Westies in Need - WiN
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More Success StoriesWesties in Need (WiN) works very
hard to match our wonderful dogs with equally wonderful new families.
Here are some of our older success stories!
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Kenzie is a
2 year old female who was taken from a puppy mill in St. Mary's, Ontario (along
with Holly and Doris, below). She is a lovely girl who has stolen the heart of
her foster Mum, Renee!
Here is an e-mail we received from the foster Mum
today about her girl, Kenzie!
"Today we took our first walk including
a trip to the pet store where we picked up a cute pink harness and leash, her
first toy and of course some treats. She walks very slowly and tentatively -
but as we went was more and more curious. Traffic startles her so I do have to
pick her up to cross the street, but she is willing to be picked up easily. We
even took our first streetcar ride!!!!,
 She is doing fabulous with
house-training - it takes her a while but she is going to the bathroom outside
and hasn't had an accident in the house since her first day here.
Kenzie loves her new toy and even plays fetch with it - which
surprised the heck out of me! She is so playful and funny. She is recognizing
her name and is just starting to come to her name.
She is a
total snuggle monster - and will give you kisses (whether you want them or
not). She is going up and down the stairs slowly but surely - and now that she
has figured out that she can get up and down on her own...she makes herself at
home on the couch or the nearest bed.
Overall, I just wanted to
report that she is continuing to blossom and enjoying all the new found perks
of being in a loving home. I can`t thank you enough for letting me foster her"
An update: Kenzie has now been adopted by
her foster Mum, Renee. She just could not part with this girl, so she has now
joined her family. |
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Holly is a 2
1/2 year old female who was also taken from a puppy mill in St. Mary's, Ontario
(along with Kenzie, above and Doris, below). She is a Westie mix (we think she
is mixed with Cairn), as she has a perfect Westie coat, Westie nose, Westie
temperament and Westie sweetness, she is just a tiny bit fawn coloured!!!!
 She is still a bit cautious of all the new sounds and smells in a
house, but her foster Mum says she is very loving.
Thanks to Sandi
for fostering this little one for us. She now has her appointment for her spay
next week and then after a day or so of recovery she will be ready to meet her
new family.
An update: Holly has now been
spayed and had her teeth cleaned as well..they were bad and needed some serious
work done to them. She is now with Linda's family and will move to an adoption
shortly.
Another update: Holly is
adopted! YEA!!! Robin is Holly's new Mom and she is loving her. |
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Doris is a 2
year old female who was taken from a puppy mill in St Mary's, Ontario (along
with Kenzie and Holly, above). She is a tiny girl who needs lots of love and
some time to learn to be a Westie. Her Mom has written this little bio for our
Doris:
" She loves to be held - she thinks she's a 5lb lap dog. Kisses,
kisses and more kisses is what she gives. To say she's a bit like velcro would
be accurate. Will sit at your side where ever you go and snuggles like the best
of them. Learning to walk on a leash quite quickly and to play with soft
squeaky toys"
Doris needs to be spayed and her very VERY bad
teeth cleaned, but will be ready for adoption shortly!
An update: Doris has been spayed and had her teeth cleaned
as well..they were pretty bad from tartar, but now they are all clean and
shiny!
Doris has been officially adopted
by her foster family who just could not live without her! Thanks
Seema! |
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Edward is a
1 year old little boy who has had a pretty hard start to life. He was purchased
by a back yard breeder and then kept in a cage in a barn. He arrived into the
WiN rescue terribly matted, unbelievably dirty and very scared!
This is a picture of our Edward the day he arrived, after he
had his very first bath and groom of his life!
This boy is beyond kind,
so very loving and a very, very good kisser!!!!
He needs to be neutered
right away and we need to work a bit on his house training, but he will be
ready for adoption shortly. Our thanks goes out to Melanie, his foster Mum, for
helping Edward!
An update: Edward (or
Eddie-Spagetti as he is now called by his foster family) has been fixed.....or
as his foster Mom wrote "Eddie is now Spagetti with no meat
balls"!!!!
More good news: he has
also been now officially adopted by Christine and Mark. He is going to love his
new life.
Another update: Just got an
e-mail from Edwards new family...they write:
Edward is doing wonderful! He has adjusted so well. He has
turned out to be such a little ham. He loves to be patted and always wants to
snuggle. He actually roles on his back now for frequent belly rubs and
absolutely loves the snow.
