Joey
January 2004:
Hi, my name is Joey. I was rescued by my new family. I was in a puppy mill and sold to another puppy mill for breeding. That puppy mill didn’t want me. They found out I have a heart murmur called Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), which is very dangerous to puppies. I cough a lot, my heartbeat is really fast, and I’m very tired all the time. So, because they thought I wasn’t perfect, they didn’t want me anymore. They returned me to my first puppy mill.
My new mommy heard about me and told my new daddy that she was going to get me because I was going to be put to sleep. Mommy and my new brother, Matthew, took one look at me and told the puppy mill woman that she would love me and take care of me. So she gave me to my new mommy and brother to take home.
Mommy thinks I’m perfect. Just three pounds of puppy kisses and fluffy white hair. Mommy carries me everywhere when I’m tired. I like to help her when she loads the dishwasher. My brother, who is thirteen, plays with me, even though he has a broken arm. Daddy walks me outside so I can play and learn to potty. I never knew people were here to love and pet me. I’d never been petted before I had my new family. I’ve been with my new family since December 23rd.
Mommy took me to the Doctor on December 24th. She said I have worms really bad. Mommy asked the doctor what PDA was? The Doctor said my heart valve wasn’t working right. It was passed on to me at the puppy mill. This condition does not allow my little heart to work right. Mommy asked the Doctor how long could I live like that. The Doctor told her he didn’t know if it would be two days or two weeks or two months. The Doctor told Mommy surgery was very expensive.
Mommy was very worried about me when she left the Doctor. She knew that just love and a good home and food wouldn’t fix me up. So she went on the Internet to look up my family’s history about little-Westie doggies. The more she read about PDA the more she realized I needed help and very soon.
She e-mailed a nice lady at Heartland Westie and told her what was going on with me and my heart. The lady knew how much my new family loved me and she wanted to help me. So she told my Mommy about WestieMed. WestieMed e-mailed my family back quickly.
It was Christmas by now, and WestieMed had already given my family a call. We were so happy. We found someone else who loves me and cares what happens to sick puppies like me. WestieMed got me an appointment to see a nice surgeon Doctor named Susan. Dr. Susan was very nice to me. She held me and listened to my heart. It was beating so fast. Dr. Susan said I needed a picture of my heart to see what was going on. My appointment is Tuesday, January 6, 2004, for my heart picture.
WestieMed has been there for me and my family. WestieMed said they would pay for my surgery to help me live a long life and grow up to be a big strong dog. I’m very thankful for WestieMed and their wonderful staff, and Dr. Susan, and that nice lady named Anne at Heartland Westie Rescue, who have all helped me and my family.
Thank you very much. Love and puppy kisses! Joey
P.S. We’ll let you know how everything else goes.
Update: January 13, 2004: SURGERY DAY.
Joey is doing just fine so far. The next 10 days will be critical for him as he heals. He had 2 bad nights before his surgery. Dr. Streeter indicated that he would not have lasted much longer without the surgery as he had gotten worse.
Dr. Streeter found nothing that was not expected. The surgery went well and the prognosis is excellent. She said Joey woke up with his tail wagging. Trying to stand up and whining. However, he was so uncomfortable and could not settle down. So, they put Theresa’s (Mom) coat next to him and he snuggled right up to it and went to sleep. Theresa sat there with him while he slept. What a TRUE Westie Mom.
No one at the hospital was allowed to call Joey by his name so he wouldn’t get excited. For the next 10 days, he is on “bed rest.” Theresa has to carry him everywhere so he doesn’t get excited or want to play. More to come.
Update: January 14, 2004:
Hi, thought we would send you the first picture of Joey and me after surgery. The doctor and staff said Joey did extremely well. They say he is a definite fighter. They shaved Joey’s side and chest to insert a chest tube and shaved his arm for IV’s. He has about a two to three-inch incision with stitches and a small hole where the tube was removed. They gave him morphine for pain. The vet called me last night to come to visit him, he was very happy to see me. They said he was very hungry and thirsty after surgery.
Today Joey was released at 10:00 he was very happy to see me and eat. The doctor said she needs to see him in 14 days to take the stitches out. Then in three weeks after that Doctor Upten needs to do a follow-up ultrasound to evaluate the heart after surgery. Dr. Streeter was extremely impressed with his progress. The nurses fell in love with our little Joey.
Joey is resting fine tonight. He loves being held and rocked. The Doctor said he would have to restrict his activity for at least ten days. No running, jumping or playing. He needs to stay calm. The next 10 days are very important to his recovery. The Doctor said that dogs recover more quickly with their owners because they are happier.
We deeply appreciate Westiemed for their concern and love for Joey and the funds that were provided.
Love, The Washingtons and Joey
Update February 2004:
Update January 2007:
LOOK AT ME! I’M ALL GROWN UP! THANKS WESTIEMED!
Pearl
October 2003
Hello everyone my name is Pearl. I feel lucky to be telling my story. My birthday is on March 15, 2001. I am just over two and a half years old. I was sold from a Petstore when I was twelve weeks old. Lots of people wanted to buy me as I pranced and played in my cage.
My new family said I was adorable they called me Sara. I lived with them for exactly three months. I was a frisky puppy but one day my front legs became hot and stiff and my jaw felt heavy and my head seemed bigger. One morning I woke up and could not eat my kibble anymore but my family did not notice. I tried to tell them…they finally figured out something was wrong when I stopped growing. They took me to the Vet and did all sorts of tests and the Doctor shook his head. I felt tired and weak and worn out.
I fell asleep after my appointment and woke up back at the Petstore. My new family had returned me! My feelings were so hurt. They did not want me and somehow I was not cute anymore. I overheard the people there saying that I could not be sold again. I was sick and alone.
I had not waited too long in my cage when a woman came for me. She was a stranger but I was glad to go. I said good-bye to my puppy friends and we left. I was weak. I only weighed six pounds and I was six months old. My new person took me to the Vet but she later told me that I was sick and nobody was quite sure how to help me. She made me feel special. She made homemade chicken and rice in the blender with tasty puppy milk for me. I ate six times a day. When I was too sick to eat she would encourage me with steak and hamburger bits. I had to learn how to eat without opening my mouth. You see I have a disease that won’t allow my jaw to open. It also made my legs burn and ache and my head swell.
My person would soak in the tub with me with special salts and talk quietly to me. She gave me baby aspirin and cortisone tablets. I never wanted to give up and she knew it. She called me her little fighter. She phoned lots of Veterinarians and talked about me and my problem a lot. She named me Pearl in honor of a well known local animal rescuer. I felt proud of my new name and my new place. I had been rescued by Friends Forever and I felt loved.
After 1 solid year of special care and baby food, I finally felt better. I was bigger and stronger and started to play. I remember the first hole I dug in the yard. My person seemed thrilled. I am embarrassed to admit how much I want to bite my cat friends. They know I can’t and they tease me. I have been spayed which was a big deal because my mouth still does not open but 1/8 of an inch. I made out fine. I have had shots and seen many Vets but nobody has been able to help me open my mouth. My person thinks this is a real benefit when clipping my nails. I don’t.
My person has found a Vet who can help me. I am so excited. She is very kind to me. Her name is Dr. Hunt. She has made me feel better with her magic machine that she puts on my jaw. I am hoping to be a Westie that can deliver a swift nip or two to my cat buddies before long!
Pearl has Craniomandibular Osteodystrophy (CMO) which is a devastating inherited disease. She is currently undergoing therapeutic Ultrasound treatments at University Animal Hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina under the care of Dr. Christine Hunt. This innovative treatment using sound waves may result in Pearl being able to open her mouth. Pearl is fostered by the President and Founder of Friends Forever, Lucy Boette. Pearl’s treatment is being funded by a grant from WestieMed.
Update: October 2006
Hi. My name is Pearl. Maybe some of you remember me. WestieMed helped me a few years ago. You see I have Craniomandibular Osteodystrophy (CMO). Basically, I can’t open my mouth very much. Westie Med provided me the opportunity to receive therapeutic ultrasound and acupuncture to see if my mouth could open. And it worked, a little. I was so happy, I stuck my tongue out all of the time, and boy, did I enjoy my food.
Lately, I haven’t been feeling well. I’ve lost some weight and just don’t feel like running around. All I want to do is stay in my cuddler, my teeth hurt. The vet says I have severe tooth decay and it’s causing all sorts of problems. My doctor has me on antibiotics and wants to do a major dental invasion as soon as I can gain some weight. My people have been feeding me several times a day and I think that I have put on a pound or two. If this keeps up, I may lose my girlish figure!
WestieMed is going to help me get my mouth cleaned up. I am so grateful for Westie ed. I can’t wait to feel good again. Thank you WestieMed.
Update November 2006:
Pearl is such a sweet fighter! She had 18 diseased teeth removed. It was a long-drawn-out deal and her mouth and tongue were very swollen. She had to be on morphine but is now a million times better. She can put her tongue out of her mouth and lap her food for the first time ever. Her poor tongue was worn down from pushing on her front teeth for all these years. Dr. Hunt advises that the remaining teeth will continue to decay and have to be removed over time but everything is very stable and good after the recent dental work.
She will be able to continue gaining weight. She has gained over two pounds since I first wrote to you all. She yips and barks and generally happy now. I am so grateful for all you have done to help us with her. She has a new lease on life now for sure!
THANK YOU so very much on behalf of Pearl. WestieMed has made a world of difference in her life…in fact I think she is posterpup material!
All my best, Lucy
Update November 17, 2008:
My name is Andrea Borden and I adopted Pearl in December of 2007 from Friends Forever and you helped Pearl in 2003. I just wanted to thank you
for helping Pearl and giving her the opportunity to live. She is my heart and I truly believe without your help she may not have been here today. I also wanted to thank you for all the Westies that you have helped. You are truly an amazing agency that stands for a wonderful cause.
Andrea Borden
Kaycee
Rainbow Bridge, June 2004
October 2003:
The Westie from Out Westie!
We live out in the Southwest in New Mexico where the popular breeds of dogs are medium to large such as chows, rottweilers, labs, Pitbulls, and shepherd mixes. Currently, we own a yellow lab and a Cairn terrier. My Cairn did not come from New Mexico as there are no breeders in this state. I love the breed and have really enjoyed the smaller terrier dog for many reasons. But in this part of the country, there are very few of these types of dogs available. The availability of Westies and Cairns are few and far in between.
I decided I wanted a rescued dog this time, either another Cairn or a Westie. I fell for the Westie breed the first time I saw one at the lighting store where I shop here in town. The owners have one that goes to the shop with them, and she was the cutest thing I ever saw. I knew one day I would have one.
So, I discover Petfinder.com on the Internet and start searching for my new dog. Mind you my husband told me he would leave me if I got another one. In addition to the two other dogs, we have a Bearded Dragon lizard, two goldfish, and three children. Every day I searched the Internet to find my “new” dog. This search started in late June of this year and continued through September.
And then one day there was “Glenda” as she appeared on Petfinder.com. She was located in another state, a rescued two-year-old female who had been a puppy mill-breeding dog. “Glenda” was beautiful and I said to myself, this is the one! I’ve got to have her!
So I contacted the rescue group which had her and told them I really wanted to adopt “Glenda” and the adoption process began. I made arrangements to fly from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Kansas City, Missouri, to pick up “Glenda”. Oh, by the way, neither my family nor I liked the name “Glenda” for her, so decided we were going to change her name to Kaycee, short for Kansas City.
