May 2004: I learned about Snoopy about six months ago through the North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. They contacted me since I am the Westie Rescue coordinator for North Carolina. They asked me if I could take a Westie whom had been abandoned at the Hospital. That Westie was Snoopy. When he was abandoned Snoopy had a spine problem that left him unable to walk. He was also blind due to cataracts in both eyes and had been badly abused and neglected, with skin and coat problems, scabbed over ears and a poorly amputated tail. He sounded so pathetic that my husband Bob and I could not refuse to help. We picked Snoopy up a week before Thanksgiving. The Hospital had operated on his back, and the prognosis was good for him to be able to walk, at least a little bit, but when we picked him up he still needed help getting up and down.

From the first day Snoopy was a joyful addition to our family. He was sweet and loving with us and got along well with our own five dogs, who pretty much left him alone because he did not bother them and could not play with them. After several weeks he was able to get around without help, and it was heart warming to see him able to get around but heart breaking when he would bump into doors or furniture. We had cataract surgery scheduled for one of our dogs (also a pathetic waif whom we grew so attached to after we took her in that we decided to add her to our family) in January so we took Snoop at the same time to have him examined. We learned that he was a candidate for the same surgery and we decided then that we would have Snoops eyes operated on as soon as we could afford to.

Finally, in March the operation was performed. The change was miraculous. After a day recovering, Snoop was up and running with our guys. Now if he is in the house he plays with the others and if he is in the yard he chases squirrels and birds with them and has a grand old time. However, he remains the same sweet loving little guy we brought home in November.

At the time we brought Snoopy home, his condition was so pathetic that we knew he would be a long term foster, but we have never regretted it. We have found a forever home for him and he will be leaving us in a few weeks. We will miss him terribly. However, it helps to know that after years of abuse and neglect (he is now 7 years old) Snoop will finally be in a loving home where he will be well cared for. We also tell ourselves that letting go of Snoopy will let us help the next Snoop we come upon, but it is still hard.

Good bye Snoop. We love you and will miss you.

We'd like to express our thanks to WestieMed for the funding. It will let us help the next Westie we take in.

Linda and Bob Rand
Carolina Westie Rescue

Update: August 2004: Snoopy went to his fowever home about 3 weeks ago and has adjusted wonderfully. He is a happy and loving little guy in a loving home. A picture of Snoop with his new mother is attached. Linda and I thank WestieMed again for helping Snoop getto where he's at now.