Puppy Mill – WestieMed

Misty

December 1, 2009December 26, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

I received a call asking for help in fostering a group of Westies arriving from a puppy mill auction in northeast Ohio. I agreed to take one of the females. I already had two Westies at home, Tyler, eight, and Nikko, eight, also a rescue from a puppy mill in Missouri about three years ago.

As traumatized and almost catatonic as Nikko was upon his arrival three years ago, in comparison, Misty seemed alert and frightened but overall in better shape. She soon proved me wrong. I do not know what they do to these dogs in the puppy mills but it goes far beyond neglect and poor living conditions. Misty was terrified of everything and most of all people. Food was not a motivator, only safety, which can be a hard thing to use for training. Misty had delivered numerous litters and was not even four years old. She was very skinny and shaved to resemble a rat. She slowly began to relax but it has been and still is a very slow road. She is the most damaged little dog I have ever met. She always felt safest when she was up high, like on the couch or the bed. For some reason, the floor was a very terrifying place to be. With very slow and quiet movements on my part, Misty has finally begun to relax a bit. She has the cutest little run which appears more and more all the time. She runs somewhat stiff-legged as if she is a newborn colt. It is a joy to see her bounce about with that tail finally up in the air!

In October she vomited three days in a row. I was keeping a very close eye on her as their little systems dehydrate so quickly. She was still eating and drinking so I was just vigilant at that point. On the third day, I came home from work to discover she had vomited whole food again. That was followed quickly by clear liquid. Upon wiping that up I saw specks of blood. I immediately got her to my vet where he gave her something for the upset stomach and re-hydrated her. I then placed her on a bland diet. Three days later on a Saturday morning, I woke up and she vomited four times in a row, all containing blood. As my vet was out of town I went to Eastgate Animal Hospital. They were wonderful there and recommended she be admitted to their on-site hospital so they could monitor her. She only weighed eighteen pounds and had lost a whole pound in three days, very concerning.

They gave her fluids, x-rayed her and ended up doing an endoscopy and a biopsy on her. They discovered a somewhat healed over spot in her bowels that was the source of the blood. Their concern was they would find cancer or pancreatic issues. After several long days, Misty’s biopsy results came back. Everything seemed to be OK in that it appeared to be just an extremely sensitive system. Misty is now on a special, very bland diet without any other food or treats. She has regained her weight and other than an upset stomach twice seems to be doing well. She lives with only myself and my two other Westies so it is a pretty quiet and dog-friendly environment. My hope is that if it is partly nerves she will continue to relax and stay healthy!

I am so grateful to the WestieMed organization for their assistance in her medical bills. She has been a very expensive foster to rehabilitate and while I wish I could do more my resources are limited. I have never met a sweeter, more gentle soul in Misty. Westie Med has helped to ease the burden of caring for her. Thank you WestieMed for all the wonderful things you do to support the Westies out there who need us all so much!

Sincerely,
Anne Huddleston

Update February 15, 2010

Misty is doing great and has gained weight and seems to be maintaining very well (she had bleeding in her intestines). Thanks again for all you do!

Anne Huddleston

Update March 5, 2010

Misty is doing great! She is thriving on her food, has packed on a few pounds and is really starting to enjoy life! She still seems to be quite damaged psychologically but is slowly learning to trust. For instance, the sofa and the bed are safe but the living room floor is a scary place and only used as a necessary and evidentially very dangerous means of travel from the sofa to my bed. So much so that she can work herself into a real panic scrambling for the sofa. If she should miss the jump the first time up onto the sofa she kind of freaks out and you would think alligators are nipping at her butt! Slow and steady wins the race… It is OK if I am on the floor but otherwise it is just a very scary place. Who knows…

She has reached that stage where she is getting a tiny bit cocky outside…sort of testing the waters. She now runs out in front of me (we are in a gated dog park) with my other little girl Tyler. They run side by side like the wind and with such abandon! My little boy Nikko slowly brings up the rear (can’t miss sniffing a thing!). It is so much fun to watch them run and play.

Anne Huddleston

Update June 30, 2010

Misty is great! I have decided to adopt her (another foster failure!). She is coming along beautifully but still a very scared little girl (she was a severe casualty of a puppy mill). She finally held my eyes while wagging her tail the other day…great progress! (We were getting ready for a walk).

She is occasionally playing with my other two and is starting to act just a little bit like a normal, trusting, content dog. It is getting better all the time, slowly but surely.

She is such a sweet, tender little soul. Just adorable little girl. She is still not ready to be adopted out (still way too scared and afraid to trust) and I think it would set her back a great deal. Since I have fallen in love with her she is now joining my pack. Heaven help me. Is this how it starts? How these rescuers end up with 14 or more???? : )

She has to stay on a special diet of horribly expensive dry and wet food ($76.00 for an #18 bag!!!) but she is responding well and has not had any more vomiting issues so fingers crossed.

I will send pics as soon as I can. She is blossoming a bit more every day. Thank you so much for your kind assistance and for caring enough to check on her.

Anne

Update April 18, 2011

It has been a long road for Misty, mostly psychologically but she is turning the bend. She remains on her very expensive diet which seems to keep her intestinal issues at peace. She eats more than the other two of my Westies yet is the skinniest, but not overly so. She has finally reached a point where she can look me in the eyes, if only for a few seconds, and has almost rolled all the way over – still not quite onto her back – for a belly rub. Trust is a very big issue with her. She becomes more secure every day and she loves nothing better than to run free in a field of grass –preferably when no one else is around but her immediate family. I believe she finally has accepted that this is her furever home and she is safe – at least with me and her brother and sister. I am still working on her feeling secure with other people although she gets lots of socialization, women remain the easiest for her to accept but a few men have actually been able to approach and pet her. She has tracheal collapse which we are controlling for the present but it worries me. She is the sweetest little girl and a joy to love!

