Jenny

Jenny came to WRSE (Westie Rescue Southeast) as the owner was asking to have her euthanized. As an 8 year old dog, the vet would not do so. One of our volunteers, (Also Jenny) picked her up, made a vet appointment for her and agreed to foster her. The vet visit resulted in finding she was in Ketoacidosis due to untreated Diabetes. She was immediately hospitalized to try and get her blood sugar normalized.

During the time she was in the hospital, WRSE was able to place her in a Westie-wise home with people who had experience with a diabetic dog. They lovingly took her in when she was stable enough to go home. She enjoyed her time with the family, but her illness returned and she had several visits to the ER in a short period of time. She needed an ultra-sound and was moved to a facility where they could accomplish this and care for her other needs. She had 2 nodules on her bladder. They were sent for tests and are yet to be determined.

Over the course of a few days she wasn’t eating, and had serious gastro-intestinal issues, along with complications of Diabetes and possible Cushing’s Syndrome. The hospital stayed in contact with us and kept us looped in at all times. On Friday, February 23, she took a turn for the worse. The Vets feared there really wasn’t much more that they could do for her. Her body was tired and worn out, which made recovery very difficult. She had been left untreated too long.

Despite the efforts of WRSE, many volunteers and supporters, we had to say goodbye and she is now healthy again at Rainbow Bridge. She knew she was loved, even if only for 6 days with her foster family.

Run free, sweet Jenny!

Angel

Angel came from an older couple as an owner surrender. She was a daddy’s girl. He
unfortunately passed and her mom had major health issues and could no longer care for Angel. She asked her vet for help in finding a safe place for Angel and we were contacted.

This poor little girl has been suffering with long term skin issues. After a couple weeks in
rescue, She was having respiratory issues and coughing. She was taken to the Emergency Vet. The X-rays showed many spots with cloudiness on her lungs and an enlarged heart.
She was kept in the oxygen tent overnight to help her breathe easier. She had an echocardiogram to find the cause. The echocardiogram ruled out a few things. She
doesn’t have heartworm or heart disease. There are some changes indicating potential
pulmonary hypertension but not enough to need medication at this point. This information leads the specialist to believe that it is pneumonia, but not ruling out Westie Lung Disease.

She responded well to the intravenous antibiotics which is why she was moved out of oxygen tent and her respiratory rate improved. We are continuing antibiotic treatment at home and she will go back in two weeks for another X-ray to evaluate if there are any changes in her lungs. She will also follow up with the cardiologist in a few months.

Her skin is showing improvement, but she does have a bad infection in both ears. This poor little girl has a lot going on, but we are doing everything we can to make her feel better.

Thank you for the well wishes. Thank you to WestieMed for helping us help Angel and other Westies in need.

Susie Massey

Westie Rescue SouthEast

Update March 12, 2024:

She has been officially diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis (Westie Lung Disease) and is now on medication for pulmonary hypertension. Luckily the pneumonia cleared up. Her skin issues are well on their way to being healed. Still battling a few small spots of yeast but overall doing remarkably well. We can tell she is feeling better as her personality is shining through, she keeps her foster brothers in line. She is still in foster care and is being tested for Addison’s Disease this week. If diagnosis is confirmed, a treatment plan will be discussed.

Susan D. Massey

Tolley

Tolley the senior westie – His story didn’t start so well. He was found by a Good Samaritan that discovered him tied with a rope around his neck in a vacant lot, out in the cold with no protection. She cut the rope and immediately took him to the shelter. Because he was a stray he was kept at the shelter for two weeks. Unfortunately, while there he developed an upper respiratory infection. He was put on antibiotics by the shelter veterinarian. During his stay at the shelter the employees commented on what a sweet boy he was while there. We know how stressful and scary a shelter can be for Westies and it is amazing how sweet he was the entire time. 

Once we were contacted about him being we sprung into action and with the help of several volunteers Tolley made a four  hour journey to his new foster home. 

