Stories – Page 14

Mojo

November 1, 2014December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Little MoJo lost his home when his owners brought him to the San Pedro Animal Shelter. They felt that MoJo was “too high maintenance”, cost too much to groom and complained that he was always constipated. This was a very sad day because not only did they dump this very sick little boy, they took home another dog from the shelter. We picked him up within just a few hours of him being dropped off at the shelter.

MoJo was taken to our vet where he had to be sedated in order to shave him down. The mats embedded his skin, but as our vet always does, they left his head alone. Everyone knows not to shave our Westies’ heads! A complete blood panel was performed and aside from an upper respiratory infection, ear and eye infections and obvious dental disease, he was sent home with antibiotics, eye, and ear meds until his dental could be scheduled at a later time.

Over the next few days, we noticed a lump that would come and go at the right side of the base of his tail, but his appetite was healthy and within a few days he started playing with toys and the other dogs. Two weeks after arrival, his dental was scheduled.

On the morning of his appointment, he did not seem to feel well, so in keeping with our appointment, we planned to get him to the vet and change his dental appointment to an observation stay instead. As we headed off to the vet, MoJo became violently ill on the ride there. He was examined, blood work was redone, he was hospitalized and put on fluids. His blood showed his ALT levels were off the charts and he was diagnosed with a Perineal Hernia. Surgery had to be put on hold until we could get his levels back to normal, but in the meantime, his hernia was getting worse. He struggled to potty and cried each time and we were constantly pushing it back in. We ran a third blood test several weeks later and his ALT levels were back to normal and he has been cleared for surgery.

During surgery, his surgeons spent the first hour trying to control blood vessels. It was obvious when they opened him up that he’s had this for a very long time. This problem is rarely seen in castrated males and it’s a bit of a mystery as to when MoJo was neutered but we do know it was recent as his stitches were still intact. Our vet also discovered a mass lump above his rectum adhered to his rectal tissue. It was not attached to his anal glands which is good news! His colon was herniating as was the fat from the prostate. This fat was necrotic so they cut it all out and the decision was made to leave the lump because it has so adhered to the tissue and this being a delicate surgery, to begin with, the chance of fecal incontinence with is always a risk with this type of surgery so a needle biopsy will be done at a later time. While he was under, an enormous about of debris cemented onto his teeth was removed. MoJo is recovering as planned and has come home to heal.

We are so happy that we rescued MoJo and with the generous sponsorship from WestieMed, MoJo had a surgery that he should have had a very long time ago. This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life for this very sweet boy.

Karen Simondet
Westie Rescue of OC & Beyond

Update December 6, 2014

Mojo’s bladder is full and it can not be expressed. We may be looking at either a urethral obstruction or tumor or inflammation. We will do an x-ray. We were prepared to move ahead with his treatment, but his little body shut down and sadly Mojo passed away.

KayDeLoach
Westie Rescue of OC & Beyond

Ben - WestieMed Grant Recipient - October 2014

Ben

October 1, 2014December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

The idea of having a dog in our house came from my children. They often asked me when I would decide to get them a dog. That’s when I chose to check the Animal Care & Control of NYC located nearby because there are so many animals waiting for homes in shelters throughout the country that I felt the need to help save the life of one of these dogs who are left there heartlessly.

When I saw Ben up for adoption at the shelter’s website, it was love at first sight.

It was an early Saturday morning and I just could not wait to meet him. By reading his description, I said to myself he was the right fit for my kids and I was not wrong at all. We have loved Ben from day one, he is just a sweetheart, and we are immensely happy to have him with us.

His behavior is remarkable, it truly feels as if we have known Ben forever. I cannot understand why Ben’s previous owner left him at the shelter, as I was told by the staff that he just did not want to deal with Ben anymore. Knowing this just breaks my heart because Ben is adorable not only with us but also with strangers, who are often attracted by his looks and playful behavior.

Ben is a healthy dog just like I was told at the shelter, but I was not so sure about that because Ben was constantly scratching, where he had patches of hair loss, which turned into cuts in a matter of days.

