Westie terrier

Lilith1980 · 24 August 2012 at 9:58AM

Hi all,

The other day we found a stray westie terrier, very thin but lovely temperament.

We took it home and called the dog warden. We'd had it for about an hour before he picked him up and by that time we had fallen in love with him. I called the dog's home today, where he'd been taken, to see if anyone had claimed him but he is still there

We're not sure how old he is but he looked quite young. We would love to adopt him but I want to make sure we can give him the love and care he deserves so I had some questions:-

We have a cat (who is about 6 years old) and have had him for nearly 3 years. We're not sure how they would get on and I certainly wouldn't want the cat to leave the family home because he didn't feel comfortable with the dog.

Secondly, myself and my partner work full-time (although some days of the week I am 20 mins walk from home at one job so could pop back in) and I really don't know how fair this would be on the dog. Sure, we would take him out for walks in the morning and evenings but would he not get bored (and potentially cause havoc) indoors on his own?

I guess in my heart of hearts I don't think what we could give would be enough based on our work situation, but for some reason we really took to him. And spookily, I went to a home visit to a lady who had a gorgeous westie before we found this stray and I was ranting about the dog to my partner afterwards who laughed and said how I seemed to want a westie....and then one comes trotting over a busy main road to us while we're out on a run

Seems like fate but honest advice/opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks x

YoungBaker · 24 August 2012 at 10:08AM

Is there anyone you could even get to pop in on him during the afternoon? Im sure if you get up early enough you could take him a pretty decent enough walk for an hour or so in the morning and get him tired out and a big one after work and it could work.... I am sure you are not the first person to do it, as long as you left him plenty toys and stuff to keep him amused.

that said, leaving a dog in for such a long period himself during the day obviously isnt ideal and therefore do you have any inlaws, parents etc. who could even pop in for 15mins and give him some petting and let him out during the day?

Lilith1980 · 24 August 2012 at 11:30AM

Hi Al,

No my family are all down south (3 hours away!) and my OH's family are half hour away and his mum is in her 80s so not ideal for her.

I do know people that leave their dogs in all day but I think these are older dogs and perhaps those with not so much energy as this little fella.

Maybe I could ask next door - they have a Jack Russell and I am sure they are out all day. Although I don't know what state their furniture is in lol.

Fire_Fox · 24 August 2012 at 11:53AM

What do you mean dogs' home, is he in the council pound or a rescue charity? If the latter you may need a home check to take him, if the former you will have all vets bills. Whilst some people do leave dogs all day it's not recommended for all - for toileting, general company and exercise. How much damage they can do varies from dog to dog, some settle fairly well others really don't. Can you employ a dog walker for a lunchtime walk? I'm assuming you would not be able to get much of a walk in if you have to travel twenty minutes just to get home - or could you start taking longer lunches? Also think how it would work if we have extended periods of snow like we had last winter - is there a bus?

I am sure you could give him a lovely forever home if you could set up a reliable system for a lunchtime walk.

pawsies · 24 August 2012 at 12:01PM

Put it this way- your home is inevitably going to be better than a kennel. The same problems will occur in both scenarios regarding boredom but when you get home he has companionship, walks and love.

Providing you want him and can provide for him you should go for it

Live life to the full

Lilith1980 · 24 August 2012 at 12:11PM

Fire_Fox wrote: »

What do you mean dogs' home, is he in the council pound or a rescue charity?

Can you employ a dog walker for a lunchtime walk?

Thanks Fire Fox - here is what they say on the dog's home website 'The dogs that are rescued by the dog wardens are kept in the care of the council for 7 days. If they have not been claimed at the end of that period, we take them into our care and look after them until they find homes'.

Although he has not been kept by the warden for 7 days - or would he still be under the council at the moment even though he's at the dog's home?

I'll have a look about a dog walker, that's an idea I hadn't thought of

Lilith1980 · 24 August 2012 at 12:13PM

pawsies wrote: »

Put it this way- your home is inevitably going to be better than a kennel. The same problems will occur in both scenarios regarding boredom but when you get home he has companionship, walks and love.

Providing you want him and can provide for him you should go for it

Live life to the full

Lol, you are right of course

But I think it would be selfish to be impulsive and then not be able to look after him properly, even though my heart is telling me to go and scoop him up!

Plus, there was concern from my OH that he had something wrong with his back leg as he yelped a bit. Would the dog's home have checked him over or would that be something that is only done once someone claims him and takes him to the vets?

Lilith1980 · 24 August 2012 at 12:35PM

Just to make everybody go 'ahhh' here's a picture I took while we were waiting for the dog warden :P

Fire_Fox · 24 August 2012 at 12:58PM

Lilith1980 wrote: »

Thanks Fire Fox - here is what they say on the dog's home website 'The dogs that are rescued by the dog wardens are kept in the care of the council for 7 days. If they have not been claimed at the end of that period, we take them into our care and look after them until they find homes'.

Although he has not been kept by the warden for 7 days - or would he still be under the council at the moment even though he's at the dog's home?

I'll have a look about a dog walker, that's an idea I hadn't thought of

So he is in the council kennels not a rehoming centre, good. Yes you may be able to claim him on the last day without any questions asked, we did that with a Yorkshire terrier we found (but that was twenty years ago, mind). We left name and addrress in case the true owner wanted to claim him later.

kymrob · 24 August 2012 at 2:58PM

oh bless him wonder what his name is he looks happy i would be the same he look lovely little dog i dont think he look that old.

Molly41 · 24 August 2012 at 3:05PM

I would say go for it. We have two westies and they are such loving and living dogs. Mine tend to sleep for large parts of the day so if you can arrange for a walker to go in I think you will be ok x