Colleen

by westiemed in Stories

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colleen’s former family reached out to Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston when they decided they had their hands full. They told us that they had been struggling with Colleen’s allergy issues, but now they had a new baby and were overwhelmed. They loved Colleen and wanted the best for her, and they realized that turning her over to someone else to help her would be the best thing to do.

When our volunteers picked Colleen up, they described her as stinky and scabby, with black crusty skin and missing hair. We immediately assessed everything she was being fed and all the medications she was taking. We initially changed Colleen’s diet to the grain-free, chicken-free formula we feed most of the Westies who come into our care and, along with frequent medicated baths, she began to improve over the next few months, but she still had itchy skin. Another visit to the vet included doing a skin culture to determine whether different medications were needed. The vet also recommended doing a diet trial with a hydrolyzed diet. We knew that her previous owners had fed her a traditional hydrolyzed diet made with soy and that her skin worsened on it, so we started Colleen on Hydrolyzed Salmon diet recommended by a veterinary dermatologist for another dog in our program. When the skin culture results came back, they showed that the bacteria on Colleen’s skin was resistant to the antibiotics she had been prescribed, so we started her on a course of a new antibiotic that the bacteria was sensitive to. Meanwhile, we scheduled an echocardiogram with a cardiologist because the vet had noted hearing an unusual heart murmur, and we had bloodwork done because she had been on some of the medications a long time and we wanted to make sure they were not causing damage to her organs. Both the echocardiogram and bloodwork showed normal results, so the vets said they had no issues resuming focus on treating Colleen’s skin.

Colleen has been on the Hydrolyzed Salmon diet for about a month now and is showing major improvements. Her skin is getting soft and pink and she is growing hair on her neck and legs, which previously had thick, black, scaly skin. The plan is to keep Colleen on this diet for the foreseeable future and reassess as needed. When she is adopted, her furever home will need to commit to maintaining her special diet.

Thank you for helping us help Colleen get comfortable in her own skin!

Kind regards,

Maggie

Volunteer, Intake Coordinator

Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston

Koko

by westiemed in Stories

We are once again turning to you with a story about how we managed to save the life of a young dog in very serious condition.

We took him from his owners on 16 March 2025. According to them, he was a healthy dog…

He was 1.5 years old, very small, weighing 4 kg, very skinny, with sparse fur.

His mouth and ears were fine, he tested negative for heartworm, one of his testicles was in his abdominal cavity, and we were waiting for his blood test results. We managed to place him in a family environment right away. He seemed like a sweet little dog, but trained eyes noticed some oddities in both his movement and behavior. We were already worried at this point.

Then the phone rang. Koko was lying motionless, unresponsive, drooling. Minutes later, he was at the Vahúrvet clinic, where he was urgently examined and put on an IV. Meanwhile, his blood test results arrived. They were catastrophic… We couldn’t wait, so we immediately headed to the University of Veterinary Medicine, where Koko was admitted to the intensive care unit. Special tests were started, and the initial suspicion was confirmed by ultrasound: a liver shunt… This is an anomaly affecting the vascular system, in which blood from the abdominal organs bypasses the liver and goes directly to the heart, so that the absorbed nutrients enter the systemic circulation. The liver is unable to perform its functions, resulting in toxins accumulating in the bloodstream. This explains a lot, including her small stature, strange movements, dizziness, nausea…he needed surgery within days.

On 22 March 2025, he was discharged from the hospital, and we were waiting for a surgery appointment.

He was weak and dizzy, was drinking and urinating a lot, needed a special liver and stomach-intestinal diet. He also needed almost constant supervision because if he had a seizure, we had to take him to the hospital immediately.

He didn’t want to eat on his own, so we fed him several times a day with a syringe, in small amounts, so that he wouldn’t become completely weak and vomit all the medication he was receiving. It is a huge task to try to keep him alive and strong until the surgery.

On 25 March 2025, we woke up to another seizure at dawn.

We got in the car immediately and headed to the emergency room. The seizure slowly subsided. Meanwhile, the doctor had already arranged for him to be admitted to the university hospital. By the time we arrived, he had started having another seizure. Koko was taken to the intensive care unit again. Leaving him there was a terrible feeling.

On 31 March 2025, the serious procedure took place.