Since this did not seem to heal, I took Ben to the vet so that he can be treated. The bill was so unexpectedly high that I felt awful for not having all the money available to treat him. I just paid for what I could at the moment. I started to resent myself for carelessly adopting a dog when I was not financially stable to care for one. I went and I got what the vet suggested at the pet store later on. But weeks later the skin condition started all over again looking worse than before. I was afraid of going back to the vet again, to pay for a treatment that did not seem to help, but I could not leave my dog like that either.

I reached out to WestieMed for aid, and to my surprise, they approved my request. Thanks to them, Ben will be able to receive the care he needs.

Elba Noboa

Update July 14, 2015

Ben has been doing great, attached is a picture of him taken today.

Ben’s health is good, other than the allergies he gets. A few weeks ago I had to take him to the vet which gave him a shot for the itching, and antibiotics for the irritation on his skin. the treatment worked and that same day he stops feeling itchy. I am glad to have found a vet that is affordable and really understand Ben’s allergies condition, I also have a Carecredit card for emergencies.

Ben is happy with us, we love him so much and even the tenants want to take him for walks from time to time, he is truly adorable.

Thank you so much for asking about Ben, and thanks to WestieMed for the financial support given to Ben when we most needed it.

Sincerely,
Elba Noboa

Sophie

October 1, 2014December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Sophie’s story began in August when she was picked up as a stray and turned in to an animal shelter. She spent several months living alone, surrounded by strange sounds and smells. One day, she was picked up by rescue. The transition to her new life couldn’t have been more stark, as she traded her hard shelter habitat for a soft bed and blanket. Her rescue angel Lori brought her to a beach so she could smell the sea air. Sophie was so tired she fell asleep on the beach!

Sophie spent a few days under Lori’s care and the watchful eye of two Cairn terriers, Jay and Bennett. There were also two other foster Westies there resting before being transported to their new home. Sophie was very quiet at Lori’s house, preferring to spend most of her time resting and watching the goings-on of the other dogs. She wasn’t very hungry either, no matter how tempting the treats were.

Sophie made her way to her foster home. Foster mom Deb made her yummy food and Sophie started eating. In a few days, she was eating three meals a day and chewing yummy sticks. At her first vet visit, she had bloodwork and exam. However, in a few days’ time foster mom Deb felt that something was wrong and took her back for an ultrasound. The bloodwork came back and confirmed that something was indeed very wrong. Her liver values were all out of whack to start, and her kidney function was at 25%. The veterinarian diagnosed a gallbladder mucocele. If Sophie did not have surgery, her gallbladder could burst and leak toxins into the body, most likely killing her.

New England Westie Rescue Network went to work on fundraising while Sophie remained hospitalized. A few days later, she had a two-hour surgery to remove her gallbladder and do exploratory surgery in her duodenum and other parts of her gastrointestinal tract. Doctors removed a meat wrapper (the kind you get on the bottom of your meat at the supermarket) from her stomach. The surgery was a complete success, and after three days Sophie returned home. She is fighting a bacterial infection but making good progress. She has her appetite back and is playing with toys and her foster mom.

Sophie’s rescue was a collaborative effort between two independent rescuers and New England Westie Rescue Network. Our team thanks WestieMed for its generous, life-saving donation in support of dear Sophie’s care. She now has a high quality of life to look forward to, something that every Westie deserves.

Update October 28, 2014

Sophie is recovering very well at her foster home, right now.

She is being treated for ecoli infection from when she ingested the meat wrapper paper, poor girl.

Thank you WestieMed for giving her a donation.

I visited her this past weekend and snapped this picture.

Update July 27, 2015

Sophie passed away from a brain tumor this spring. Our sweet Sophie thanks you for helping her.

Lori
WRNE

Cleo

October 1, 2014December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Cleo and my story.

Have you ever heard the song “What are you doing the rest of your life” by Michel Legrand? Since I am retired with almost no family, I felt alone and miserable without my first Westie that passed two years ago.

