Do you know that every 15 minutes one Elephant is senselessly killed just for their tusk? That leads to more than 30 000 Elephants a year killed for nothing more than a human greed.
Read More “Building a better future with care & love for elephants”
Freedom
We humans like freedom, but wild animals love freedom too. Wild animals belong to the wild. They don’t belong in a circus. Zoo’s can be educational and bring humans closer to animals, but are often badly maintained and provide poor living conditions.
Read More “Freedom”
Love for Elephants
When you learn just how similar elephants are to us humans, how powerful yet gentle, how intelligent, social and caring, then you notice that they actually possess all of humans’ best qualities and not many of the bad. There is a lot that we could learn from them, but somehow we choose to ignore it and think we’re the “know it alls” on this planet.
Read More “Love for Elephants”
Help Elephants in Thailand
In Thailand there is a little lady with a big heart called Lek Chailert. In 1996 she founded Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai with a goal to rescue as many captive elephants from Thailand’s trekking camps, street begging and tourist shows. To make elephants do what they do for tourists they are stolen from their mothers as babies, then beaten and tortured from an early age and in the end they lead miserable lifes in chains.
Read More “Help Elephants in Thailand”
Get involved & change this world to a better place
When you learn just how similar elephants are to us humans, how powerful yet gentle, how intelligent, social and caring, then you notice that they actually possess all of humans’ best qualities and not many of the bad. There is a lot that we could learn from them, but somehow we choose to ignore it and think we’re the “know it alls” on this planet.
Read More “Get involved & change this world to a better place”
Wizard
In December 2018 we received a call from a woman on Long Island who had a six-year-old Westie that “we have no time for”. Wizard was spending most of his time crated or tied up outside with little positive human interaction. The family admitted to neglecting him and thankfully called rescue so he could have a better life.
Wizard went to live with a family who had lost their Westie. They were excited to have him and were going to foster him in hopes of adopting. Wizard had not had any veterinary care in five years so that was the top priority. Wizard had an extreme thirst and was having accidents so the vet did a series of tests and ruled out Cushing’s disease, Diabetes Mellitus and bladder infection. The vet diagnosed him with Diabetes Insipidus and put him on a bedwetting medication to help with the accidents.
The tests showed that Wizard’s liver levels were elevated so after a month a new blood panel was done and showed the liver levels were even higher so an ultrasound of his liver was done which showed he had a bladder full of bladder stones, 50-60 they estimated. Surgery was scheduled right away. During the bladder surgery, they also did a liver biopsy, the vet feels he may Copper Storage Disease and that the bladder stones were caused by his liver issues. We are still waiting for the results of the liver biopsy but Wizard is recovering nicely from his bladder surgery and is back to his normal routine.
We are hopeful that once we get the results and a treatment plan Wizard can be adopted into his forever home and have the life he always deserved. He is a sweet little man that has so much love to give. He had a bad start in life and now has a chance at a very bright future.
Wizard’s ongoing medical issues were a financial strain for our little rescue. His surgery was much more than we were originally quoted and more than we were prepared for. We take in many seniors and ill Westies. We have a few that are forever fosters as they are unadoptable, so our budget is always tight. The help from WestieMed is a tremendous blessing as it helped us to help Wizard and helps us to continue our work to save more little white dogs.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank WestieMed!
Best Westie Regards,
Westie Rescue of New England & Wizard
Update November 20, 2019
We thank you for your financial assistance for Wizard’s surgery on April 1, 2019. When Wizard first joined our family in late December of 2018, he was underweight, snapped and bit us, was scared of a leash and was kennel protective amongst other issues, and no vet visits for 5 years – his teeth were almost black! The most serious was his biting and constant urination in the house regardless of being taken out moments before. These issues were almost deal-breakers.
His many visits to the vet resulted in a variety of medications for bed-wetting and ALT levels. When he started urinating in his sleep, we knew it was more of a medical issue. We’ve never had a dog wet in his sleep! After an MRI, we learned that Wizard had bladder stones. Surgery was performed and resulted in the removal of 50-60 bladder stones poor guy was probably in pain and I assume those stones caused him involuntary urination and anger issues! Also, a biopsy of his liver was performed and determined very high ALT levels.
