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ADOPTION CENTER
Dear Westie Admirer:
Thank you for your interest in adopting a homeless West Highland White Terrier (Westie). We do our best to match deserving people with wonderful dogs who may have landed in the wrong place the first time around. Before you complete the adoption application, please take time to consider the following questions:
- Do you want a rescue because you believe an adult dog is a housebroken dog?
Some rescue Westies are housebroken, but many are not. You should be aware that even housebroken rescue dogs going into a new home environment will have accidents, and it could take a while before they become acclimated to their new environment.
- Do you believe that a rescue dog is a "free dog"?
Westie Rescue is often required to invest a good deal of money to rehabilitate our orphans. We require a minimum adoption donation and require our adoptive homes to provide quality care. Adoption costs range from $150 to $400 depending on the age and medical condition of the Westie. The average adoption donation is $300. There is no such thing as a Free Dog.
- Do you want a rescue because the breeders with whom you have spoken are too picky?
We are worse. In many cases, the animals who come to us have already been neglected or ill-treated, and we cannot afford to be careless. In some cases, a mistake on our part means a death sentence for the dog.
If you are drawn to Westies because, "They are so cute!"
please be advised that their looks can be deceptive. The West Highland White Terrier was bred to hunt and kill vermin in the Scottish Highlands. They are tough, hardy, independent, and tenacious. This makes them a wonderful companion for those who appreciate and are charmed by the terrier temperament, but a disaster for the person who wants a gentle-natured little dog bred
primarily for cuddling.
If you still believe that a Westie is the right dog for you, please complete and return the adoption application, and we will begin the adoption process.
Please be patient - it can take a few weeks to several months to put the right person with the right dog. We try as much as possible to place our Westies with the people who have been waiting the longest, but the fact is that sometimes the last person to apply is the best home for the dog we have available.
We also ask you to remember that we are a volunteer group, not a kennel or a shelter. There is no central location where you can “see the available dogs.” All of our dogs are in private foster homes around the Greater Washington metropolitan area. Additionally, please understand that we cannot hold dogs for people. If we call you, we need a timely response.
If you acquire a dog from another source, please let us know, so that we can put your application in our inactive file. It will save your time and ours.
Thank you again for your interest in helping homeless Westies. If you have read the above and are ready to move on the next step in the application process, please complete the adoption application and return it via regular mail. We do not accept applications via email or email attachments. Please take time to read the Adoption Terms of Agreement. If you cannot accept the Terms, please do not complete an adoption application.
 In order to download the Adoption Application, you will need
Adobe® Reader® — free software for viewing and printing Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files.
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If you are interested in becoming a
Westie Rescue Foster Home, follow this link to
Foster Home information.
To find Westie Rescue representatives in other parts of the country, please contact the
National Westie Rescue Representative nearest you.
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