I took my twelve-year-old daughter on this trip to get Kaycee as I wanted company and I thought it would be good for mom and daughter to share some time together. We got into Kansas City late on Friday, September 19, 2003, and were met at the hotel by Kaycee’s foster mom and Kaycee. Kaycee had been previously been checked out by a vet, spayed, and was also found to have a mild heart murmur, but the vet indicated it wasn’t anything we should worry about. Kaycee was also very thin, weighing only twelve pounds, but I didn’t think anything of it since I knew she came from a puppy mill and knew about the deplorable conditions in those places.
We flew Kaycee home the next day via two plane trips through Dallas. She was quiet as a bug the whole way home, not a peep on the plane. Actually, Kaycee is very quiet most of the time and very sweet. She has had to make so many adjustments to be a “pet” for the first time in her life. Kaycee gets spooked easily by noises and was not housebroken when I brought her home, but she has made significant improvements. First, she had to learn her name. I know these puppy mills don’t name their animals, and it was obvious that Kaycee didn’t respond to any name yet.
I took Kaycee to my vet for her first checkup and my vet immediately detected a “significant” heart murmur. She recommended we do an x-ray of her chest, which we did, and it revealed an enlarged heart. My vet told me the only way to tell what is going on is to have an ultrasound done on her heart, and she would have to go to this other clinic where the people who do it come down from Santa Fe once a week. They work for a Cardiologist Vet doctor who does consult only. In the meantime, I take Kaycee home feeling very saddened by what is happening.
I take Kaycee for her ultrasound and find out she has problems with the right side of her heart. There is a thickening of the valve, which is not allowing enough blood to go to her lungs to get oxygenated. There are two defects within her heart; the report comes back telling me she has Pulmonic Stenosis and tricuspid valve regurgitation. The changes are severe according to the medical report. This is a congenital heart defect which not only does she have, but was passed on to all the puppies she gave birth to at the puppy mill. What a disgrace. The breeders should have never allowed Kaycee to have puppies. But I think they knew she had heart problems and that is why they “retired” her. You can tell she gets tired easily and pants a lot when resting whereas my other two dogs don’t.
The medical recommendation for Kaycee is surgery and, either she will need balloon valvuloplasty (similar to angioplasty in humans), or if she has another type of pulmonary stenosis then it could be heart surgery where they do the incision in her chest.
The latter is harder on the dog than the balloon procedure, but both procedures will take about 4-5 hours in surgery. If she doesn’t receive the surgery, she will develop right-sided heart failure. After discussing everything with my vet, we felt that she is a good candidate for the surgery. The doctors have told me that this will certainly be an improvement in her life and allow her more years on this earth than if she doesn’t have the help. I felt that Kaycee’s first two years were so awful that she deserves a chance at living a nice, quiet, happy life at home with us and her sister and brother and family she now has.
The main obstacle in this whole situation is the fact that there is not a single veterinary doctor/surgeon in New Mexico who can perform this specialized surgery. The closest place that can do this surgery is in Fort Collins, Colorado, at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. They have a special cardiac unit with cardiology specialists in small animal care and they have the expertise and state of the art facility to do heart surgery.
Thanks to the caring, generous people and their donors at WestieMed, Kaycee will be able to have her surgery. I just could not afford this kind of expense (plus the cost of traveling) to Colorado for 4 days was making things tough on me. WestieMed is a wonderful group of people and I hope to meet some of them one day soon to thank them.
So, as of today (October 29, 2003), I have made my plane reservation for next Tuesday, November 4th to fly Kaycee and myself up to Denver and drive about an hour north to Fort Collins (it’s supposed to snow while I’m there!) for the surgery. On Tuesday, November 4th, Kaycee has her exam with the surgeon and pre-surgery tests, and on Wednesday, November 5th is her surgery. We won’t know which procedure the doctors will do on Kaycee until they examine her. I will stay up there through Friday just in case they have to do the “heart” surgery since that requires Kaycee to spend an extra day in the hospital for recuperating. Then we will fly home. The following week on November 14th, I will have surgery on my broken foot (which was delayed to take care of Kaycee’s needs), and Kaycee and I will be recuperating together, watching movies, lying around the house doing very little.
We will keep you posted. Donna
Update, November 6, 2003:
I went to see Kaycee today at the hospital and she is doing wonderfully. I had her on my lap for about one and a half hours. She had to be bandaged all around her body since the incision is in her lower groin and was leaking blood earlier last night. But that has stopped and she has a large hematoma there so it doesn’t look pretty but the blood and its nutrients will be reabsorbed into her body as I was told. She has been eating and is not messing with the incision (yet) and is alert and the good news I was told is that her abdomen is no longer distended from fluid!!! The fluid is gone so the doctors believe that they think they did more to improve her situation than previously thought. This is a good sign since that fluid was at a moderate level when we got here and was the beginning of congestive heart failure. I am really happy that she is such a trooper and such a good girl. Kaycee has really meant a lot to the fourth-year medical student who has been caring for her and she was in the surgery with Kaycee too. Even the women at the hotel Sleep Inn have been overwhelmed by Kaycee, they just love her. Anyway, she is staying tonite at the hospital, and we go home tomorrow. I get her early in the morning. She will be on anti-inflammatory and blood pressure meds. Blood pressure meds for a long time. Gotta go will talk later
Hugs to all Donna
Update, November 7, 2003:
Pictured to the right is Donna and Kaycee checking out of the hospital and heading home!
Update, November 13, 2003:
Kaycee woke up this morning with labored breathing and her color pale and not looking well. I gave her her medicine (atenolol which is for blood pressure). I just took her to the vet and they have her there while they do some blood tests and chest x-ray. She was doing wonderfully through yesterday so this is a surprise. The vet said she had a little fluid in her abdomen and they are checking for internal bleeding either around her heart, the valve area, or elsewhere. I will let you know as soon as I find out from her doctor.
