Questions about adoption process – call Jackie at 586-481-5477
Costs
- A one-time donation of $25 is requested. This is a voluntary donation and not subject to refund. It is not a fee and offers no special consideration. It simply helps our rescue operation.
- There is no “adoption fee” for dogs adopted through Westie Rescue Michigan.
- We conduct many fundraising activities throughout the year and are grateful for whatever you can contribute to help the dogs we rescue.
The Dogs
- Most of the dogs we receive into foster care are male and most are over 6. We seldom receive very young dogs/puppies into foster care.
- We ask for your consideration of an older dog (8 and up) or one that may have more than minor medical issues. Those who are willing to help us save Westies that might not otherwise be adopted are very special people in our book.
- Westie Rescue Michigan is an all-volunteer organization. The dogs are cared for in our homes for at least a month to deal with behavior issues and to get them healthy, identify any health issues we cannot fix, and update vaccinations, etc. We work with an animal behaviorist for support on resolving behavior issues.
- All dogs are spayed or neutered before they leave foster care.
- Westies are terriers – they bark at birds and squirrels, can be diggers and often love to hunt. If you can’t handle the gift of their prey, reconsider your choice of breed!
- By their nature, dogs that come to rescues can have some behavior issues. We work hard to get them healthy and deal with behavior issues. However, there almost surely will be some work that you would be required to do with the dog.
The Adoption Process –
- Once your application is received and processed, your application is stored in a secure location for foster homes to review when they are trying to find a permanent home for the dog.
- Your vet may not release information to our volunteer without your permission. Please alert them that we WILL be calling. If we need to contact you so that you can provide permission to your vet, it delays processing your application.
- We do not place Westies in homes with children under 10 or in families that anticipate having children during the lifetime of the dog. We may also restrict adoptions if young children are frequent visitors to the home. One of the most frequent reasons dogs are surrendered to Westie Rescue is difficulty with young children.
- We are all about finding the right home for the dog. Applications are not considered in order of receipt. If your selection criteria are very limited, it could be a long wait. Should you wish to change your selection parameters, please contact us by email or phone.
- Should your application be selected as a potential fit for one of our foster dogs, you will receive either a phone call or an email to assess your interest in the specific dog. If that exchange works out, you will be asked to a “meet and greet”. We would also like the other family dogs to be present. During this meeting, you will be assessing the suitability of the particular dog and we will be assessing the likelihood of a successful match. We may be considering other homes at the same time.
- The final step, before signing the adoption contract, is to schedule and complete a home visit in which all living in the home must be present. Our volunteer may find some things that need attention prior to adoption (access to gaps in fences or other similar hazards). We will arrange another home visit once the items are repaired.
For additional information contact Jackie at 586-481-5477
We ask that you provide answers to the following questions so that we can determine the most suitable rescued Westie for your situation. All questions MUST be answered and signatures are required in order for your application to be considered and valid. A donation of $25 is requested. This is a voluntary donation and not subject to refund. It is not a fee and offers no special consideration. It simply helps our rescue operation. By submitting this application, you are expressing your interest in providing a home for a rescued West Highland White Terrier and will accept full responsibility for providing housing, food and physical and mental care for the animal.
If you are not ready for a dog NOW, please hold your application until you are ready. If you apply and later find you cannot take a dog at that time, please ask us to pull your application and reapply when you are ready for a dog. We want only ACTIVE applications on our call list. Thank you.
We ask for your consideration of an older dog (8 and up) or one that may have more than minor medical issues. Those who are willing to help us save Westies that might not otherwise be adopted are very special people in our book.