|
|
 |
|
|
"Little Cajun," as his adopted family calls him, was discovered roaming the streets in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
After a stay at the SPCA there, one of our club members living in that city bailed him out and helped with his transportation
to Houston. His skin was blackened and thickened from infection, and his ears were full of infection. The veterinarian discovered
he had a past hip joint problem (FA), but someone in his past had spent the money for an operation to relieve the problem.
He has a floating hip joint. Though a couple of people considered adopting him, when all was said and done, Debbie and Johan
found in him a wonderful companion at their farm-like habitat out in the country. He now spends his days running in the open
and playing with the other pets in the family. Little Cajun has become very attached to Debbie, following her everywhere,
and even sleeps with her! He lives with several other dogs, but Debbie says he likes to think he rules the roost. A happy
ending for a little dog who had been through a lot.
|
A woman woke up one day to find that someone had left a Westie (little Rudy)
in her backyard. She already had a dog and did not have the means to care for another one. She called her veterinarian, who
told her to bring the dog in. When Rudy was brought to the Suburbia North Animal Hospital, he was filthy, smelly, and had
serious skin and ear infections. While the vet's office started treatment on Rudy, the WHWTCSET Rescue Committee became involved
in finding him a new home.
Jocelyn and Mike were looking for a pet, and Rudy filled their expectations.
They had owned a Westie many years ago, and wanted a dog who could travel around with them to antique shows. More important,
they were able to look past Rudy's medical problems and were willing to spend the time and money to treat Rudy's infections
with daily medications and frequent baths. From the photo above, you can see how well Rudy has progressed in six months. Rudy
did not make points on his first visit to his new home. He lifted his leg on Jocelyn and on the sofa! Nonetheless, Jocelyn
and Mike obviously saw something special in this tenacious little dog, because they adopted him that day! Rudy has since settled
into his new home and new routine, which includes plenty of love and care. Rudy thinks his new family is very lucky to have
him!
|
Due to family circumstances, Caesar’s original owners had to find a new home for him. Caesar was unique
because he had been bought in Milan, Italy—an Italian Westie! He came from a loving home, and found an equally loving
home when we placed him with a couple in the northwest area of Houston. The couple had recently lost their little Westie,
mainly to old age, and wanted to fill the empty hole in their hearts. Caesar has since been filling their lives with the exuberance
of a four-year-old Westie. Not only does he have company all day, but he looks forward to those evening walks in the neighborhood.
On adoption day, he caused a little excitement, as he managed to escape through a small hole in the fence to a neighbor’s
yard while his new parents were signing the adoption papers inside. Luckily, the neighbor’s yard was also fenced--the
neighbors just got to meet Caesar earlier than expected! I predict a long, loving relationship for this trio.
|
MacKenzie (adopted Feb 05)
MacKenzie had a good home, but her owner was going to be incapacitated for quite
some time and thought the dog would be better off with a new family who could give her the attention she deserved. MacKenzie’s owner showed her love for her little dog, by calling us to find another home for her. It is never easy to give up your dog, but there are sometimes good reasons for doing
so. After a sparkling recommendation from their veterinarian on how well they
cared for their other Westie, a family in Kingwood won the prize—one four and a half-year-old bundle of white love. Though she had a few accidents in the house at first, her “want to please”
attitude, as well as the example of her playmate, got her past those nasty habits. Her
days are filled with squirrel hunting in the backyard, enjoying her playmate Westie, and making sure the family gets enough
love from her. When her new Dad is doing yard work, she enjoys being right in
the middle of things—just inspecting the quality of work, Dad! I don’t
know who is luckier, MacKenzie or her new family—it’s a draw!
|
Little Bonnie was found very dirty and matted, roaming the streets of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a little more
than a week before Easter. Animal Control in Baton Rouge picked her up and notified our club of her plight. It just so happened
our Rescue Chair was leaving that very same day on a trip, which would take her through Baton Rouge! Such a coincidence! Bonnie
was very timid, but very affectionate to anyone who gave her attention. Her age was guessed to be 5+ years. She likes to give
kisses and snuggle. Then, whoops (!), our Club veterinarian’s office confirmed Bonnie was not a Westie, but a white
Schnauzer! Though we do not know for sure, it is possible she was raised on a puppy farm, as she looked like she had borne
more than one litter. Her tail was always down at first, and she cowered whenever someone went to pet her. However, she soon
gained confidence and started coming out of her shell. Jan and Bob from Texas City were looking for a Westie, but decided
to take a look at the little Schnauzer. They had owned a Schnauzer in the past, but had never seen a white one! Bonnie took
to them like butter on toast, and they drove off with little Bonnie firmly implanted on Jan’s lap. Bonnie now has a
large yard to romp in, a loving family, with a Dad who is home during the day to keep her company and give her the affection
she craves, and a new Mom who likes to cuddle! Her new Dad taught her to use the doggie door to the yard within an hour or
so of her arriving at her new home—that’s one smart dog and one proud Dad! Little Bonnie can finally enjoy the
good life.
|
Stuart was a backyard dog, who wanted to be an indoor dog! When his family gave him up for adoption, they
hoped he would find a home where he could have the run of the house, and get all the attention he craved. He was a healthy,
eight and a half-month-old who loved to give kisses and snuggle in bed. His insecurity caused him to want to be with his caretaker(s),
as close as he could get, all the time. He had two homes before being placed by us, so he was a little nervous about starting
over again. However, his new home in Cypress, Texas, has made his dreams come true. He has a new, doting Mom and Dad and a
brother Westie to play with. Although he has misbehaved by chewing up their window blinds and leaving little wet spots around,
his new family has been very understanding, and is giving him the love, companionship and discipline he needs. Sometimes,
all it takes is a little patience and time to make a dog march to the beat of a new drum. He is still a puppy and has a lot
to learn. We cannot feel too sorry for him, though, as he will be spending his summers in Cape Cod!
|
Einstein (adopted May 05)
Einstein was used to being the only child in his family for 4½ years, until he
was presented with twin boys as brothers—which didn’t sit well with him.
Although never mean to them, he acted out his jealousy by making messes in the house to get more attention. Those walks in the neighborhood became a thing of the past, as it was hard to handle a dog on a leash
while pushing a double stroller! Reluctantly, his family sought out a new home
for him, where he could get the attention he required. He was characterized by
everyone handling him during this transition, as a “happy, sweet boy.” We
are pleased to say he found a new home, with no children and two Westie brothers, who fill his time with rowdy games
of chase and companionship. His new Mom and Dad pamper their three boys. Mom works out of the house, so she is around to attend to their needs all day
long. There are lots of outings, and the boys hang out on top of the sofa together
at night. They have a large, fenced yard to explore and inspect—keeping
the lizards in line. Chances are Einstein even gets pineapple and raw
sweet potatoes, his favorites, on occasion. Einstein
is a smart dog (after all, with a name like that, he didn’t have the choice not to be smart!) and knows a good
thing when he sees it. He is settling into his new routine and wants his former family to know they shouldn’t
cry for him because he is happy and adjusting well to his new digs.
UPDATE: In an unfortunate turn of events, Einstein bit a yard worker
at the front door of his new home a couple of weeks after beind adopted (he is very territorial). His new owners were
shaken by the incident and felt they could no longer keep him. Einstein has been given a second chance with a new
owner, who pledged to enroll him in obedience classes and work on his territorial issues. Einstein's new owner
recently lost his Westie, also a rescue. With all of the love Einstein has to give -- mixed with a bit of good, old-fashioned
discipline, we expect him to settle in and make a good companion.
|
A representative from our club drove to Baton Rouge to pick up Harley. He
was found on the streets and no one had come to claim him. His hair was thin
due to skin problems and he had kennel cough. Our vet started him on antibiotics
and treated the kennel cough. He looked like he had led a rough life—yet
had managed to come through everything with a trusting attitude. A Friendswood
couple was looking for a second Westie to be a companion for their 12-year old Westie. When
the woman came to see him, thin coat and all, she fell in love with him. They
named him Harley because he looked “tough”. While some people might
have been nervous about his skin condition, they were ready to tackle it. I hear
his hair is growing in just fine now—he probably doesn’t look so tough anymore!
We are always thankful for people like this couple, who can see beyond a dog with skin problems to the day he will
be fully covered in hair again with some extra effort and attention. They are
truly angels, and Harley is basking in their light right now! A little love goes
a long way.
|
Bogie’s
former family loved him very much, but had just moved to the Houston area, bought a new home, and the wife was going to start
working. They were concerned their new lifestyle would leave little time for
Bogie, so decided to put him up for adoption in hopes of finding a family that could give him the attention he was used to. His only fault was that he was not completely potty-trained. A retiree up in the Fort Worth/Dallas area heard about Bogie when he called a club member about purchasing
or adopting a dog. Last year, he and his wife had lost their dog and, during
the time they were looking for another dog, the wife was diagnosed with cancer and passed away several months later. After several months of being alone, the man was looking for companionship—and
resumed his quest to find a Westie. It turned out that in his past he had been
a fighter pilot, so “Bogie” was a fitting name for his new pet. He
loves to tell people, “Bogie on the right”, or “Bogie at 3:00”—it reminds him of his flying
days. They have been a perfect pair ever since!
|
Cooper is a Westie mix who was down on his luck at the Kingsville (Texas) Animal Shelter. People in New Jersey and Oklahoma had heard about him on the Internet and contacted our Club. He was picked up off the streets, and due to his growling whenever the shelter personnel approached him,
he was thought to be aggressive. Another day or two and they might have put him
down. In reality, he was just frightened and needed someone to befriend him. Because he was twice the size of a full-blooded Westie, interest in adopting him was
very low. After spending two days in a local pet store over the Labor Day weekend,
a family with a ten-year-old daughter decided to adopt him—but not until the grandmother gave her approval. Grandma had a couple of dogs herself, and the family trusted her judgment as to whether Cooper was good-tempered. When Grandma gave them her blessing,
they were thrilled to take him home that day. Before leaving the pet store, they
bought him all sorts of things. Later, we received a note from them, telling
us they truly thought Cooper was the perfect dog for their family—a Godsend! Cooper
is one happy guy!
|
One of our club members (Kathy Smith) who lives in Lafayette, Louisiana, was contacted about a little seven-month-old
puppy whose family could no longer care for her. The family turned over little
Gracie and, a week later, little Gracie was transported to Houston by Kathy's husband, Greg Smith. We are proud of the
fact that we have such good, caring club members. The family felt bad about giving
up their little pup, and they even wrote a note to the prospective owner that brought tears to our eyes. Gracie arrived in Houston the week before Hurricane Rita hit the Gulf Coast, so took shelter during the
hurricane at our Veterinarian’s office, where she was spayed. The day she
arrived at her foster home, another club member heard about her and had a friend who was interested in her. However, after a plane trip from Arizona, the friend felt Gracie was too energetic for her and declined
her. Within another day, little Gracie was adopted by a family just south of
Houston. Gracie will have another dog and a fourteen-year-old girl to cavort
with—I’m sure Gracie will tire them both out! Before deciding to
adopt Gracie, the family had sat down to dinner to discuss the adoption together (a good sign they will all share in the responsibility
of dog ownership). For a youthful dog, they traded the chore of potty training
from scratch. Gracie loves her new family, their big back yard, and having another
dog to play with (and from what we hear, the feeling is mutual)!
|
Last
April Scottie showed up on the doorstep of a family, who took him in, hoping to find his owners. He was dirty and sickly. The little male was not claimed,
so they made him a member of their family. The three kids adored him, but it
soon became apparent he would need a lot of medical care which the family could not afford.
He had skin problems, dental problems and was heartworm positive. We picked
him up, and after a lengthy stay at the vet for heartworm treatment, was placed with a couple with grown children, who had
recently lost their female Westie. They were hoping to get two Westies for companionship.
Just before Scottie came along, they had adopted a female from our sister club in Austin. Scottie now lives a pampered life with a big backyard to run around in—and a sister to play with. His new Mom has contacted us a couple of times since then to share her doggie stories. Being loved is so important!
|
Maya and Neko (adopted Nov 05)
When
a family is fighting medical problems with elderly parents, etc., and having to travel long distances to cope with these problems,
taking care of three Westies can be very stressful. Such was the case for Maya
and Neko, and their son Blu. The family decided to keep the son, but put Maya
and Neko up for adoption. At seven years of age, and in good health, these two
dogs had been partners almost since birth, themselves birthing a couple of litters, but with family illness, their masters
were trying to juggle the care of the dogs between their neighbor and their daughters. After
several months, for the well being of the dogs, their caretakers made the heartfelt decision to give them up to a more stable
home. Around the same time another family was thinking adoption after losing
their second Westie to old age. They had two Westies for a long time. When we called to ask if they would be interested in two dogs, they did not hesitate. Now Maya and Neko are running the household. Separating them
was not an option, and as their new family says, “It was meant to be!” They
love snuggling on their master’s bed and playing ball—and when they get to go to the doggie park, well, that’s
extra special!
|
Less
than a month after Blu’s parents, Maya and Neko, were adopted, our club got a second call from Blu’s family. The family thought they could handle one dog (Blu) during the stressful times they
were going through with family illnesses, but realized it would also be best for Blu to find another home. Blu was missing his doggy parents, so they requested he be placed with another dog. Blu had an ear infection that had to be treated, and while under anesthesia for neutering, our vet removed
a cyst at the base of his tail and gave Blu the dental work he needed. A wonderful family in the Fort Worth area was looking
for a male companion for their little female. They had a huge yard, and were known
to treat their other Westie like a child. Little Blu will never want for anything,
and will get all the attention he desires. His new Mom is a retired nurse, and
is nursing him back to health. We knew when we saw little Blu being driven off
in a doggie seat and seat belt with his new Dad in the backseat to take care of his needs, he would be well taken care of. Even though his new sister gets a little upset when he lays on her blanket, she enjoys
his company—and spending nights on the bed with his new masters and sister is comforting. Life is to be enjoyed!
|
Mulligan (adopted Jan 06)
A retired
couple had bought Mulligan years before for their granddaughter, who now no longer lived with them. Being retired, they wanted to do a little traveling, but found it hard to do with a dog. Hoping to find a loving home for him, they called us. Mulligan
had some skin problems requiring medicated baths, but for being almost seven years old, he acted much like a younger dog. Another couple in San Leon, Texas, had built
their dream beach home and bought a little female Westie, Lucy, to keep them company.
The wife worked, and the husband was semi-retired, working contract jobs from the house. They thought it would be nice for Lucy to have a little friend. Mulligan
proved to be the dog for the job. Upon being introduced, Mulligan and Lucy played
chase all over the yard. Little Lucy had met her match—so much so, that
they decided to rename Mulligan “Desi”. One of their favorite places
is the second floor decking all around the home, where they can sit any time of the year and watch the ocean and sunsets together.
|
Charlie, a four month old puppy, was a gift from a son living in Houston to an elderly mother in her early eighties living in Louisiana. Hoping the little puppy would add
a loving touch to his mother’s life, and knowing his mother had a live-in caretaker, he thought he was doing a good
deed. However, the mother had to rely on the caretaker to take care of the puppy’s
needs, and housebreaking proved too big an undertaking, so the son ended up with Charlie.
Because of the constraints of traveling for his job, he also could not properly train and care for the pup, so he called
our rescue group. Finding a home for such a young puppy was not hard, as so many
people would like a young dog. Although potty training is not for the light-hearted,
little Charlie found a home with a newly retired couple in Galveston
Beach, who had the time to train him.
As early retirees, they had the time and the energy to persevere through potty training issues. They rolled up their sleeves, and their area rugs, and accomplished the task. These days, Charlie enjoys walks on the beach, chasing sea birds, and entertaining his new family with
his young dog antics.
|
At the
end of April, we received a call from a couple in Oklahoma who had four adult Westies (two pairs) who needed
new homes. The couple was making changes in their lives, and medical problems
made them decide they could no longer deal with their crew of dogs. They loved
the dogs, and communicated many times with our rescue group before making the final decision to give them up. When we drove up to collect them, they also decided to give up a three-month old puppy born to one of the
two pairs of dogs. The puppy had no formal name yet, so he was called Pup-Pup. Being so young, he had to go to a home that could handle a few months of potty training. Although he had to be separated from his Mom and Pop, we found him a very loving home
out in Tomball with a couple who had an older female Westie. Pup-pup is going
to be trained in Earthdog (going-to-ground for rats) events, so he will have added purpose to his life, besides giving and
receiving unconditional love to his new family. He has blended into his new surroundings
very well, and is happy roaming his large yard, playing with his female companion Westie, and even the Labs that also live
with his new family. At his young age, he will require several months of potty
training, but the trade off of youth was worth it to his new family.
|
Duncan was one of five Westies given up by a family in Oklahoma. At three years of age, he had a good sense of himself.
He was a sweet dog with good hunting instincts. Duncan loved to chase squirrels and cats. He
was agile, and could scale a chain link fence, so we could only place him in a home with a high wood fence. He had produced three litters with his mate, who was also given to us at the same time. Because he was used to living with his “pack”, his former owner had hoped to have him placed
with his mate, as a couple. For two weeks we tried to find homes that could take
on two dogs at once. Upon running
out of options, we had a talk with the former owner, and convinced him Duncan
would be alright as an “only” dog in a family. Also, we found
he and his brother were sometimes at odds with each other, so perhaps he would benefit as a single dog in a family. He wouldn’t have to vie for attention. Luckily, he found
a wonderful home with a couple without children, willing to give him all their attention.
They were looking at buying a new home, and taking into consideration the needs of a dog in that new home. Duncan would be their child. The husband had owned a Scottish Terrier before, so was used to dealing with that strong Terrier mentality. Duncan
has settled in with his new family, and they love him with all their hearts. He
likes being Number One!
|
Sugar
was one of five rescues (including her mate and one of her puppies) picked up from the same home in Oklahoma
at the end of April 2006. At four years of age, she was a sweet dog with a good
disposition. She had occasional “happy pees” when given attention,
especially by a stranger. Sugar picked her new family when a couple came to visit
her with their male Westie. Sugar made fast friends with the couple's Westie,
so they had no choice, but to adopt her! Her new family hoped Sugar would sleep
with them, and she was glad to oblige. She curls up between them on the bed,
while her new companion prefers to sleep in his crate and not be disturbed. She
vied for their attention at first, until she realized there was enough love to go around. Her new Mom is a psychiatrist and,
after the adoption, she wrote us the nicest note saying she worried her love would have to be divided by a fourth family member
(Sugar), but instead, her depth of love increased!!! Love never divides, it can
only grow! That’s a wi | | | |
