign at the time of the adoption.  For any questions, contact Deb Ciancarelli (deb.ciancarelli@gmail.com or 609-313-4765).  Deb can also assist if you are interested in fostering a dog, or volunteering to help our group.

After your application is received, we will notify you when we think we have a suitable dog for you. (Your application is our first tool in determining the best dog for you.) We will then schedule an appointment to come to your house and meet with you. We work very hard to be sure that dogs and people are well-matched, so please be sure to alert us to any special considerations.

If we do not have a rescue dog suitable for your family when you first contact us, please be patient. We usually have “somebody” waiting for a home, but we match dogs with applications, and another may be more suitable for our currently available dog(s).

You are welcome to call any time to remind us of your interest – and it would be good of you to let us know if you have found a dog elsewhere. (If your application is rejected for any reason, you will be notified immediately.)

You may think we seem overly strict about our rules, and fanatic about our dogs’ well-being. We learned long ago that we, ourselves, can’t keep all the wonderful Airedales who need new homes, but we are deeply committed to finding each dog his forever home, where he and his new family will live “happily ever after.”