I lost the last of my Westies in July. I swore I would not get another dog but my house was so empty with no pets. Then I saw a picture of some Westies that were up for adoption. One in particular looked just like my previous Westies.
Buddy and seven other Westies were relinquished by a breeder who was supposedly retiring. The dogs were being kept in deplorable conditions, living in a shed behind the house. I contacted the rescue group and said I was interested in adopting one in particular. They normally do not adopt out of state but if they could make arrangements, I could adopt him. A rescue transport group was found and the adoption could go forward.
Initially, Buddy tested negative for heart worms. I was told I should have him retested in six months as the first test might have been done too early.
At the six-month juncture he was tested again. This time he was positive for heart worms.
Buddy will be finishing the first segment of his treatment then he will go to the next phase of three injections of Diroban to kill the adult worms. He will need to be confined for an extended period of time. No easy task for a Westie.
Update June 25, 2024:
My Buddy, who WestieMed funded for heart worm treatment, got his all clear report today. He came through it with no ill effects. It was a tough 3 months keeping him quiet, but we survived.
Update September 4, 2024:
Buddy has completed his heart worm treatment and has tested negative. All restrictions have been lifted and he is back to being a happy, healthy Westie, thanks to WestieMed for funding his treatment.
Jessie was surrendered to WSRH by a breeder who said they were retiring and wanted us to find homes for the remaining eight Westies on their property. We immediately sent volunteers to get the Westies so we could start evaluating and taking care of them. Happily, we did not waste any time in getting them because they were very sweet dogs living in deplorable conditions.
We run heartworm tests on all new dogs as part of their intake medical assessment and two year old Jessie tested heartworm positive. We started her preparatory treatment as recommended by the American Heartworm Society and took care of her spay and dental. Jessie has been a delight to all who meet her and has selected her furever home so they will foster her through treatment.
The grant from WestieMed will cover the costs of the split Heartworm treatment so Jessie can live a happy and healthy life with a furever family that loves her.
Kind regards,
Maggie Escriva
Volunteer, Intake Coordinator Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston
Update June 23, 2024:
Jessie (now named Maggie) has completed her heartworm treatment and finalized her adoption. Here is an update from her new family:
“Maggie is doing well. Since we are retired she gets to enjoy a morning walk around our neighborhood every morning. We go very early since summer began. She has met several dogs in the neighborhood on her walks but does not show much interest in them.
“She is an indoor dog but she likes to lay in the sun on the hot sidewalk for a few minutes in the afternoon. She comes indoors after about 10 minutes. We have large oak trees with many squirrels and Maggie likes to sit under a tree and stare at the squirrels. She chases them once in a while and she is developing hunting strategies even though she never gets close. She runs after the egrets that we see after a lot of rain but they fly away of course.
“Maggie is very affectionate and the staff at our veterinary clinic all love her. She is lying on the couch next to me as I write this.
Thank you, WestieMed, for making it possible for Maggie/Jessie to have a rich, full life.
Kind regards,
Maggie
Volunteer, Intake Coordinator
Westie Rescue Houston, also known as Westie & Scottie Rescue Houston
So Jack’s sad story begins with my husband, as always for the past 10 years, looking for a Westie for me to love. We lost our beloved “Gage” after 13 years and it took 10 years to find an ad on Craigslist to rehome a 4-5 year old male.
I was a little reluctant because it was a Philadelphia ad and I’m not a traveler and my husband isn’t always feeling well. After a few days of back and forth we were informed the breeder was actually in New Jersey. We spoke a few times. My husband asked many questions, I spoke with the breeder again a day or two later and I asked many questions. She even agreed to meet us halfway in Edison New Jersey.
So on July 20th 2023, we set out for the 100 mile trip. I brought a leash, a cage, water and a pillow. We met the breeder in a parking lot. I handed her the $350 and she handed over “Remses”. I put him on the ground. She informed me he never learned his name and this was probably his first time on pavement. He’d never been on a leash either. He was shaking.
The breeder scribbled a note on his “shot record” that was a receipt of sorts. I asked her a few more questions and we set off for the trip home. He stayed so quiet in the cage. I talked to him in a sing-song voice convincing him he was going to a place where he’d be loved and well taken care of and that I hoped he wouldn’t miss his old life too much. It was a quiet ride back home.