So I was drawn to looking online at the different Westie websites. Someone had suggested I take a look at the Indiana Westie Rescue website. Doing so I came across their application process and completed the form. I was contacted about a possibility Cleo that they were trying to place with my arrangements since she just didn’t fit in anywhere with a larger family.

A meeting was set up in an area where we could observe each other at ease. From the van out popped a precious beautiful three years old, ready to take in the world. I have a feeling my “soul dog Wes” had something to do with this arrangement since I was crying inside with happiness. She was ready to be in my life jumping into my car as if saying “Come on Mom let’s go home”.

I soon found out, due to the possible abuse of former owners she had a severe case of Separation Anxiety. After going home she wouldn’t let me out of sight, no matter what time of the day or night or what she had to do destructively to get to me. Right away Indiana Westie Rescue started helping me with suggestions. They provided phone sessions with Deb Duncan, Canine Behavioralist, which helped me A LOT.

Off we went to the Vet for a checkup and medications which cost more than I have ever thought about.

After a month of retraining of the crate, plenty of exercise and lots of love, status changed slowly. After two months and an increase of meds, I am seeing a light at the end of the tunnel with a pile of Vets and medication bills.

This is where WestieMed came to our rescue and is making it possible with funds for the medications bills and knowledgeable information that Cleo and I definitely know “What we are going to be doing the rest of our lives”.

Marian Allen

Update July 13, 2015

Cleo is doing well. I am still working with her to combat the S.A. She is requiring fewer meds and she has taught herself to nap under my bed when I need to go away from my apartment. She has never been happy in her crate with the door closed, so she has taught herself to get herself ready when I brush my teeth doing little damage to my furniture being left free in the apt. She enjoys the Kong chewy.

Of course, being a Westie she has her itchiness so she has to take meds for. That and I am trying grain-free food.

She just had her yearly check and immunizations.

Basically we are enjoying each other.

Thank you, Marian Allen

Pippa

September 1, 2014December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

In the middle of August, Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston (WSRH) received a request to take in a Westie mom and her puppies. The person surrendering this little pack said Pippa had been dodging cars on a busy highway so they picked her up and took her home. Two weeks later, she gave birth to four puppies. The finders kept the little family for nearly four months when they realized they were unable to provide the vetting that five dogs required so they reached out to WSRH. Realizing that the puppies were four months old and had no veterinary attention or shots, we immediately said yes and took in the little pack.

Pippa was a great mom! She was very attentive to her four pups which were almost her size already and still were nursing. The first job for the volunteers at WSRH was to get rid of the fleas and worms, then get them to the vet to be checked out and start their shots. Dr. French at Bear Branch Animal Hospital examined the little family and found the pups to be quite healthy, however, he was concerned with Pippa’s health. X-rays confirmed she had bladder stones while a heartworm test was running and would bring us bad news. Pippa’s bladder stones were quite large so Dr. French wanted to get them out as soon as possible, however, since she was still nursing, we needed to allow her a little time for her body to recover. At four months old, the puppies were old enough to be fully weaned and they had no trouble eating whole food, so it was time to give mom a break. WSRH worked with an all-breed rescue group to place the pups, who looked nothing like mom.

After resting for two weeks, Pippa was scheduled to have her bladder stones removed and be spayed at the same time. The surgery went well and, after two weeks of recovery, she began treatment to eliminate her heartworms. Heartworm treatment can be very hard on a dog. It is reported that the medicine which destroys the heartworms also can cause pain and inflammation in the dog, making them lethargic as we would feel with the flu. It’s also hard on dogs who do not experience as much discomfort because they have to be confined for at least a month: no jumping and playing, no exercise which may cause an increased heart rate. Pippa is in a foster home with retired foster “grandparents” who are able to watch her closely and make sure her recovery continues to be uneventful.

Pippa has cleared the two-week mark following the start of heartworm treatment and is doing very well. If she continues to do well, we expect Dr. French will release her later this month and she will be available for adoption.

