Hit By a Car – WestieMed

Maxi

April 14, 2023 by westiemed in Stories

Around her second birthday Maxi lady escaped from her home. We don’t know the reason, but after meeting her we realized that maybe this happened for the better. Unfortunately she was hit by a car and found on the street by dog lover, kind people. They rushed to a veterinarian clinic with the bleeding, shaking dog who was in a shock. They found out that she has a microchip and her owners were called to tell them what happened. Due to the fact that Maxi was in a horrible shape and her treatment would have cost a lot of money, they decided to give up on her.

This was the point when Westie Rescue Hungary came in to the story. We were informed by another organization about Maxi and we were requested to help her. She was already hospitalized and had good care and treatment, but her conidition was still unstable. She needed more examinations which were not possible to make there, so we took her to Budapest, to the Veterinarian University where we have great conditions for such cases. MRI, CT, several other tests were made – Maxi had fructures on the skull and in her jaw, also a huge hematoma and she was not able to see at all at that stage. She was in a lot of pain constantly.

She was hospitalized for a week, we did not know what will happen, if she will survive at all, recover, get back her vision or she will remain disabled in any way. We only had hope and faith that she is strong enough to stay with us. We had to be very patient. And I can tell now, that Maxi made it. Day by day, week by week she is getting better and better. We need to wait a little bit more and soon we can find her a forever home where she will be happier and will never think of running away again.

Valentino

April 1, 2007January 29, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

March 2007:

On Valentine’s Day, a young Westie was seen sitting in the middle of the road in New Haven, Indiana. A good samaritan avoided hitting him but decided to turn around and try to get him out of the road so no one else would hit him. As she turned around she saw a driver of an SUV seemingly swerve to hit this poor little guy. She said it looked like the tires just missed him. She got traffic to stop and scooped him up and took him home. The lady placed ads in the local paper trying to find his original owners. No one came forward. She discovered the dog is a Westie after a neighbor saw him. He was badly matted and slept nearly all day for several days. After about a week he began slowly moving around and seemed to be on the mend. Another couple of weeks went by and he became more mobile.

On our end, we were planning a visit to my son’s school to help educate children on responsible pet ownership. I went to my son’s class early last week and talked to the students and passed out some information. Later that evening a lady called and said her daughter had brought home a card for our rescue…and could we help her. She told me the Westie’s story. I asked if he had been to the vet. She said no, they didn’t have any money for that. But she felt he was doing just fine. I went over and picked him up. We brought him home and vaccinated him and scheduled a groom! He turned out absolutely gorgeous…and was no doubt a Westie. What a handsome boy! But during the groom, we found he had some sensitivity in his hips. We scheduled a vet visit for a full check of possible injuries. And indeed, the Westie, now named Valentino due to the date of his accident, had a shattered pelvic. I cannot believe the pain this dog has endured over the last month. And he’s only let out a few low growls. Our vet is not equipped to do such surgery and referred us to the emergency hospital in town. They estimated Valentino’s surgery at around $3500. We definately don’t have those kinds of funds but felt we had to figure it out. We put him on some pretty strong pain killers and I began the hunt for funds! A Westie Rescue responded with information regarding WestieMed! I cry whenever I think about it…they are sending us $3000 towards the surgery! Valentino will soon have the surgery he needs! He already has an approved adopter and will get to start a new life in a loving home. Thank you SO MUCH! Valentino thanks you too!

Malki

June 1, 2006February 6, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

June 2006:

Hi! My name is Makii (pronounced Mackey). I am a Westie through and through, and today I would like to share with you my story. It all started quite normally. My owner adopted me when I was just a puppy. Life was good, and I was as healthy as can be with the energy and enthusiasm of the best of dogs. I had loving arms to hold me, and a very large fenced-in yard to run around in. Unfortunately, that all changed when my owner was diagnosed with some serious health problems early this year.

In March, after a hip replacement surgery, my owner was on her way to a rehab facility, but before she went she just had to see me. I was so excited, but as she left and was driven away, I forgot the very important rule never to try to break out of my back yard. All anyone can guess is that I ran out into the busy street to find my beloved owner. That’s when I was hit by an oncoming car. The driver paused but never stopped to see how badly I was hurt. The next car in line’s driver stopped and lifted me onto the side of the road, but then left me to suffer. Then, the third car’s driver, who had witnessed the whole accident, not only stopped her car but brought me immediately to the closest emergency veterinary hospital. She then went back to my neighborhood and rang all the doorbells until she found out where I lived. Then this guardian angel of mine blocked the fence where she thought I may have escaped. She then left a note saying who she was and where I had been taken. When my foster father came over a half-hour later to feed me, he found the note and my whole foster family came to the hospital to find me.

The veterinarian on duty said she didn’t have much hope for my survival without surgery and a very strong will to live on my part. Well, my foster family believed in the knowledge and dedication of the veterinary surgeon on staff and in me to be strong enough to make it through. Everyone wanted to make sure I would return to excellent health-giving me the quality of life I had always known. So, after the spleen and 50% of my small intestines removed, spinal surgery, and three fractures in my back leg pieced together, I survived. My surgeon performed miracles to save me. With the love from the doctors, staff, my foster family, my owner, and even strangers who had heard about me, I was able to stay strong throughout the three-month repair and recovery ordeal.

Today I can tell you is, indeed, a special day for me, because the last of my surgical procedures (to remove the outside fixator on my fractured leg) will take place. Best of all, I am leaving this evening to go to another state called Indiana to meet and live with my new adopted family. We have never met, but they know all about me because their son-in-law works at the emergency veterinary hospital that now knows me so very well, plus my foster family here in Illinois have kept them posted.

I have WestieMed to thank for helping my foster family through this amazingly eventful time of my life. I am now three years old and am looking forward to what many more years to come will bring. Thank you, again, to everyone who has ever touched my life, and to you who have just read my true life story!

Sincerely, Makii