Over the following days as we waited for an appointment with our vet, we tried to decide what to call him since he never knew his name. A popular Scottish name was Jack, so that was it. I researched pet insurance also. Never knowing what laid in store. Pet insurance requires a visit to a vet in the prior 12 months with no pre-existing conditions.
At the vet’s office, I explained his story and he was given a thorough going over. I was informed his shot record wasn’t really accurate. Certain immunizations are accompanied by certificates and stickers. I had only check marks in a booklet attesting to his history. I told the vet, I wanted to call the breeder for an explanation about the check marks and if she had his rabies certificate or his Bordetella proof. He was given several tests and other shots and I was informed that he had several missing and broken teeth and that he only had one testicle. If I were to decide to neuter him, it would be a two-step procedure (for which there would be a two time charge). He would have to undergo a “spaying” as a female would to remove his testicle from his belly, and then a neuter as a male dog would to remove the other testicle. He would need dental attention too. Now we understood why he wasn’t much of an eater and turned his nose up at milk bone snacks.
A day or two later the Dr. called to inform us that Jack had heartworm. I was not only devastated for him as my mind went vividly wild as I googled what it meant. He could die. My terror turned to anger. The Dr. wants him back for another blood test to be certain. The poor dog, sticking tiny needles in his forearm to draw blood. He took it all so camly, except the yelp when he got stuck. I guess I was already attached to Jack because at eight days in, I wanted to cry.
I called the breeder (yes, she’s a Westie breeder and has been for years). I asked her which vet the dog had seen (she had told my husband he was vet checked, bathed and groomed and ready to go). She stumbled over her answer and said the vet just checks his eyes and ears. I said really? My vet checked him inside and out and upside down! Why didn’t you tell us he had missing and broken teeth? Oh, yeah they get that from chewing wires was her answer. Why didn’t you tell us he had only 1 testicle, “Oh, yeah I knew he only had one testicle”. And did you know he has heartworm? How long had this poor guy been suffering? “Oh, I didn’t know he had heartworm.” I said, well you had him checked by a vet didn’t the vet test him? You told my husband he was “ready to go”!! Every picture you texted us he’s outdoors, wasn’t he protected? Obviously not! I need the vet’s name and I think you should not only give me back my rehoming fee, but pay for half his treatment costs. Her answer was that she was struggling and couldn’t possibly pay, but she’d “talk to the girls”, whoever they were and get back to me. She also informed me I could take him to Pennsylvania where they treat the heartworm for $450. On August 3rd she posted a new litter of six puppies for sale. Of course she never got back to me. I was willing to take her to small claims court but I didn’t know her address. I can’t read her scribbled last name, I only know she has a Breeders.net profile where she sells her puppies. After a week or so of no response I sent her a stinging text warning of the effects of Karma.
The next day the vet called and Jack tested negative. I had to bring him back in to be stuck for a third time to be certain before any treatment could begin. He also got his Leptospirosis and Bordetella shots just to be sure because obviously this breeder is a storyteller.
Jack was to begin his treatments after a month of antibiotics. I had to find a vet compound pharmacy to make him a liquid because I wasn’t sure he could chew a tablet.
He came to us very skittish. He jumps at loud noise and pushes himself to the very back of the cage to sleep. I leave the door open for him, but while trying to teach him and coax him out, he touches the floor like it’s made of lava, nails clenched like he’s gonna fall. He needs to be carried most of the time.
He’s starting to come around. He loves me to pet him, he gets so excited when I come from the upstairs or home from the store. He eagerly looks forward to dinnertime and he especially likes his outings in the backyard to do what he needs to do, then back inside.
The treatments lasted for months. He had to lay quietly in the cage most of the time so as to not stir up the heartworm bacteria. His third heartworm test came back positive. I took him to the groomer to give him a summer cut and not have to worry about deep brushing and grooming while he’s convalescing. He had to stay very still for the seven weeks or so of rounds of shots.