The vein bypassing the liver was tied with cellophane tape, which gradually constricts and slowly closes the vein.

In such cases, the first 1-2 days after surgery are critical, as serious problems may arise depending on how the body reacts to the procedure.

We waited for news every day, and Koko got better and better. He was transferred to the surgical ward, from where he was finally able to come home on 4 April.

On 11 April 2025, we went to the University of Veterinary Medicine for a post-operative check-up and to have the stitches removed. Based on the abdominal ultrasound scan, everything was progressing as expected, and the doctor gave a positive assessment of the blood test results too.

A follow-up examination with the liver specialist took place on 19 June 2025.

His laboratory values were improving nicely and we had to continue feeding him special liver support food. The next follow-up was scheduled for September.

The follow-up examination with the urologist was on 23 June 2025.

The prolonged weak urine flow had improved, but an ultrasound examination was performed as a precaution.

He will be neutered later this year, depending on the recommendation of his doctors at his check-up in September.

He is currently in excellent spirits and feeling great. His body and muscles are gradually building up, and his coat is beautiful.

Pásztor Zoltán

Westie Rescue Hungary

Boomer, Lady and Maisie

by westiemed in Stories

 

 

 

 

 


We are heartbroken to share the story of three loving Westies who have endured months of neglect and isolation. All three are in dire need of dental care, bloodwork and eye exams to assess their health after such prolonged hardship. Their owner had been in the hospital and then hospice care for several months, leaving these precious dogs alone in their home for four or more long months. Despite the family’s desperate attempts to intervene, complicated family dynamics tied their hands, preventing them from rescuing the dogs soon and leaving them in a dire situation.

During those months, the only care these dogs received came from a reluctant neighbor who would leave a bowl of kibble on the floor once a day. They were never taken outside to feel the sun on their backs, breathe fresh air, or even relieve themselves properly. They lived in squalor, yet despite the neglect, these three little angels remain as loving and sweet as ever.

The situation has weighed heavily on our hearts for months. Knowing these dogs were suffering, yet being unable to help until their owner passed, has been agonizing.  But what’s important is they are now with us, safe and getting all the attention they deserve.  The two girls, Lady and Marissa are 11 and 12 years old and Boomer is 11 year old.  All three are in serious need of dentals, bloodwork, and microchips.  It appears the ladies are spayed, though we had Boomer neutered.

Taking on three neglected Westies is expensive!  We are grateful to WestieMed for their help getting us the vet care they need.

Karen Simondet – WROC

Update January 12, 2025:

We are absolutely thrilled to share some fantastic news!  Our trio have all be adopted into loving forever homes.  Boomer went to a wonderful new family who are brand-new to the WROC family – they fell in love with him right away!  Maisie and Lady were adopted by two previous WROC adopters who already knew the joy of having a Westie in their lives.  Boomer and Maisie found their perfect matches fairly quickly, while sweet Lady needed a bit more time and care.  She required significant medical attention before she was ready to be adopted.  After thorough examinations, we discovered she still had foxtails deeply embedded in her vulva, which required surgery for removal.  During her time in rescue, Lady lost over 5 lbs, and we’re so happy to report that her amazing adoptive family helped her complete her weight-loss journey – she’s now a healthy, happy 18 lbs!

A huge thank you to WestieMed that make these happy endings possible.   We couldn’t do this without you!

Sedrick

by westiemed in Stories

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of our volunteers contacted me about a Westie-mix in a small, rural shelter. The shelter was filled beyond capacity and it was feared the boy would be euthanized for space if no one showed up for him. One of the peace officers in that town had come upon him roaming and looking lost, so they picked him up and took him in. They described him as “the absolute sweetest and most tolerant boy” and were eager to find help for him, so readily assisted in meeting one of our volunteers to get him into Westie and Scottie Rescue.

We aren’t certain of Sedrick’s age… the shelter estimated him to be around 10 years old, but he clearly was not well cared for so his condition is not really a good benchmark. His coat was very thin and his body swollen from inflammation. His jaw had been broken and healed in the wrong position, so he is missing many teeth and his tongue slips out the side of his mouth. He has dry eye and a condition called entropion, where his eyelashes turn in and brush against his eyes. He also has eyelashes growing on the inside of his eyelids, which is very painful but will require a procedure by an ophthalmologist, but the specialists will not do anything until Sedrick is cleared from heartworm treatment. Yes, this sweet, tolerant boy has heartworm disease.