Anne

Lucy (Formally Iris)

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

August 2007:

Hi-My name is Iris and I want to tell you a story.

It was summer and I was so hot. I had long, matted hair. I didn’t realize that I was actually a white dog. I heard some people that came up to my fence one day say that it made them sad because I was so dirty. The lady said that she wished she could put me in a nice, cool bubble bath, whatever that is. I knew that I was covered in ticks and that my feet hurt so bad I could hardly walk. But I didn’t know that I was dirty. But then I heard her say that we were all dirty. I didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but I knew I was like all my friends that I lived with. We were all dirty! But when I saw the lady get water in her eyes and then grit her teeth like she was upset, I decided that dirty was a bad thing. But she leaned down and told us that we were all beautiful under that dirty hair and most important–we all had a beautiful Westie spirit!

One day she came back and put me and all my friends in her car. She still had water in her eyes, but I also saw something they call determination in her eyes. I soon learned that determination is a good thing! The lady and the man drove us straight to a place called “The Vet”. I heard them talking about the vet being on standby and open late just to see all of us. They seemed concerned about how they, along with some special ladies, were ever going to get the vet paid off. They had to pay to rescue me–whatever that means. I heard them say that the vet was going to give them a rescue discount, but they knew it was still going to cost a lot to get us in healthy Westie shape. They were very happy because the vet lady had a lot of “vet techs” waiting for us to arrive. I soon learned that vet techs like to cut the mats out of Westie hair and also shave them if they must. They were mad at someone though. His name was the breeder. They were mad because he had let me become covered in ticks and have kook-a-burros between the pads of my feet. They said things like “How can you even walk-poor baby?” I guess that is why my feet hurt so badly and I didn’t want to move along when I was told to. After they cut my hair with scissors and shaved a lot of me, they got those nasty ticks off. There were three people at one time trying to help me. I felt so special for the first time ever. But what came next was a little scary. They put me in a big sink and sprayed water all over me and rubbed me. It was all new to me, but I behaved the best I could. I heard them say “now you’re a white dog!” It wasn’t hot in the place they let me rest until my turn with the vet lady. It was cool plus they had soft towels to lie on. One by one they put my friends in the doggie suite with me after baths. I was the last one to go see the special lady called “Dr. Franks”. My buddies gave me good and bad reviews as they returned one at a time after seeing her and her helpers. They all said that she was very nice, gave hugs, and spoke so softly and kind to them, but she also poked them and put things in places they didn’t like. I understood what they meant after my turn. Her voice was the kindest voice I had ever heard. She helped me relax and I did pretty well until she started removing those things from between the pads on my feet. I had been giving all kinds of kisses until then. It hurt so much. I wanted to tell them that I had been hurting for so long, but that I had to walk if I wanted to eat or drink any of the hot water that sat in the sun. They told me that I had severe dental tarter, two kinds of worms, lots of tick bites, and pododermatitis with yeast on all four feet. Dr. Franks wrote on my paper that she thought I seemed older than two and half years. I wanted to tell her that I sure felt older than that! I think she decided it was because no one had ever taken good care of me. She also wrote on my paper that I had a beautiful, soft hair coat. I’m glad everyone can see it now. Her helpers gave me lots of shots including one called rabies. Yikes–it hurt! But only for a moment. They gave me antibiotics and some pasty worm medicine that made my mouth feel yucky. She also sent some to my foster Mom for me to take again in September. Maybe my new Mom will forget. I hope so! She also put special shampoo and some spray stuff in my bag of medicine.

I stayed in the doggie suite for a few days and then the rescue lady came back to take me to a place called foster home. She took one of my friends along also. My foster Mom, Michele, was so kind to us. She loves all animals and has big ones called horses. It was like going to Doggie Club Med. There was a big house with a fenced yard to run in, a fountain with water to splash my sore paws in, a beautiful covered porch with my very own crate on it to rest in whenever I wanted! I worked out an arrangement with a mother duck and her babies. I wouldn’t chase them if they let my buddy and I get in their baby pool filled with water in the back yard. It was great. We learned to share. I will include a photo of the Mommy duck asking me to share it with her babies. I got along great with P-Nut and Jake, two of the dogs that live there all the time.

Then one day, two of the nice rescue ladies came to take me to my furever family. They live in Mississippi. They have a Westie older than me named Sugar Baby. My new name is Lucy. I think it fits me perfectly! I still have to go to the vet for my left paw and take antibiotics. I love hanging out in the kitchen at my new home. I have a doggie door and my own crate that I can go in and out of any time I want. One of my favorite things to do here is follow “Tiny” the cat. Tiny likes me a lot! It’s great! Tiny, Sugar Baby, and I have full run of the house when Mom and Dad are home. My human sister has 2 large dogs and I get along great with them when they visit. Life is wonderful and I am so happy. Thank you WestieMed for helping me get healthy so I could move on to my new life. It was well worth the road I traveled to end up in such a great place. I am so thankful that you love Westies so, so much–cause now I’m a Westie girl with the world on a string!

Love, Lucy

Nashville 7 - WestieMed Recipient — Iris is one of seven Westies rescued from a puppy mill in Nashville, Tennessee.

Update January 2008: Iris now called Lucy

Update March 3, 2010:

Lucy is wonderful, she is loving and spoiled. She sleeps with us every night. She and her sister Lilly are the loves of our lives. Both of these rescue dogs are happy, lovable, and spoiled. They have a big back yard and have a doggie door where they come and go every day. We are so GRATEFUL for them. They make me whole.