In addition
to playing in the backyard, we go for walks twice a day, well actually runs! He
has so much energy and loves to run and roll around in the snow. He's also
quite the jumper! Its amazing to watch his progress. We are so happy that
Edward has joined our family!
I
actually brought him to work with me for a few hours one day. I was a little
cautious of how he would respond to people in wheelchairs and walkers (I am a
social worker in a long-term care home). He just warmed up so much to the older
adults and just loved going up to them for hugs and kisses. We are a very pet
friendly environment, so it works well. We took some time so he could have a
nice nap in my office, and then we went to do some more
visits.
Once Edward is further settled,
I will look into the St. John Ambulance course where he can become a therapy
dog and we can do visits to my long-term home for a few hours a week. Edward
just has so much love to give, and he loves to come out with us.
Edward enjoyed the holidays and his
toy basket is filled with many toys! |
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Cosmo is a 6
year year old Westie who has been surrendered by his family. This boy has a
small cataract in his left eye...but he has great sight in the other eye and
can see a squirrel in the back yard with no problem! You have to be a bit
cautious when you approach him as if it is on his "bad" side, he can frighten
easily.
He looks a bit unsure in this picture...but who wouldn't be
after all he has gone through!
Cosmo needs some major dental work
and to be neutered. His foster Mum's groomer gave him a free day at the spa, so
he is now looking snazzy.
An update: Cosmo has had
his teeth cleaned and has now been neutered as well.
Wendy
is Cosmo's new and forever Mom and they are a perfect pair!. |
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Hunter is a
3 month old puppy, purchased by a lady in Toronto who lives in a condo and then
found that condo living and a puppy were not a good match for her, so after
only 4 days had to surrender him to Westies in Need.
He is sweet and loving and full of beans....just
the way a Westie puppy should be!
Hunter is at his foster home right
now, but will be ready for adoption shortly!
An
update: Riley (that is his new name!) has been adopted! Our thanks to his
foster Mum, Sheryl, for taking care of Riley for us...he has now been adopted
by Valerie and Bruno and will be the little brother to their 11 year old
Westie. |
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Mandy is a
10 year old lady who is going to be looking for a forever home where she can
live out her days in love and comfort. Through no fault of her own she has been
homeless twice- once when her first family moved and now again when her 92 year
old Mom passed away and Mandy was left all alone in the house till someone went
in and got her!
This little girl needs a quiet home, with not too many
stairs (she can do 4 or 5 with no problem-just not a whole bunch!) She is very
sweet and loving and wants to sit close and be touched. She has been so lonely
since her Mom died-she was left in the house for almost 5
weeks.
An update: Mandy has a new
home...our girl is going to live with Mark and Susan in Ottawa and we just
could not be happier. |
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Brody was an
American Westie for the first 3 years of life, but his family could no longer
care for him. They contacted a rescue group in Ohio who called us right away
asking for our help.
We were off in a flash (thanks Jeannine for driving to
Ohio for us!!!!) to pick him up and transport him safely to the waiting arms of
his foster family.
Brody needs to be neutered and his teeth will need a
good cleaning and then he will be able to begin his new life as a Canadian
Westie eh!!!!
An update: Brody has been
adopted! His wonderful foster parents can not live without him so he will stay
with Lisa and her family forever!!! Brody is one lucky boy!!! |
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Sherry-Baby
is a cuddly Westie/poodle mix who was rescued from a mill along with her 2
Westie sisters (below).
Sherry-baby (her new Mum is a HUGE
Frankie Valli fan!!!) is doing great and is learning how to be a Westie at
last. She has been spayed and had her dental work and is recovering from a
raging ear infection.
An update: Sherry has
been adopted by Ann and is enjoying her new life. |
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Bella is a
wonderful Westie who is one of the lucky ones to get out of a puppy mill. She
previously lived all of her short 3 1/2 years of life in a cage but is now
enjoying her life to the fullest.
This lovely girl came
to us along with Faith (below) and Sherry-baby (above).
I took this
picture of our Bella as we were waiting in the car just outside the Vet's
office before she was spayed and had her dental work done.
Look at that
face...she is a gorgeous girl!
Our love and
thanks to Brad and Denise for adopting our Bella! |
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Faith is the
perfect name for our 3rd little puppy mill survivor! Her foster Mum describes
her as the "biggest love sponge" she has ever known.
This small, 3 year old girl arrived along with her Westie
sisters (above) with black tar embedded in her fur and a raging ear infection
and badly inflamed gums. Our sweet Faith has now been vetted, spayed and had
her teeth all cleaned and will be soon ready to move on to her forever home.
Here she is having a much needed sleep at her foster Mum's loving
home.
An update: Faith has found a new
home...she will be the loving and forever Westie to Tracey!!! |
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Willow is a
tiny girl. This 1 1/2 year old pretty, pretty Westie was surrendered by her
family as she had some health issues that the family found difficult to manage.
Our love and thanks go out to Willow's Mum, Valerie, who made the difficult
decision to surrender her.
Willow has EPI (exocrine pancreatic
insufficiency) which is very rare in Westies and took quite a long time for her
Vet to diagnose. Unfortunately the longer it took, the sicker poor Willow got
and she almost died. The family felt it was best to surrender her.
She has
been with Westies in Need for a while now and is absolutely on the mend!!!! She
is gaining her lost weight back and is running and playing like a Westie
should! What a difference...a happy and healthy girl!
An update: Willow has been adopted...thanks to Angela for
bringing this perfect girl into her lovely home. Willow has now been spayed and
is continuing to gain her lost weight back...she already over 15 lbs. and we
could not be happier. Although she will have to stay on her EPI medication for
the rest of her life, the rest of her life is gonna be
wonderful!!!! |
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Gabby is the
sweetest little girl. This 3 year old was purchased from a backyard breeder and
when the owner could no longer care for her, she called Westies in Need and
asked us to help!
She needed to be spayed and then she was ready for her fun
life to begin.
An update: Gabby is now
adopted and living a wonderful life with John and Wendy. |
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Piper
(formally Louie) is the proud Dad of the puppies that you see below. Piper
lived his entire 4 years of life in a puppy mill, till the wonderful folks at
the Montreal SPCA raided the mill and rescued all the dogs!
He needed to be fixed, so that was our first order of business
and now he has been adopted!
An update:
Thanks Donna for opening up your heart and your home to little Piper...he is
such a sweetie! |
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PUPPIES!!!!
Our thanks to the Montreal SPCA for calling us to let us know that a puppy mill
bust included 7 Westie puppies.
They asked us if we could help and we raced to
Montreal!
These little ones were born at the SPCA after their Mum arrived.
An update: All the 7 puppies (and their Mum!)
have now been successfully adopted out to wonderful homes in the Toronto and
the Ottawa areas. |
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Sophie
travelled up from Ohio to meet her new family. She arrived the very day of our
Toronto Westie Walk and was in time to be the Grand Marshall in our Parade of
Rescues. She was also in time to have her picture taken.....look at that
face!!!
This little one was taken from a bad, bad puppy mill...we just
can not thank our friends in Ohio for calling us to let us know she needed us.
She was fostered in our wonderful volunteer's home in Ohio till we
could arrange transport. Thanks Molly!
She has now been spayed
and a very bad ear infection is clearing up nicely as well.
An update: Our thanks and love go out to Ray, Lorraine and
Andrea for adopting this little girl. |
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Maggie came
to us with Lili and Angus (below) from a back yard breeder who purchased all 3
of them from a puppy mill.
Maggie is very, very friendly, quite
calm and sweet. She likes to cuddle and to be around people.
Maggie has
a growth on her teit but tests have told us that it is a benign fatty deposit
and it will be removed during her spay.
She is such a loving and kind
girl.
An update: We are very happy to say that
Maggie and her sister Lili (below) have been adopted out together! Thanks to
Rock and Ginette for helping these 2 girls. |
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Lili came to
us with little Maggie and Angus from a pretty bad situation. She was a breeding
Westie, kept in her cage day and night for all of her life.
Lili has a
problem with her eye and does not like anyone coming too close to it, so during
her spay the vet will further investigate. It appears that she may have been
kicked or have had an eye infection that has left scar tissue - it's unknown as
yet if she has any vision in that eye.
Both girls are learning to do
stairs off the deck and into their lovely fenced yard - NO more pen life for
these lucky girls!
Maggie & Lili have explored the new world of
camping and they just LOVED it!!
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Angus came
from the same back yard breeder who purchased him and the 2 little ones you see
above from a puppy mill. He is only 3 years old and he is taking medication
twice daily for epilepsy and will have to remain of his medication for the rest
of his life.
Right now he is a chubby, chubby Westie who needs to shed
some pounds!!!
He is currently on a controlled diet and needs more
exercise to shed some weight.
He seems to be quite well socialized for a
puppy mill boy...he is calm, very friendly, walks by your side or behind you
very quietly, comes when you call him and likes to cuddle.
An update: Angus has been adopted...thanks to Sandy for
loving our boy Angus! Although he may have 'special needs', he's now very much
enjoying his new life and his 13 yr. old Westie brothers Dougall &
Tavish.
They must look so cute walking down the street all together....3
handsome Westies sure make a lovely family picture! |
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Scottie was
a sad, sad sight indeed! He is only 3 years old and has been suffering with
bad, bad skin problems- a form of candida- which has lead to malassezia.
Unfortunately, not uncommon in Westies.
His owner could not deal with
caring for him and she called us and asked us to take him in...we were there
right away.
Scottie needs a holistic vet ASAP, as well as he needs a
major diet change. He needs to be treated from the inside out for the candida
(yeast), as well as medicated baths. At this time he is also not neutered, but
he is not well enough for that right now...so we will have to wait to get him
fixed.
 This is NOT infectious to other pets or to humans. His
poor skin has become so irritated that it turned almost black from the yeast.
The good news is that is 100% treatable and he will be fine
and will be looking like a beautiful Westie in a few
months.
An Update!!!!..Scottie ( he
is now called Chester!!!) has been adopted by a wonderful family! He is now
well enough to be fixed...so off he goes this week! They have promised to keep
us updated with pictures on the progress of his skin as well.
Thanks to
JoAnn and Todd...and thanks to Chester's new sister, WileE (an 11 year old
Irish Wolfhound/black lab mix) for letting Mom and Dad love our Chester so
much.
Another Update!!!!..as
promised here is a new picture of Chester's progress for his skin...look at his
chest...it is so much better already, after only a few
months!
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Tara is a 10
month old Westie-mix that is blind! She was found wandering, all alone and
scared and was picked up and brought to the Humane Society.
The
volunteers there believe that she may have been born in a puppy mill, and when
the mill people realized that she had no sight, they dumped her.
 What
to do next...what does a humane society do with a blind Westie??? They call
Westies in Need...so they did and she is ours.
Now here is the
thing...Tara does not know she is blind!!!
Her wonderful new Mum,
Elaine will be taking her to a canine opthomologist to get a proper diagnosis
about her sight and we are hoping that possibly some vision can be
restored.
If nothing can be done...that is OK too..she is a real
fighter...and with those ears, who needs a good set of eyes!!!!
An
Update!!! Tara went to her opthomologist yesterday and here is the update from
her Mom...
The
electroretinogram and ocular ultrasound were normal. There was no reason for
her blindness seen. She had blood tests which are being sent to the US and she
was given a antibiotic and steroid. They are now looking for limes desease and
SARDS (Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration) and once the blood tests come back
they will know which area to address.
Another update
(October 7th) we just heard from Tara's Mum....
We have gotten the final results from all the testing and
blood work that was done on Tara, and she is permanently blind, there is
nothing they can do for her. There was no evidence of disease at all, so they
believe she has been blind from birth. We have decided not to tell Tara, as she
sure doesn't know she is blind anyway...she plays with Molly her sister Westie
and Marvin the cat like there is no tomorrow! Tara can now even play
fetch!!!!!
A Poem from Tara to her new Parents!
I cannot see you Mommy, when you cuddle me so near.
And yet I know
you love me, it's in the words I hear.
I cannot see you Daddy, when you
hold me by your side
But still I know you love me when you tell me so with
pride.
I cannot see to run and play out in the sun so bright
For here
inside my tiny head it's always dark as night.
I cannot see the treats you
give when I am extra good
But I can wag my tail in Thanks just like a good
dog should.
"She cannot see. The dogs no good" is what some folks might say
"She can't be trained; she'll never learn, she must be put away."
But
not you, Mom and Daddy, you know that it's alright
Because I love you just
as much as any dog with sight.
You took me in, you gave me love and we will
never part
Because I'm blind with just my eyes, I see you in my heart.
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Wendel
(don't you love that name!!!) was surrendered by his family. He is only 4 years
old and was the loving companion of a dear lady who passed away and her family
did not want the responsibility of a dog.
His family originally called
the humane society to ask how to move
 forward with giving him up and the humane society said ..."call
Westies in Need!"
He had some very itchy skin when he came to us
and he needed to be neutered, but after everything was taken care of, he was
adopted out to a wonderful family.
An
update: Thanks Mary and Margaret for adopting and loving our sweet
Wendel. |
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Buster the
little Westie-poo mix was surrendered to us by his family who adopted him from
a shelter only a few months ago, but unfortunately could not bond with him.
 He is only 4 years old.
An update: Buster has now been adopted out to his forever
Mom, Anna...and he just could not be happier!!! |
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Duncan this
wonderful boy came to us from an elderly lady who could not care for him any
longer. His family agonized over the decision to surrender him, but knew it was
the best thing for Duncan.
Duncan is (and they tell me there is no such
thing!) the perfect Westie! Lots of Westie-tude, a real lover, sweet as can be
and can only be described as "high on life"
He rides in the car like a
dream, does not bark too much and LOVES cats!!!!!!
His new adoptive
Mom, Jennifer is one lucky girl...she and Duncan are gonna make a great
pair.
Duncan's previous Mom would like to keep in contact with us to
make sure Duncan is always happy....and that is our privilege to do! |
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Tag came
from a high kill shelter in Ohio to the Toronto Humane society and they called
us right away. A WiN transport volunteer went to pick him up and foster him
until a forever home could be found. He had no name, but only an old dog tag on
him…so we just called him Tag !!!
Susan and her family just loved
fostering him. She is involved with the Ontario Therapy Dog program and she has
suggested that he be assessed as a potential Therapy dog...she thinks he will
pass with flying colours! Very high praise indeed for a little dog that was
considered "throw away"!!!
Tag has a wonderful disposition. He is a Westie-lap-dog...he
just wants to be loved.
He has gone to live with Lee and Tom and is
loving his new life!
Look at that face...
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Maddie is a
3 year old Westie who was found wandering the streets of Inuit country,
hundreds and hundreds of miles north. She was thankfully picked up and taken to
the Humane Society who contacted Westies in Need and we were there in a flash!
Our wonderful and tireless WiN volunteer, Suzanne, picked her up and
fostered her for a few days till we could arrange transport to the Toronto
area.
In a blinding rainstorm (and I do mean blinding!!!) Maddie
was driven to her waiting new forever home.
This little girl walked
into Pam and Barry's home and knew that this was now her new home and
immediately made her self more than comfortable!!!
She is the cutest
and most friendly Westie...who is a ball of energy!
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Miley is a 4
month old that was purchased in a pet shop by a family in hopes of her being a
companion to an Autistic child. Unfortunately a terrier was not a good choice
and she was surrendered.
 Miley is a bundle of energy!
She is head shy, submissive, sound sensitive and has some separation anxiety
but that didn't deter her new families' decision to adopt her. Miley is bonding
with her new humans and their other Westie, Ruby, to be one happy family of
'Little White Dogs'.
There's only one thing better than having one
Westie ...... and that's having TWO!
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Sydney came
to us from a family who had him since he was a wee puppy, but he did not like
living in a home with very young children. The family were very upset to
surrender him, but they knew it was the best thing for him.
Sydney has now been adopted, by a wonderful couple who
live in downtown Toronto.
He is really enjoying his dog walker who
comes in and takes him to the park while his family are at work.
Thanks
to Steve and Patricia for opening up their home to our boy Sydney. |
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Morag came
to us through a lady who took her from a puppy mill where she used for
breeding. She was also going to use Morag for breeding, but some medical
conditions prevented her from getting pregnant…so she surrendered her to
Westies in Need.
This little Westie came to us from outside of Quebec City
and we just can't thank all the WiN volunteers enough for all the help with
 transport etc. They truly are angels in our book!!!
Morag
was a 1 year old unspayed female and was very, very thin, quite timid and had
no confidence at all. Her foster parents have opened up their hearts to this
little one.
She walks well on leash, which is surprising for a little one
who had never been allowed out of a cage.
-an
update. Morag has now been spayed and is officially adopted! YEA!!! She is such
a sweetie and her family are loving her up! |
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Old Blue
Eyes...
 OK...this one is not really a WiN
Westie..
but when we found this old picture of Frank Sinatra
with a sweet little Westie, we just knew we had to put it on our website,
somewhere!!!
Can you blame us??? |
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