At WSRH, we are no strangers to heartworm treatment, typically treating a dozen or more in any given year. Our vets did a full assessment of Sedrick and prescribed treatment according to the American Heartworm Society, starting with a dose of preventative and a month of doxycycline to kill larvae and weaken the adult heartworms. A month after completing the course of doxycycline, Sedrick was doing well and received his first injection to kill the adult heartworms. It is very important to minimize activity and stress for dogs going through heartworm treatment, and that was easy for Sedrick because he is a very happy dog, but we know not to take anything for granted. Almost a week after his first injection, Sedrick started coughing and we know this can be a bad sign in heartworm treatment, so we took him in to see the vet and get rechecked. Sedrick was still his happy self, wagging his tail constantly and accepting pets from everyone. The vet took x-rays and stated they showed a lot of inflammation, but determined it was likely from the heartworm infection and sent him home with additional steroids. Two days later, Sedrick took a sudden, drastic turn for the worse and immediately went back to the vet. After examining him and doing additional chest x-rays, the vet told us Sedrick had pneumonia and recommended we take him directly to a specialty hospital where he could receive oxygen therapy. He also had a severe kidney infection, which would need to be treated there as well. Even as sick and weak as he was, Sedrick still wagged his tail.

Sedrick spent four days in ICU at the specialty hospital, receiving oxygen, IV antibiotics, and various diagnostics to help direct the care. It was not looking good after the first 48 hours, so we discussed options with the vets and continued his care with a change of antibiotics. 24 hours later, the vet on duty called with excitement in her voice – Sedrick had turned the corner and was improving. They would start the process of weaning him from oxygen therapy and closely monitor him, but thought he could probably go home the next day.

Sedrick is back in his foster home now on a strict protocol including rest and medications. He will see his primary vet this week for a recheck and to decide plans on the next step of heartworm treatment. Through it all, he remains the sweetest, most tolerant good boy.

Sedrick was named for “Sedrick the Seal,” a children’s educational character who is a role model for kindness… “Sedrick the Seal embodies the importance of being kind and caring, helping children learn that small acts of kindness can make a big difference in the world around them. Whether it’s sharing with a friend, offering a helping hand, or using kind words, modeling kindness will help children of all ages to embrace kindness in their daily lives. One of the key messages Sedrick uses to teach is that kindness isn’t just about words – it’s about actions. Saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ are important but so is comforting a friend who is feeling sad, helping a teacher clean up, or including someone who feels left out. These small but powerful gestures can create a lasting impact on a child’s social and emotional growth.” (Children’s Lighthouse Early Learning School).

We are so very grateful to be able to show kindness to this sweet boy, kindness the world had not previously shown him. And we are especially grateful to WestieMed for funding to help us be here for pups like him!

Maggie Escriva

Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston (WSRH)

Update December 1, 2025:

When Sedrick came to Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston, we had no idea what a journey we were in for with this little guy. We were prepared to take care of his bad skin and even to tackle his heartworms, but the subsequent aspirate pneumonia was not foreseen. After he recovered from pneumonia, Sedrick was able to continue his heartworm treatment.

Sedrick continues to fight ear infections while he recuperates in his foster home. He loves to follow his foster mom throughout the house, sniff around the yard while she is gardening, and nap on his favorite bed between mom and dad’s recliners. We also learned that Sedrick is no longer able to eat solid foods after his pneumonia, so his foster mom carefully prepares all his meals as soups to aid in digestion.  Sedrick gets multiple eyedrops several times each day due to his eyelashes scraping his eyes.  

The next specialist appointment is with the eye dogtor in December, when Sedrick will learn when he can have surgery to correct his eyelids and remove the painful lashes. Many people have given up on dogs like Sedrick but not WSRH and not WestieMed! Thank you for sticking by us and helping us be here for him.

Kind regards,
Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston 

 

 

 

 

Mia

by westiemed in Stories

Mia Grace Arroyo began her life as Mary. She was one of several Westies in a loving home in New York. Her owners were active in the show dog community. Her dad was a well renowned Westie judge and her mama was once the president of The Chesapeake Bay West Highland White terrier club. Her owners have since passed away.
A very kind and generous caregiver for the last five years of her owners lives inherited Mary. Mary was stricken with a very severe case of pyometra. Her new owner, being retired and on a limited income, could not afford the $6500 surgery to save Mary’s life so she signed her over to Maryland Westie Rescue to have the surgery and almost $3000 worth of aftercare follow up visits.
Out of respect for her new owner and former owners, I fostered Mary and cared for her. Because Mary is nine years old and has lost her original parents and, unfortunately lost her second owner due to financial circumstances, I did not feel that it was fair for her to go to a new environment where no one knew her. My husband and I decided to adopt her.
Mia means Mary in the Bible and because she started a semi new life with us, I decided to give her a new name. She became Mia Grace Arroyo. She took to the name very quickly without missing a beat. That’s how I knew I had made the right decision in keeping her, renaming her and welcoming her to our little pack of two Westies, now three.
Mary has suffered ear infection, her whole life that went unnoticed because it was not coupled with the regular symptoms of food allergies so her food was never changed. Her ears were just constantly treated. It has since been discovered that her ear Is causing her extreme pain. It is not able to be treated any longer because the ear canal is so tight that medication and ear wash is just being trapped in the ear and hence she needs to get surgery. Without the surgery she could die a very slow and painful death.
She is an absolutely delightful little dog with a big personality and strong spirit and will.  She fits in very nicely at our home. Unfortunately, due to the current political environment, I have lost my federal job of 20 years and I am unable to afford the surgery to correct Mia’s ear condition and so I reached out to WestieMed for help.
Lynn

Update July 14, 2025:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mia is a resilient little soul wrapped in a snow-white Westie coat, whose spirit refuses to be dimmed by the trials she’s faced. At just ten years old, she has already endured more than many dogs do in a lifetime. After losing her original family when her owners passed away, Mia landed in the care of their kind-hearted caretaker, one of seven dogs trying to find stability in the wake of so much upheaval. In June 2024, her life hung in the balance when she needed an emergency pyometra surgery—a fight she won with quiet courage and a tail that never stopped wagging. On February 3rd, 2025, she officially found her forever home with us, and we promised her she’d never be alone again.

Though she finally had a safe place to land, Mia’s battles weren’t over. Chronic ear disease left her in relentless pain, and on May 6th, 2025, she underwent a total ear canal ablation (TECA) on her right ear to bring her long-overdue relief. Even as she recovered, her gentle, hopeful spirit never wavered. At her second post-op follow-up on July 10th, I asked the vet tech to clean her left ear, assuming her discomfort was just seasonal allergies. The news that she would need a second TECA was a crushing blow. But Mia, ever the brave little fighter, simply looked up with her bright, trusting eyes, ready to face whatever came next. She is sweet, loving, kind, and so much stronger than any hardship she’s endured. She deserves a future as bright as her spirit—a life full of comfort, safety, and all the love she has given so freely.
Lynn Wiley-Arroyo

Update November 21, 2025:

Mia is doing wonderfully and continues to amaze us with her strength and sweetness. After undergoing her first Total Ear Canal Ablation (TECA) on May 6th, 2025—thanks to the generous support of WestieMed—her quality of life took a big leap forward. And when the left ear began troubling her, WestieMed once again stepped in with compassion and assistance, helping cover the second TECA performed on August 20th, 2025. Because of them, Mia has been given the gift of comfort and peace—something every Westie deserves, especially one as gentle and brave as she is.

At ten years old, Mia has settled beautifully into her forever home. She adores cuddles, never says no to a treat, and finds pure joy in lounging under the sun and rolling in the grass like a carefree pup. While she doesn’t have the energy to chase around her two younger Westie sisters, they coexist peacefully as a cozy little trio. Over time, Mia’s appearance has changed—what was once classic Westie now has hints of white Schnauzer or maybe even a petite Wheaten Terrier, but her heart has remained just as pure. She still deals with pesky allergies (she is a Westie, after all!) and is on a special diet with daily Apoquel to help manage the symptoms. We’re currently exploring whether dry eyes might be affecting her too, and her vet will guide us on the next steps.

We are deeply thankful to WestieMed—not only for your financial generosity but for your unwavering commitment to the breed. Your support gave Mia a chance at a pain-free, joyful life and gave us more time with a dog who brings so much love into every room she enters.