Cindy Edwards

Winnie

July 1, 2007January 28, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

August 2007:

My name is Winnie. I have recently lived in three different foster homes. Not because I am a problem Westie, but because everyone wants me to stay with them for a while. I’m a hit. There just isn’t enough Winnie to go around!

I was a professional Mommy dog. I am so glad to be retired now. I got to retire at the age of three years young. The day I retired, some nice people took me to a doggie doctor’s office. She wondered if I might be expecting puppies again. She told my rescue angel that she sure hoped not, because I had three different kinds of worms. She wrote hook, whip, and threadworms in my special folder. She also found that I had dental tarter build up. Sorry, they didn’t provide toothbrushes where I came from. I also had sores on my upper lip. I weighed in at 18 pounds. I am not overweight, just big-boned. I heard the word “chunky” at the doctor’s office, but I know they weren’t talking about me. I got several shots that day. That rabies thing really stung! What’s that all about?

I got a little bag with several kinds of medicine just for me. The bag had my name written on it. It made me feel special for people to be fussing over me like that.

I wasn’t able to have much fun at the first foster home. I had to be isolated due to a specific type of worm I had. Ten days of that. Whew! I started to miss the four-legged friends, even though I thought I would never miss them when I left the breeding kennel where I used to live. There were so many of them. Too many for me to get the attention I needed and deserved. The second foster home was nice. Foster Mom Teresa gave me lots of love and attention. When she went on vacation, I went back to my first foster home. It was much better than the first time. I could go upstairs and play with the Westie that lives there all the time. She was a young little toot and worked my nerves from time to time. Where does she get all that energy? I got to stay in the sunroom, watch Animal Planet and sleep on the sofas. Foster Mom gave me good treats and chewies every day to try and help my teeth. I went to a place called groomers. I came out of there looking like a million bucks! Just look at my photo taken on the way home. Foster Mom said that I was so white she had to put on her sunglasses!

I loved lying on the deck in the sun. Foster Mom would put a bottle of frozen water in my water bowl outside. It made the water soooo cool. It was like a giant ice cube! She said I deserved some special attention since I always had to drink water that sat in the sun at the kennel where I worked. Yuck! When I came in, I would lay with my tummy on the cool tile. I loved getting up on my foster Dad’s chest and making him keenly aware that I intended to be petted and praised even if his favorite show was on. He would pretend to ignore me just to see how far I would go. A few times I crawled on up to his face. He would laugh and act like he was spitting my hair out of his mouth! He would say what a sweet and funny girl I was. Then I went to my third foster home. Foster Mom Lynne says that I am eager to please and love being with the older Westies in my foster home. At first, I growled at all of them, but with guidance from my foster alpha, I know I’m safe. What a relief! I don’t feel like such a wallflower now. I’m even inviting the other Westies to play with me. Foster Mom hasn’t allowed me full run of the house yet, but I just got here and we are working on potty training. I really enjoy the crate–a great place to nap. I like walking on the leash and am doing very well at sitting as well as gathering my composure before diving into the delectable kibble at each meal. I think I will be happy in any home, just as long as everyone continues to guide me and I am one eager learner.

I am very thankful for WestieMed. My foster Moms told me how WestieMed paid for my special trip to see the doggie doctor. I had never been to a doctor before retirement day. It was nice to know that people cared so much about me. The doctor and WestieMed wanted me to feel good and be well. I have lots of guardian angels and the special people at WestieMed are definitely wearing wings in my book!

Love and good health to all my Westie friends, Winnie

Update January 2008: The Poobies

Winnie and Elvis - WestieMed Recipient — Winnie and Elvis – WestieMed Recipient

What did I ever do before Winnie and Elvis came to live here? I have no clue, but it must have been boring. Life certainly isn’t boring now! Elvis and Winnie are known as The Poobies. An old friend of mine called her little dog a “pooby” for some reason, and the name just stuck with me. We have really had a very easy transition, and there have been only a few bumps in the road. It took us all awhile to get used to little things, like climbing stairs. Winnie was always more adventurous, hopping up on the furniture and racing up steps. Elvis was much more cautious, and it took a few weeks and much encouragement for him to handle the steps. We were all learning so much that it took me a while to really grasp that he had no sight at all in his left eye. It was obvious that he had lived in an enclosed area – he truly had no skills at navigating around furniture, and it was frustrating for all of us. He would bump into things (he still HATES my glass sofa table) and then growl at them.

I live near a huge park in Cincinnati, Eden Park. We started walking three to four times a day, and they wore harnesses because I thought it would be easier for them to learn to walk on a leash. They still wear them today! They immediately fell into step together, with Winnie always on Elvis’ left side, kind of steering him around. Elvis would bump up against Winnie constantly at first, but they developed their own system and now we patrol the park constantly! I lost thirty pounds walking around the park, and they each gained two. Turns out, they’re eating a little better here than they were previously. We’re now on weight control food, even though Winnie insists she is just big-boned. Their little tails are just so cute walking side by side, one lady in the park told me, “they’re as cute coming as going!”

Elvis definitely has short dog syndrome – the bigger the other dog is, the more he barks at it. Winnie chimes right in, and we don’t socialize too much with other dogs at the park. Elvis told a police dog and a cop on horseback exactly what he thought of them, and they both totally terrorized a pair of Scottie dogs at a park festival. These two do just fine on their own and keep each other company. We have met a couple of other sets of Westies, but none of them are as cute as these two.