Following his recuperation, he became a new dog! He was placed on a liver diet and a daily dose of Denamarin for his liver issues. Jackie sent Chinese herbs for his liver but Wizard did not like them and refused to eat his food so we discontinued the herbs. He’s now up to about eighteen pounds, seems happier, has settled in, is no longer involuntarily urinating, no longer bites, his anger issues are under control, his ALT levels are down to about 380, from almost 900, and continue to fall. We take him to the vet about every two-three months to check on his ALT levels, and his shots are all up to date and have had dental care.
Wizard has become very affectionate, loves to play with his many toys, has learned to trust us (for the most part), obeys most commands, and has become a valued member of our family. We recently moved into a new neighborhood and Wizard has embraced everyone he meets! To think that if the MRI had not been completed, and if Wizard had not had this surgery, he would not be with us today hat surgery and your financial assistance saved this poor guys life!
He has made our life richer and we so love him to pieces! THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE to this well-deserved little guy!
Best wishes to WestieMed. We hope your involvement with other Westies in need results in positive outcomes as well.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Kathy & Tim Johnson
Update November 20, 2019
We thank you for your financial assistance for Wizard’s surgery on April 1, 2019. When Wizard first joined our family in late December of 2018, he was underweight, snapped and bit us, was scared of a leash and was kennel protective amongst other issues, and no vet visits for 5 years – his teeth were almost black! The most serious was his biting and constant urination in the house regardless of being taken out moments before. These issues were almost deal breakers.
His many visits to the vet resulted in a variety of medications for bed wetting and ALT levels. When he started urinating in his sleep, we knew it was more of a medical issue. We’ve never had a dog wet in his sleep! After an MRI, we learned that Wizard had bladder stones. Surgery was performed and resulted in the removal of 50-60 bladder stones…poor guy was probably in pain and I assume those stones caused him involuntary urination and anger issues! Also a biopsy of his liver was performed and determined very high ALT levels.
Following his recuperation, he became a new dog! He was placed on a liver diet and a daily dose of Denamarin for his liver issues. Jackie sent Chinese herbs for his liver but Wizard did not like them and refused to eat his food so we discontinued the herbs. He’s now up to about 18 pounds, seems happier, has settled in, is no longer involuntarily urinating, no longer bites, his anger issues are under control, his ALT levels are down to about 380, from almost 900, and continue to fall. We take him to the vet about every 2-3 months to check on his ALT levels, and his shots are all up to date and has had dental care.
Wizard has become very affectionate, loves to play with his many toys, has learned to trust us (for the most part), obeys most commands, and has become a valued member of our family. We recently moved into a new neighborhood and Wizard has embraced everyone he meets! To think that if the MRI had not been completed, and if Wizard had not had this surgery, he would not be with us today…that surgery and your financial assistance saved this poor guys life!
He has made our life richer and we so love him to pieces! THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE to this well-deserved little guy!
Best wishes to WestieMed. We hope your involvement with other Westies in need result in positive outcomes as well.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Kathy & Tim Johnson
Update May 2, 2020
Wizard is doing great. He receives lots of attention and walks since my son is quarantined with us as well! He returns from his two-three daily long walks exhausted and tries to hide in one of his many beds! Wizard appears to be very happy, eats well, and has become very affectionate – on his terms! He barks and looks at you with his big black eyes when he wants to sit in your lap or get on the sofa however, he does continue to growl when you want him off your lap or want him to get out of bed to go out. We’ve accepted this ‘growling’ as his way of saying “I’m happy here, don’t bother me!” but he still gets moved but hasn’t quite gotten the message yet- his growling isn’t as strong! He hasn’t urinated in the house since his bladder surgery and has learned to go to the door when he wants out he just hasn’t figured out he needs to bark so we know he needs to go, hence we just keep an ear out when he starts walking around. To our surprise, he can hold his pee from around 10 pm, until we force him up the next morning (he doesn’t like to get up in the AM) and he never seems like he’s in a hurry to get out! He has many toys but most of all he loves to play with his ‘moose doll’.
We have Wizard’s ALT levels checked about every 3-5 months, highest was in April 2019 at 890; June 2019 at 471; October 2019 at 306; Feb 2020 479; and April 2020 478. He is on Denamaran, 1 tab daily and is on a diet of Hepatic wet and dry dog food by Royal Canine. He’s a treat snob so he doesn’t like many treats and we don’t feed him table scraps. His weight has been consistent now for the past year and averages around 18 lbs. He seems to have bouts every 2-3 months with vomiting but the Vet hasn’t been able to find anything even with blood workups. He had an episode about 2 weeks ago when he repeatedly vomited so we took him to the Vet right away. By the time we got there he was wagging his tale and running around like he was never sick. Vet still couldn’t find anything wrong. The only other issue we have noticed is that sometimes his rear legs noticeably shake, Vet still couldn’t find anything. Wizard had a second dental cleaning Feb 3, 2020, and as noted at his first cleaning, he has gum disease so we are trying to brush his teeth more often, which he doesn’t like to say the least.