Through it all, Mia remains full of quiet joy and dignity. Her journey is a shining example of what love, second chances, and a little help from kind hearts can do. The best part? Her story is still being written—and it’s full of hope.

Maggie

by westiemed in Stories

This sweet lady lost her human and as a result lost her home.  She was living in an assisted living facility, and unfortunately, her health was deteriorating and no one stepped in.  Her human passed away so the family contacted us.  Maggie is 12.8  years old and is currently being treated for her yeasty skin, fungal and bacterial infections.  Her ears are infected as well and she has a 4/6 heart murmur.  She is receiving medicated baths and had a full work up with our vet last week.  She also had a cardio work up because there was some concern with her going under anesthesia for an upcoming dental but her results came in pretty darn good for a gal her age.  Just one year ago, Maggie was 22 lbs and came to us at 14 lbs.  She is grossly underweight but we’ve already managed to get her to gain 2 lbs!  She will need time in foster care to get her back to her beautiful self. She is a perfect girl for her baths and loves to go on short walks despite her very arthritic knees.  Considering all she’s been through, she is a very sweet dog that wants to please.

Karen Simondet, WROC

Update January 12, 2026:

Maggie has officially become a forever foster with WROC, and she is thriving in the loving care of her wonderful foster mom, Wendy.  Wendy is doing an amazing job looking after Maggie day-to-day, while WROC continues to cover all of her medical and cardiology needs.  Maggie’s beautiful coat has grown in fully, and although she’s had a few minor set backs (as is common with many of these previously neglected skin cases), we’re staying right on top of her care to ensure her issues never get out of control again.

Maggie is loving her new chapter in life!  She enjoys outings into the city, has met and absolutely adores many children along the way, and is truly living the good, happy life she so deserves with Wendy by her side.

Thank you WestieMed!  Your generosity and kindness make stories like hers possible.

Karen Simondet

Lila

by westiemed in Stories

Lila’s rescue story goes back a few years. In 2022 Lila’s owner lost her job and contacted Westie Rescue of Missouri (WRM) and stated she had lost her job the year before, and she was unable to find a new job. Lila’s dry eye issues had been diagnosed a couple years earlier and she had provided the prescription drops her vet recommendation but was unable to afford her meds. She was also unable to afford food for Lila. She wanted to release Lila to WRM. The owner was truly distraught, and she had been doing her best to care for her.

At WRM we always try and work with owners who really love their Westie, and we try to offer suggestions on what they can do to try and keep their pet. Suggested to Lila’s owner that many food pantries will also provide people with dog food. Could she afford Lila’s eye drops if she didn’t have the expense of food? She said yes, she could. We followed up a few weeks later and she stated she was able to get dog food from the local food pantry and thanked us for WRM help. About a year later Lilia’s owner contacted us again and said the local pantry no longer had dog food to give. We suggested she could home cook but must follow a well-balanced veterinarian approved diet. We supplied her with such a recipe, and she said she could do that and was still able to afford Lila’s eye drops.

About 6 months later she contacted us and said she didn’t have the right ingredients to make the balanced diet given by the vet and had been feeding Lila just tuna she got from food pantry. We agreed to take Lila immediately into rescue but then she refused to answer or calls and text messages. A few months later she called again heartbroken, but she knew releasing Lila’s was in her best interest. We set a time and date to pick Lila up immediately but when we arrived she again had changed her mind she couldn’t bare to let her go. We tried to reason with her and asked that she please reconsider. She would not.

About 6 months later she contacted us again this time saying she was still feeding Lila 1 can tuna a day and admitted she had not been giving Lila her prescription drops and was using an OTC. We moved immediately on it to get Lila but she again changed her mind to release her when we arrived.

A couple months later another call same story. WRM dropped everything and went directly to her home immediately to pick Lila up before owner changed her mind again. I volunteer for WRM for 13 years and was looking for an older Westie to adopt. The owner told me she needed to be an only dog and would fight other dogs. I could not keep her as I have 2 other rescued Westies who are old now so I took her to another WRM volunteer to foster.

After a few days I got a call from Lila’s foster mom telling me how sweet she was, and she got along very well with her other fosters. I picked Lila up from her foster home the next day and she is the sweetest Westie ever not a bad bone in her she gets along perfectly with my old Westies.