I was on Facebook one day and brought up some of the groups I had joined when Gage was here. I put a short story on Westie Nation about Jack. The response was just overwhelming! I don’t like to post things because people are so negative and nasty, but there’s a special kind of heaven in the Westie Lover. There were more than 300 people thanking and encouraging me for helping Jack. One person suggested I contact WestieMed. She said they may be able to help with the cost of his treatment. I carefully read everything on the website and decided to submit an application. There are so many stories of assistance! I am so grateful and happy that it was approved. I can’t describe my joy. This will help so much. Once he’s better I can then decide about his spay/neuter and dental issues.
I have always been a believer that everything happens for a reason. Although we’re never always sure why or how. Jack was placed in my path for a reason. I believe it. I’m 100% attached to him and we’re making progress every day.
Thank you WestieMed for the great assistance to get him on a healthy path. I hope my story isn’t too long, I could talk about Jack all day.
Arlene
Update February 8, 2024:
Jack is doing fine. He got through all the treatments and sadly tested positive again.
The vet says this isn’t unusual and he can’t be tested again for a year. Meanwhile, he shows no signs of any ailments at all.
We’re so happy to have him with us.
Again, I can’t thank you enough for the assistance with his care. A true blessing.
Arlene
Update July 11, 2024:
Jack is doing well! He still has some issues he’s working through, but he now feels loved and safe and comfortable. Almost 100%.
Today he has another grooming appointment and in a couple of months his yearly heartworm test. He seems happy to be a part of the family and has a pretty set routine.
Lencsi is an approximately nine to ten years old Westie lady who was rescued in May 2016 in Hungary. She was found in the countryside on the street in horrible condition, so Westie Rescue Hungary picked her up immediately the same day. She did not have a microchip and her owner was not found. Probably that was her luck.
During her first examination at the veterinarian, the following was diagnosed:
Ultrasound examination – small lime crystal sediments are visible on the liver and kidneys. Hernia, probably the uterus is protruded. Operation is URGENT.
Lacrimation check – very low, KCS disease, treatment twice a day.
Skin issues – infections, alopecia, scratching, postulate, the overall state is devastating. Antibiotics for 2 weeks, mono-diet with hypoallergenic pet food, biweekly bathing. The ear also infected daily treatment.
Blood was taken and sent to the lab – the result is promising, only the leukocyte is higher but only due to the inflammation in her body.
Heartworm test: POSITIVE
Transponder inserted
So we needed to look into her eyes and decide how to proceed, we had to be honest since we had doubts if we can succeed. She was in a lot of pain and we probably never had such a complicated case. But her sweet face and calm, kind nature convinced us that she will fight, she will recover so we started the long rehabilitation
Due to the heartworms, before the surgery we made a heart ultrasound examination as well, which showed that the adult worms are in the lung artery, blood pressure was normal. We operated on her hernia and was obviously neutered her at the same time. Although it was a dangerous operation, her will to survive was strong enough to stay with us. Both back legs had a torn knee ligament – examined by a specialist before the surgery – but we concentrated first on the heartworms and her general condition.
In July allergy test was performed as the improvement was not that satisfying. After the results, we continued with suitable hypoallergenic pet food.
In August we could proceed with the heartworm removal with a catheter which was performed by an Italian specialist – the first time we had this kind of surgery on a Westie. As a result, two adult heartworms were removed and medical treatment was continued. Her skin became better and better with time.
In December we made a control blood test and the results were perfect. The lacrimation check also showed significant improvement. All vaccinations could be given to her and the control heartworm test gave a NEGATIVE result. So we were very happy!
We got the green light to do the surgery of her leg and in January 2017 after an x-ray, the surgery was performed. Her leg will never be perfect, but she won’t have pain anymore. After a short break, we plan to operate the other leg in March. And after that, almost one-year rehabilitation will end and Lencsi will hopefully find her forever home.
Lencsi’s medical costs were high, so we can say that she is one expensive Westie, but WestieMed will help us to cover most of it for which we are very grateful.
Lucky is a six-year-old Westie that ran in front of our van, sat down and stared at us. My husband opened the door and he jumped right in. It was obvious he had been on his own for a while. His fur is severely matted and even after a professional bath, he is still brown with dirt. We immediately took him to a vet and had them do a check up on him and check for a microchip. He was hookworm positive and we treated him for that ailment. He is also heartworm positive. When we got the estimate for the treatment, we were heartbroken. We knew we couldn’t afford to pay for it. Our kids were devastated, as they had already fallen in love with him.