He has become the neighborhood mascot-everybody loves him and he in turns loves everybody. We think he is doing well in spite of his background. The Vet described him as an “old 7 year old” last year.
We thank WestieMed for their financial assistance but most of all NE Westie Rescue for their support and patience in assisting Wizard to live a happier more deserving life and finding a forever home – think he found one!!!
Zeus McGoose
We were contacted by a woman who was a neighbor to the people that owned Zeus in October of 2018. She was beside herself at his condition and had previously intervened a couple of years ago and taken him to the vet, paying over $3000 for his care, only to have the owners refuse to administer the medications or make the dietary changes that would have helped him. She said that he had been like this pretty much since a couple of months after they bought him at a pet store over eight years ago.
She relayed that she could see he was suffering and couldn’t just stand by and do nothing, but knew that if she contacted Animal Control he would be seized and euthanized could we help? After gathering more information and setting out a game plan, I told her that while we could not legally take the dog unless they agreed, we would certainly help him if they would agree to surrender. With her help and that of her vet, the owners were persuaded to release him rather than face neglect charges under NY state law. The vet also started him on some antibiotics and gave us some medicated shampoo to get us through until he could see our own vet.
When we got him, he was in really rough shape with his skin blackened and oozing from rampant staph, bacteria and yeast infections, and his ears so infected that they were swollen shut. He was a very sick little boy. He was also significantly underweight. Our vets concluded that he was extremely fragile and lucky to have survived, as his condition was grave.
Since then, we have been able to start the healing of his skin and have done allergy testing and begun immunotherapy, but eight years of chronic infection have taken their toll on his little ears and the canals have become occluded with scar tissue and hardened with calcification. That has trapped a severe infection in his right middle ear. The 2% opening he has in that ear is not enough to release the pressure and allow efficacious treatment.
After attempting several different approaches in the hopes of preserving his hearing, the specialists all agree that he must have surgery, and soon, as his condition is not only painful but dangerous. The benefits in this case, far outweigh the risks.
Through all this discomfort, itching and pain, he has been a sweet boy who craves nothing so much as love and affection. He would be completely content to be held and carried and snuggled. As he’s started to feel better, his personality has begun to shine through. A Westie to the core, he has more than his fair share of Westie-tude and intelligence. He keeps us on our toes and lets us know when he wants something. He has now come to be known throughout the Westie community as Zeus McGoose and is developing quite the fan base as he posts his videos about his life in rescue.
This little guy has endured years of unthinkable neglect and we are looking forward to the day that he is truly pain-free.
Thank you WestieMed for all you do for these precious fur babies.
Mary Joan Smith
Westie Recue NY
Update April 2, 2019
WestieMed, thank you again for your assistance with the grant for Zeus McGoose. Zeus is recovering nicely and his ear even stands up when he is interested and engaged. The area where the tumor was removed is also healing very well. The biggest change, however, is, of course, the huge difference in his comfort level. He is able to now rest comfortably without waking randomly with a howl of pain, and although we have a long road ahead with his allergies and skin issues still, due to the severity and years of neglect, he seems to be a much happier dog. Getting rid of the chronic infection that was trapped in that ear has resulted in a healthier dog as well, in spite of the ongoing challenges. He is busy begging for his Tuna Snax and updating his fans as to the interesting things that happen throughout his day. The change in his stamina is significant and he has devoted himself to see how long I am able to keep up with his shenanigans.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your help with Zeus. It is no exaggeration to say that we would have been hard- pressed to have his surgery done and be able to relieve his awful suffering soon enough.
Zeus has something to say to you as well, click below:
With much gratitude,
Josie Myers-Smith
Executive Director
Westie Central, Inc.
(formerly Westie Rescue of NY)
Bonnie
No one knows where Bonnie originally came from…she was found in a shelter in 2012 and adopted by a nice couple who loved to spoil her. Things changed in 2018, though, as Bonnie’s mom passed away and then her dad became very ill. When he was hospitalized, friends reached out to Westie & Scottie Rescue Houston to help find Bonnie a forever home.