I feel bad for Lila’s owner as she loved her, and it was just terrible hard to let her go.

When I got Lila, her eyes were severe from years of not having the correct medication and her health itself wasn’t good from eating a diet of just one can of tuna a day. We love her so much we are thrilled to have Lila as a part of our family, and she has the most beautiful personality and Westie woo-woo ever.

Sue Alley

Update January 19, 2026:

Lila eyes have not improved any in the past year however they are not any worse. Lila continues to see the doggie ophthalmologist every 6 months with med adjustments at times. The ophthalmologist is happy that her eyes are holding their own and not getting worse but says this is probably the best she will ever be. She requires 5 drops daily of prescription meds and over the counter drops ever hour. She is a lot of commitment but she is such a sweet well mannered member of our family and we love her dearly. We appreciate so much the financial assistance WestieMed has provided us. Lila will always be an expensive westie but she is worth every penny ❤️🐾.

Hailey

by westiemed in Stories

Hailey’s family of 8 1/2 years noticed she had been limping for several weeks and was not getting any better so they took her to their vet to be examined.  The vet took radiographs of her leg and determined she had a torn CCL (cranial cruciate ligament).  The CCL is a connective tissue in the knee that connects and stabilizes the lower leg to the upper leg.  Hailey would need surgery to correct the limp.

Three weeks later the owner returned to the vet and requested Hailey be euthanized as they were not able to afford the surgery.  Thankfully, the vet did not feel comfortable euthanizing her and knew with the surgery, she would be able to have many more good quality years of life. Hailey’s owner surrendered her and a vet tech at the clinic began looking for ways to help her.  The tech reached out to Lone Star Westie Rescue (LSWR) to inquire if LSWR could take her into their rescue program and give her the surgery she needed.

LSWR took her and in late September, she had surgery to correct her torn CCL! After a 12-week recovery period, she came through the surgery with an excellent prognosis and now is back to going for walks in the neighborhood and playing with other pups!

Thanks to WestieMed’s help, LSWR received financial assistance to offset this very expensive surgery.  Without this help, a huge financial strain would have been put on LSWR’s funds to help other Westies in need.  Lone Star Westie Rescue is forever grateful for WestieMed!

Update July 7, 2025:

Hailey arrived at LSWR in mid-September 2024 after her owner brought her to their vet to be euthanized. Thankfully, a compassionate vet tech recognized that Hailey, just 8 years old and full of life, simply needed knee surgery. The vet tech arranged for Hailey to be surrendered to her care, ultimately reaching out to LSWR to find her the perfect home. LSWR welcomed Hailey without hesitation and placed her with a loving foster family, where she quickly settled in as a joyful little Westie girl.

On September 26, 2024, Hailey underwent successful TPLO surgery, with all medical expenses covered by LSWR and WestieMed. She spent the next three months recovering, and just before Christmas, she was thrilled to be running and jumping again—pure Westie joy!

In January 2025, LSWR began searching for Hailey’s forever home. On January 19, she was adopted by a wonderful family, gaining a new mom and a furry brother named PorkChop (a Shorkie mix). Hailey’s days are now filled with walks, dog park visits, family playtime, and “Puppy Happy Hour” with her best friend Diesel, a black-and-white Shih Tzu. She enjoys cozy naps on the couch and snuggles in the “big bed” with her mom and PorkChop.  Hailey also loves her spa days with her new groomer and watching children play through the portholes in the backyard fence that faces a nearby school. At her recent annual checkup, her new vet confirmed she’s in excellent health.

Hailey is one lucky girl, and her journey is a beautiful reminder that it truly “takes a tribe”—from the vet tech and LSWR to her foster family, WestieMed, and her new forever home. Together, they gave Hailey the happy ending she so deserved.

Thank you, WestieMed, for being an essential part of Hailey’s journey to a happy and healthy life!!

Lone Star Westie Rescue

Update January 19, 2026:

Hi, it’s me—Hailey!

Wow… life has really changed for me, and I think I’m the luckiest pup ever.

First of all, my new humans and Lambchop (my furry friend) adore me—and I adore them right back. I’ve gotten used to them pretty quickly, and they’ve definitely gotten used to me too. (I mean… who wouldn’t?? I’m adorable.)

The best part?
My mom cooks me homemade meals. HOMEMADE. Like, real food. Just for me! Every time I smell the food, my tail starts wagging before I even know it. I try to act polite… but it’s HARD.

Today I thought about my last Dr. visit. He’s nice and gives good ear scratches. I went in to renew my Apoquel (itchy skin stuff… ugh), and he checked my surgery leg. He said it “pops a little,” but that it’s totally fine. No big deal, he said.

And guess what? He’s right!  I can run, walk, and even jump on the couch like a champion. Nothing slows me down—not even a pop.

Sometimes when I’m lying on the couch or eating one of my fancy home‑cooked meals, I think about how different things used to be. And that’s when I remember something important…

Thank you, WestieMed.

You helped give me a second chance—the kind of life every dog dreams about. A cozy home. A family who loves me. Delicious food. Vet visits where people smile at me and I get all the medical attention I need.

You helped me get here.

And I’m so, so grateful.

Tail wags and happy snores,
Hailey 🐾

 

 

Angel (now called Girdee)

by westiemed in Stories

 

Angel’s previous owners reached out to WSRH, asking us to take her in because they no longer have time for her. At 12 years old, they were not surprised that she slept much of the time, but they wanted her to get more attention.

Our vet’s initial exam revealed bradycardia, meaning Angel’s heart beats at a slow rate which could account for her lethargy. Further testing showed that Angel had Chagas Disease, an infection transmitted by the bite of a “kissing bug.” Chagas can affect the heart, so the cardiologists wanted to make sure the infection was no longer active before determining the next step for her.

While Angel is being assessed for a possible pacemaker, she is on heart medication and living a Westie’s dream life in her foster home. Angel already has more energy, thanks to the good care she is receiving. We are hopeful we can continue to make her life better.

Kind regards,

Maggie

Volunteer

Westie & Scottie Rescue Houston

Update September 3, 2015:

Life has changed a lot for Angel since coming to Wescue. She no longer sleeps all day. Now known as Girdee, here is what her furever mama has to say:

“Girdee’s life was basically a hot mess until she scored the ultimate upgrade by being taken in by WSRH. This little furball had a laundry list of health issues, including a heart condition and Chagas Disease from a kissing bug bite – talk about a bad date. But now, she’s living her best life, busting out bunny hops, senior zoomies, and launching herself off the couch like a tiny, adorable ninja. Her days are packed with all sorts of shenanigans, like helping out with farm chores and hanging with the horses, pygmy goats, turkeys, chickens, and barn cats. After a long day of causing chaos, she unwinds with her four Westie siblings, basking in the joy of her new, ridiculously amazing life.”

Getting Angel/Girdee checked out by the cardiologists at Texas A&M changed everything! Now that she is on medication for her heart, she has the energy to live life to the fullest and we are reminded of the refrain from many vets: Age is not a disease. Thank you to WestieMed for helping us get Girdee/Angel the help she needed!

Kind regards,
Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston

Update December 1, 2025:
We wonder if Girdee’s previous family would recognize her… not because she grows hair like there’s no tomorrow, but because she is no longer the fulltime couch potato. Don’t get us wrong – Girdee does love a good nap, especially if it includes a snuggle with one of her brothers (pictured with Goose). But Girdee doesn’t sleep all the time like she used to. Her naps are scattered between zoomies and supervising her mama’s farm chores.
We remain grateful to WestieMed for helping us help Girdee thrive.
Kind regards,
Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston

Goldie

by westiemed in Stories

WSRH was notified in mid-June about a Westie seen living on the street. When our volunteer went to get her, the finder said they had seen her in this one area for over a week and that she did not move much so they were worried something was wrong with her. We immediately took her to one of our vets, where we developed a list of issues to address.

Goldie seemed weak, which might have been due to living outside on hot pavement for weeks, and she had a bad skin infection. She has a wheezing cough, symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome, and what appeared to be a mass on her inner thigh. Dogtors ran a battery of tests, including an echocardiogram and ultrasound which revealed that the mass on her leg was actually a hernia with tissue trapped inside. It also showed a small mass on her adrenal gland, which is causing her Cushing’s symptoms.

We have been taking care of Goldie’s skin and cough while assessing the other issues, and now the dogtors feel we can address the hernia and adrenal tumor and improve her quality of life. Goldie will have surgery in the new year to remove the adrenal gland and tumor and repair the hernia.

