UK Westie ReHoming | UK Westie ReHoming is a charity rehoming westies

Westie ReHoming is a charity dedicated to the welfare and rehoming of the West Highland White Terrier. We take in westies needing a new start in life for whatever reason and place them into a suitable home where they will be loved and have their needs met. We have a holistic approach to rehoming, encompassing many perspectives, although the westies’ needs always come first.

Airidh - THE REASON IT ALL BEGAN

Airidh (pronounced ‘Arry’) joined our family here at ‘Westie ReHoming’ at the age of four; sadly at the time he was destined for destruction by another charity. Airidh and too many like him are our ‘raison d être’ and this lovely lad more than justified our faith in him over the next eight years, proving to be a loyal, loving companion with a wonderful zest for life and a wicked sense of humour. He enjoyed real quality of life until he left us suddenly and all too prematurely.

Airidh held such a special place in our hearts that we decided to make him the figure head of ‘Westie ReHoming’. Some of you may have met him on our stand at Crufts 2011, where he was ‘flying the flag’ for us and greeting everyone on behalf of the charity.

Airidh is a Scottish Gaelic name meaning ‘worthy or deserving’ and as a committed charity rehoming westies we feel very strongly that every dog deserves the best chance in life. Here at ‘Westie ReHoming’ we strive to help all westies regardless of age, disability, looks or pedigree and we hope that anyone looking for a loving companion will share our commitment when applying to adopt one of our lovely, and all equally deserving westies.

Go to the ‘Adoption’ button to learn more about adopting a westie

MISSION STATEMENT

To ensure that all Westies in need (whatever their pedigree/disability) receive the care most appropriate to their circumstances and to raise awareness of West Highland White Terrier welfare.

Introducing two of our special rehomed westies, MacDuff and Daisy. These lovely illustrations of them were drawn exclusively for Westie ReHoming by Tamsin McGeown and will be used on occasions to promote the charity’s work. THESE LOVELY WESTIES ARE ALREADY VERY SETTLED IN THEIR NEW HOMES but we have others that need a loving home.

DAISY came to us as an ex-breeding bitch with her three very young puppies from a puppy farm. A very sweet little girl, she was extremely timid when she arrived but soon learned from the resident westies that this wasn’t such a bad place to be. She was uncomfortable with people that she didn’t know, but is now a delightful little girl, and very friendly with people once she gets to know them. She has gone from strength to strength, gaining weight and condition and was neutered when the time was right, so no more puppies for Daisy!

MACDUFF joined us in tragic circumstances after his owner suffered a cardiac arrest at home alone. It was a few days before he was found, and this poor boy had stayed by him in a state of shock. He was removed from the house by a neighbour who contacted us as she couldn’t care for him with four cats living in the house. Poor MacDuff was very troubled and was very reluctant to leave his home and his master. It took a while before he accepted that he wasn’t coming to take him home, but then he turned the corner and is now happily settled with a lovely couple. Cases like his are always very upsetting, and we are left wondering just what it must have been like for him in those early days.

0844 879 4260

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Address

PO Box 4204 SWINDON SN2 9LA

REHOMING UPDATE THE NEW COVID – 19 RULES as they apply to England

Much like in March, under the terms of the new lockdown, you may only leave your home for specific reasons.
Like in the first lockdown, any social mixing between different households or bubbles – indoors or outdoors – will be banned.
People will be told not to travel unless for a limited number of essential exemptions
The definition of “clinically vulnerable” has been lowered to age 60, down from 70 in the first lockdown. (This applies to most of our volunteers, as people in this age group are more likely to be available for charity work).

So this should explain where it leaves rescue organisations. Actually, it’s not so much about rules and regulations, it’s about being responsible and showing common sense.

We won’t be waiting until Thursday, until the rules have been passed by Parliament, until there’s an ‘R’ in the month or anything else, we have applied the new rules until it’s safe to lift them, which may not necessarily be on December 2nd

As you probably know, we don’t rehome around Christmas time either for obvious reasons and so those dogs that have been in longer-term foster for their own benefit are likely to be there for a while longer yet. This of course doesn’t bode well for any of the many lovely people out there wanting a westie to join their family and they will be feeling despondent. It’s an unhappy situation too for dogs that are currently in the wrong homes, whose owners can’t put them into rescue. PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT WHERE A DOG IS IN A WELFARE SITUATION, WE WILL, OF COURSE, TAKE IT INTO FOSTER AND CARE FOR IT AS WE DID DURING THE LAST LOCKDOWN. IT’S JUST THE REHOMING OF THE DOG THAT WILL BE AFFECTED.

We are even less likely to have Christmas puppies handed in post-Christmas now, as anyone who has spent a ridiculous amount of money on a puppy is unlikely to want to surrender it to a rescue. They’d almost certainly sell it to the highest bidder in the free ads, Gumtree or online which results in the poor pup being passed around for economic reasons.

We are genuinely so very sorry not to have better news for you, but the current situation has been expected and at the moment there seems to be no end to it.

We are still taking applications in case things take an unexpected turn for the better as in all the applications there may be one that is very suitable for the dog that is available. WE DON’T WORK THROUGH AN APPLICATION LIST, WE SELECT THE ONE MOST SUITABLE TO CATER FOR THE DOG’S NEEDS. Every application has to go through the usual procedure in keeping with our working documents lodged with the Charity Commission, and we can’t give preference via PM, a Facebook comment or the like. We have done our best this year throughout frustrating and difficult circumstances and will continue to do so. We are happy to share dogs for rehoming from bona fide recognised organisations, but not puppy sales!

As always, stay safe, and our thanks for your continued support