We are very grateful for WestieMed and all of its supporters for being there to provide assistance for all Westies who need extra help in getting healthy and well and ready for forever homes, especially our little Pippa.

Westie & Scottie Rescue Houston
www.WSRH.com

Update August 12, 2015

On behalf of Pippa, we send our sincerest gratitude to WestieMed for the help provided to remove her bladder stones and heartworms. Pippa did well in heartworm treatment and made friends with Louie, a Scottish terrier going through treatment at the same time. The two friends often curled up together during their confinement and seemed to find comfort in each other’s company.

Pippa since has been adopted and was able to stay with her newly found BFF, Louie. The wonderful lady who met them decided she wanted to keep them together so they get to continue to enjoy each of their companionship as well as the love and care of a doting mom.

Thank you so much to WestieMed for helping this sweet girl live a full and pampered life.

Kind regards,

Maggie Escriva
Westie & Scottie Rescue Houston

Clancy - WestieMed Grant Recipient September 2014

Clancy (Now Named Zeke)

September 1, 2014December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

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 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

Scooter

September 1, 2014December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

I received a call from a local animal service rescue coordinator – Lauren, at Grand Prairie Animal Services. A dying woman had entrusted the care of her beloved small dogs to a friend, to care for them after she was gone. Instead of honoring this commitment – her friend immediately had surrendered her dogs to the shelter after her funeral. Would our rescue accept the small aged Yorkshire Terrier?

When I arrived to pick up little Andy, I saw his companion for his entire ten years of life, was a scruffy, neglected Westie-named Scooter. The local Westie rescue was full, and these guys needed help.

The men were euphoric to leave the shelter and both pulled me straight to my car- popped right in and said: “Phew…..take us outta here, PLEASE”.

Both guys were very dirty, had long nails, ungroomed, dirty ears, and neglected oral hygiene. But one thing never stopped-happy wagging tails!

After a few weeks at the BlueBonnet Yorkshire Terrier Rescue, Scooter regained his old sense of self and blossomed. We were so blessed to find an elderly man, who had recently lost his wife and seventeen y/o Westie. There was a big hole in his heart and we had just the perfect dog to try to fix the situation. We regularly hear from Leonard Gretsky, who can not stop singing Scooters praises.

Diane Henry
Blue Bonnet Yorkshire Terrier Rescue

Abby

August 1, 2014December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Little Abby’s Journey: She was rescued by Westie Rescue Indiana (Kentucky & Ohio) from a puppy mill in March 2014. She was living a sad life and used as a breeding machine for seven years. WRI had her vetted and spayed and she was given all of her vaccinations. Abby also had her first real bath and was pampered & groomed. Abby was ready for her new life. Within a few weeks of having her spayed, Abby began to lose weight. She was only eighteen pounds, to begin with at the time of her rescue. But, over the next several weeks she began to lose weight for no apparent reason.

Abby continued to drop weight and muscle mass and quickly dropped to nine pounds. She under the care of an experienced veterinarian who was very concerned about Abby’s overall health. Since she was getting weaker and lame she started a high calorie/protein type of food. Over the next few two weeks, she remained under a watchful eye – medicine & special recovery food. Abby was eating and getting fluids from the special diet, but still not gaining any weight back. With a continued visit to the vet’s office & monitoring her blood, stool and eating habits it was the process of elimination to see if we could find out what was wrong with this little Westie. It was recommended that we may need to monitor her digestive path with an x-ray to see if her food was moving. The x-rays discovered “masses” causing blockage which was not allowing her to digest food or get the nutrition she so desperately needs. More extensive test was needed.

Abby’s next step was to be evaluated at a Specialty Veterinary facility in Louisville, were further tests could be done to see if it could be determined what was causing her such problems. The specialist diagnosed Abby with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Which can be managed and treatment started immediately. We had feared the worse for this little girl, but now with special food & medication and several months of patience, Abby is expected to make a full recovery.

Since being diagnosed — it’s been over a month and her treatments are slowly helping. She gained a whopping four ounces which brings her to nine pounds four ounces. She is diagnosed with Lymphoplasmacytic Inflammatory Bowel Disease and decreased Cobalamin levels. This is a treatable medical condition & with a special diet (Gastrointestinal Health Hills i/d) and she has to stay on this food forever. Abby has a long recovery period, WRI is committed to helping this tiny lady.

Today Abby is initiating play, loves to take walks around the yard and is getting stronger each day. Her appetite is still low, but her Foster Mom is keeping her on the prescribed strict diet and slowly weaning her off the medications (steroid) – she is on her way to enjoy a normal life. Her Foster Mom bakes her special treats from her prescribed dog food.

Abby is a special dog. Her tender heart, her elegant dainty lady-like composure reminds you of Aubrey Hepburn or Jackie Onassis. But underneath that, she is a fighter, a survivor, a Westie who is ready to chase squirrels through the yard. Her strength to survive has been a miracle in itself and the determination she has taught us a lesson of never giving up.

Thank you WestieMed, Inc. for helping WRI help Abby and providing financial support for medical needs to amazing Westies like Abby.

Update July 12, 2015

Sadly to say, little Abby did not survive. All efforts were made to save her but her little body had been pushed to the limit. She quit eating and continued losing weight. Had no quality of life. She knew love and was kept comfortable. I am the one that fostered her through it all and I was with her at the end.

Thank you WestieMed for all of your help and support.

Johndra Sanders
WRI
KY Rescue Coordinator

Mac - Westiemed Grant Recipient July 2014

Mac

July 1, 2014December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

Hello every one my name is Mac.

My story begins in 2006 when I was born in a puppy mill near Los Angeles. I was to live my life in a tiny, filthy cage as a “prisoner for profit”. I was no good as a stud dog and was sold to someone in New York City. I made my trip across the country flying as cargo from LA to NYC. I was happy to be out of the puppy mill and thought my future must surely be better than my past!

I dreamed of my new home, a soft bed, good food and my own person that loved me.

When I arrived in NYC I was brought to “The Doggie Gym” in Manhattan, there were other dogs, it was clean, there was good food and the people were friendly. Many different people came to the Doggie Gym, some of them took dogs home with them and then the dogs came back. Soon I started leaving with different people and coming back. I realized I was something called a “Flex Pet”. It was a doggie rental agency, I was once again a “prisoner for-profit” UGH! I hated being a flex pet, I was sooooo nervous and couldn’t adjust. I was found to be “unsuitable” for the program and was to be euthanized.

A lovely couple that had been renting me and taking me to their shore house for weekends adopted me to save my life. They took me to their luxury Manhattan apartment. For the first time in my life, I had my own people and they loved me! The downside is they had another dog, a Doxie that bullied me and beat me up every day that my Mom & Dad were gone to work. I lived on West 57th St, the city noise was constant, the sirens, the crowded streets, the elevator in our building with strange people popping out of it…it was more than I could take, I became so scared of everything and everyone. Mom & Dad took me to a wonderful doggie psychologist that worked with me and put me on anti-anxiety meds, I was diagnosed as agoraphobic (afraid of the outside) but it was so much more than that.

My health quickly declined, I was rushed to the Emergency Vet, I was having something called an “Addisonian Crisis”, I almost died. Addison’s Disease is when your adrenal glands don’t function correctly and don’t release stress hormones. In short, I can’t handle stress! After a stay in ICU, I went home with my Mom & Dad, I was put on Prednisone and was getting a monthly shot of Percorten for my Addison’s and continued on my sedatives and anti-anxiety meds. As time went on Mom & Dad realized that I was never going to be able to relax and be healthy living in the city, especially with my nemesis the nasty Doxie. In May of 2009 Mom & Dad made the heartbreaking decision to give me to rescue. Mom called a few small dog rescues but nobody would take me. Mom called Westie Rescue of New England, they said they would be happy to take me and find a wonderful forever home for me to call my own. Mom & Dad drove me to MA to my foster home in the country. When I arrived it was a nice place but it was scary for me, there were two resident Westies, Zoey & Miss Kate, two young boys that were happy to see me and of course my foster Mom & Dad who told me it was all going to be ok.