Unfortunately, after less than 24 hrs he ended up at the vet. He stayed for a few days but wasn’t getting better and was transferred to the Veterinary specialist hospital to be admitted for more aggressive treatment. He was diagnosed with severe pneumonia and he was struggling. 

It has been an ordeal and it’s not over yet. It has been over week and he is still hospitalized. It has been discovered he has a heart murmur that will need further evaluation once he can get over this pneumonia. 

Every doctor and technician we speak to starts each conversation with how amazing this pup is. He has the will to survive with everything he has endured all while wagging his tail and wiggling his entire body when he sees people walk into his room. This little senior boy deserves to live out the rest of his days happy and loved.  We are so happy so many people are stepping up to give this pup what he needs.

Susan D. Massey

Director, Westie Rescue SouthEast

Update January 4, 2023:

Tolley is perkier, eating very well (once I started to feed good ole kibble) and taking his meds which are pretty high powered. I had a long talk with my regular vet, who saw him FIRST. So next Monday he will do another Xray and exam. Since he has the ORIGINAL XRAY to compare to also!!! Please pray that those lungs are clearing. I am also doing Courtage (percussion) and added cool humidity to the small powder room he is in. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. This is a long process I am finding out.

Thank you for your support!!

Susie

Update August 14, 2023:

This update is from Tolley’s adoptive family.

Following the mass removal at MedVet on March 10, 2023 and a dental and growth removal also at MedVet on May 4, 2023…he is doing great. He has been identified with Westie Lung Disease.

Cinda

Update March 9, 2024:

Tolley is doing well after his Thyroid surgery (50% was removed with tumor) in December and now we have the Thyroid medicine regulated. His Westie Lung Disease is not showing any symptoms currently. Some days he is perkier than others and the food obsession is still very strong. He is loved and is slowly bonding with his sister, Lily Maybelle (13 years old).
 
Susie

 

Fiona - WestieMed Recipient

Fiona

December 2020

Fiona was found in North Carolina and taken to an animal shelter. Due to her poor condition, she was taken to a veterinary hospital, where she stayed for a week.

During this time, no one contacted the shelter and no owners were identified. After their specified hold time, she was released to Westie Rescue Southeast for further care. She was found to be deaf, anemic, malnourished and with a heart murmur.

I adopted Fiona on 11/22/20. I was in Maryland at the time, caring for my sister after she had surgery. As Fiona’s foster family was in North Carolina, we met in Virginia for the handoff. Fiona remained with me at my sister’s home for the week. She got along fine with other animals, mostly steering clear of them.

On the afternoon of Thanksgiving, 11/26/20, she fell down 4-5 carpeted stairs she had been able to traverse without difficulty on prior days. She remained sitting very still at the bottom of the steps. I did not witness the fall. I picked her up and she would not allow me to touch her back right leg, screaming when I tried to do so. She held it up and was non weightbearing.

I immediately took her to an emergency animal hospital in Rockville, Maryland. She was found to have a nondisplaced fractured right tibia. There was concern that her bradycardia (found to be 70-90s at the vet office, but during prior exams had been as low as 40), would require caution with sedation to splint/cast the leg.

My plan was to return home to Ohio the next day. To minimize risk of complications, Fiona was discharged without splinting and with pain medications to return to Ohio on 11/27/20 (Friday). I contacted my vet in Cincinnati, but they could not accommodate sedating her and proper monitoring that day, so I chose to take her to an emergency vet in Cincinnati. Upon reviewing the xrays from the vet in Rockville, this vet found concern that a bone tumor may be present, as the result of the fall seemed more traumatic than the described fall. (As I said, I did not witness the fall, but another person did, they felt Fiona was started and fell).

After more xrays, any bone abnormality was ruled out and the leg was placed in a splint. Fiona’s prognosis is good for a full recovery of her leg. Limited activity is easy to maintain, as she continues to recover from her general deconditioned state she was found in. Fiona’s leg is expected to heal in 6-8 weeks.