We brought Lucky home and after he was cleared of the hookworms, we introduced him to our Foxhound, Scout. She needed a friend and they quickly became just that – friends! They run together, play, chase rabbits and even eat together. Lucky fits into our family immediately.
We reached out to the San Antonio Area Scottie and Westie Rescue (SAASWR) and told them our situation. They directed us to WestieMed and thanks to this wonderful organization, Lucky will have a second chance at a healthy and loving life! Thank you!
The Robledo Family
Update November 22, 2017
Lucky – WestieMed Grant Recipient
Lucky is doing great!! We took him for a haircut and found out he was mistakenly listed as a Westie and is in fact a Schnauzer!!
He is older than we originally thought also but he loves living with us. He loves my daughter and follows her around. He also sleeps with her.
He has a “sister” named Scout that is a Foxhound mix. I am including a picture of them both. They get along well and play most of the day.
We really appreciate your assistance with Lucky’s medical bill and mostly for your patience through us figuring out which treatment was best for him.
Eight-year-old Samson was walked into his vet’s office one day but not for a regular appointment. His owners asked the vet to have the sweet boy put down because they could not take care of him. One of Samson’s eyes was malformed from birth but that had never slowed him down. When he arrived at the vet clinic that day, he had horrible skin and hair loss, fleas, intestinal parasites, bad hips, and a severe heartworm infestation.
The vet asked Samson’s owners to release him to her care and promptly reached out to Westie & Scottie Rescue Houston (WSRH) for help. The vet treated Samson’s intestinal parasites and started addressing his condition with bloodwork and medications prior to sending him to WSRH. He was in a small town about four hours from our primary location so several volunteers offered to do a relay to transport him and one of our experienced fosters who has taken care of many dogs with heartworms took him into her home.
Samson was taken in to see our vets at Bear Branch Animal Hospital where he was examined by Dr. Kim Hilscher who confirmed he was heartworm positive and assessed the condition of his heart, lungs, and hips with x-rays. It was determined that his bad hips were due to fused vertebrae and the vet recommended pain management for the time. Due to his poor condition, we decided to work on Samson’s general health prior to starting a split treatment to kill the heartworms. After a month of good quality food, medicated baths, and a couple of rounds of doxycycline, Samson went in for his first injection of Immiticide, after which his activities were restricted while the medication did the work of killing heartworms. Vet appointments at two weeks and then four weeks later confirmed he was doing fine, so then Samson was given the full treatment of two Immiticide injections and another month of restrictions.
Things went well for Samson and he received clearance from the vet for successful heartworm treatment so his next job was to find a forever home. While waiting for the right person to take notice, Samson took ill quite suddenly and was rushed to the emergency vet for vomiting and passing blood. Samson was admitted to the hospital where he received fluids and medication to stabilize him and x-rays werer taken to help determine the cause of his distress. Samson spent the next three days on fluids at Bear Branch until he was back to his normal self and returned to his foster home. There was no definitive cause found for this issue but Samson has not had a recurrence.
The next step for Samson is to meet approved adopters who are interested in adding him to their family. We are very grateful to WestieMed for help in treating Samson and making it possible for him to get healthy and find a forever family of his own.
Thank you!
Maggie Escriva
Westie & Scottie Rescue Houston
Update June 28, 2017
Samson – WestieMed Grant Recipient
We are ever grateful to WestieMed for helping us help Samson get well and find his furever home.
Not long after recovering from the emergency room visit, Sam caught the eyes and hearts of a wonderful family of terrier people and it was mutual love at first sight when they met. Thankfully he had finished all his restrictions before meeting his new furry siblings, especially BFF Colleen, an adventuresome Scottie who joins Sam each day running, playing, and watching for birdies. All the running (and digging!) has helped strengthen Sam’s legs and improve his balance. Sam’s furever family loves him very much, stating the highlight of the day is each evening before bedtime when daddy gets on the floor to play and Sam talks to him.
Thank you, WestieMed, for helping us give Sam a well-deserved happily furever after!
