West Highland White Terrier Club of California

Jody

March 1, 2003January 7, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

March 2003:

West Highland White Terrier Club of California got a call from an older woman who said she could not keep her almost three year old female westie because she was gone quite a bit and the dog sitter was costing her more than she could afford. She did not like the idea of Josie Marie (now called Jody) not having a home with someone home all the time. She finally decided to give her to us.

I picked her up and found a very lovely and very friendly little female. The problem she had was with legs. She was placed in foster care with a volunteer who does agility. She took her the day after she got her to an Agility Trial that her Jack Russell was entered as she did not want to leave her alone her first day. Foster mom got to the trials early just to see what Jody would do with the equipment…well, she took to it as if she had been trained in Agility. The other friends there were also amazed at her abilities. Jody was then taken to a vet to have an evaluation done. The regular veterinarian said she had luxating patellas and referred us to a specialist. The diagnosis was the same and we decided without question to have the surgery performed.

The surgery was a success and Jody is recuperating in a very nice motor home somewhere in Las Vegas, with a special crate rigged up so she can see outside while they are driving. She doesn’t much like her Elizabethan collar but who does! She continues to thrive, eat well and the staples were removed by our veterinarian in Las Vegas, Dr. Clarissa Engstrom, who has been wonderful towards our rescue efforts there. Jody will now be going through her rahabilitation period and will soon be as good as new!

Thank you WestieMed in assisting us in paying for this expensive surgery!

Elaine Delgado, Rescue Chair for the WHWTCC

Update September 2003:

Hello! Our darling little Jody is doing just fine ! She has, in fact, started training for agility, as you can see, here! We are so proud of her and just love her to pieces. We certainly thank WestieMed for the part they played in getting our little girl able to move her legs like a normal westie! The surgery was a success…..they did, however, leave the pins in, but the orthopedic felt we shouldn’t have any trouble in the future with that.

Thank all of you, again Pat Harrington and Jody

Rags

September 1, 2002December 30, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

September 2002:

RAGS TO RICHES

About 10 a.m. one Tuesday earlier in August, I received a call from the concerned owner that they had heard I rescued and helped small dogs. As I have helped in the rescue and placement of Cairn Terriers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and some mix-breed puppies, I indicated I can sometimes help. What did they need?

Rags story begins when her well-intending owners of eleven years were moving and the main caregiver was returning to full-time employment. They decided to put her in the newspaper for free considering people would not be interested in buying an older dog. They did find someone interested and just let them pick the dog up and felt all was well.

For the original owner, all was well until about two weeks later someone called saying they had found their dog, locating them by an old tag left on Rags’ collar. Rags had apparently walked in their back door as they opened it to go out one evening. She was so filthy they did not know she was even a Westie. They bathed, defeated, and treated her ears thinking something had chewed on them as they looked infected with sores. Three days later the original owner picked her up and that is when they called me. They were afraid to try to place her again and did not have the time for her. They also mentioned sending Rags to animal control if I could not help.

So not being one to say no, I picked up the sweetest, confused, pretty little white dog I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and saw she needed immediate vet care for her ears. They had her groomed but had not had her to the vet. I and several others who heard of her plight could not understand how someone could give up such a beautiful little dog after owning her all her life.

After searching on the internet for what seems like hours, I found the representative for WHWTCA Westie Rescue. I told her I would gladly foster Rags and needed her help with placement for Rags, but also had very limited personal funds for veterinarian costs. My funds go very quickly having nine Cairn Terriers, most with special needs, two with seizures, three with severe skin allergies, one has had surgery to remove hip joint, etc., (who by the way have all been getting along wonderfully with Rags, she is so sweet). She immediately told me to look up WestieMed.com and see if they could help. Thank goodness there is such a group.

Rags first visit to the vet indicated she was heartworm free but had a severe ear infection in her right ear, also eye and skin irritations. The vet could not believe how strong and spirited she is for her age. She would need drops twice a day, plus daily and bi-weekly cleaning of both ears for blockages, as her hearing was impaired, and oral antibiotics for up to three months. As I had also noticed excessive drinking and piddling, which the original owner said she had never noticed. Rags also needed blood work which indicated no diabetes, thyroid problems, or other causes. So more and expensive blood testing has been done for the possibility of Cushing’s Disease. Without WestieMed I would have had difficulty finding she has early stages of an unpleasant but thank goodness a treatable problem. She will need medication for the remainder of her life, but it can be a good life.

And even though I have fallen in love with her, I know she can be placed in a new home with people who can really care for her no matter what.

Thank you again Robin Bateman and mostly RAGS

Update December 2002:

Rags are in a new long-term foster home with Sharon and Michael and is doing well. She’s a sweet, though quite an overweight girlie!

On behalf of Rags, WestieMed would like to thank Robin for fostering her for so long and taking such good care of her while a new foster home was being sought.

Jake

July 1, 2002January 7, 2021 by westiemed in Stories

July 2002:

Jake is a two-year-old male Westie with Juvenile Cataracts. He was bred by a backyard breeder and purchased as a puppy by a single woman. However, the owner’s health made it impossible for her to care him properly. She surrendered him to the Westie Rescue program of the West Highland White Terrier Club of California.

The rescue volunteer stated that Jake was the sweetest Westie she had ever seen. She took Jake to a veterinary ophthalmologist to determine if anything could be done for his complete blindness. Jake contentedly sat on her lap at the doctor’s office, he was friendly with other dogs and cats and he let the doctor and staff do the evaluation exam without a squirm or a cry. The ophthalmologist stated Jacob’s vision could be restored by removing the cataracts. Jake has no other health problems and his prognosis for a long and wonderful life was excellent.

Soon foster care was arranged for Jake. He was fostered by a retired schoolteacher who was committed to take care of him before, during, and after the surgery to restore his vision. The surgery was scheduled for July 30, 2002.

After Jake’s surgery we received the following message: “Jake’s surgery went well. They were able to do both eyes. He is being treated with oral medication and several different eye drops. The day after surgery they tested Jake on the obstacle course and he did extremely well, both in bright and dim light. Everyone at the doctor’s office thinks he’s a wonderful dog. He’s so patient when they examine him. He never whimpers, growls or tries to squirm off the table. When I take him out to the yard he seems quite amazed by the world he’s able to see.”

WestieMed is pleased to help defray the medical costs to restore Jake’s vision.

August 2002:

We took Jake to Spokane yesterday for his three week check and he’s doing GREAT!! The doctor is very pleased with his progress and he’s the best patient they’ve ever had. Everyone in the office loves him. His eyes are clear, bright and shiny now and he can run around the yard and play and doesn’t run into things. I’m so happy for him. He’s such a wonderful companion. I want to thank you (WHWTCC Westie Rescue) so much for placing him with me and a HUGE THANK YOU to WestieMed for financing his surgery.

Sincerely, Jeanne M.

Dachary - WestieMed Recipient December 2000

DACHARY Rainbow Bridge 2/27/06

December 1, 2000December 29, 2020 by westiemed in Stories

December 2000:

Dachary was one of four Westies that were given up to Westie Rescue. They ranged in age from the youngest at four years old to Dachary at nine years young! The rescue was told that the dogs were all “healthy” – this proved not to be the case.

Dachary was in the worst physical condition of the four. Her problems were many. A visit to the veterinarian revealed the following:

Severe long-standing ear infections – ear canals totally closed – hearing loss
Dry eye with permanent scarring on the cornea
Terrible gum infection – missing, rotten, and broken teeth
Skin problems
Tumors on or near mammary glands – possibly precancerous

In the hands of the rescue group of the West Highland White Terrier Club of California (WHWTCC), and with financial assistance from WestieMed, Dachary’s treatment began. While under anesthesia the tumors were biopsied, the ears were treated, and she was spayed. Westie Angels were looking out for Dachary as all the biopsies came back benign!! Her caring veterinarian did the teeth cleaning and extractions at no charge to the California club.

The WHWTCC rescue group thought they would have a difficult time placing Dachary due to her age and special needs involving her ears and eyes but they had TWO families interested in adopting this special Westie. They made their decision and Dachary’s new owners think she is the sweetest dog in the world – even if she is “high maintenance”!

Dachary’s medical bills were quite large. WestieMed was a significant factor in getting Dachary the treatment she needed to be healthy enough to be adopted. The West Highland White Terrier Club of California along with Dachary’s new family would like to extend their gratitude to WestieMed for their generosity.

Update September 2002

Here is a photo of Dachary and her family at “Westie Festie.” As you can see, we are all very happy.

Sincerely Susan S.

Update March 2006

Dear Westiemed:

I sent the message below to Westie Rescue earlier tonight:

I am sorry to report to you that Dachary, who you brought to us in 2000, died Monday from pneumonia at nearly 16 years of age.

Although she was ill for the last few days, she was spunky and Westie-like up to that point. Her passing was peaceful and she was in the company of those who loved her when it happened.

On behalf of my wife, my son, and myself, I want to express our profound thanks and appreciation to Elaine Delgado and everyone at Westie Rescue for allowing us the opportunity to have this wonderful companion for five-plus years.

We loved Dachary very much. There is no way to express fully how much joy, warmth, laughter, and relief from the heartache she brought to us. We are grief-stricken at her loss but will cherish for years to come to the many wonderful memories she provided.

Again, thank you for bringing Dachary to us. A check-in her memory is on its way to you to support your worthy efforts. We hope that the contribution will help others to experience the pleasurable insanity of having a Westie in one’s life.

We are equally grateful to your fine organization. If not for your hard work in restoring Dach to health, we would not have been able to adopt her and have this wonderful experience. A check-in Dach’s memory is on its way to you also. It is nice to see that she is still on your website, and we hope she will stay there a while longer.

Many thanks,

The Simon Family