Adoption Information & Application

Thank you for your interest in a rescued Westie! Westies make fabulous pets.
Due to the over abundance of emails we are trying to answer, please be patient when waiting for a response from WRM.

WRM usually places three or four Westies a month, so we are always on the lookout for good homes.

Because Missouri is such a large breeding state, most of our dogs are breeder-releases. However, we do occasionally get an owner release. Most of the dogs that we get are between three and five years old. We rarely get puppies.

As you probably know, Westies were developed as hunting dogs. And, most Westies still maintain this breed characteristic. We do not recommend Westies for homes with small children, because of the Westies natural instinct to chase and bite anything that runs. Also, because Westies have an instinct to hunt, a good containment plan is a must. A fenced yard is always a good idea. And, because Westies are "earth" dogs, they can tunnel out of fences unless extra care is taken to insure that this doesn't happen.

Westies are also an intelligent and hard-headed breed, and -- if given a preference -- would prefer to do as they pleased, rather than as their owners pleased. It can be an annoying trait, but it is also one of the things that make Westies such a wonderful breed.

Westies tend to mature late. It usually takes a Westie two to three years to get beyond the puppy stage and to develop into a lap dog. Even then, there are some Westies that prefer to be in constant motion.

We normally place from adoption applications. We seldom advertise any of our dogs on Pet Finder or Critter Connection. So, having an adoption application on file is advisable. We have placed our adoption application on our website at Missouri Adoption Application. Having the application on our website helps us keep copying and postage charges to a minimum. Please print off the application, fill it out and send it to us.

We screen each application when it comes in and we file it according to the type of dog that the applicant is seeking -- puppy, young female, young male, etc. Then when we receive in a dog, we can easily access the individuals who are looking for that particular characteristic.

Our dogs are fully "vetted" before they are placed. They are up-to-date on their vaccinations, they are spayed or neutered, they are tested for heartworms and for liver and kidney functions, and any necessary dental work has been performed.

Our policy is to try and place on a first-come, first-serve, basis to qualified homes, but our primary emphasis is the needs of the dog. We try to assess a dog's personality and then try to find a home that looks like a good fit. Once we get in a dog that looks like it would fit well into an applicant's home, we contact the applicant and begin a discussion about the dog. We only work with one applicant at a time on a dog. Only when the first likely applicant does not work out, do we move to the next applicant. We do not engage in "dueling applicants".

Since many of our dogs are breeder-releases, they do not come to us with manners or house training. Some of them also have special medical needs. Fortunately, Westies are extremely resilient and, even the puppy mill dogs, turn into wonderful loving pets.

We try to make a point of warning all applicants that, if they need a dog who is housetrained, it would probably be better for them to look elsewhere because most of our dogs are not housetrained. However, Westies are extremely smart dogs and even the very old dogs that we have gotten in have done very well with housetraining.

Westie Rescue is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. We are also a state approved animal shelter. Donations are fully tax deductible. We have no paid staff. All monies received go directly into the medical fund or are otherwise used to meet our corporate mission of preventing cruelty to animals.

We ask for an adoption donation of $350 to $450 -- whatever the applicant feels comfortable giving -- for each dog that is placed. The amount of the adoption donation is NOT based on the costs that we have spent on each dog. In most cases, our costs meet or exceed the adoption donations. Westie Rescue of Missouri can not adopt to homes with children under the age of 8 years old due to the terrier personality and legal liabilities.  We apologize in advance and hope you understand our position.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Please fill out this Application and click "submit" when completed.

Applicant

Name

Age (choose one) 18-25 26-35 36-45 45-60 60+

Address

City, State, Zip Code

County

Telephone (including area code)


Email

Place of Employment

Employer's Name

Work Telephone

Co-Applicant

Name

Age (choose one) 18-25 26-35 36-45 45-60 60+

Employer

Telephone (including area code)

Relationship to Applicant

Desired Westie

What Westie are you Applying for?

Gender of Westie

Age of Westie
(note, Westie Rescue seldom receives dogs that are under three years of age.)
Check one:
No Preference
I prefer a dog no more than years old.
I require a dog no more than years old.

House-Training
(note, Westie Rescue seldom receives dogs that are house-trained.)

Pure-breed

Why do you want a Westie? (check all that apply)

Companion for Humans Companion for Current Pet Gift
To Breed For Children For Protection
Other

Your Home Type of Building
Apartment Condominium Duplex Townhouse Home
Other

Do you own or rent?
If you rent, please provide copy of lease or notarized statement from landlord authorizing pet occupancy and mail to:

Westie Rescue of Missouri
2224 Evergreen Avenue
Des Moines IA 50320

 

How long have you lived there? Years

Is anyone living in your house that is allergic to dogs? YES NO

Does anyone living in your house asthma? YES NO

Do you have a totally fenced yard? YES NO
If yes, what type of fence?

Do you have a POOL HOT TUB
If yes, is it separated from the dog area by a fence? YES NO

How many people live in your home? Adults Children
Ages of children

Tell Us Your Plans

Does the primary caregiver have experience with dogs? YES NO
If yes, describe:

What are your plans for exercising the dog?

Who will supervise outdoor activities?


Does your job require frequent out-of-town travel? YES NO

Who will take care of the dog while you travel?

Is this person capable of exercising the dog? YES NO

What would you do with the dog if you have to move?


Where will the dog be when home alone?
In a Crate In One Room In a Bedroom In the Basement
Loose in the House In the Yard
Other

Where will the dog sleep at night?
In a Crate In One Room In a Bedroom In the Basement
Loose in the House In the Yard
Other

May we visit your home? YES NO

Are you committed to caring for a dog for its lifespan? YES NO
(Westies can live 15-20 years)

Are you willing to support a dog? YES NO

Are you prepared to provide required medical treatment? YES NO
For a healthy dog, costs of veterinary care (shots, flea and heartworm preventative), food, toys and minimal boarding and grooming can cost $500-$700 per year. In addition, dogs are susceptible to most diseases that afflict humans such as allergies, cancer, heart disease, arthritis, etc.

We require all Westies to be spayed/neutered. Do you have any reservations about this policy?

Do you have any questions about the policy?

Tell Us About Your Pets

Please list all pets you have owned in the past 10 years. If none, include pets owned during your adult life and any pets residing in your home that you do not own.

If you ever had a pet die at an early age (dog less than 10 yrs. or cat before 14 yrs), become lost, or disappear, please provide details.

Have you ever sold or given away a pet to anyone or surrendered one to a shelter? If yes, please provide details.

If you presently have a dog, is it current on vaccinations (rabies, distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza at minimum) and on heartowrm preventative? If not, explain:

If you presently have a dog, where is it housed?
If Both, explain:

Is your current Pet spayed or neutered? Yes No

If No, explain:



Have you ever lived with a Westie?

Have you ever owned a terrier?
If yes, which breed?

Have you ever trained a dog? If yes, give details:

How many hours will the dog be alone during the DAY?

How many hours will the dog be alone during the EVENING?

Personal References

Please list three personal references (not related to you).
Include Name/Relationship/Phone/Best Time to Call

Veterinarian

Current/Intended Veterinary Hospital

Doctor's Name

Phone

Address

City, State, Zip Code

Is this veterinarian familiar with pets you have owned?

May we contact the doctor as a reference?

Please review all your answers for accuracy and completeness. Because of the number of applications received, incomplete forms may be delayed in consideration. Any misrepresentation of facts may result in your disqualification as an adoption candidate or repossession of your adopted dog. This application will serve as part of your adoption agreement, and therefore should be viewed as a legally binding contract.

Once you have reviewed your application Click "Submit"