No one had realized that Bonnie’s health had suffered during the time her pawrents were ill. When she came to WSRH, her eyes and ears were very badly infected, requiring several rounds of treatment to clear them. Bonnie also suffers from Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca or “Dry Eye”, which had gone untreated, causing scarring and ulcers. We treated her with several rounds of eye drops which were ineffective so Bonnie was sent to an ophthalmologist who recommended surgery to put a graft over the ulcer in order for it to heal and save Bonnie’s vision.
Bonnie is recovering now from surgery and will require medicated eye drops multiple times each day, at least for a while. The surgeon expects full recovery and, while she will continue to need drops to treat her dry eyes, Bonnie should regain her vision and go on to live happily ever after in her forever home.
Maggie Escriva
Westie & Scottie Rescue Houston
Update March 2020
Bonnie crossed to the Rainbow Bridge Jan 2020. Suspected stomach cancer.
She had the best last year-plus anyone could have hoped for. Her pawrents were wonderful and spared no expense. She was the queen of the house and feeling good right up until she wasn’t.
Maggie Escriva
Westie & Scottie Rescue of Houston
Luna
Luna joined our family in July of 2018. We met her and instantly fell in love with her calm charm and sweet disposition. She came into our lives somewhat unexpectantly after we lost our dog Peetie of twelve years. We stopped into our local animal shelter MADAAC. They are the first stop for stray or abandoned animals before other local institutions. Our family had considered adopting another family member and we decided to stop by to see how their process worked. They told us Luna had just been brought in the night before as a stray. She was on the thin side and had a nasty ear infection. We hesitantly decided to meet her as we weren’t sure if we were emotionally ready for another dog. Peetie was a very important piece of us. However, it is a decision I am so happy we made.
When she entered the small six by six-foot space we instantly smelled a strong rancid scent. It was her ear infection, it was really nasty and looked as if it had been going on for months and months. The whole left side of her head was brown with discharge from her ear. They told us she was most likely around three, she wasn’t spayed and wasn’t chipped. She immediately jumped onto our laps for attention. It was wonderful. Luna had just been brought in the night before, so there was a five-day adoption hold for her. But, we knew we had to go for it.
Five long days passed and Luna has still had not been spoken for. Who wouldn’t claim such a special baby? They scheduled her spay and we could take her home! We were told her ear would be cleaned thoroughly and we made arrangements with our family veterinarian to start treating the infection. All was falling into place until we went to pick Luna up from her procedure.
It became very clear it was not just an ear infection in Luna’s ear, but something worse. She had growths all deep within her ear preventing the infection from escaping. This made it evident she would require more than antibiotics and most likely surgery. MADAAC gave us a choice of not adopting Luna. But, it never crossed our minds to give up on her as her previous owner must have done. She was already a member of our family and we were bonded, for life.
After getting spayed, we took Luna back home to get her used to her new home and family. She was quiet, sweet, and gentle. Everything we could’ve hoped. But, her body language suggested that she may have been mistreated in her life. She cowered in fear, and after making a mess in the house, she ran underneath a bed to hide. We Immediately took her for grooming and to our vet for care. We were hoping for a non-surgical solution for her ear. The medications were not working. We had a culture done to be sure the correct medications were being used for the type of infection she had. We finally got the right stuff but as soon as the rounds of medication were complete, the infection came back. She has been on antibiotics and prednisone since July. All of the Vets said the same thing. Prolonged steroid and anti-biotic use would be hard on her system and it would shorten her life.
Day by day, Luna has warmed up to us and I know she loves us all just as much as we love her. She is so delicate, gentle and sweet to everyone. She plays with children, loves to cuddle, and loves to give kisses. She is a true companion. However, her ear issue has only become worse. And she will have to have her entire ear canal removed.
With the help of WestieMed, Luna will have her TECA surgery in January of 2019 so she can continue to live joyously and without infection with her new family.
Brenda
Update January 26, 2019
Luna had her surgery on the 21st and came home on the 23rd. She is doing well!!
She has a blinking issue that should resolve with time. We have to put an ointment in her eye to prevent ulcers. She should get her stitches out in a week!
Thanks again! Without you and your organization, this would not have been possible.
Brenda
Update August 30, 2019
Yes, everything is fine. We are so grateful for your help!
Luna has definitely found her forever family. It was love at first sight and it has grown with each passing day.