Our first trip to the vet was uneventful. Our vet, Dr. Bob Biederman, who took care of a past pet of mine, is a neat guy. He can’t walk and uses a wheelchair, and puts the animals up on the examining table so they look down a little at him. He’s great and was very patient, allowing the poobies to check everything out, especially since their only other trip to the vet was after their rescue. Winnie was an angel; Elvis was not as agreeable, but he did ok. The vet confirmed that Elvis was blind in his left eye. After MUCH encouragement from Bette, I took Elvis to an eye specialist, who said there was nothing that could be done.

Elvis puts his “good eye” to good use by patrolling and monitoring Eden Park from his perch. He has a big comfy chair that overlooks the park, and he monitors the activity of his arch-enemies – SQUIRRELS. They’re everywhere and the world is a safer place due to his constant vigilance.

These poobies have been to the groomers, and look just adorable, at least for a little while. They’ve even stayed at the kennel twice, and all reports are good! They’ve not scared to go in, but always happy to come home. Elvis is extremely grumpy when it comes to his rest – he growls and grumbles when he is sleeping. He needs a DO NOT DISTURB sign hung on him! Once he wakes up, he’s fine, but do not interrupt his beauty rest.

Elvis - WestieMed Recipient — Elvis – WestieMed Recipient

We try to visit the Harrys on Hairys every week or so. The Poobies took a little while to warm up to them, but now they play like old friends. They run around and share toys, they visit with Rosie, the doggie next door, and they have contests to see who can pee on the most things. Thanks so their Ant BB (Bette Heidorn) for all her patience and her carpet steamer! Ant BB also gives the best toys. Both like to play, but Elvis really likes his toys. He destroys tennis balls at a high rate of speed and is very protective of his toys. He has a habit of just picking it up and leaving the room as if to say, I am OUTTA HERE!

The funniest thing that I’ve discovered is that these two are the dance patrol. Anytime someone starts to dance or even moves their arms around, these two go wild. They bark and run to you, ready for play! My sister visited a lot over the holidays, and never realized how much she danced around during the day, but these two reminded her constantly!!

So, all in all, we are doing great! These two are so sweet and I just can’t imagine what I did before they were here. We travel well together in the car, with little white heads popping up in the rearview mirror. They always bark at the cashier at a fast-food drive-through, but never at the person who hands us the food. Funny how that works!

Thanks to WestieMed and all the wonderful people who helped Winnie and Elvis make it to their new home. We’re all just wonderful, and they’ve surely rescued me too.

Love,

Jen, Winnie, and Elvis

Elvis

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

Elvis – WestieMed Recipient

Hello Westie Lovers Everywhere–

My name is ELVIS and I am coming to you loud and clear on WestieMed radio from Music City USA–Nashville! Like my namesake, I have had some ruff times in my life, but thanks in part to WestieMed, I now have on my “Blue Suede Shoes” and am rockin’ on in life! It is amazing what feeling good and being healthy will do for a handsome devil such as me. It feels great! Once those rescue ladies got to me, my life got “All Shook Up”. Shook up in a very good way. Here’s my story–

I was a breeder’s dog. It was a miserable life for me and all the other dogs there. One day some fans came there and told the breeder guy that he was officially being kicked out of the Elvis fan club. He had not taken good care of me at the “Heartbreak Hotel” and they could see that I was sick and unhappy. The rescue lady called him “The Devil in Disguise”. Those little ladies took me to a vet. A sweet little gal named Suzanne. Pretty as a peach! As she was about to examine me, I looked her straight in the eye and said “Don’t Be Cruel”. She sure wasn’t. She was very kind to me. They had to cut a lot of matted hair off of me and give me a bath. I also had some pesky celebrity stalkers called ticks. Dr. Suzanne found a lot of things that made her frown (which I hear she hardly ever does). I have Valgus Syndrome. One of my glands was oozing blood and other stuff I won’t tell you about. I had yeast infections in both of my handsome ears. One of her helpers was Miss Ashley. I think she is the reason my heart was racing during my exam. I may be a short Elvis, but I still have an eye for the pretty ladies! I heard her tell Ashley that I had something very abnormal wrong with my left eye. Some kind of abnormality with iris formation. It made cottage cheesy looking stuff in my eye. I had corneal scars. I got lots of shots and meds to take with me. She said that I had a ton of hookworms!! I mean, I had no idea. I guess I didn’t realize how bad I felt until I knew what it felt like to feel GOOD!

After all of that, I hung around the vet for a few days and then went to meet my foster Mom and Dad. Foster Mom Belinda thought I was handsome from the get-go. She put me in something called a doggie car seat. I felt like a king. I looked out the window and saw all kinds of interesting things along the interstate. It was a long ride and I enjoyed every minute of it. When we got home there were other dogs there that looked just like me. I have tried to be the best boy I can be for foster Mom and Dad. I think they have fallen in love with me. Even though they “Love Me Tender”, they can’t keep me because they already have four Westies signed to their label. It is very hot here and when my foster Dad Ray takes me out, I talk to him in Westie talk and tell him to take me back to the cool house. I may not wear sequins, but Foster Mom says that I have a sparkly personality. Thanks to that pretty little doctor and the fabulous folks at WestieMed, I have a new lease on life. I can retire and just enjoy my new life. I don’t know what it holds, but I just bet you a gold record, it’s going to be great! I know my furever family is going to find me one day. Until then I love it here. Foster Mom and Dad promised me that I will love it there just as much as here with them. I think they are jiving me. I could never be happier anywhere!! I think I will put the Elvis paw-print autograph on one of my photos for WestieMed. I am THEIR BIGGEST FAN and I want them to know they will be “Always On My Mind”.

Thank ya, Thank ya very much,

Love, Elvis

Update January 2008: The Poobies

What did I ever do before Winnie and Elvis came to live here? I have no clue, but it must have been boring. Life certainly isn’t boring now! Elvis and Winnie are known as The Poobies. An old friend of mine called her little dog a “pooby” for some reason, and the name just stuck with me. We have really had a very easy transition, and there have been only a few bumps in the road. It took us all awhile to get used to little things, like climbing stairs. Winnie was always more adventurous, hopping up on the furniture and racing up steps. Elvis was much more cautious, and it took a few weeks and much encouragement for him to handle the steps. We were all learning so much that it took me a while to really grasp that he had no sight at all in his left eye. It was obvious that he had lived in an enclosed area – he truly had no skills at navigating around furniture, and it was frustrating for all of us. He would bump into things (he still HATES my glass sofa table) and then growl at them.

I live near a huge park in Cincinnati, Eden Park. We started walking three to four times a day, and they wore harnesses because I thought it would be easier for them to learn to walk on a leash. They still wear them today! They immediately fell into step together, with Winnie always on Elvis’ left side, kind of steering him around. Elvis would bump up against Winnie constantly at first, but they developed their own system and now we patrol the park constantly! I lost thirty pounds walking around the park, and they each gained two. Turns out, they’re eating a little better here than they were previously. We’re now on weight control food, even though Winnie insists she is just big-boned. Their little tails are just so cute walking side by side, one lady in the park told me, “they’re as cute coming as going!”

Elvis definitely has short dog syndrome – the bigger the other dog is, the more he barks at it. Winnie chimes right in, and we don’t socialize too much with other dogs at the park. Elvis told a police dog and a cop on horseback exactly what he thought of them, and they both totally terrorized a pair of Scottie dogs at a park festival. These two do just fine on their own and keep each other company. We have met a couple of other sets of Westies, but none of them are as cute as these two.

Our first trip to the vet was uneventful. Our vet, Dr. Bob Biederman, who took care of a past pet of mine, is a neat guy. He can’t walk and uses a wheelchair, and puts the animals up on the examining table so they look down a little at him. He’s great and was very patient, allowing the poobies to check everything out, especially since their only other trip to the vet was after their rescue. Winnie was an angel; Elvis was not as agreeable, but he did ok. The vet confirmed that Elvis was blind in his left eye. After MUCH encouragement from Bette, I took Elvis to an eye specialist, who said there was nothing that could be done.

Elvis puts his “good eye” to good use by patrolling and monitoring Eden Park from his perch. He has a big comfy chair that overlooks the park, and he monitors the activity of his arch-enemies – SQUIRRELS. They’re everywhere and the world is a safer place due to his constant vigilance.

These poobies have been to the groomers, and look just adorable, at least for a little while. They’ve even stayed at the kennel twice, and all reports are good! They’ve not scared to go in, but always happy to come home. Elvis is extremely grumpy when it comes to his rest – he growls and grumbles when he is sleeping. He needs a DO NOT DISTURB sign hung on him! Once he wakes up, he’s fine, but do not interrupt his beauty rest.

We try to visit the Harryson Hairys every week or so. The Poobies took a little while to warm up to them, but now they play like old friends. They run around and share toys, they visit with Rosie, the doggie next door, and they have contests to see who can pee on the most things. Thanks so their Ant BB (Bette Heidorn) for all her patience and her carpet steamer! Ant BB also gives the best toys. Both like to play, but Elvis really likes his toys. He destroys tennis balls at a high rate of speed and is very protective of his toys. He has a habit of just picking it up and leaving the room as if to say, I am OUTTA HERE!

The funniest thing that I’ve discovered is that these two are the dance patrol. Anytime someone starts to dance or even moves their arms around, these two go wild. They bark and run to you, ready for play! My sister visited a lot over the holidays, and never realized how much she danced around during the day, but these two reminded her constantly!!

So, all in all, we are doing great! These two are so sweet and I just can’t imagine what I did before they were here. We travel well together in the car, with little whiteheads popping up in the rearview mirror. They always bark at the cashier at a fast-food drive-through, but never at the person who hands us the food. Funny how that works!

Thanks to WestieMed and all the wonderful people who helped Winnie and Elvis make it to their new home. We’re all just wonderful, and they’ve surely rescued me too.

Love,

Jen, Winnie, and Elvis

Mimi (Formally Sassy Ann)

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

August 2007:

Hi Friends-

My foster Mom says I’m one of the happiest Westies she has ever met. You’d be happy too if you experienced my life before I was rescued and then helped by WestieMed. I am only four years old, but it feels like I have been having puppies for a life time.

As soon as my ransom was paid to the breeder, my rescuers took me to see a wonderful lady named Dr. Franks. She was so kind to me. Every time she spoke to me, it was like getting a hug made of words. The more she examined me the more upset she got. I heard her tell a helper named Pam that “this breeder should be…” and then her voice trailed off and I didn’t hear the rest. I heard her tell another helper named Ashley what to write on my chart. I don’t know what it means, but I will tell you anyway. She said that my ears had yeasties in them. I wonder if that is why they itched so much. I had a sore over my right eyelid. I had a few tick heads buried in my skin. That caused me to get a blood infection. I have to take pills for fourty-five days to make that go away. I had moderate to severe dental problems. Something was wrong with my patella. Something was wrong with my left eye and it had a yellow discharge. I had a hazy corneal scar. That’s all I can remember. There were several other things, but they were very big words that I don’t understand. Even though my name is Sassy, I wasn’t feeling very sassy that day. I hadn’t felt sassy in a long time. I was always expecting puppies, nursing puppies, or sad because my puppies left me. But Dr. Franks told me not to worry about that ever again, because she would take care of all that and make me feel sassy again soon!

She was right! Things are great now. I am staying with three other Westies in a house with a deck and a big fenced yard. One of my housemates is a foster too and we all get along great. My foster parents are giving us lessons in basic Westie manners. We are learning to sit and stay, wait until being told to eat and going potty outside. I had a problem with potty outside at first, but that’s cause I had a urinary tract infection. I’m much better now and accidents are rare! I am also learning crate training and it’s not so bad. I still cry a little when foster Mom Lynn leaves for work, but I really do well at bedtime. Our Westie cousins here were crate trained, but they are 5 and 6, so they have graduated. I love to have baths in the utility sink. The spray hose feels so good! I love the fact that my wiry coat dries really fast so I can go back and play with all the other Westies. My life is so wonderful now. My biggest concern is what toy to play with next.

My spunky personality has drawn many admirers when we have a company or go visiting. Spunky and friendly is a good combination. I heard my foster parents say that. The alpha (foster Dad) has had to work with me a few extra minutes. What does “blonde” mean?

I still have a few problems as a result of my prior living conditions. I am almost finished with my pills, but I think I will always need to use eye drops. I will love WestieMed furever and furever because they made sure attention was given to all my medical problems. I feel like a brand new Westie girl thanks to my rescuers, sweet Dr. Franks, and my new friends at WestieMed.

Love, Sassy Ann

Update January 2008: Sassy Ann now named Mimi

Mimi’s eye problem will need drops daily for life…She has chronic dry eye. However, it looks 98% better and she has little to no discomfort.

She has adapted into the family, her Westie sister likes her (my Roxy retains Alpha). When they romp we call it Westie World…a joy to see. Lil Debbie (her Maltese sister), also a rescue, hangs with and follows her.

Mimi sleeps with us at the foot of the bed, if not stretched out between us. In the morning it is lick, lick, kiss, and kiss. She stills loves to kiss. She loves to sit in my lap. She wants love.

The walks on the beach have reduced her weight. She was heavy! I called her my plus size girl.

Her ears have started to turn pink, the yeast being cleared up 90%.

She still tends to have days of upset stomachs even though we have her on sensitive food. Will continue to try to find a healthy remedy.

Just got a new camera, trying to figure it out. When I do, I will have lots of photos at Nashville home and Beach home!

We love Mimi.

Annette & Charlie Pacunas

Update March 19, 2010:

Mimi is still quite skittish. Yelps at the slightest thing toward her. But improving.

Her left eye requires daily ‘bathing’ with saline to clean and drops put in for her chronic dry eye, I fear she barely can see from it.

She sleeps as close to me as she can in bed and loves the beach house.

She loves her two sisters Roxy (Westie) and Lil Debby (Maltese).

Her Mommy,

Annette

Gracie (Formally Tiffy)

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

August 2007:

Hi–My name is Tiffy. I want to tell you my story with a happy ending. I used to work in a kennel. I was a breeding dog. It wasn’t much of a life. On a hot summer day, I was rescued. I didn’t realize it at the time, but rescue is a great and wonderful thing! It wasn’t as simple as it sounds, but it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I am a young Westie girl of about 4 years. But my lifestyle was causing me to feel much older. My wonderful foster Mom says that most of my problems come from carrying or caring for puppies most of my life. She said that kennel must have thought I was just a puppy factory! She thinks my short life has been a hard one. She told me that because I had been bred so much; my rear end is smaller than the rest of my Westie frame. The nice vet, Dr. Franks said I was carrying puppies so much of the time and not getting exercise while my body was still trying to grow. Because of that, I now have and will most likely always have weak hind legs and hips. My foster Mom Carol is working with me daily on regular exercise and supplements but says I will probably always be weak in my hindquarters. She also says that the reason my skin is so saggy all over is because of the weight from constantly being pregnant. Foster Mom also said I got a bad report on my teeth. Again, probably because I was always expecting puppies. That robbed my body of what little calcium I got, passed it on to my pups I was carrying and I got left with very little if any. Dr. Frank’s office worked on my teeth while I was asleep getting spayed. Foster Mom is going to continue to work on keeping them clean with as little tarter build-up as possible. I found out at the vet that day that I had yeasty ears. I didn’t know my ears weren’t supposed to itch. It sure is nice though. The medicine worked great! I got vaccines and some meds to take with me that day.

Guess what makes my story have a fairy tale ending? WestieMed and my foster Mom Carol. You see, WestieMed paid for all my vetting and medicine that day. They love to help rescued Westies. They know what a tough road we breeder dogs have traveled. They take pleasure in lightening our load. Isn’t that the neatest thing you have ever heard? Three cheers for WestieMed!! Now as for my wonderful foster Mom Carol, I have a secret to tell about her. She is a failure at fostering. Yes, that’s right. She broke the main fostering rule. She fell head over heels, hopelessly in love with me. She couldn’t help it, I mean look at me. She changed my name to Gracie. I love my new name. It helps me forget my old life and it is such a pretty name. She said I could live with her and her other two Westie kids furever if I wanted to. And boy do I want to!!! She said I am the sweetest of all the Westies she ever had. I have fallen right into the daily routine with my new fur siblings! My Mom Carol tells everyone that she wouldn’t trade me for the world. I’m no expert, but that sounds like a gigantic compliment to me. She feels that I, along with the other rescued Westies she has fostered, am so very appreciative of anything and everything that is done for us.

I am very happy and much healthier now thanks to Dr. Franks, her staff, and my new friends at WestieMed. But guess what the very best part is? My Mom Carol says that I am definitely now one of the family. I have a family!

Loving my new life,
Gracie

Update January 2008: Tiffy now called Gracie

My precious, Gracie…

Oh, how I can’t imagine life without “Miss Bossy” to keep the other Westies in line (the two other rescues who live with me AND any fosters we have to come through our household!)

While Miss Gracie (named for a couple of reasons…” saved by the grace of others,” and also after “Miss Grace,” the Carolina Beach Music hit from the ‘60s, that only true Carolina Beach Music lovers would recognize…) is a wonderful addition to our home, we also have to work diligently with her to make her realize that Mom is the pack leader and not her. She sometimes wants my thirteen-year-old daughter to think she is the pack leader and Caitlin, my daughter, is in her pack. I think all those three to four years in the “breeding” backyard made her as bossy as she is. I truly believe she was the breeder’s “cash cow.” Her poor young body (which looks MUCH older than it is or should look) has taken a real beating with her probably being pregnant every six months from the first time she went into heat… She is on an every-other-day half dosage of Rimadyl, which the vet said won’t hurt her, because of the decreased dosage, and it really seems to help her joints in her hind legs. She truly had a rough go of it, and in my estimation, she probably won’t grow to be a really old dog, I do believe that a good diet, regular exercise, and her Rimadyl will do wonders. I could be totally surprised, and be giving you an update on her in 10 years! Let’s hope that is the case!!!

Sweet Gracie (who weighs about twenty-two pounds now), is very, very clumsy when she plays. Caitlin and I have nicknamed her the “Jawalrus,” because we say she is the cross between a Walrus and a Jellyfish (because when you pick her up, she doesn’t seem to have a backbone!!!!). I know it sounds silly, but it’s so dead-on, and she just melts into your arms!!!

I have to admit that Miss Gracie is by far the prettiest Westie I have. She has the most beautiful coat I’ve ever felt on a Westie, and when she goes to the groomer, she is always the best-behaved of the three, and appears to feel like a princess when she gets home. She just KNOWS she’s beautiful!

Thanks to WestieMed for ALL they did for her during her rescue. On top of providing her basic vetting, the wonderful vet also cleaned her teeth while she was under being spayed. It made all of the difference in the world, because Gracie was diagnosed with having severe mouth/gum problems. Now, she has quite the Ultrabrite smile!

We can’t thank Bette and WestieMed enough for all they do to help precious Westies in need. As a founding member of Westie Rescue of Tennessee, I know I will personally do all within my power to help any Westie in need to best of my ability. Having WestieMed on our side is a SUPER PLUS!

Thank you Sooooooooooooooo much!

Carol Gore and Gracie

Emmie

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

August 2007:

Hi–I am Emmie, a Westie of the wee petite variety. I am on the quiet side to go with my stature. But I have a big Westie spirit. I am three years old. I was a breeding dog before my life took a turn for the better. I lived with a lot of other dogs that were not well cared for. We were very dirty and always hot in the summer because we had long, long hair all over. I tried to peek out of all the hair on my face, but it was hard to do. I didn’t know what clean, cool water was. I never had my own food bowl and I had to scrap to get what I could to eat.

When the rescue people came for me, I was already sad because the breeder had taken my puppies from me. It was too soon. But they were in a hurry to sell them. I hope they found good homes as I have. My rescue people told me that I will never have to worry about puppies again. They said it is time for me to concentrate on myself!

The first thing my new friends did was take me to a veterinarian. She is a wonderful doctor that loves all animals, but just between you and me, I think she is partial to doggies. Her helpers like Miss Pam and others helped me with my haircut and bath. Wow-that bath thing is nice. When were those invented? I had never heard of them. They told me I was much too matted and dirty for a precious little Westie girl. I loved all the pampering, but then came the exam. I most certainly did not pass! I weighed thirteen pounds. My doctor told the rescue man and lady that I had tons of ticks. It hurt when they pulled them off. I already had scabs on me. She also said that I had severe dental tartar and gingivitis. I’m not sure, but that sounds serious. I had a skin infection. She got a bottle of soothing spray for me. She put me on antibiotics and gave me shots and other meds. I hated those shots, but I was very brave during the entire exam.

Next, I went to live with a foster Mom and Dad. They have two Westies plus another foster Westie that I love to play with. Foster Mom Lynn said that I love to chase then chew on any Frisbee that might be thrown my way. She also said that I get along great with all the Westies at her house. She is especially proud of my potty skills, though I have not graduated to a full run of the house. I do great on the leash and I am learning to sit and stay. She tells everyone that my appetite for good kibble is unending! That’s because it is so fun to eat out of this thing called a bowl. I have one now. One of my favorite things is to curl up on someone’s lap. Though I’m slim, I’m quite cuddly. One of my least favorite things is the sound of the microwave beeping, but I’m getting used to that. When a stranger comes to foster Mom and Dad’s house, I bark. That’s about the only time I make any noise. I don’t even fuss about my crate training. I’m just happy to be loved now after my experience as a breeding dog. Sometimes at night, I dream about getting to see all the WestieMed people that helped me. I would so love to give them kisses and tell them how going to the vet made such a difference in how I feel. They do wonderful things for us Westies you know.

I think my rescue people have found me a furever home that will have a Westie sister there for me to play with. Anyway, I have proven that you don’t have to have a perfect background to be a perfect pet. On a scale of 1 to 10 in size, I’m a three. But on a scale of one to ten as a good pet, I AM A TEN!!!!