Angel came to us via a small rescue group in Arkansas. We learned about her by reading a post on Facebook, she had been turned into a small city-run dog pound by someone who claimed they found her as a stray. The Arkansas rescue ladies drove the dog to St Louis, a kind volunteer of another terrier rescue group in St Louis drove the dog to Columbia, MO where I met her on a Sunday afternoon and drove five hours home. We named the dog, Angel, in honor of the group who had originally rescued her. Angel was pretty vocal in her kennel at first but settled in nicely for the ride home. It was shockingly apparent that she would require a great deal of help from our veterinarian to regain her health.
Upon arriving in her foster home, Angel settled in quickly learning the routine, the yard and began playing with the other dogs. Her visit to the veterinary clinic the next day brought us a diagnosis of intestinal parasites, anemia, yeast and bacterial infection of her skin and ears, her eyes were completely devoid of tear production, her front teeth were missing and broken to the gum line, and she tested positive for heartworm. She was also not spayed. We initially questioned whether or not we should proceed with the costly course of treatment but Angel quickly showed us that she was not ready to give up and that she thoroughly enjoyed life and especially the good, home-cooked meals topped with goat’s milk that she is served twice a day.
After a course of thirty days of treatment with doxycycline, and with help from WestieMed, our vets will take X-rays and repeat the blood work in anticipation of the heartworm treatment. We hope that Angel’s future is much happier than her past but regardless of the outcome, we will do whatever we can to make this chapter of her life a happy one filled with love, fresh air and sunshine, a huge yard to romp in, rabbits and squirrels to chase, and toys filled with squeakers and stuffing. We will pamper her and love her regardless of the outcome.
Janeal Dominico, CPDT-KA Wag N Train Terrier Rescue
Update February 16, 2016
Angel is still recuperating from her heartworm treatment. After the initial treatment, she still tested positive so our vets had to give her a third injection. She will be retested again in a couple of weeks at which time if she tests negative, we will then proceed with her much-needed dental work and her spay surgery.
Her foster mom bathes her weekly to help with her skin and she remains the happiest girl one could imagine, given that her condition causes miserable symptoms.
Angel does have an approved adopter that is eager to take her home and make her a part of the family when cleared by our vets.
Janeal Dominico, CPDT-KA
Wag N Train Terrier Rescue
Update November 17, 2016: (Angel now called Addie)
Angel was cleared of heartworm and then spayed and had her teeth cleaned at which time she lost several badly infected teeth.
Soon after she was adopted by Scott and Hanna, who are both college students here in Omaha. This little girl now known as Addie is their entire world and vice versa. Don’t you just LOVE happy endings?
Thank you to the donors who make funding through WestieMed possible. Angel owes her life to the kindness of many, many strangers along her journey to good health and happiness.
Janeal Dominico, CPDT-KA Wag N Train Terrier Rescue “Tender Loving Care for Terriers in Need”
Scottie Joe is a seven-year-old intact former breeding male Westie. Scottie has always been an outside dog who has never been vetted in his life and after he became unwanted by his original owner she advertised him for free in her local newspaper to anyone who would have him as a “good rat dog”. A kind man named Mike answered the ad and upon seeming Scottie Joe, took pity on him. Mike told me that it was clear as soon as he seen him that Scottie Joe was blind and no rat dog which was what he needed, and his skin appeared to be “moving” from the severe flea infestation and he felt “if I just take him home and put him down at least he will be out of his misery.” Mike took Scottie Joe home with that intention in mind but on the ride, Scottie Joe rested his head gratefully on Mikes’s lap. Mike decided to try and help him all he could. Mike is a poor backwoodsman from a tiny town of about 400. He did the best he knew to do for Scottie Joe. He dipped him several times to kill off the flea infestation and bought him the best food he knew Purina Lamb and Rice and kept Scottie Joe inside and in two weeks Mike said Scottie Joe was housebroken. After having Scottie Joe for about six weeks, Mike knew that Scottie Joe had more health needs then he could help him with and searched the internet for help not wanting to put him down since he had become very fond of him. He found Westie Rescue of Missouri. Mike drove a long way to get Scottie Joe to me before our weather turned bad that day in early March and then handed him off to me with tears in his eyes. I promised Mike we would not only take very good care of Scottie Joe but we would keep him updated on his progress and adoption. Scottie Joe has heavy thick cataracts on both eyes and is totally blind. His tongue hangs out because most of his teeth including his front ones are either missing or broken off with just pieces hanging and his lower jaw bone is deteriorating due to the missing teeth. He battles severe reoccurring mouth infections. He tested positive for heartworms and Ehrlichiosis (a tick-borne disease common to this area carried by deer ticks. Can be fatal if not treated causes arthritis and stiffness in the joints left untreated) He was also full of hookworms. A plan of care was laded out to treat him for the Ehrlichiosis first, then heartworms, then the teeth (which would then resolve the recurring mouth infections) and neutered and then his eyes. His health recover has been a long journey thus far lasting five months and has been costly, but now we are ready to move onto a very exciting point, restoring Scottie Joe’s sight by the removal of cataracts in both eyes. Scottie Joe will be traveling to Columbia University of Missouri, a three-hour drive always to have his surgery. He has had his initial examination by an Ophthalmologist at the University of Missouri and they feel he is a good candidate for the surgery, but first, he must have a cardiologist consult due to his previous heartworms. If he is cleared by the cardiologist for surgery then Scottie Joe will have his chance to see once again. Scottie Joe is super mellow, very sweet-natured with male and female dogs and every human he meets young or old. After all the neglect and abuse Scottie Joe has endured in his life from humans, he still finds his way to me to rest at my feet and is my constant shadow.
Sue Alley
Update January 15, 2016
Scottie Joe – WestieMed Grant Recipient
Unfortunately, when more advance testing was done on SJ it was found that his retina was permanently damaged and did not reflect light so his eyesight was not able to be restored.
His heart was so heavily infested with the Heartworms that it has left his right heart chamber permanently damaged but he is now HW negative.
He only has four teeth and those are back molars. He is now also incontinent of the bladder.
SJ is so full of Westietude however. This bouncy happy fellow does not know he is handicapped. He has a big personality and enjoys being the cock of the walk-in our home. He loves his fursisters and he loves me.
How blessed I am! I adopted SJ last August and he is now my Furever puppy. I would be hard-pressed to put into words the love I have for him and count SJ as one of my greatest blessings in life.
Forever thankful to WestieMed for their generous donation for his vetting to get him as healthy as possible so he can have the life that should have been his from the start.
In the middle of August, Westie and Scottie Rescue Houston (WSRH) received a request to take in a Westie mom and her puppies. The person surrendering this little pack said Pippa had been dodging cars on a busy highway so they picked her up and took her home. Two weeks later, she gave birth to four puppies. The finders kept the little family for nearly four months when they realized they were unable to provide the vetting that five dogs required so they reached out to WSRH. Realizing that the puppies were four months old and had no veterinary attention or shots, we immediately said yes and took in the little pack.
Pippa was a great mom! She was very attentive to her four pups which were almost her size already and still were nursing. The first job for the volunteers at WSRH was to get rid of the fleas and worms, then get them to the vet to be checked out and start their shots. Dr. French at Bear Branch Animal Hospital examined the little family and found the pups to be quite healthy, however, he was concerned with Pippa’s health. X-rays confirmed she had bladder stones while a heartworm test was running and would bring us bad news. Pippa’s bladder stones were quite large so Dr. French wanted to get them out as soon as possible, however, since she was still nursing, we needed to allow her a little time for her body to recover. At four months old, the puppies were old enough to be fully weaned and they had no trouble eating whole food, so it was time to give mom a break. WSRH worked with an all-breed rescue group to place the pups, who looked nothing like mom.
Pippa – WestieMed Grant Recipient
After resting for two weeks, Pippa was scheduled to have her bladder stones removed and be spayed at the same time. The surgery went well and, after two weeks of recovery, she began treatment to eliminate her heartworms. Heartworm treatment can be very hard on a dog. It is reported that the medicine which destroys the heartworms also can cause pain and inflammation in the dog, making them lethargic as we would feel with the flu. It’s also hard on dogs who do not experience as much discomfort because they have to be confined for at least a month: no jumping and playing, no exercise which may cause an increased heart rate. Pippa is in a foster home with retired foster “grandparents” who are able to watch her closely and make sure her recovery continues to be uneventful.
Pippa has cleared the two-week mark following the start of heartworm treatment and is doing very well. If she continues to do well, we expect Dr. French will release her later this month and she will be available for adoption.
We are very grateful for WestieMed and all of its supporters for being there to provide assistance for all Westies who need extra help in getting healthy and well and ready for forever homes, especially our little Pippa.
Westie & Scottie Rescue Houston www.WSRH.com
Update August 12, 2015
Pippa – WestieMed Grant Recipient
On behalf of Pippa, we send our sincerest gratitude to WestieMed for the help provided to remove her bladder stones and heartworms. Pippa did well in heartworm treatment and made friends with Louie, a Scottish terrier going through treatment at the same time. The two friends often curled up together during their confinement and seemed to find comfort in each other’s company.
Pippa since has been adopted and was able to stay with her newly found BFF, Louie. The wonderful lady who met them decided she wanted to keep them together so they get to continue to enjoy each of their companionship as well as the love and care of a doting mom.
Thank you so much to WestieMed for helping this sweet girl live a full and pampered life.
My husband and I are both animal lovers and have owned many dogs over the years. We have had dogs of all sizes, various breeds, and two rescue dogs prior to Cody.
I first saw a Westie while visiting in England many years ago, long before they became popular in the USA. Right away I was enamored by the breed and knew I wanted to own one someday. In time we got a little female who is now thirteen years old as well as a little male who died this February just short of his tenth birthday. Of all the dogs we have owned these two were by far our favorites. I decided to wait a while before replacing the little guy we lost but I missed him so much I began looking online at some of the rescue groups and when I found Cody (then called Chaucer) my husband was really taken by him. The next thing I knew we were being interviewed and I made the trip to Tulsa to adopt him.
We do not know Cody’s entire story. He has been estimated as being between three to five years of age and he was one of eight dogs rescued from a puppy mill in Missouri where he was used for breeding purposes. It was apparent he had lived in filthy conditions as his lower body and legs were stained where he had to lay in it. He was also badly abused, withdrawn and obviously frightened by people but quickly bonded with me and does not willingly want me to be out of his sight. He is responding well to TLC and we see improvements in him almost daily.
The rescue group’s vet had checked Cody out when they first got him and found him positive for hookworms and Cody was treated for them. They also checked for heartworms but found him heartworm-free. Immediately after adopting Cody I found him to be lethargic to the extreme, his eating was sporadic and he was throwing up a lot. At first, I thought it was just stress-related but while vacationing in Colorado determined he needed to see a vet. I took him to the vet we had used when we lived there and she diagnosed him as still having hookworms as well as heartworms.
We treated the hookworms again and he is now free of them. The rescue group we adopted Cody from has provided us with Doxycyclene which he is now taking. They also offered to give him the injections back to back and let me bring him home immediately but the cost of buying gas for the trip, motel costs and food becomes quite significant. I have talked to our vet here in Fort Worth and feel it would be better for Cody to be treated locally and his treatment here would be more focused on Cody’s treatment and comfort and would give me a local contact in case of any problems.
I went online and read about some of the Westies that WestieMed had already helped and I was very impressed by the progress some of them have been able to make with WestieMed’s assistance. Cody has allergy issues that we are addressing but they do not seem to be nearly as bad as some of these poor babies have had to endure.
I want to thank WestieMed for considering our request for financial assistance. It is definitely our desire to get Cody well. He has already made a lot of progress socially and we look forward to watching him evolve into a happy and more confident little guy as he learns to trust his surroundings.
Thank you for all of us Westie lovers for your commitment to giving so many a second chance for a good life!
Janet
Update January 7, 2013
Cody is doing very well!
You may recall he was rescued from a puppy mill and had been terribly abused. He has become my baby but continues to be afraid of men. He is making progress in his socialization though and loves playing with my son’s two dogs.
Healthwise Cody is in a very good place. He is heartworm free, eating well, getting plenty of exercise, his weight is at a good place and he seems to be a happy little boy.
Thank you so much for helping us with him and for giving him this second chance for a better life. If you have any specific questions let me know but meanwhile, everything seems to be going well for us at this time.