I was super nervous but as time went on I started to come out of my very tight shell, I liked to sit with my people and always come running when its time to eat. I found out what it was like to stand in the grass, here I could be outside in my fenced in yard with no scary sirens or crowds of people. I went from NYC to a town that doesn’t even have a traffic light, life in the country is for me!

I have a team of vets both traditional and alternative that helps me stay strong and healthy. After a year of monthly blood work, it was determined that my Addison’s Disease was stable – such a relief! My foster Mom thought perhaps I was ready to find my forever home. My foster home is a bit hectic at times, the kids have friends over, lots of big family dinners, revolving door of short term and long term foster furkids like me and Dad even plays in a band. Mom thought a quieter home would be more my preference so after much thought I was placed on a trial basis in a home with a new Mom, her Westie had died and she was so happy to take me home, I jumped into her fancy convertible car and zoomed off without looking back. Her dog had lived many years with a heart condition so my Addison’s was not so alarming to her (most qualified adopters would not even consider me because of the life long meds and big expense). It was just the two of us in a beautiful home by the beach, I had cozy dog beds all over the house and my new Mom’s undivided attention, we were two peas in a pod.

My foster mom thought this was the perfect placement and I was not too far away so I could still be closely monitored. Well, it wasn’t long before I became very ill, I went into an Addisonian crisis and almost died. The emergency vet said I should be euthanized because I was unstable and would never stay stable. My crisis almost wiped out Westie Rescue of New England, almost every dollar they had went to save my life. It was obvious that the stress of the relocation was more that I could handle, the stress was too much and almost killed me. That’s when my foster family came to take me home, back to the house in the country. Mom arranged for me to speak to a gifted pet communicator, I told them that I didn’t ever want to leave my family or the house in the country, that I loved being part of the pack with Zoey and Miss Kate (even though she was a bossy old diva with ample Westitude), I loved the routine and didn’t ever want to live anywhere else. I didn’t need to find a home I was already home, I’m safe here, this is my family, they love me and I love them. That is the day I became a forever foster for Westie Rescue of New England. That was over three years ago and I continue to thrive. My Addison’s Disease is well controlled. I am still a nervous little man but live a happy life in the organized chaos that is my chosen forever home. I will be celebrating my 8th birthday next month. Mom says we all end up exactly where we belong, I know that is the truth!!

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you WestieMed for your tremendous support!

Our gratitude is beyond words!

Westie Wags,
Mac & Westie Rescue of New England

Toby

June 1, 2014December 24, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

I am a retired senior, that has been a Westie lover my whole life. My first Westie was named Jellybean by my kids that were very young at the time. My Jellybean lived to be eighteen years old. After I recovered from that loss, I adopted Casper from a shelter. He was a wonderful guy. He also lived a long spoiled life.

I was in a Petsmart store a while ago and was shopping for my cats when I spotted an elderly woman with a Westie. Well, I had to go and visit him. The woman was very nice and told me she had gotten Toby from a shelter but was afraid she wasn’t going to able to keep him. She said her husband was very ill with cancer and was in the hospital. She said she was afraid she was going to have to take him back to the shelter. I said, oh no!!! I gave her my phone number and asked her to call me if she thought she couldn`t care for him anymore. A week later I got a call from her, and I went and met her at the Petsmart. Toby came home with me. Love at first sight.

I am on a limited income, and when I realized Toby was going to need vet care, I was afraid of the high cost. Thank goodness I found WestieMed on the internet. I had no idea that there was such a bunch of dedicated Westie lovers!

Toby is laying at my feet right now. Goes everywhere with me, and, of course, sleeps on the bed!!!

Once again, thank you!!!
Carole and Toby

Update July 14, 2015

Toby does have allergy issues that are seasonal. And recently he came down with a bacterial infection that required a trip to the vet. I was able to handle the expense myself.

He is just a wonderful boy and I love him.

Thank you,
Love, Carole and Toby