Thanks again WestieMed.

Love,
Little Emmie

Update January 2008:

Emmie is a sweet little feminine Westie girl. She is over all of her health problems thanks to WestieMed. Keeping her Westie figure is the only problem she has these days. She loves having her very own bowl with plenty of food in it! Emmie loves treats but always allows her younger fur sibling to grab the first one. She waits politely and patiently and then goes to a corner to savor hers slowly. Emmie still cowers occasionally, but it happens less and less. We are confident that eventually, she won’t remember her days as a mistreated breeding dog at all. Her fur coat turned out to be absolutely gorgeous. Everyone comments on how beautiful it is. When she was rescued, it was filthy and matted so badly she had to be shaved. Now her coat is soft as cotton and very thick.

Emmie loves to stand outside and watch the squirrels but isn’t very interested in chasing them. She does enjoy chasing a tennis ball up and down the long deck. She races side by side with her Westie sister to the ball. When she manages to get it, she prances around with it in her mouth for a few moments before bringing it back to be thrown again. Emmie is somewhat shy for a Westie but gets along great with her Westie sister and the two resident beagles. She is always welcoming and sweet to any foster Westies that come to visit from time to time.

We love that she is sleeping inside a warm house this winter for the first time. She is not very keen on going out in the rain but has enjoyed a little dusting of snow we got recently. She puts the side of her face down on the deck and runs her face through the snow. When a sufficient amount has collected on her head, she stops and shakes it off her face, and repeats the process over and over. We don’t think she could be any more adorable if she tried! We feel honored to provide her with a loving home. She is a constant joy. We think that being owned by one Westie was nice, but being owned by two is even better!

Erin

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

Hello Everyone-

I am a sweet little Westie girl named Erin. I have a wonderful life. It wasn’t always so wonderful, because you see, I was a breeding dog. Even though I am only two, I worried about my babies not having fresh water and being in the heat and cold. I did my very best to take good care of them, but I didn’t have much to work with. Now I never have to worry about having puppies again!

When I was rescued, I was sick. I had severe yeast infections in both my little ears. My teeth weren’t very healthy. I had worms. Since I am so small, I seemed to get the short end of the stick most of the time. I only weighed eleven pounds. There was never much to eat and my water had green yucky stuff on top of it. I kept trying to tell the breeder that I didn’t like bugs in my water, but he never understood. The day I left that awful place, I didn’t know what life held for me, but I knew it could only go uphill.

When I made it to the dogtor, I was shaking and really afraid. There were people running around taking care of other dogs and cats. It seemed like a big place. A very nice young man took me under his wing. He didn’t talk like the other people there. I heard someone say that he just moved here from Cuba. He is lucky like me. We both got to go to much better places to live. He got all the nasty, matted hair off of me. He tried not to shave me, but he had to. My coat was just too matted with nasty things. He left me a little bob on the end of my tail and some hair on my face. He told me that he understands how we girls like to look our best, even when we feel bad. The doctor lady and her helpers were so kind to me. I had to stay there a few nights and then the rescue lady took me and my sister to our foster home. She told us not to worry about our bill because she was in contact with a wonderful organization called WestieMed. She said that she was sure the people at WestieMed would want us to concentrate on getting well. The place I went to is called a farm. But this was no run of the mill farm. There was a nice, big house. The rescue lady mumbled something about a place called South Fork that was on TV a long time ago as she drove up the driveway. A pretty lady named Michele came out to greet us. Michele helped pay for me to be rescued. She has lots and lots of animals. Horses, pigs, chickens, guineas, cows, goats, lots of dogs, and all kinds of animals. I laugh to myself cause where her horses live is larger than the breeder man’s house!! Now my foster Mom has decided to keep me because I fell in love with her two little girls. I’m sure they love me back.

I love to run and play now, but when I first got here, I was too sick to enjoy all the amenities. I had something called loose stools and really bad skin irritations. Mom said that I was scared and in poor condition. I love the scrambled eggs she makes for me each morning. I think the good food that my Mom Michele feeds me has helped me get stronger. My chicken friends give them to her every single day like clockwork. She says that I am timid but have the sweetest disposition she has ever seen! My Mom adores me and hates that I had to suffer before I came to her and her family. But that is in the past. Now I run around the yard and play with my chickens and my new dog friends. I don’t exactly know how to thank the kind-hearted people at WestieMed for paying my doctor bills. Rescue lady told me the best way to repay them is to be a good little Westie and always, always enjoy my life. So that is what I am busy doing.

Love and Licks to you,
Erin

Update January 2008:

My little Erin is a wonderful, happy little girl. She is a strange little girl in that for a small little one, she thinks she is larger than life and bulletproof. She would rather be outside watching over her chickens than be inside with the others.

When Erin first came here she was very sick and “terrified” is the only word I can use to describe her. But her Alpha side is here now. She is very protective of her backyard. I often foster dogs here and most recently we fostered four eight-week-old Pyrenees puppies. They weighed almost thirty pounds each but she still bossed them around. When it was time for a little mothering she did that, too, constantly cleaning them and protecting them from even their own shadows at times (yes, they would chase their shadows).

But aside from her chewable wormer and a monthly Frontline, Erin is off any medications she was once on. She is every bit the delight I have insisted to everyone that a Westie would be.

I appreciate all you have done. And I still insist that Sherry Moore is the true reason my little Erin is alive today. For if not for Sherry and her “I will never stop looking for Sweetie or helping every Westie I find along the way” attitude, these guys would have never survived their past living situation.

Thank you for all you continue to do.