Update, November 14, 2003:
Kaycee is staying in the hospital. I took her to the vets this morning and had to take her to a larger hospital so they could do an ultrasound on her heart. I had to take her there with an IV in her leg to keep the fluids going in her. The hospital Vet Dr is trying to get hold of Dr. Bright (Kaycee’s surgeon in CO) because it is hard to tell what is happening with her. Her heart for some reason is enlarged more and she had very labored breathing and turning pale today. It isn’t fluid around her heart as they first thought. It might be a blood clot that got loose but this is hard to tell. This was thought by the other cardiologist specialist in Colorado that spoke to the Vet here. They did another ultrasound on Kaycee today. In the meantime, she has been put into an oxygenated cage to give her more oxygen. They did an EKG on her and that was normal. It is perplexing as to what is happening but if it is a blood clot then it could be bad. They are going to give her some low dose heparin injections for potential blood clots but they have to be very careful as it causes bleeding so they are being very cautious. Kaycee is stable for now. I have to go back to the hospital tonite to give them her medicine (Atenolol). I will certainly know more about what is wrong by tomorrow when Dr.Bright gets in touch with the Dr here in Albuquerque. She will most definitely want to know what is going on with Kaycee and have some ideas. I thought Kaycee was over the hump but apparently not.
Update, November 15, 2003:
Kaycee is still in the hospital. It is Saturday and she is making some improvement but not quite out of the woods yet. But it looks better than yesterday morning. I got the call from the vet at the hospital here right before I had my surgery and she had turned blue in the oxygen cage and had labored breathing. That was yesterday morning. Since then, The vet here in Albq spoke with Dr. Bright/Colorado yesterday and they seem to agree that a blood clot did get loose in Kaycee and went into her lungs. Dr. Bright said she has never had a patient that this has happened to and she has done many of these operations and is an expert at the balloon valvuloplasty procedure so she would know. This is very unusual. But the good thing is since yesterday Kaycee has been holding steady and hasn’t had any setbacks since yesterday morning. And she is eating well, some color improvement since yesterday so I keep praying she beats this. The vet will call me tonite with another update since late this afternoon. They will be increasing the Heparin medication for blood clots as well.
Update, November 18, 2003:
Kaycee came home tonight finally after 6 days n the hospital. She looks much better and is taking it very very easy. I have to keep her calm and not very active for a while. She is getting Heparin injections three times daily for a few days along with taking Warfarin tablet (half a day) and half baby aspirin per day along with her atenolol two times a day. Dr. Bright said that until the area they did surgery on in the arteries (where they had to use three different size balloons) heals in about 3-4 weeks then blood clots can develop. That is why she must be on the blood-thinning meds. And once a week, I believe, I will need to take her to my vet to have blood tests to determine her bleeding rate. So at least she is home, what an improvement. She seems pretty tired out and has been resting in her bed in a pen in the kitchen. Her stitches from her heart surgery came out yesterday and that area looks so much better. Hematoma is gone. Now she is on the mends. The hard part is keeping her from running around and keeping her separated from my other two dogs. I will let you know how Kaycee’s doing little by little. But the doctors said she was doing very well, so I am happy.
Update, January 10, 2004:
Kaycee is such a doll. She is very, very lively and happy and has some piss and vinegar in her too. I notice that she tries to be the dominant female with my yellow lab who is also female. It is quite funny to watch her get her feathers ruffled with the lab and starts to bark at her when she comes into the house at the end of the day (the lab stays outside during the day in her pen and comes in late in the day).
Anyhow, Kaycee has done a miraculous comeback after the heart surgery and subsequent blood clot. I think it also made a big difference that I was home with her full-time during November and December (due to my surgery and holiday vacation time off from work). I know that without the heart surgery she received, she probably wouldn’t be with us today. Her health was declining rapidly and if you saw her now you would not have any idea that she had been so sick. She runs around the house like a crazy Westie along with her pal Cosmo who’s my Cairn terrier. The two terrors.
Kaycee was weighed at the vets yesterday and weighed 14.2 lbs. She finally got some meat on her bones and no longer looks scrawny like she did when she first came to our home. She has done very well with housebreaking, although she’s not 100% yet, she mostly is. She follows the other dogs outside where they do their business now and she finally gets it and has her favorite spot. At first, she didn’t understand this process.
Kaycee sleeps on my bed along with the Cairn who likes to go under the blankets while Kaycee is on top of them. She’s a love bug. Truly. I cannot imagine how she lived in the puppy mill before this. She wouldn’t trade places for anything. She is quite content at being a spoiled poochy. She also enjoyed her first Christmas and got lots of goodies and toys under the tree along with my other two dogs.
Attached is a picture taken recently.
Regards, Donna
Update, February 4, 2004:
I thought you could use a current update on Kaycee. She is doing wonderful. She is extremely happy and active and you would never know this dog had heart surgery a few months ago. Although early last week she had me concerned by her breathing as it seemed a bit strained for a few days. I adjusted her blood thinner medication (the doctor had just increased her dose) so that it is now given two times a day instead of all at once in the morning. She hasn’t had any problems since I made the change. Compared to when I first got Kaycee she used to have breathing problems that became so difficult for her. She was always panting as though she had just run a race. Now she isn’t breathing that way and I can see the difference the surgery has done for her. She is such a sweet, loving dog who has gotten sooo spoiled and loves the company of the other two dogs here at home. She enjoys sleeping on the bed with us at night and runs around the house like a maniac at times playing with my Cairn terrier. Kaycee goes to the vets for blood tests every other week, for now, to monitor her bleeding rate since she is on blood thinners. She must take Warfarin (blood thinner) full tablet once a day as well as baby aspirin and atenolol for her blood pressure.
Kaycee has made a marvelous adjustment to life here at home with us. Her house training is not quite 100% but she has made significant improvement. She occasionally pees submissively if you go to pick her up and she sometimes gets scared still. Other than that she has been very good in the house. She does have her normal routine in the morning and throughout the day along with the other dogs here. She has also become quite the watchdog along with the Cairn terrier. They make such a racket when someone comes to the door. It would be impossible for anyone to break into the house and no one would hear it!
Well enough for now. Kaycee says hi and so do I.
Donna P.
Update, April 2004:
I’ve been thinking of you all and how Kaycee wouldn’t be here with us today without your help. Kaycee is doing terrific. Right now she is sound asleep on the futon couch next to me along with Cosmo my Cairn terrier and Tara the lab; all very tuckered out after a busy day. Kaycee and Cosmo got to go to the Canine Country Club, up the street from my house because I am having some landscaping done in the backyard today and tomorrow and my little dogs go crazy barking their heads off (esp my Cairn) when strangers come to the house. So today they got to go stay at a very upscale kennel near our home (we take our dogs there when we go on vacations) and they get doggie daycare during the day and lots of neat treats and spoiled rotten.
Kaycee has adapted very well to life here in New Mexico. She is truly the sweetest little girl who has such an easy-going personality. She will sit on your lap for hours and I even take her to my son’s little league baseball games and she just sits and watches everything, and of course, small children have to come up and pet her. She has never displayed any mean or snippy behavior with anyone, except Tara my lab who is also female. The two of them can get into it sometimes but they will keep their distance just enough. But the snarling and growling and chasing each other you would think one of them would get hurt by now by the sounds of it.
Kaycee sleeps next to me every night in our bed and she follows me wherever I go through all hours of the nite. If I go upstairs and then back down, there’s Kaycee at my side. I guess when I first found her on the internet last year, I just knew she was going to be my new baby and it was fate, I guess. She’s a very lucky girl, and I am too to have her. She is very loved by all of us (my husband is very attached to her and he was the one who didn’t want another dog!!).
Regards from the Land of Enchantment Donna, Kaycee and family
A Very Sad Update, June 2004:
This is not the kind of update I wanted to give all of you regarding Kaycee. Kaycee passed away sometime during the night of June 5th or Sunday morning June 6th. Unfortunately, I will never know. We were returning from a weeklong trip to California and Kaycee was with our Cairn, Cosmo, at a boarding kennel at home. We stopped Saturday overnight in Phoenix before returning to Albuquerque on Sunday. I received a phone call from my sister-in-law that the kennel called her informing her about Kaycee at 6 a.m. Sunday and she immediately called me. Kaycee was doing wonderfully before we left for California, so I didn’t have any hesitancy to leave. She had been well all this year with no health problems since her hospitalization last November, and I was so pleased with her recovery. So you can imagine how shocked I was to get this horrible news. There hasn’t been a day that goes by that I don’t constantly think about her and how sorry I am that I wasn’t there with Kaycee. My Kaycee was an amazing Westie, and a total love bug who had such a tremendous impact on my family and me for the short time we were together. She was only two and a half years old and I felt she deserved more time to be with us in a happy place here but it wasn’t meant to be. At least she got some quality time outside of the puppy mill where she came from and left in September 2003. My Cosmo greatly misses her as well, and it’s obvious there is a void there. She will be greatly missed.
I want to thank WestieMed and all those who contribute to WestieMed for the amazing things they make happen with their love and generosity.
Donna Pedroncelli
Albuquerque New Mexico
Molly
September 2003:
On July 11th I received a phone call from a veterinary office in Rochester MN. There had been a nine yr old westie brought in by her owners, they stated “she is sick and peeing all over the house, put her to sleep”. The Vet asked them if they would surrender her to a rescue group, they agreed (as long as they wouldn’t have to pay for any treatment). Molly underwent many test and it was discovered that she had bladder stones one of which was quite large. She also need to be updated on all of her vaccinations. Molly went home with one of the vet techs for the weekend. On Monday they called to let me know what would be necessary to treat Molly. Surgery was scheduled for Wednesday July 16th, she made it through surgery well. One of the stones was four cm x three cm, there was also four other smaller stones. The vet brought Molly up to the twin cities on Friday July 18th. My first reaction was how on earth could someone give up on such a sweet dog, she was just precious. The first day we found out that Molly wasn’t to crazy about men, she would run and hide from my husband. It took about three weeks for her to warm up to him and seek love from him. Molly had adapted quite well into our household, she got along very well with my to westies and another foster that we had, he was going to his new home the following Wednesday.
She continued to have accidents in our home, at first I attributed it to the surgery and her bladder going through a healing process. Then one morning she was lying in bed with me and urinated in her sleep and it was all over herself, she never moved. That’s when I decided that I need her to see my veterinarian. We went in and had a urine culture done, it was very dilute and also slightly basic. We did an ultrasound to make sure there were no new stones, luckily there wasn’t. But we still couldn’t explain why her urine was so dilute and the dribbling accidents. Dr. Quast recommended that we monitor her water consumption for three days starting out with no more than five cups the first day and getting down to two and three-fourths cups, which was the necessary amount for her to have. On the fourth day, she was to have no water and back to the clinic to see if she was concentrating urine. The first day was unsuccessful, she came home and was allowed 10ml/ hr the next day she went back to the clinic. She finally did it! Dr. Quast’s fear was that she may have diabetes incepidus sp? or Addison’s disease. Because Molly finally concentrated on her own we believe that it is more of an anxiety disorder that when she is nervous or alone she drinks large quantities of water thus the need to urinate more frequently. By monitoring her water consumption we have cut down on the number of accidents she has had. When we got the results of the stones back it was recommended to put her on special food for urinary tract support.
Molly went to her new home on Monday September 1, 2003, she was one of those rescues that was very difficult to let go. But, if you remember when we got Molly we had another foster, his name was Calvin, the same family adopted Molly. She is in her safe forever home. She is being treated the way a wonderful little westie should!
Bobbi Biegel Westie Rescue of Minnesota
Harry
Rainbow Bridge January 2007
September 2003:
The call came on September 4, 2003. The local Humane Society asking if I’d be able to take in a Westie rescue turned in earlier that week. I am listed with the shelter as a rescue contact for Westies and thank heavens they are willing to call. I arrived at the shelter the next day not knowing what to expect. I had been told that the dog had skin problems and that the surrendering family was not the original owners. He had been a “yard dog and not house trained”. The technician disappeared into the back exam room and reappeared shortly with Harry. My heart melted for multiple reasons. First of all, those little black/brown button eyes looking so forlornly at me. All the other reasons for the overwhelming emotion revolved around his appearance and health. He had huge scabs and raw spots on his body. He clearly had an infection not only on the surface but internally as well. He was coughing and laboring to breathe. I knew his vet bills would be expensive and that we might not be able to find a family to adopt him. I knew leaving him at the shelter would be certain death as there would be no extended care available to him. Regardless of all the barriers, I knew I had to take him home. I’d make whatever financial adjustments I needed to in order to get this little guy the attention he deserved.
Harry spent a week at the vet being treated for all that ailed him. His ailments ran the gamut – vomiting, diarrhea, skin infections, ear infections, and upper respiratory infections. His gums were oozing infection and prohibited him from making progress with the antibiotics or being able to eat without throwing up. The vet noted some abnormalities when neutering him and initiated x-rays. We found that his heart is enlarged. At this point, we aren’t sure if that is secondary to the infections or that he has a heart condition. Bless my vet for being truly compassionate and working with me to get Harry healthy and stable. He changed the course of treatment and now Harry is making progress by leaps and bounds. He has come home and become a member of the family. He shares attention and playtime with Britt, his mentor-Westie, and Mac, the old Scottish Terrier. His new friends have taught him house manners and good behavior.
I continue to struggle to understand how someone could allow one of God’s creatures to be treated so poorly. I have to remind myself that at least the people who had him previously surrendered him to the shelter rather than abandon him. I know that Harry still may have medical issues but we will overcome those and make sure he is able to enjoy life as best he can.
As mentioned before, I have other terriers – one of which has been diagnosed with Cushing’s and bladder cancer. His expenses were already mounting and Harry’s expenses were adding to the financial burden. WestieMed stepping in with support has helped soften the blow to my pocketbook! I thank WestieMed for the support and contribution. More importantly, thank you to every WestieMed contributor for making the assistance possible through the donations made to the organization. Those contributions make it possible to help these little creatures find a happy life, to find loving owners, and to give love as they are so able to do! Thank you, everyone!
Beverly Harrison
Update: August 2004:
Here’s an update of pix of Harry and the rest of my clan. The Scottie is a new addition as of this weekend. I lost my nine-year-old Scottie to cancer on July 4th. Tobi, the Scottie came to me through the Scottie rescue program. Everyone is getting along and is establishing the “pecking” order. Harry is doing as well as can be expected. He had an ultrasound on June 4 and his heart is doing well although he continues with COPD. He is on Enalapril and Metacam daily which seems to help his mobility. He has good days or bad – like all of us. He got a little chunky and I put him on some low-calorie food. Losing a few pounds seemed to help reduce his coughing spasms. Considering everything, he’s tough as nails and continues to be a joy.
Update January 2007:
Wanted you to know that Harry, my faithful little companion for the last three plue years, has crossed over the Rainbow Bridge . Harry, a Westie rescue and recipient of WestieMed assistance, had many health issues that slowly took their toll. He was faithful, loving and true to his breed in his fight against his health issues. He shall be sorely missed.
BJ (aka Beverley) Harrison
Katie
July 2003:
Hello, my name is Katie. I am a Westie girl with a sweet face full of spunk and energy. I was rescued in July 2003 by Krista and Everett Krug during a visit to Tacoma, WA to visit relatives in the hospital.
My original family was loving and gave me a good home, however, health circumstances and moving from a large house into an apartment made it impossible for them to keep me. I was sad to leave; however, I now have a great new home with my new Mom and Dad, Everett and Krista, and a new Westie brother, Duncan.
When I came to my new family, I had a large protrusion under my abdomen and another growth on my neck, my toenails were very long, my teeth needed a good cleaning and I needed a good grooming. This all was going to cost a good bit and Krista applied to WestieMed for funds to help cover the medical portion of these expenses. The gracious Westiemed people approved my application and, as you can see – I am now good as new!!
My surgery proved to be the result of a large hernia that we think happened when I was spayed several years ago. My former vet kept telling my first owners that nothing could be done about it and it wasn’t hurting anything. (We won’t mention names here, but I sure wouldn’t recommend anyone to them). Costs for the surgery were also prohibitive. We were afraid that it might have been a malignant tumor, but luckily it was not and I have a long and happy life ahead of me.
I would just like to say that my new Mom and Dad have been in the rescue community for about 3 years now and have rescued several Westies and through working with Heartland Westie Rescue and Westie Rescue of Northern Illinois have placed them in good and loving homes. We, here in Iowa don’t have as many rescues as other areas, but we do what we can and now I am a part of this great group of dogs and people.
My brother Duncan is also a rescued Westie. He likes to think of himself as the “top dog”, but well see about that. I love to play and fetch and follow my Dad around on the lawnmower and come smiling to Mom with green paws and grass on my face. Duncan has just earned his “Canine Good Citizenship Award” and is in his second session of obedience training. I will be going too in the fall. All our neighbors love us and stop by to see us. We have a lot of room to run and play and live on a lake.
I almost forgot to mention my plane trip from Tacoma, Washington, to Iowa where I now live. It was quite an experience. I was carried in a “Sherpa bag” and it worked just great. I was much happier with my head sticking out where I could see everyone. Because of security, I had to stay in my bag – even in the airport, but I was a trooper and made it through. People would pet me and ask about the little white dog under the seat. I think I was a good spokesperson for Westies and for Westie Rescue. Mom and Dad tell everyone about it and what good things we do for Westies in need.
Again, thank you WestieMed for helping me. Let me know if there is anything else that I can do for you. Ill be happy to help.
Love, Katie Krug along with my new Mom and Dad Krista and Everett Krug
Update January 2004:
Katie is doing just fine. She is a real part of our family now.
Her surgery completely healed and has caused no further problems. We have discovered that she has some allergies, but these can be controlled with diet and antihistamines. Her adopted brother, Duncan also has allergies – so this is something that we are used to dealing with.
She is a little girl with a lot of energy – loves to play fetch with her tennis ball anywhere and anytime. The plan for this summer is to fence in a large area of our yard for our Westies to play in. Katie loves to travel with us and has been on several trips. She is great with kids and at Thanksgiving when we had lots of company had a wonderful time being around with everyone.
She can be a very independent Westie and will let you know when and what she wants. Will cuddle on her terms and likes to be “in charge” – something that she and Duncan are still working on. They play together well and their favorite pastime is “squirrel watching” out of our large back windows which back up to woods.
Katie would go into the woods if we allowed, but of course, that is NOT allowed unless we are with her. All in all, she is a very happy Westie. We love her and Duncan loves her most of the time. They do have their disagreements and sometimes need a “time out”. They wouldn’t be Westies if this didn’t happen.
Thank you for your inquiry. I have attached a picture of Katie and Duncan. Katie is the Westie on the right.
Update July 2004:
Katie is doing just great. We have discovered that she has allergies, have had her tested and she currently gets once a month shots – these have worked well. She is quite an ambitious little lady. Katie is very independent and “wants what she wants!”
Our family has nicknamed her “Katie McGillicuddy” after the “I Love Lucy Show of the 1950s. McGillicuddy has Lucy’s maiden name. Katie and Lucy have a lot in common – they are both independent and scheme to get what they want, many times getting into mischief along the way. It fits Katie perfectly – and we wouldn’t have her any other way.
This picture is of Katie in her “summer cut”. It’s easy for Mom and Day to take care of and requires less maintenance for an active little girl.
Katie sends her best to WestieMed and thanks you again for helping with her medical needs.
Until next time, Katie, Duncan, Krista (Mom) and Everett (Dad)
Alex
July 2003:
My Little Old Man
I met Alex one day driving down the road. I stopped at a stop sign and as I looked to my right this skinny virtually hairless dog caught my eye. He had a collar and was walking rather slowly. I stopped my car hoping to help the little guy home. As I approached this poor little dog I noticed he had no tags. He couldn’t hear too well because he was older and had severe ear infections. His eyes were infected, his nails were about and an inch long and he smelled really bad. I felt so bad for him how could anyone neglect this innocent creature. I brought him to a couple of animal hospitals in the area to see maybe if they knew him. They did not. I was also told by my vet he was anywhere between ten to fifteen years old. I was than asked if I wanted to keep him I should run a battery of test. My heart sank. I knew I could not take him home. I already had two Wheaten Terriers, Jake and Bailey, a nine-month-old baby and my cocker spaniel, Joshua passed away one year ago. I knew where I had to go next, the dreaded animal shelter. I couldnt bear to see him go. I cried and cried. This nice woman who ran the shelter saw I was upset. She told me she knew someone who could help place “Alex” in a home. I felted a sense of relief because I knew he would not be adopted from the shelter because of how he looked, smelt and his age. This woman called this angel and she said she would pick her up. I left my number for this kind individual and asked if she would call me so I could find out Alexs future (In the meantime I hung lost posters in the three surrounding towns where I lived to see if I could find the owner. Of course nobody called. I thought that was probably the best thing since they neglected this poor little animal).
A few days later I received a call from Karen and she said she had someone to adopt him. I felt good but, at the same time sad because I had developed a bond with the little guy. I told Karen if anything fell through to please call me and I would try and take him but the chances were slim. Well Karen called back and told me the woman could not adopt Alex. She told me she was going to have to bring him back to the shelter at the end of the week and have him destroyed. She couldnt keep him she already had too many animals.
I WOULD NOT let this poor dog be destroyed. I knew I had many medical bills ahead of me. Alex was put on eye drops for his eye infection, Baytril for his respiratory infection (he had massive amounts of mucous draining from his nose and eyes. He had so much mucous that one of his nostrils was closed shut many days), steroids, ear drops, antihistamine and ketoconazole. He was diagnosed with Malassezia along with a host of other problems.
I have had Alex now for about one month and he has turned around so much. He has become a member of my family. At first because he apparently was sleeping in the streets where he was always disturbed he probably never had a good sleep. Whenever he would sleep he would jump, startled if approached. Now he sleeps like a baby. He initially could barely walk. He still has some problems but he runs and plays with his toys and has a great appetite. He no longer has mucous discharge. He is very sweet dog everyone loves him.
I wanted to extend my thanks to Westie Med for helping with Alex’s medical bills. I am sure Alex appreciates it as well. I am glad I was able to help my little old man. Thank you again.
Sincerely, Connie P. Blue Point, NY
Alex has a skin condition called Malassezia (yeast infection of the skin). This condition is becoming more and more prevalent among Westies. Westie Rescuers are seeing cases of this all over the country. This condition is very treatable…if treated properly. To help other Westie owners, we are making information about this condition available on our web site. You can read about it here: Malassezia.
Oliver
June 2003:
On June 9th, Tom Barrie got a call from Dr. Thorne, Dallas Animal Control, Oak Cliff, asking if Westie Rescue could take a six month old abused Westie with a broken leg. While we rescue many dogs which are not in good shape and have various medical problems, we have been fortunate that there have been few abused Westies needing rescue in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. This is the story of “Oliver”, who is currently in foster care in our program.
Oliver was apparently thrown by someone who broke his right rear leg in the process. The vet explained that since it was high on the femur, the only way to repair the damage was to surgically place pins in the bone, then remove them later after the bone had mended. We asked for an estimate on costs. After consulting with the Barries, we decided to proceed, and scheduled Oliver for surgery.
The fact that his medical expenses will be significantly higher than most rescue Westies led us to seek financial assistance from WestieMed. We recently received the good news that WestieMed will contribute more than half of Oliver’s veterinary expenses.
Oliver is now in foster care with Liza Escobar, our current Trinity Valley West Highland White Terrier Club Secretary. At our club meeting shortly after we took Oliver into our program, she said she would take him following surgery later that week. When my wife, Suzanne, and I showed up with Oliver, who was still a bit frightened and very unhappy to have to wear his “Elizabethan collar”, Liza took charge immediately. When she found that Oliver could not eat with his collar on, Liza hand fed him. She found she also needed to remove it when Oliver went outside to “do his duty”, so Oliver could use the time honored method of finding just the “right spot”, by sniffing the entire area. Oliver is having no trouble feeling right at home with Liza, her two other Westies, Sydney and Simon, and her husband, Joey.
Another club member, Sue Aikman, came by, and did some touch-up grooming on Oliver’s head. Liza and Sue have now worked out an exercise program in Sue’s pool, with the vet’s approval, to provide appropriate physical therapy for Oliver!
Oliver could not be getting better care. He is just beginning to use the repaired leg a little, but plays mostly on three legs, tripod style. He has a sweet and ingratiating personality, and greets everyone as though they are a long-lost friend. Liza took so many pictures of Oliver getting his first bath, after his initial stitches were removed, that she had to post them on a website for everyone to view. Oliver is a special little dog who will need a special home.
Thank you, WestieMed, for helping make this rescue possible.
Marvin Katz, Rescue Chairman Trinity Valley West Highland White Terrier Club
July 2003 Update from Oliver’s Foster Mom:
On behalf of Oliver, I would like to express my appreciation on WestieMed’s generous contribution donated to our rescue program to help with Oliver’s veterinary expenses. He is the best behaved & most adorable little guy, who just adores people. I have been very blessed to foster him, he is our first foster puppy. And at this rate, he may not make it out the door ever and become an everlasting family member! Many thanks for all the hard work that you do.
Thanks so much from our family, Joey, Liza, Sydney, Simon & Sir Oliver
Update October 2003:
I just wanted to inform you that my foster mum & dad, along with my westie sister Sydney and westie brother Simon, have adopted me. I love my new home and all my new westie friends that I’ve met. My mum and dad say I am such a very good puppy and I am a very good listener as well. While I was being fostered by my foster mum & dad, everyone that met me wanted to adopt me. After my stitches were removed, I did a lot of swimming at my Auntie Sue’s pool for physical therapy for my broken leg. As you can see, after I swam I was a wee bit tired westie.
I have a huge yard and I run fast! Thanks so very much for the financial assistance towards my surgery and giving me a second chance. I am a special little westie and I found a special home. I also want to say BIG Thank-You to Marvin Katz, our Rescue Chairman and Tom Barrie and especially to WestieMed for helping to make my broken leg better. Below is a picture of my sister Sydney and my brother Simon (I’m the tall one in the middle). I have many new Westie friends like Elliott, Cuffey, Tavish, Bailey and Sparky (Sparky’s a Corgi although he thinks he’s a Westie).
Jody
March 2003:
West Highland White Terrier Club of California got a call from an older woman who said she could not keep her almost three year old female westie because she was gone quite a bit and the dog sitter was costing her more than she could afford. She did not like the idea of Josie Marie (now called Jody) not having a home with someone home all the time. She finally decided to give her to us.
I picked her up and found a very lovely and very friendly little female. The problem she had was with legs. She was placed in foster care with a volunteer who does agility. She took her the day after she got her to an Agility Trial that her Jack Russell was entered as she did not want to leave her alone her first day. Foster mom got to the trials early just to see what Jody would do with the equipment…well, she took to it as if she had been trained in Agility. The other friends there were also amazed at her abilities. Jody was then taken to a vet to have an evaluation done. The regular veterinarian said she had luxating patellas and referred us to a specialist. The diagnosis was the same and we decided without question to have the surgery performed.
The surgery was a success and Jody is recuperating in a very nice motor home somewhere in Las Vegas, with a special crate rigged up so she can see outside while they are driving. She doesn’t much like her Elizabethan collar but who does! She continues to thrive, eat well and the staples were removed by our veterinarian in Las Vegas, Dr. Clarissa Engstrom, who has been wonderful towards our rescue efforts there. Jody will now be going through her rahabilitation period and will soon be as good as new!
Thank you WestieMed in assisting us in paying for this expensive surgery!
Elaine Delgado, Rescue Chair for the WHWTCC
Update September 2003:
Hello! Our darling little Jody is doing just fine ! She has, in fact, started training for agility, as you can see, here! We are so proud of her and just love her to pieces. We certainly thank WestieMed for the part they played in getting our little girl able to move her legs like a normal westie! The surgery was a success…..they did, however, leave the pins in, but the orthopedic felt we shouldn’t have any trouble in the future with that.
Thank all of you, again Pat Harrington and Jody