Jen Hosler

Update May 25, 2021:

Fiona and I are very thankful for WestieMed. After being rescued by Westie Rescue Southeast, she underwent an amazing transformation. What was barely recognizable as a Westie is in now a beautiful girl. She had a major setback with a broken leg and that’s when WestieMed saved the day.

Now she has regained her position as a grumpy old lady full of Westietude and is ruling the roost over the two hoodlums that live here, Rudy and Sparky.  

Thank you to WestieMed.

Jen Hosler

Update November 11, 2021:

Awww. Fiona died in July. She had come so far and her little leg healed well. She stopped eating and was in pain….could not rest comfortably. It’s never easy no matter how many times you go through it.
Jen

Lily - WestieMed Recipient

Lily

July 2020

Westie Rescue SouthEast was alerted about Lily from a Veterinarian’s office when she was brought in by a good Samaritan when the owner would not. It was noticed that her eyes were swollen while pet sitting. The vet office contacted Westie Rescue in the event the owner agreed to surrender the dog.

Upon the owner’s return, the sitter mentioned that Lily needed to go to the vet, and was told, “if you think she needs to go, then you take her.” This person graciously did take her in and paid out of pocket. The owners subsequently agreed to release Lily into our care, but not the other dog living in the home.  We hope that eventually, we will be able to help this dog as well.

It was found that Lily had abscessed teeth which were causing the swelling and subsequent rupture under both eyes. There were infections and pain. She was treated with antibiotics and pain medication.

Once we had transport in place, Lily was picked up and transported to our foster home and was immediately seen by the local Vet for assessment. We were told she would need at least six teeth removed, and the remaining teeth would be cleaned. It was also discovered that she had a growth on her side that would need removed as well and possibly biopsied. (When the surgery was done, they did feel like a biopsy was in the best interest of Lily).

Lily is doing well post-surgery in her foster home and is a sweet and loving 14-year-old senior lady. We eagerly await the results of the biopsy and hope that Lily can live a happy, pain-free life in her golden years.

Susie Massey
Director, Westie Rescue SouthEast

Clancy - WestieMed Grant Recipient September 2014

Clancy (Now Named Zeke)

Clancy was one of seven Westies picked up from a breeder. He is a young Westie boy with a bright future. Clancy warmed up to people quickly and now loves the attention of any kind. When running along with a group of Westies, if he sees me, he always veers off and runs over for a pat on the head. He loves to romp and play, but he always wants to be acknowledged by people.

Clancy doesn’t let his eye problems slow him down. He does have problems seeing things at their correct height and some depth perception trouble, but he is always up for anything! Imagine if you had skin and eyelashes growing from the center of your cornea! Clancy is very, very tolerant when he has his eyes cleaned several times a day. Discharge sticks to his dermoid growths and extra eyelashes and hardens quickly. He never fusses when having his 3 eye meds administered twice a day. He is a very good boy and seems to know that we are trying to help him.

Clancy’s eye surgery will remove the dermoid growths from both eyes and they will never grow back. He may need some eyelid reconstruction, but we won’t know that until the surgery is underway. He will always have dry eye syndrome, but it is very treatable with eye drops each day and many dogs have that condition. Removing the dermoid growths from his corneas will allow him to see perfectly for the first time in his life! Removing them will end any chance of the growths slowly taking his eyesight away.

Thank you WestieMed! This energetic Westie boy loves his new life of freedom and will soon be able to see perfectly! He has many wonderful days of living a good life ahead of him.

Sherry Moore
Clancy’s Foster Mom
Westie Rescue Southeast

Updated February 1, 2015

I wanted to let you know Clancy has been adopted. He has gone to live in Pinehurst, NC. He has been renamed Zeke. His new home is only about an hour away from a good animal ophthalmologist. If he needs to be checked by one yearly, per his vet, his family is very willing to take him.

Clancy is having some anxiety issues while settling in his new home. He adores his new family and showers them with love.

Thanks so very much to WestieMed for helping this sweet boy to have the best future possible.

Sherry Moore
WRSE

Updated September 6, 2015

Clancy - WestieMed Grant Recipient September 2014
Clancy – WestieMed Grant Recipient

Clancy was adopted in December 2014.  He is settled in and living happily ever after in NC.

Clancy’s name is now Zeke.  His new Mom says he is a sweetheart and is already spoiled.  He loves to play outside and chase balls.  He usually gets to do this several times throughout the day.  Mom knows he loves her, but can tell that Zeke is very bonded with his new Dad. 

He has a crate and the door is kept open in case a loud noise scares him, he can dart in there and feel safer.  WRSE rescued him from a puppy mill and it takes time to get over many of the things that can scar a dog mentally and emotionally.  His open crate is his safe place.  He enjoys riding in the car and loves going to the family beach house on the NC coast.  Zeke has a buddy that lives next door and several dog buddies at the beach.   

Zeke will always need eye meds, even though his surgery on both eyes was successful. There is a chance that he could lose the sight in his left eye when he is older, but we are all keeping our hopes up about that not happening.  

Clancy/Zeke has filled a hole in his ‘pawrents’ heart.  Their previous little Westie family member passed away.  He is bringing lots of joy to them and they are his everything.  Because he spent his life in a mill, he has a lot of catching up to do in belonging to a family.  He is getting more love and attention than he could have ever dreamed of.

Thanks to WestieMed, Clancy/Zeke had eye surgery and is living like a Westie boy should.  Thank you to everyone at WestieMed and the donors who support this wonderful organization.

Sherry Moore
WRSE

Marty - WestieMed Grant Recipient October 2011

Marty – Now Walter

It was almost a year ago when we were contacted by an elderly gentleman named Mr. Gatlin.  He was a lonely man that had shut himself off from the world, including his family, and lived his secluded life with only his dogs.  But his health was now failing and he knew that if something happened to him, the county would take his beloved dogs.  Our county shelter is a very high kill shelter and he was desperately seeking a no-kill shelter to help with his pets.  So on our first trip to visit Mr. Gatlin, we were prepared to take some of the dogs then. But sadly, he just wasn’t ready to part with his “little buddies”.  Mr. Gatlin’s home was in very sad condition.  Maybe in his younger days, the dogs were kept better.  But he was in no way able to take proper care of them now.  There were dogs everywhere.  We could not even get a total count.  His property had been divided into lots using anything that he could find that would work as a fence.  There were old cars, furniture, garbage, farm equipment, overgrown foliage, and two mobile homes that housed most of the dogs.  There was no grass, just dirt and many of these dogs were hairless from flea infestation.  I could tell he was ashamed and embarrassed.  He kept apologizing to us but still in his mind he thought he was taking good care of his “little buddies”.  At that time, there was one mother dog and a litter of six babies.  They were inside one of the trailers.  We asked to see the babies.  He brought out a tiny, six weeks old Westie.  It was covered in fleas and its gums and tongue was so pale.  I tried to explain that this baby was critical and we begged for the puppies and almost had him convinced.  But at the last moment, he took the puppy back and said, “another day”.  We were told later by his sister that all of the puppies in that litter died.

Even though he would not release any dog to us on that day, we did make progress.  We had carried forms giving Peace, Love, and Animals full custody of all of his dogs should anything happen to him, either death or illness.  Mr. Gatlin gladly signed these forms and copies were left with him to post plainly on his property.  So we left to wait until “another day” when he was ready.  We tried several times to contact Mr. Gatlin in the months that passed, but no luck.  So we waited.

“Another day” finally came when Mr. Gatlin had been hospitalized for his heart and returned home to find some of his beloved dogs dead.  This was the turning point for him.  He knew there would be several more trips to the hospital and he could not leave his dogs again.  When we got the call to come to get the dogs we did not know what we were in for.  We just knew we had to be gentle with Mr. Gatlin and gentle with his dogs.  We were the first humans that they had ever seen other than him.   So we gathered our crates, towels, and volunteers and prepared with a group discussion.  This was a first for our rescue.  This was a real rescue.  To go into a hoarding situation with feral dogs, filthy environment, and trying to catch these poor babies without causing too much stress, is unbelievable.  When all was done, we were peed on, pooped on, scratched, bleeding, fitly, and smelled really bad, but we had rescued thirty-three Scotties and Westies.  Job well done.

Once back at our rescue, the baths began.  These poor dogs were so covered in fleas!  Once they were clean, a good warm bed, a full tummy and tucked in for a peaceful night’s sleep. Tomorrow starts a new day.  All of these dogs were taken to our vet to be checked out, vaccinated, heartworm tested, and spayed/neutered.  Many of them tested positive for skin yeast, skin infections, Demodex mange, and a heart murmur.  Most were handling treatment well until one day I noticed this one little guy acting a little strange.  This was the day before he was scheduled to be neutered.  He was not perky like he usually was.  Most Westies are usually very happy guys and he was not acting his usual self.  The next morning, he started staggering.  Now I knew something was wrong.  I took him on to the vet so they could check him out.  He was having a reaction to the Ivomic.  Poor M-3 (we now call him Marty).  He ended up staying two days in the hospital.  After recovering from the reaction, we had to change his medication and two weeks later, he was scheduled for neutering.  On the morning of his neuter, he asked the vet to check out his back leg.  I had noticed that he “carried” it a lot.  One of his brothers had an issue where his knee would “pop out” so I thought Marty might have the same problem.  Maybe his had popped out and had not gone back in.  After his surgery and Xrays, Marty’s real problem was discovered.  Sometime in his past, there was a tragic accident.  Maybe he was hit by a car, we will never know, but his hip is severely injured and requires major surgery.  Until then, we are trying to keep him comfortable with pain medication until he can have that surgery.

Of the thirty-three Scotties and Westies that we rescued from Mr. Gatlin, we reached out for help with these dogs.  This was more than our little rescue could handle along with what we already have.  We contacted the National Scottish Terrier Rescue and Westie Rescue of S. E.  We kept Marty and two of the oldest Scottie females.  We stay in touch with these rescues and are enjoying getting the “happy tales” and pictures as they are getting adopted.  It was an experience we will never forget.  Mr. Gatlin’s dogs stayed with us for three weeks before going on to other rescues.  Even though they were feral dogs, in just days, they accepted us and warmed up quickly.  Mr. Gatlin was trying the best that he could but these dogs were starved for attention.  Marty is a very sweet little guy and I know that once his hip is well, we will have no trouble finding him that perfect forever home too.  

Blessings,
Cathy Oakley

Update July 7, 2012: (Marty is now called Walter)

My name is Naomi.  I just wanted to give you a happy update about the best westie ever!! My husband and I lost our best bud, a thirteen yo shepherd mix named Sammy, last August. We wanted another friend for our lab, and Tai, a foster mom, was gracious enough to allow Marty into our lives.  I strongly believe in rescue, especially since I found Sammy in a dumpster when he was a tiny baby and our lab Bailey was an abandoned stray who decided she liked our yard best 🙂

The best news is, although he’s a bit timid still, Marty (now Walter) is getting more confident every day and loves his big sister.  He’s up to normal weight and my groomer adores him.  He’s so precious and handsome, and a very funny little man.

Thank you with all my heart for saving his life.  He has helped us all heal and I am so proud of his improvement in the few months he has been here.

Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thanks again 🙂

Sincerely,
Naomi Sircy

Kate - WestieMed Recipient April 2011

Kate

Sweet little Kate came to Westie Rescue Southeast in October 2010.  Our friends at the Tuscaloosa, AL Animal Shelter called to tell us of a little Westie girl that needed a rescue to take her in.  Kate had been dropped off there with another family pet.  The owner explained that she “just couldn’t deal with them any longer!”

Kate had some food aggression with other dogs, even though she would let a human reach down while she was eating and remove her food bowl with no problems.  She also had a small growth that was hardly noticeable unless you looked very closely at her front upper gums.  WRSE took Kate to the vet for her exam, tests and then had her altered.  The vet didn’t think the little growth was anything to be concerned about and it certainly did not detract from Kate’s beautiful little face or cause her any discomfort. 

Kate was almost adopted several times; however, her food aggression with other pets always seemed to rule her out with one family after another.  It was determined that Kate should be an only pet in order to give her a better chance at happiness in a forever home.   After five months, a wonderful home in South Carolina was found for Kate.  A retired couple with no other pets and no children in the home had seen Kate on Petfinder and contacted WRSE about her.  They drove to Nashville to meet Kate and she bonded with them immediately.  She had never been as calm as she was in her new Dad’s lap! 

Kate had not returned to the vet because there had been no reason to.  She was in great health, had a great appetite and wasn’t due for any vaccinations for several months.  As with most new pet owners, Kate’s Mom and Dad took her to their vet for a little visit the week after they adopted her.  The news was not good.  Kate’s little growth on her upper front gums had spread quickly into the roof of her mouth and around the back of her front teeth and was very fast-growing and invasive.  Her new parents were falling more in love with her every day but were not up to the emotional or financial demands of what was now being called an aggressive tumor.  After less than a week of furever home bliss little Kate was coming back to WRSE.  We immediately had a wedge biopsy done before Kate left SC and thankfully it came back negative for cancer.  Once back in Nashville, Kate was seen by our vet and he referred her to a veterinary surgeon.

Thanks to WestieMed, we were able to have Kate’s fast-spreading, invasive mouth tumor removed.  The surgery also required six of her teeth to be removed, however, the surgeon was able to work around her K-9s (fang teeth).  Kate was an excellent patient, all of the massive tumors was removed and her surgeon feels that it will not return. 

WRSE has had quite a few very sick dogs and dogs needing extensive surgery during this past year.  Our very young, although very active, rescue group was running on empty as far as funding for another expensive medical need.  Being able to turn to a very special group of people that have hearts full of love and helping hands when it comes to Westies was what WRSE and little Kate needed.   Thanks to this caring group of Westie lovers, Kate is on the road to complete recovery and will be looking over some new adoption applications in a couple of weeks!   Kate will soon be adopted and begin a very happy and healthy new life!  She will be able to do so because of the generosity of WestieMed.

Sherry Moore Westie Rescue Southeast

Update July 13, 2012

Kate is living a wonderful life in Ohio.  She sends messages by e-mail!  It did not take her long to train her people.  She has told me of training her Dad to sit on the floor in front of the recliner when she is in the mood to really “stretch out” in their recliner!  Kate is very loving, and also very smart!

Hi… It’s Katie Thomas… apparently today is a holiday in Loveland, OH – it’s “Lucky Dog Day – 7/11”, which is great ‘cause it’s also one year ago today that I found “him and her”.  A lot has happened since then, almost all of it revolving around walks and belly-rubs and playing — I’ve been very busy. My people seem much happier than they did when I first met them… I take full credit for that, ‘cause as you see I have “Westietude”! So have a big bowl of nibbles on me to celebrate the holiday.

Love and thanks, Katie Thomas

Thanks so much to everyone at WestieMed for helping Katie and allowing her to move on to adoption.  Katie’s surgery was a huge success and she is now the center of her owner’s world!   She is loving every minute of it and her wonderful world was made possible by WestieMed generosity.   WestieMed Rocks!

Sherry Moore Westie Rescue Southeast