Fred's Story
Fred, enjoying life in New York
Fred's story has reached it's end . . . . .
In early January, we received word that "Fred", a rescue dog placed several years ago, had died. The wonderful woman who adopted "Fred" sent an email to Irish Setter rescue hoping to get another rescue dog to help fill that empty spot.
Several people were involved in Fred's rescue - as seems to be the case most of the time - and we thought we would play this story back - from it's end, to the beginning - starting with his final home with Marjorie Wilner in Brooklyn, NY.
Marjorie's story:
Several years ago, I believe you guys brought me my rescue irish setter up
from some women in the Carolinas. At the time, his name was Red, and you
commented on the amount of "waggling" he did.
I renamed him Fred, and he has been the love of my life ever since. I had to
put him
down on Sunday and I am despondent without him. I did want to thank you for
helping to bring him into my life. If you know of another dog who I could
adopt, please let me know. (Fred was very good about tolerating my 4 cats,
which I know is somewhat unusual in setters.)
Marjorie
Joe & Gerry Lee's story:
I spoke with Marjorie and we are trying to find her another, or two, Irish
Setter rescues to fill the void left by Fred. In his last few days Marjorie
spent large sums of money in an attempt to save or prolong his life. Her
veterinarian indicated that in addition to his "scars" from his abusive early
life he was also carrying buckshot pellets from being shot earlier. FRED was
a true ambassador for the Irish Setter breed.
This is how I, Joe Lee, remember Fred (aka Red). Several years ago we had
arranged a rescue of stray Irish Setter male located in North Carolina with a
new home awaiting him in Brooklyn, NY. The trip plans called for a transport
of Red to the Bluegrass circuit in Lexington, KY and Claudia Aaron-Sneed, a
person always ready to assist in the Irish Setter Rescue effort, volunteered
to drive many extra miles to pick up Red and deliver him to the KY show site.
My wife, Gerry and I, other exhibitors and friends anxiously awaited Red's
debut at the show site once Claudia arrived. Claudia's van door opened an out
came a bedraggled, blind in one eye (this was obvious from the white, opaque
left eye), skinny, flea-bitten and worm infested, abused Irish Setter who
greeted every one with a "Smile" and a wagging tail.
He probably knew that his life had made a turn for the better. For several
days we kept this marvelous Irish Setter with us at the shows and he just
"smiled" and constantly wagged that ragged tail. Finally we headed for home,
with Red, the day before Labor Day. On the way home we contacted his
potential new owner, Marjorie at her home in Brooklyn, NY. She was very happy
to hear that Red was on his way to her. She asked directions and stated that
she would leave NY early Labor Day morning for the 7 hour trip to Pittsburgh.
Mid afternoon a vehicle pulled into our driveway and Marjorie had survived the
gruelling Labor Day drive from Brooklyn. When we brought Red out and he saw
Marjorie he ran to her and you could sense the immediate attachment. He was a
very lucky dog and Marjorie sensed that she was a lucky, very lucky new Irish
Setter owner. About an hour later Marjorie and Red ( soon to be renamed Fred
) departed for their new life together, both not completely aware of the love
and attachment that was to be theirs. Marjorie, we all mourn your tremendous
loss and thank you for the wonderful home you to provided that handsome
Redhead, Fred.
Joe & Gerry Lee and all the Irish Setter rescue volunteers
Claudia Aaron-Sneed's rememberances:
Several years ago, I received a call from Margarite Mebane, an all-breed rescue volunteer in Shelby, NC asking for help in placing an owner surrendered irish setter. The owner reported that he worked most of the time, and the dog was running loose, eating what he could find in the trash and the neighbouring yards - and nobody had any time for him.
Soon the word came that a home was available in New York - but, how to get Fred from western North Carolina, to the eastern part of New York?? I altered my "trip plan" from Wilmington to Lexington so that I could meet Margarite and "Red" in Morganton, NC - then we made arrangements for Joe & Gerry Lee to take him from Lexington to Pittsburgh, and finally, Marjorie would drive over to Pittsburgh to get him.
I got my first sight of "Red", in a restaurant parking lot just off Interstate 40. A bedraggled, skinny, one eyed dog, who was happy to be noticed - and a tail that wagged, and wagged, and wagged. He jumped in to the crate next to Amanda (Ch. Kenobi Chasin' The Magic), who looked at me as if to say "Mother, how could you let this thing in my car!" She was not happy about this intruder at all, and spent the rest of the trip telling him how she felt.
But, Red was on his way to a new life, and he didn't care how Amanda felt - he was going to meet his new human. I saw Red for the last time when Joe and Gerry loaded him in to their van in Lexington - and his tail was still wagging.
He waits now, at Rainbow Bridge - and wags his tail for God.
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