We look forward to giving Goldie the opportunity to feel better and enjoy the new year.

Kind regards,

Maggie

Volunteer

Westie & Scottie Rescue Houston

Update September 3, 2025:



Goldie has had many, many dogtors’ visits and has seen lots of specialists. She had surgery at BluePearl Pet Hospital in January to remove the adrenal gland with a tumor and fix her hernia. It was discovered that the tissue trapped in the hernia was her uterus, so she was spayed at the same time. Due to the issues with her lungs, Goldie was kept in hospital on oxygen for several days following surgery and every team member who worked with her raved about what a sweetheart she is. After she was released and had a chance to heal, Goldie moved in with her new foster pawrents, who will be her furever home, and continued specialist appointments.

Removing the affected adrenal gland also removed all symptoms of Cushing’s Disease, which on its own was a great blessing. Goldie was then referred to an internist who started her on a new regimen of medications for her heart and lungs. She also visited an ophthalmologist to assess her eyes, as she has a cataract, and was prescribed eye drops to keep the eye healthy. Through all of this, Goldie has had an abscessed tooth which none of the vets or specialists felt comfortable taking care of due to her lungs, so she was on a “pulsed” schedule of antibiotics, but it was still very uncomfortable. Earlier this month, Goldie’s foster pawrents took her to the small animal hospital at Texas A&M, where they decided she was finally strong enough to undergo anesthesia again and, following full assessment, they removed eight teeth and cleaned all the rest.

Goldie is living a wonderful life with her furever pawrents. Here is what they have to say about her:

“Goldie is such a sweet and engaging girl. She has settled into her place and role as a Milner Girl with her sisters Sadie and Bella. Goldie is the second senior Westie girl we have adopted. She loves to play with our Yorkie girl Bella. They play chase and they chase butterflies, birds, and squirrels together. It took her awhile to walk out in our backyard to potty, but she is all in now. And she loves giving us a huge scratch out when she is finished.

“We take very good care of her, making sure she receives all her scheduled medicine in the peanut butter pill pockets. She loves them. She loves to go on car rides. We try to take our girls on a car ride almost every evening. If she hears ‘who wants to go on a car ride,’ she runs to the garage door with her sisters jumping and barking. She also loves to let her old bones soak in the sun on our outdoor kitchen.

“She is also an excellent eater (of everything) lol. We feed them grilled organic turkey or chicken, baked organic sweet potatoes, and all natural salmon kibble for seniors. She is a good supervisor – she follows us to the refrigerator to get the organic meat and sweet potatoes and then to the dog room and sits patiently supervising while we place their bowls on the dog table and prepare their bowls. Then she leads the way to her spot in the breakfast room to eat. She knows exactly her spot. She also is a great helper in the kitchen if you drop carrots, potatoes, green beans, and almost anything else on the floor. She also loves a little spoon a vanilla Haagen Daz ice cream at night Shhhh don’t tell mommy. 😊

“She is perfect when hears let’s get ready for night night time. She runs to the dog room for us to wipe her down, clean her bottom and brush her few teeth. She loves her eye drops. Then gets her organic joint treatment and her CBD. Then she heads to our bedroom and snuggles in to one of her three arthritic foam beds with a snuggly Dennis Basso faux fur blanket. She’s funny, she moves from bed to bed, night to night.

“We were hesitant to adopt another senior girl after losing 3 in the past 3 years due to illnesses. But we are super happy we let Maggie talk us into fostering her ‘wink wink.’ We don’t want to think about what our life would be without her as a Milner Girl.”

Thank you, WestieMed, for being there to help this sweet girl live the life she deserves!

Kind regards,
Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston

Update December 1, 2025:
Goldie is doing great! She has a new leash on life now that her longtime medical issues have been addressed. She has medications that she will need to take for the rest of her life but she doesn’t mind (especially since meds mean more treats!)
Goldie spends her days supervising her mom and dad as they work from home, making sure they take breaks to scratch her head. She pushes her big round bed all over the house to make sure she has a good vantage point for supervising what everyone is doing. And when it’s time for cooking, Goldie will be right there at her mommy’s feet to be taste tester/sous chef.
Thank you, WestieMed, for your grant toward Goldie’s medical care.
Kind regards,
Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston