No one knows where Bonnie originally came from…she was found in a shelter in 2012 and adopted by a nice couple who loved to spoil her. Things changed in 2018, though, as Bonnie’s mom passed away and then her dad became very ill. When he was hospitalized, friends reached out to Westie & Scottie Rescue Houston to help find Bonnie a forever home.
No one had realized that Bonnie’s health had suffered during the time her pawrents were ill. When she came to WSRH, her eyes and ears were very badly infected, requiring several rounds of treatment to clear them. Bonnie also suffers from Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca or “Dry Eye”, which had gone untreated, causing scarring and ulcers. We treated her with several rounds of eye drops which were ineffective so Bonnie was sent to an ophthalmologist who recommended surgery to put a graft over the ulcer in order for it to heal and save Bonnie’s vision.
Bonnie is recovering now from surgery and will require medicated eye drops multiple times each day, at least for a while. The surgeon expects full recovery and, while she will continue to need drops to treat her dry eyes, Bonnie should regain her vision and go on to live happily ever after in her forever home.
Maggie Escriva Westie & Scottie Rescue Houston
Update March 2020
Bonnie crossed to the Rainbow Bridge Jan 2020. Suspected stomach cancer. She had the best last year-plus anyone could have hoped for. Her pawrents were wonderful and spared no expense. She was the queen of the house and feeling good right up until she wasn’t.
Luna joined our family in July of 2018. We met her and instantly fell in love with her calm charm and sweet disposition. She came into our lives somewhat unexpectantly after we lost our dog Peetie of twelve years. We stopped into our local animal shelter MADAAC. They are the first stop for stray or abandoned animals before other local institutions. Our family had considered adopting another family member and we decided to stop by to see how their process worked. They told us Luna had just been brought in the night before as a stray. She was on the thin side and had a nasty ear infection. We hesitantly decided to meet her as we weren’t sure if we were emotionally ready for another dog. Peetie was a very important piece of us. However, it is a decision I am so happy we made.
When she entered the small six by six-foot space we instantly smelled a strong rancid scent. It was her ear infection, it was really nasty and looked as if it had been going on for months and months. The whole left side of her head was brown with discharge from her ear. They told us she was most likely around three, she wasn’t spayed and wasn’t chipped. She immediately jumped onto our laps for attention. It was wonderful. Luna had just been brought in the night before, so there was a five-day adoption hold for her. But, we knew we had to go for it.
Five long days passed and Luna has still had not been spoken for. Who wouldn’t claim such a special baby? They scheduled her spay and we could take her home! We were told her ear would be cleaned thoroughly and we made arrangements with our family veterinarian to start treating the infection. All was falling into place until we went to pick Luna up from her procedure.
It became very clear it was not just an ear infection in Luna’s ear, but something worse. She had growths all deep within her ear preventing the infection from escaping. This made it evident she would require more than antibiotics and most likely surgery. MADAAC gave us a choice of not adopting Luna. But, it never crossed our minds to give up on her as her previous owner must have done. She was already a member of our family and we were bonded, for life.
After getting spayed, we took Luna back home to get her used to her new home and family. She was quiet, sweet, and gentle. Everything we could’ve hoped. But, her body language suggested that she may have been mistreated in her life. She cowered in fear, and after making a mess in the house, she ran underneath a bed to hide. We Immediately took her for grooming and to our vet for care. We were hoping for a non-surgical solution for her ear. The medications were not working. We had a culture done to be sure the correct medications were being used for the type of infection she had. We finally got the right stuff but as soon as the rounds of medication were complete, the infection came back. She has been on antibiotics and prednisone since July. All of the Vets said the same thing. Prolonged steroid and anti-biotic use would be hard on her system and it would shorten her life.
Day by day, Luna has warmed up to us and I know she loves us all just as much as we love her. She is so delicate, gentle and sweet to everyone. She plays with children, loves to cuddle, and loves to give kisses. She is a true companion. However, her ear issue has only become worse. And she will have to have her entire ear canal removed.
With the help of WestieMed, Luna will have her TECA surgery in January of 2019 so she can continue to live joyously and without infection with her new family.
Brenda
Update January 26, 2019
Luna – WestieMed Recipient January 2019
Luna had her surgery on the 21st and came home on the 23rd. She is doing well!!
She has a blinking issue that should resolve with time. We have to put an ointment in her eye to prevent ulcers. She should get her stitches out in a week!
Thanks again! Without you and your organization, this would not have been possible.
Brenda
Update August 30, 2019
Luna -August Update 2019
Yes, everything is fine. We are so grateful for your help!
Luna has definitely found her forever family. It was love at first sight and it has grown with each passing day.
Her ear surgeon did a great job and she only had partial facial paralysis for about a month. We had to put drops in her eyes four times a day to deter any eye issues. She has adjusted well too.
It was evident when we brought her home that she had been abused. She would cower and got complete stiff when we picked her up. She isn’t afraid as much now, although she is still skittish at times.
In the year that we have had her, she had an accident two times!!!! It was our fault for misreading her. She is really good about letting us know.
She is madly in love with my college-aged son. They have an amazing bond. My 85-year-old mother moved in and Luna has a constant companion all day long.
I can’t thank you all enough for the help. Luna would have had to be on antibiotics for the rest of her life and would have most likely had to be put to sleep eventually when the antibiotics stopped working.
She is honestly the sweetest little girl we could have hoped for.
Brenda
Update December 12, 2019
Everything is great with little Luna. Her little ear healed well and her facial paralysis went away. We are madly in love with her and I am pretty sure, she is madly in love with us too.
She is having a little issue with her back knee but it doesn’t seem to hurt her at this point. It just moves a little funny when she walks.
She does have some emotional baggage that has not lifted yet. She still cowers and if you touch her back she sort of sinks in a petrified manner. It is so sad. I absolutely cannot understand why or how anyone could harm an animal no less this gentle girl.
Attached is a picture of her and my son. Thanks again for all that you do. You saved little Luna’s life!
Halley’s story began in August 2018 when she joined Lone Star Westie Rescue. Her human mom had become ill and could no longer take care of Halley and her housemate Gracie. There was really no place for them to go so the family contacted LSWR and we welcomed them with open arms.
Upon her arrival, Halley went to Josey Ranch Pet Hospital for her initial exam. Halley was a little underweight, suffered from skin infections, hookworms and needed a dental. Her right eye had an ulcer and caused some concern and our vet suggested an exam with the veterinary ophthalmology specialist. She started her eye medicines and settled in beautifully in her foster home. She loved her new routine and was especially fond of her foster and resident Westie friends.
Halley needed to gain some weight and be on antibiotics before we could proceed with her dental. Her dental exam date arrived but it was postponed because her bloodwork proved her protein levels were too low and other alarming factors caused her dental to be delayed. Halley’s foster mom, Ann Loggins, dedicated and gave Halley all the care she needed and a few weeks later Halley was finally cleared to have her dental.
In the meantime, her eye was responding to the eye medicines for her eye ulcer while we waited for her upcoming ophthalmology specialist appointment. On September 4, 2018, Halley awoke with her right eye closed shut and she was rushed to our vet Dr. Baber and she quickly called Dr. Kenneth Pierce (Veterinary Eye institute) to alert him that Halley had a future appointment but that she needed to be seen that day.
Dr. Kenneth Pierce diagnosed Halley with a corneal ulceration which, if not treated correctly and quickly, can lead to blindness and even loss of the eye. Her ulcer had healed but the cornea was very thin and weak. Dr. Pierce recommended a Conjunctival Pedicle Graft Surgery (CGS) sooner rather than later. He stated Halley’s eye could rupture at any time, for any reason. Our options were to save the eye or remove it. He said Halley needed to wear a cone at all times and to make a decision very quickly as to which route LSWR would take We had to move fast, to save her eye because with Halley being her own donor, the surgery had a better outcome. She had surgery on Friday 9/7/18.
Halley with her new family.
Recap of this surgery is a strip of her own eyelid tissue would be removed from her right eye (bad eye) and the live tissue “patch” would be partially layered over her eyeball. The strip would be a considerable size. He believed Halley was an excellent candidate for this surgery with very good results. Even with this surgery, Halley would be visually compromised similar to a human having a blind spot in the eye. You can’t see through your blind spot but can see around the “patch”. LSWR agreed to save her eye and proceed with the surgery.
Halley’s foster mom, Ann, doted on her and watched every move during Halley’s recovery after the surgery. Ann was so committed and dedicated to her after surgery care that she stayed at home and did not accept any work at all to ensure Halley was cared for. Halley had several post-operative exams and she received excellent rechecks. The conjunctival graft had healed and was well incorporated in her cornea. The peripheral cornea also started to clear as there were less vascularization and edema. Halley will continue to be on two eye meds for the remainder of her life, but we are so happy to report she has a new family. LSWR’s previous adopters, Jim & Teresa, with their Westie Sasha, read her story and just knew Halley was meant to join their family. And they were so right!!
Kiki is a Westie female about 5 years old. She came from an East Bay (California) shelter on July 9, 2018, with a terrible skin condition and two diagnosed mammary tumors. She was not spayed and appeared to have had multiple litters of puppies. The shelter believed she was a breeding dog. She weighed in at a skinny sixteen pounds. She was picked up as a stray.
Kiki was placed in a foster home and baths were immediately started along with a vet appointment to get medications. Kiki responded to her new environment immediately with medication, diet, baths, lots of love and toys.
A consult was arranged to evaluate her tumors and a suspicious cyst on her side that appeared to be a sarcoma. Surgery was scheduled for August 2, 2018, in an effort to get her skin condition under better control before surgery. Her skin infection posed a risk of infection. Her surgery was fairly successful per her oncologist. She recovered quickly and without any infections but Kiki’s oncologist did not feel the margins were sufficient on the cyst (sarcoma) and follow-up treatment was needed.
After evaluation of the treatment options, it was decided the best option for Kiki and her long-term survival was a second surgery called a ‘scar revision’ on the sarcoma to get an adequate margin although it could do some muscle damage. The surgeon felt she would bounce back from the second surgery quickly. There is very little medical evidence to support radiation in the treatment of mammary tumors in dogs. A second opinion was sought from another oncologist who reviewed Kiki’s medical records. He also felt the scar revision surgery was Kiki’s best option.
A scar revision surgery was performed on August 30, 2018. The oncologist felt the news was excellent on the second surgery and there was “complete excision” and “no further treatment is needed for “the cancer”.
Barbara Mordy Westie Rescue and Placement (WRAP)
Update July 2019
Kiki was adopted on October 4, 2018. Unfortunately, her cancer returned and her adopters paid for two additional surgeries before she passed away on June 3, 2019. Here is her obituary:
Kiki came to WRAP on July 9, 2018. She was found on the streets of an East Bay city in very rough shape. She had terrible skin issues and had obviously been used for breeding. She had two large mammary tumors- which we knew were probably cancer. Barbara did not have a foster home for her, but she was definitely a Westie, so my husband and I agreed to foster her. Kiki came into our home silent and depressed. Her first surgery was 2 weeks later. She had mammary cancer and a sarcoma. Her recovery went well and with each day we could see her spirit get brighter.
This spirit was simply amazing and we adopted her. She loved to play with toys; she always wanted to be on our lap….we even built a little box for her to get on the sofa herself.
Kiki was a godsend for us. She reminded us how we can take our health for granted. She was so happy each day, playing with toys and our other two Westies. My husband fell in love with Kiki, and they had a special bond. He got on the floor to play with her most mornings, and Kiki would bark at him when he did not. Kiki loved sitting on my husband’s lap when he read the paper in the morning. It was their routine.
She became the happiest little Westie we had ever seen, and we adored her!
Kiki made me laugh….I mean really laugh every day! Kiki had plenty of Westitude and oh, how she loved to boss me around! Especially when it was time to eat! I have many videos of her and I am so thankful for them.
We had to say goodbye to Kiki on June 3, 2019. We spent the morning holding Kiki, taking turns doing so. Even to the end, she was loving. She had stopped eating, though, and we know she was in pain. We had to let her go, but we miss her to this day. She died in my arms, resting on my shoulder. Eleven months with Kiki was not enough time. Eleven years would not have been enough time. That BITCH cancer took another sweet life. We have had a lot of Westies. They all ARE and WERE special and wonderful, but there was something extra special about Kiki. She was one of a kind. She reminded us to stay in the moment and to take each day as precious.
I know in time I will laugh again. And yes, we will foster again after our hearts have time to heal. Don’t be afraid to foster. You might get lucky enough to find a Kiki.
February of 2017, I went to the Humane Society of Broward County and laid my eyes on the cutest white Westie-mix. I knew at first contact I had to rescue him from possibly being put down.
After getting him home we voted as a family to name him Sonny because of his bright personality.
After a few months of having him, I noticed that Sonny walked to the left and then started to limp a little. It wasn’t until after I took Sonny to see the Vet a few times we came to the conclusion that x-rays were needed to be done to rule out cancer and get to the root of the problem. I agreed and even though they ruled out cancer they informed me that my son Sonny has Hip Dysplasia, a torn CCL, and Arthritis. The doctors felt like Sonny suffered from these conditions for a while and without surgery or intensive rehab he will become lame and damage his good limbs.
Sonny has a true Westie spirit and loves to play and be active, but with those types of injuries, he had to stay medicated and sometimes restrained to help the healing.
Although Sonny is a rescue dog he was the one who truly rescued me. Being diagnosed with Lupus three years ago my world seemed a little overwhelming and I felt alone in this process. Sonny came into my life this bubbly and loveable creature that stayed by my side during terrible Lupus flares, I would be remiss if I was to give up on him when he never gave up on me. As the cost of Vet visits added up and now the new cost of treatment I was at a loss.
Only with the help of WestieMed, I am able to move forward in Sonny’s intensive rehabilitation so he can be that typical over-active Westie that he was designed to be.
Thank you so much for assisting us with the care of our family member SONNY!
Missy was found wandering on a golf course in coyote country by a Good Samaritan. She had no identification or collar, so they took her to the shelter. She was microchipped and the shelter called the owner.
The owner stated he did not want the dog back. Because of her multiple issues, a huge growth on her inner thigh, mammary tumors, and bleeding from the rectum, the shelter deemed her unadoptable.
They called Westie Rescue of Orange County (WROC) as a last resort and, of course, we took her.
The growth turned out to be a giant wart, the mammary tumors were fatty tumors, and the bleeding was caused by a non-cancerous polyp. Our vet removed the wart, fatty tumors and the polyp which took 3 surgeries. Missy never complained and remained her happy sweet self. She has recovered beautifully and is now available for adoption.
Thank you for your consideration.
Kay DeLoach Westie Rescue of OC & Beyond
Update August 14, 2019
Missy learned that life is full of wonderful second chances. She was adopted by a lovely couple and they think she is lovely, too. Missy found a new beginning and a great Mom who tells us they are honored to have a girl like her join their family. We are all so happy!
Kay DeLoach Westie Rescue of OC & Beyond
Update November 20, 2019
Missy continues to thrive with her family. She is a very happy girl and they love her to pieces.
On December 16, 2017, I drove to Houston to rescue a Westie brother and sister.
We named the girl Charlotte Rose and decided to name the boy George Bailey after the film “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
I later learned that George had a severe ear infection and will need surgery. The doctor, or dog-tor, feels that has infection was neglected for a very long time, which contributed to his being deaf.
While he also doesn’t bark, he has no trouble making his needs known. He is the sweetest and most gentle dog. George has adjusted quickly and happily to his permanent home.
It’s difficult to know how much pain this infection causes him. With WestieMed’s help, George will be able to have the TECA surgery he needs.
Adela
Update July 2019
George Bailey experienced complications from his surgery. He passed to Rainbow Bridge the day after surgery.
When Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas Gulf Coast late last August, we had no idea what the floodwaters would bring. People and animals lost their homes, and many lost their lives. Some “lucky” ones who did not suffer total loss were either evacuated from their homes or stranded and, as the waters receded and damage assessed, emergency shelters were overcrowded. One of the problems that soon surfaced was the inability of some people to continue to provide for their animals as they pulled their lives back together and Beaumont came from one such situation.
On Sunday, September 3rd, Westie & Scottie Rescue Houston was contacted by a local shelter to ask if we had room for a family of nine Westies surrendered by a local breeder. The breeder’s son had convinced them to give up the dogs because they were unable to take care of them and had been for some time. All nine dogs were filthy, covered in fleas and mange, full of worms, and none had been spayed or neutered. The son told shelter workers that they had been unable to sell the last few litters of puppies so kept them and some had bred together. At least five of the dogs we took in that day were products of inbreeding, including Beaumont.
Beaumont had skin issues that needed to be addressed before we could do surgery for his neuter and hernia repair. Our primary vet had determined Beaumont had cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, a genetic disease, rendering him completely blind. While we worked to clear his skin infection, we took Beaumont to the eye specialist to determine if there was any way to help him and she ran various tests which showed he had bilateral retinal detachments and no recordable retinal function. There was no surgery that could restore his vision but the eye doctor prescribed eye drops to reduce the inflammation and pressure in his eyes.
As time went by, each of the other pack members met prospective families but Beaumont did not have any interest due to his blindness. Beaumont’s foster mom worked to improve his adoptability by taking him through training classes and he achieved his Canine Good Citizenship certification. When it came time for his six-month visit at the eye doctor, we found that the pressure in his left eye had increased so the decision was made to surgically remove the eye to eliminate his pain and the need for ongoing medication.
Beaumont is a healthy, happy dog who does not seem to know he cannot see. The surgery and care obtained with WestieMed’s assistance will definitely improve the quality of his life.
Maggie Escriva Westie & Scottie Rescue Houston
Update November 7, 2018
Beaumont – WestieMed Recipient
Shortly after relocating to Houston in Aug of 2017 I began volunteering with WSRH, a wonderful organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming Westie, Scottie, Cairn and special blend terriers. Hurricane Harvey had devastated the area, countless pets had been lost or left behind in a desperate and tragic situation. A group of nine young Westies came into WSRH, thereafter known as The Harvey 9. In sad shape, with open skin wounds, patchy balding and one little guy blind, the result of backyard breeders. All were named for cities in Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey. Eight of the pups were brought to good health and adopted.
Sadly, Beaumont remained. He’d been seen by eye specialists, but, there was nothing to be done for his blindness. I took him home to foster and mentor with my fifteen-year-old semi-retired Cairn terrier, Miss Ellie, a therapy dog. Though Ellie passed shortly after his arrival he maintained his enthusiasm for learning and completed obedience school.
In March of this year during a routine eye exam, it was found that the pressure in one of his eyes was at fifty with the normal pressure being fifteen. He had had a bleed in that eye and was undoubtedly having pain though he maintained his stoicism. Insult to injury his eye would need to be removed. The dedication of WestieMed to the welfare and health of Westies cannot be lauded loudly enough! Beaumont is a different little dog after recovery, free of pain and eager to plow into every day with abandon and blind joy! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I would like to share our story of how this little monster rescued us. My name is Scott and my girlfriend is Millie. We were out on a little road trip on a Saturday afternoon and decided to stop by a local rescue shelter. While we just walked around “window shopping”, I noticed Millie was nowhere around.
The shelter employee and I went looking for her and we found her kneeling down at one of the kennels getting friendly with this little white monster you see here. I quickly told her, “We are not getting a little dog” as she used to raise Boxers and I raised Akitas.
Well, to make a long story short as possible, Kobi now owns us.
His first daddy passed in November and his children surrendered Kobi to the Open Door Animal Sanctuary in early December. He came to live with us in February. We quickly found out these little monsters have a lot of health issues that have to be addressed.
Millie went online trying to figure out what to do and she found WestieMed, Inc. After multiple emails back and forth, they were the saving grace.
With all his issues, I was concerned about the vet to pick as Kobi’s new doctor. We got lucky and a vet from Animal Medical Center in Park Hills, MO, which is about an hour and a half from our home, came to volunteer at Open Door. Dr. Harding is a specialist with Westies and owns them as well.
She wanted us to bring him by Open Door so she could take a look at Kobi. After about thirty minutes of looking him over, she told us what needed to be addressed. We had been doing everything we knew to do but she filled in the blanks.
The last thing we wanted was to surrender Kobi back to the rescue shelter. I know his skin condition is not as bad as some, as you can see in these “before” pictures. We got lucky finding people who helped us take the needed steps.
Thank you to Dr. Harding, Open Door Animal Sanctuary, and especially to WestieMed to not only give Kobi his forever home but to give us one great little monster. We will send “after” pictures soon.
Davey is a 14-year-old Westie that came to the shelter at the request of the police due to gross neglect. We called every day for 6 weeks to inquire about his possible release date. We were desperate to get him to WROC knowing that a little senior boy of his age would fail to thrive in the shelter environment.
Unfortunately, animals are legally classified as property in the United States, therefore Davey was being held as “evidence”. Our wish finally came true when an officer from the shelter called us on a Tuesday morning, May 8th. The officer handed Davey over to us that very afternoon with tears in his eyes.
Davey was taken to our vet immediately where he was treated for ear and eye infection, received a complete blood panel, clipped his extraordinarily long nails that curled inward making it very difficult to walk, and we scheduled a dental for later in the week. Davey would nip when anyone would get near his mouth so we knew he had a lot of issues going on with his teeth.
Davey – WestieMed Recipient May 2018
We took him home, bathed and shaved out all of his mats, including rock hard feces stuck in between his pads. This was very stressful for him and he was given many breaks throughout the ordeal.
He later received his dental where fifteen abscessed teeth were removed. We were shocked that all fifteen were accessed and worried about his dental recovery. A mass was also found in his mouth which was removed and sent out for biopsy. Davey has five teeth left. The rest must have fallen out at one point.
He is now receiving antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and immune building supplements and his skin have improved quite a bit from the sores the mats left behind.
We were in for a huge surprise! In just one week in foster care, he is recovering beautifully and his personality is really beginning to shine. He no longer nips when we touch his head or mouth. His recovery is something to behold. Davey is happy and we are so grateful we got him when we did so we could treat the pain his infections caused. He is turning into a very happy dog!
Karen Simondet Westie Rescue of OC & Beyond
Update July 2019
We knew we would have very little interest in Davey due to his age but that would never stop us from helping a senior boy. Davey is officially a WROC Forever Foster dog, and making that decision was not a hard one to make at all. Being deaf with limited eyesight, we felt it was in his best interest to stay with us since he had been through so much. This little fellow loves to be loved, eats like a horse and snores like a lumberjack. He is gentle, feisty, grumpy, loving, and quite bossy. Our favorite kind!
