While browsing online postings of dogs in shelters, I noticed a shaggy Westie in a small community shelter and reached out to the director. They told me that he was on hold for his owner, who was known to shelter staff because the dog had been in their care several times before. Ten days later, the director reached out to me to ask if we would still be able to help the dog… they had contacted his owner multiple times, but the owner never came to get him.
We wasted no time in sending a volunteer to pick him up and getting him started at our vet, where we learned he was heartworm positive and has a heart murmur. He badly needed a good grooming, although he was missing hair and had crusty skin due to infection and fleas, and his nails were so long that they curled up like the toes on an elf. Both of his ears were infected and sensitive to touch, and he had severe tartar buildup on his teeth.
Curtis took everything in stride… he has been very friendly to vet staff and volunteers and happily greets everyone with a wagging tail. We started treating his skin and ear infections and scheduled an appointment with the cardiologist before planning his neuter and dental cleaning. When the cardiologist gave the go-ahead, Curtis was neutered and had some masses removed as well as his teeth cleaned. We also started pretreatment for the heart worm and scheduled full adulticide treatment to get rid of them.
Now that he has finished heartworm treatment, Curtis is ready for adoption to his furever home. His fosters have fallen in love with him (and him with them!) so he will be finalizing his adoption and staying home for Christmas. Turns out his owner not reclaiming him was the start of the best life for him!
Thank you, WestieMed, for helping us make his new life possible.
Kind regards,
Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston