November 2004: After experiencing wonderful success with the adoption of my first Westie - Chance - eighteen months ago, I decided that since I was moving from a small apartment in the city, back to the suburbs, I thought a companion would be wonderful for Chance, and for me.

This past September, my daughter and son-in-law purchased an old farm house they hope to restore, located on four acres. I thought what a perfect way for Chance, and for another dog in need to live their lives. I went onto the Westie Rescue of Missouri web site and perused the list of dogs. My attention and heart went to Dodger - a special needs six-year old. He had come from a puppy mill, and cage-kept all of his life. The description of Dodger listed him as being very sweet. Very loving. I kept thinking how can a dog endure such a life and still have such a sweet disposition? I contacted Angie from Westie Rescue of Missouri - who had helped me adopt Chance. We spoke back and forth and I decided that I wanted to take a special needs dog, and help enhance his life in whatever way possible. On Halloween of this year, I met Angie and Dodger, and it was love at first sight. He has had to constantly hold his right paw up. The explanation given to the Rescue was that his leg was injured due to "walking in a wire cage." I knew this didn't sound right.

Within 48 hours I had Dodger checked by my local vet. Dr. Ketner at Animal Clinic of New Lenox. She noticed an atrophy in Dodger's right shoulder, and spoke almost immediately of the possibility of amputation. I told Dr. Ketner I wanted Dodger to have every chance possible, and that I was going to seek advice from a specialist. I contacted the vet I used when I lived in downtown Chicago (Dr. Susan Ferraro from Lincoln Park Dog and Cat Clinic) and she immediately suggested what I needed was an orthopedic consult, and she referred me to Dr. Hayes at Boone Animal Clinic in Western Springs, Illinois. Dr. Hayes examined Dodger, took x-rays and aspirated an area where she found a lump. She sent the sample to be tested, with the results being inconclusive. The lab believed the mass to be a lypoma - a fatty mass - but Dr. Hayes had her doubts - as the mass seemed much too firm.

The only option was to do surgery. Dr. Hayes assured me that she would save Dodger's leg if at all possible. On November 18th, Dr. Hayes did surgery. It became evident that due to the enormity of the mass (approximately 4"-5") and with nerves entangled in the mass, the only thing Dr. Hayes could do was to amputate Dodger's right leg at the shoulder. Heatbroken as I was, I knew this was the only thing to do.

Dodger is on the road to recovery, and we are still awaiting the biopsy results. Dr. Hayes told me that if Dodger had a normal life, with a loving family, the mass, which started as something very small, would have been detected, initially, by a slight limp. However, Dodger was not that lucky. The mass grew, and Dodger continued to live in a cage.

Dodger is a sweet, gentle, loving dog who has bonded quickly to me, and thoroughly enjoys the company of Chance. Dodger's foster mother told me that the first thing she let Dodger do when she got him home was to let him run in the yard. After all of that time in confinement - in her words - "he never forgot how to be a puppy. He ran, and ran and ran." I love him to pieces and I am committed to making his life as happy and healthy and comfortable as possible. For me, Santa came early this year.

I would like you (WestieMed) to know that I will spread the word of your good work to family and friends, especially this holiday season, and in lieu of gifts, I will request they make donations to your organization. I am very, very grateful.

Valerie Skupien

Update January 2005: This is an update on Dodger's treatment. As many of you know, I adopted Dodger on Halloween of 2004. He was a special needs six-year old Westie with an undiagnosed problem with his right front paw. It wasn't until I took Dodger to a specialist shortly after his adoption, that I learned Dodger had a huge tumor near his right shoulder. There was no alternative but to amputate Dodger's right front leg. WestieMed came to the rescue to help with the cost of Dodger's surgery.

Immediately following Dodger's amputation, Dodger's surgeon consulted with an oncologist. It was on the strong recommendation of the oncologist that Dodger receive radiation treatments as soon as possible. Dodger spent nearly a month at a clinic, away from home, receiving 20 sessions of radiation. Subsequently, because of the radiation, Dodger has a very large burn on his skin. The clinic from which Dodger received his radiation treatments wanted me to follow up with several visits for hydrotherapy to keep his wound moist and clean. However, on consulting with Dodger's wonderful surgeon, I learned of a treatment he will be getting in just a few short days.

There is a product called Asal. The surgeon is going to apply an application of this to Dodger's burn. Asal is used for the treatment of burns - all types of burns. This product actually grows skin. It is costly, but in the end, it is less expensive than doing hydro-therapy, and the Asal produces skin, where the hydro-therapy does not. One application of Asal is usually all that is needed, and of course, there will be follow up visits to the surgeon to keep an eye on how Dodger's burn is healing and how the new skin is coming in. Dodger's prognosis is very, very good. Even on his darkest days, Dodger always manages to wag his tail, and to give a loving kiss to anyone that shows him an ounce of kindness.

WestieMed has once again extended its very generous hand in helping with all of this very costly treatment. I will forever be grateful to WestieMed. WestieMed has enabled Dodger to receive the finest treatment available. Dodger has survived all of those unhappy years in a puppy mill. He has endured the pain of amputation and the pain of suffering from radiation burn. The neglect Dodger suffered living in a puppy mill is inexcusable. Had anyone paid attention to him during his years at the puppy mill, the tumor could have easily been removed, with Dodger's leg being saved. But we all know that puppy mills don't care about the health and welfare of dogs.

However, the worst is over. Dodger is experiencing a new life that I will bet he never dreamed existed. Soon, his treatments will be finished. His burn will heal. Dodger will then be able to live a healthier, happier and much longer life, running and playing, and doing all of the things a loving dog should be doing. Thank you WestieMed, our guardian angel for making so very much of this possible. We love you to pieces.

Valerie and Dodger

Update May 2005: Dodger is doing very, very well. In March Dodger had his first chest x-ray since his surgery and radiation treatment. The x-ray showed clear and I was so very grateful. On June 17th, Dodger will be going for his next x-ray and we keep our fingers crossed that the next x-ray will prove to be as clear as the first. His x-rays will continue once every three months.

Dodger is indeed a very special little boy. He is so kind and loving. In spite of everything Dodger has gone through, in being raised in a puppy mill, through all of his medical treatments, having to endure his leg amputation, and a month-long series of radiation treatments that left him with a radiation burn the length of his body, his spirits have been amazing.

Dodger is enjoying the warmer weather very, very much, and he loves to lay in the grass, in the yard, where the sun is the brightest. Dodger's appetite is good, and when he finishes each meal, he goes over to his brother's dish to make sure there is nothing remaining!

I now understand his determination and spunk. The other day, while I was working in the kitchen, Dodger's brother Chance came in and sat in the doggie bed, looking a little guilty. I couldn't quite figure out what was going on, until Dodger walked in. It seems Dodger has declared the doggie bed his, exclusively. Dodger took the bed that Chance was sitting in (by the way Chance outweighs Dodger by ten pounds) and with his teeth, Dodger moved the bed across the kitchen floor, until he got Chance out!

Dodger is very playful and enjoys his toys very much. He loves playing with his ball and his stuffed dinosaur the most. He loves to follow me from room to room and he especially loves any human contact. Isn't that amazing considering the past life he has led? He loves to curl up at my feet, and he always enjoys sleeping next to his brother Chance.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you again for turning this little boy's life into one that will surely give him many more years filled with good health, love, and everything else he could possibly need or want.

Warmest regards,
Valerie and Dodger

Update June 27, 2005: It is with heavy hearts, that we, at WestieMed, share sad news about Dodger.

Valerie had just gotten home - after taking Dodger to THREE specialist, only to have an MRI reveal a nightmare - tumors, larger than his esophagus lined his throat, neck and had begun to invade the other side of his wee body. The surgeon told her it was a very aggressive cancer and that a simple X-ray would not have detected it. (She had just seen the vet who had given him a thumbs up since it all looked clean, but the MRI showed a different tale.) Valerie said it was just horribly amazing at the speed of the invasion.

Valerie asked that they let him wake up so she could be with him a bit longer before letting him go. She held him and told him how proud she was of him and how brave he had always been, he wagged his tail for her as she whispered how he was 'Mama's brave boy' - it was so Dodger like, he was always so happy. Holding him in her arms and with heavy tears she told him good bye.... it is truly a sad day for us all ... Dodger never once showed anything less than the true Westie spirit. He was a young Westie, but life in a mill had taken its toll. Had they simply cared for his 'injured' leg when he first started limping, the tumor would not have seeded its way into his system.

Valerie expressed her undying gratitude to everyone in rescue and the families who reached out to her when Dodger was first diagnosed with Cancer. She said she will never forget those who fight against these puppy mills and then turn around and nurture these little ones - how fortunate they are to have people like yourselves. She thanked you all for raising the money you did to help with his treatment, to WestieMed for their generosity in finding Dodger worth fighting for - he was fighter for sure, but he had no chance at all without all of your help.