Her ear surgeon did a great job and she only had partial facial paralysis for about a month. We had to put drops in her eyes four times a day to deter any eye issues. She has adjusted well too.
It was evident when we brought her home that she had been abused. She would cower and got complete stiff when we picked her up. She isn’t afraid as much now, although she is still skittish at times.
In the year that we have had her, she had an accident two times!!!! It was our fault for misreading her. She is really good about letting us know.
She is madly in love with my college-aged son. They have an amazing bond. My 85-year-old mother moved in and Luna has a constant companion all day long.
I can’t thank you all enough for the help. Luna would have had to be on antibiotics for the rest of her life and would have most likely had to be put to sleep eventually when the antibiotics stopped working.
She is honestly the sweetest little girl we could have hoped for.
Brenda
Update December 12, 2019
Everything is great with little Luna. Her little ear healed well and her facial paralysis went away. We are madly in love with her and I am pretty sure, she is madly in love with us too.
She is having a little issue with her back knee but it doesn’t seem to hurt her at this point. It just moves a little funny when she walks.
She does have some emotional baggage that has not lifted yet. She still cowers and if you touch her back she sort of sinks in a petrified manner. It is so sad. I absolutely cannot understand why or how anyone could harm an animal no less this gentle girl.
Attached is a picture of her and my son. Thanks again for all that you do. You saved little Luna’s life!
Happy Holidays!!
Brenda and Luna
Halley
Halley’s story began in August 2018 when she joined Lone Star Westie Rescue. Her human mom had become ill and could no longer take care of Halley and her housemate Gracie. There was really no place for them to go so the family contacted LSWR and we welcomed them with open arms.
Upon her arrival, Halley went to Josey Ranch Pet Hospital for her initial exam. Halley was a little underweight, suffered from skin infections, hookworms and needed a dental. Her right eye had an ulcer and caused some concern and our vet suggested an exam with the veterinary ophthalmology specialist. She started her eye medicines and settled in beautifully in her foster home. She loved her new routine and was especially fond of her foster and resident Westie friends.
Halley needed to gain some weight and be on antibiotics before we could proceed with her dental. Her dental exam date arrived but it was postponed because her bloodwork proved her protein levels were too low and other alarming factors caused her dental to be delayed. Halley’s foster mom, Ann Loggins, dedicated and gave Halley all the care she needed and a few weeks later Halley was finally cleared to have her dental.
In the meantime, her eye was responding to the eye medicines for her eye ulcer while we waited for her upcoming ophthalmology specialist appointment. On September 4, 2018, Halley awoke with her right eye closed shut and she was rushed to our vet Dr. Baber and she quickly called Dr. Kenneth Pierce (Veterinary Eye institute) to alert him that Halley had a future appointment but that she needed to be seen that day.
Dr. Kenneth Pierce diagnosed Halley with a corneal ulceration which, if not treated correctly and quickly, can lead to blindness and even loss of the eye. Her ulcer had healed but the cornea was very thin and weak. Dr. Pierce recommended a Conjunctival Pedicle Graft Surgery (CGS) sooner rather than later. He stated Halley’s eye could rupture at any time, for any reason. Our options were to save the eye or remove it. He said Halley needed to wear a cone at all times and to make a decision very quickly as to which route LSWR would take We had to move fast, to save her eye because with Halley being her own donor, the surgery had a better outcome. She had surgery on Friday 9/7/18.
Recap of this surgery is a strip of her own eyelid tissue would be removed from her right eye (bad eye) and the live tissue “patch” would be partially layered over her eyeball. The strip would be a considerable size. He believed Halley was an excellent candidate for this surgery with very good results. Even with this surgery, Halley would be visually compromised similar to a human having a blind spot in the eye. You can’t see through your blind spot but can see around the “patch”. LSWR agreed to save her eye and proceed with the surgery.
Halley’s foster mom, Ann, doted on her and watched every move during Halley’s recovery after the surgery. Ann was so committed and dedicated to her after surgery care that she stayed at home and did not accept any work at all to ensure Halley was cared for. Halley had several post-operative exams and she received excellent rechecks. The conjunctival graft had healed and was well incorporated in her cornea. The peripheral cornea also started to clear as there were less vascularization and edema. Halley will continue to be on two eye meds for the remainder of her life, but we are so happy to report she has a new family. LSWR’s previous adopters, Jim & Teresa, with their Westie Sasha, read her story and just knew Halley was meant to join their family. And they were so right!!