The Perry Fund Established for our Senior Westies

The “Perry Fund” has been established in honor of this special and deserving Westie.  See his complete story below.  Donations to this fund will assist in our mission to provide the best medical care for our seniors, and ensure their comfort while in our care. 

"Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog."
- Sydney Jeanne Seward

Our adorable senior Westie Perry crossed the Rainbow Bridge on December 1, 2009 

If you would like to donate in Perry's memory, click here to donate by Paypal: 

DONATE TO THE PERRY FUND

Senior Westies

Senior pets through no fault of their own find themselves homeless and the reasons behind it are of little consequence.  They are brought to shelters because they can’t run like they used to.  Or they need help climbing stairs, or they become incontinent, or they may need vet care more often than the younger dog.   The tragic truth is that every day, they are discarded because they are older and they are not considered adoptable.  These perfectly healthy dogs with wonderful personalities are euthanized every day.  

Perry was dropped off at a local shelter after spending 14 years with an owner that could easily discard him because an aging dog was too much trouble.  Penny, another senior girl, was surrendered to the shelter by her owner because she would get "out" when the owner's grandchildren would come to visit.  A situation that could have been easily remedied, but instead the owner chose a different route.  Perhaps the easy way out, but nevertheless, abandoning seniors because they are old and evidently too much trouble is a sad reality that we see all the time.  

Not all are abandoned this way.  Some lose their homes because their guardians can no longer take care of them or they have died.  Try to imagine the fear and confusion coming from a loving home, or the only home they’ve known to be abandoned in the cold confines of a dog pound or adrift city streets.

So Much Love to Give 

When our beloved seniors are abandoned, we don’t think of them as old, crippled, or too much trouble.  They may be hard of hearing, have cloudy eyes, a little slower than the rest, but they’ve earned it!  Some seniors’ behavior completely changes once they have found their forever home because they are no longer vulnerable.  They now feel safe and loved.  Other seniors don’t act like seniors at all!   Senior dogs whose lives have been disrupted in their later years have so much love to give and are grateful for the second chance they have been given.   They want nothing more than companionship.   

We believe that every dog has a “life well worth living” and deserves to sleep in a warm soft bed, and know love and compassion which is the right of every animal and in return, we get a lifelong lesson from each one of them.  The joy that they bring us is immeasurable.

Ease of Guardianship

In most cases, senior dogs are already housebroken and are usually quite well-mannered.  They are beyond the chewing and destructive stage.  They have learned what “no” means and settle in easily because they have learned what it takes to get along with others.  They focus well because they have “mellowed” therefore they learn quickly.  They are good at giving love when they get into their new home and have settled in.    What you see is what you get as they have grown into their personality.  They are “instant” companions and are eager to please.  They allow more time just for you because they don’t make the kinds of demands on your time and attention that puppies and young dogs do.  They do not have the same exercise requirements as puppies or younger dogs.  They want nothing more than a lap to sit in, a person to go on walks with, and a belly rub.  Their daily/weekly walks can be beneficial for both dog and owner.   The joys of owning a senior dog greatly outweigh the effort involved, as will the extra years of companionship.

Seniors for Seniors

Successfully matching seniors with seniors is a wonderful concept.  The lifestyle requirement of an older dog is an easy transition for both dog and person alike.  It’s a win-win situation resulting in quality companionship for both.   Research shows that pets enrich our overall quality of life, physically and emotionally.  It is also believed that the close bond between a human and animal companion offers significant social, physiological and psychological benefits.  All in all, the benefits of pet ownership are infinite and indefinite.  In addition, you’ll make a loyal friend and faithful companion.  It may be the easiest, most gratifying and most successful declaration you’ve even made – or will ever make.

Introducing Perry, Our Senior Ambassador

Perry crossed the Rainbow Bridge on December 1, 2009.  He spent 9 wonderful months with us and we will miss him terribly.   His beautiful spirit will live on as our representative for all senior Westies in need. 

Introducing our Perry....14 year old who recently adopted Westie Rescue of Orange County & Beyond & he loves California living!!!

Perry, our little 14 year old senior is no trouble at all.  He eats well, gets around well for a gentleman of his age, and does what seniors do best…sleep.  We think he’s earned that right!  But the sad reality is what led him to rescue to begin with.  An owner, fed up with his incontinence, dumped him at the shelter.  Another Westie rescue organization called the shelter to inquire about Perry, learned his advanced age and would not take him.  She claimed knowledge of the dog, and gave a diagnosis of diabetes over the phone to shelter staff without a vet examining him. This almost led to his untimely death.

Begging the shelter to release him to us almost proved to be impossible.  We were up against many road blocks and we were racing the clock!  Securing Perry was the hard part.  Thank you, Angel Michelle, for moving mountains to bring Perry home to WROC.  We are forever grateful!!!

Caring for Perry is the easy part.  Perry did receive a vet examine by our vet and he passed with flying colors.  Nothing was wrong with this senior citizen.   And if there were, would it matter?  No, as long as Perry wasn’t suffering, WROC had a place for him.  His blood work came back normal and by diligently sticking to his potty schedule resolved any accidents.  We cannot fathom the thought of taking a beloved pet that spent the last 14 years with someone only to drop him off as though he meant nothing at all.   He came to us riddled with fleas and ticks which proved to us that his care the past 14 years was minimal at best.   But Perry does not have a sad ending.  Another deserving senior will live the remainder of his life in a loving WROC home.  Although we have had requests to adopt Perry, we felt it is in Perry’s best interest to stay with WROC indefinitely.  His Westie brothers and sisters are respectful and careful around Perry, and after all,  he is happy and he is a perfect gentleman.

The “Perry Fund” has been established in honor of this special and deserving Westie.  Donations to this fund will assist in our mission to provide the best medical care for our seniors, and ensure their comfort while in our care. 

If you would like to donate in memory of Perry, click here to donate by Paypal: 

DONATE TO THE PERRY FUND

He is your life, your love, your defender, your dog. 

He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.

You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."

~ Unknown

HEATHER'S STORY 

Our Heather crossed the bridge on November 22, 2009.  She had two wonderful weeks in our care and greatly enriched our lives. 

LET’S TALK

I am a terrific Westie, there really is no denying it. I am sweet, loving and came from a family that had me for 17 years.  In return, I gave them my entire life.  I gave them unconditional love, I made them laugh, I did what they asked, and I didn’t complain when I was ignored. 

And then suddenly it all changed:

My family abandoned me.   The reason they gave the shelter staff is that I am old.  With no regard to the life I gave them, they dropped me off at a high kill shelter to be exposed to devastating health risks especially for a gal my age and to waste away in the system.

I spent my days in that cold shelter dreaming of Angels and how wonderful life seemed when I was young.  Sure, I walk a little slow; I am deaf and almost blind, but I earned these trivial ailments.  I am no less deserving than a younger dog and I am perfectly capable of loving again.  In fact, there is nothing more I want than to have someone who love me and never abandon me again. 

And then it happened!  Not just one Angel, but five Angels appeared!  I am forever grateful to Tami, Greg, Carole and Dr. Brad for making my journey a pleasant one.  A special thanks to volunteer Karen with Havanese Rescue who kept a watchful eye while WROC made their way to me.

Some people think of a dog as a pair of old shoes.  When there is a hole in the shoe, you get rid of it.   But when my Angels showed up; they didn’t see an old pair of shoes at all. 

Thousands of senior dogs are living in shelters and are on borrowed time.  Some success has been achieved by organizations that focus on senior dogs and promote various programs strictly for the well being of senior dogs.  The need for these programs is great.  It takes hard work, funding and volunteers.  It is challenging work, but it can be done!  We have successfully placed many seniors in forever homes because we have set out to do so.  You can help by getting involved with your local humane society, animal control agencies, and local rescue organizations by volunteering your time, your love, and your home.  The more foster homes available, the more that can be saved.

A wise old Westie once said:

“The first step toward getting somewhere is to decide
that you are not going to stay where you are.”
~Perry, 2009