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21 - 5 - 10
Newly available to the general public - our attractive Car Stickers, which show our logo and charity information on a white background, easily attached to face outward from inside your car windscreen by peeling away the backing and pressing. Previously only obtainable by our registered volunteers, this is the ideal way in which to promote your favourite charity and bring it to the forefront of people's minds. Just access the Order Form page to get started - at only 50p a sticker (plus a stamped addressed envelope please), they're good value too.
3 - 5 - 10
Dognapping fears after pedigree pets 'go missing by stealing to order gang'
Pet lovers in Essex fear their dogs are being stolen to order, after 13 pedigree animals from neighbouring roads were snatched in recent weeks.
By Andrew Hough,
The Daily Telegraph.
Nine families living in and around Church Road in Noak Hill, near Romford in Essex, have seen their beloved pets vanish from gardens and pens in the past four weeks.
So far six Jack Russells, three West Highland White Terriers, a German shepherd, a Rottweiler, a Pomeranian and a Bedlington Terrier have vanished.
The spate of thefts have led to fears that the pedigree dogs are being stolen to order by professional dognappers.
Rose Squibb, 79, said her 18-month-old West Highland White Terrier Scruffy had been seen being loaded into a car on Easter Sunday.
"I'm very upset, I keep looking out for her," she said.
"I think people are targeting this area because we're in an isolated country part and the houses are quite far apart."
Her daughter Linda Squibb, who runs a kennels, added: "We think it can't be a coincidence that so many have gone at the same time.
"Because we're a kennel we have people coming to us about their pets and in the last few weeks it's just been crazy. It seems like a dog goes missing from either Church Road or just nearby almost every other day.
"If they have been taken by someone who knows why? It could be for breeding or it could be for something more sinister, like vivisection. We just don't know."
Liz Lee, 40, has had two West Highland White terriers snatched from her garden in two separate raids. One of her pets was pregnant.
"We are absolutely distraught. We've talked to police, the pounds, but they said nothing has been handed in," she said.
"I think they've been stolen because they couldn't have got out of their pens by themselves.
"All we can do now is look for them ourselves."
21 - 4 - 10
More Dog Thefts involving Westies
Simon Hardy of the 'Shropshire Star' tells us of a spate of dog thefts involving Westies recently in Shropshire. He writes:
West Highland Terriers are thought to be the target of dog-nappers in the Telford area, it has been claimed.
Thieves thought to be stealing to order are dog-napping valuable pedigree West Highland terriers across Telford, it has been claimed.
A number of owners have fallen victim to the thieves and, as yet, none of the dogs have been recovered. It is thought young, un-neutered dogs are on the thieves' shopping list and are then being used for breeding.
The head nurse at a town veterinary practice said on Saturday that the number of thefts had become a worrying trend.
Marian Peters, of the Companion Care veterinary practice in the Pets at Home store on the Wrekin Retail Park in Telford, said: "A definite pattern has been emerging.
"We have had about half a dozen Westies reported stolen to us over the last three weeks. All the dogs were young, had not been neutered and were presumably stolen to order. The sheer number of thefts has made us suspicious.
"One lady owner was left very distressed after her house was broken into and her dog taken. Another gentleman had two dogs taken from his back garden. He has CCTV security and all he can see on the film is hooded figures."
Mrs Peters said there was no evidence to prove a gang was at work but she urged owners of West Highland terriers to be cautious.
She said: "I would just like people to be aware that this is happening. Owners should take extra care, particularly if they have young, un-neutered Westies.
"Even if they are microchipped that may not help, unless they are taken to a vets by the thieves. We always carry out checks when new dogs are brought in, particularly young ones, just to find out where they have come from."
Telford police spokesman Chris Ammonds said there had been one reported incident of a West Highland terrier being stolen in Hadley on March 26th.
Anyone with information is urged to call Telford police on 0300 333 3000, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
8 - 8 - 09
As from today, our national contact telephone number has changed.
Due to an amendment by OFCOM to the charging rules for 0870 numbers, it has become necessary to discontinue our old number.
This has now been replaced by:
 0844 879 4260
23 - 6 - 09
We don’t normally promote behaviourists on this site, but I was most impressed by someone I met on a course recently, and decided to make an exception. Mandy Nutley BSc (Hons) has studied and qualified in canine psychology and behaviour. Mandy and myself are like-minded in the belief that more behaviour problems stem from stress and insecurity in dogs than from the overplayed ‘dominance theory’. She runs her business ‘Diamond Dogs’ from her home near Basingstoke.
She is particularly interested in animal psychology and the special relationship between humans and the animals with whom they share their lives.
Mandy works as a trainer supporting a variety of dog training classes and also runs puppy foundation and older dog training classes in Kempshott and Oakley, Hants.
Her areas of particular special interest are working with people and their animals on an individual basis, either through one to one training sessions or consultations for animal behaviour problems.
If you are experiencing problems with your dog and live in the North Hampshire area, do take a look at: www.hantsdog.com.
20 - 5 - 09
We are today announcing that a Canine First Aid Course will be held at Liddington Village Hall on 27th June, 2009. Places are limited, and so are strictly subject to prior booking. For full details, go to the Events page.
16 - 5 - 09
Full details of the Scruffs Fun Dog Show 2009 have now been posted on our Events page. There are also some new photographs of recently rehomed Westies to be seen in our latest Gallery page.
7 - 4 - 09
On April 2nd 2009, we attended the "Taste of Scotland" charity dinner, organised by Sandra Harris on behalf of our Shropshire volunteers. A great time was had, and money was raised towards our cause which will benefit the many Westies who pass through our system. You can view some photos of the evening here.
3 - 2 - 09
Westies nationwide have been out taking advantage of the weather, and having fun in the snow. Don’t they just love it? We thought you’d like this photo of five Westies owned by volunteers David & Carol Cooper as they frolic, turning themselves into ‘Westie snowballs’ – before they go indoors to defrost all over the kitchen floor! – Keep warm, and enjoy it while it lasts!
28 - 01 - 09
There was a strong Westie ReHoming presence to see our Patron, John Coghlan in action at his Shrewsbury gig at the weekend. The gig was a total sell-out and a huge success. John and the band performed Status Quo hits, and many of their favourites by other artists including The Kinks, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Led Zeppelin and many more. The place was buzzing!! If you missed it this time, there is another repeat performance planned for the end of May. Better book early as we are confident it will be a total sell-out again. The promoter is Jane Hewitt on 07847 601873, but details will appear on our website when a firm date has been arranged. Watch this space.....
22 - 10 - 08
We have a new link on our homepage to the For Pity's Sake website, please take time to read it, particularly if you are considering buying a puppy.
Westie ReHoming is totally opposed to the indiscriminate breeding and sale of dogs, and abhors the continuing trade from puppy farms and by dealers. If you are as concerned as we are about the sad plight of these poor mites, please make your feelings known to the appropriate bodies. You will find some contact details on the website listed above.
While people continue to buy from dealers, under their many guises, the trade will continue. Please do not perpetuate this appalling abuse of man’s best friend.
(Link removed, website does not now work)
21 - 10 - 08
As part of my ongoing studies into dog behaviour I have just returned from an unforgettable time spent in Devon with Shaun Ellis and his wolf packs, and their keepers, Linda and Roger. You may have seen Shaun and the wolves in the excellent Martin Clunes two part documentary shown recently on ITV. There is a saying “You can take the dog out of the wolf, but you can’t take the wolf out of the dog” and spending time with the wolves I could clearly see the same behavioural traits shown in my own pack of westies and a cairn at home.
I have never subscribed to the ‘Dominance Theory’ favoured by most trainers and behaviourists, believing that there are far more insecure, confused dogs than there ever are truly dominant dogs. This was so clearly born out in Shaun’s beautiful pack of wolves in which each had a job to do. The Alpha wolf, Yana, meanwhile remained aloof, with a quiet presence that set him apart from the others. He remained calmly in the background whilst the other wolves carried out his bidding. I fell hopelessly in love with the biggest and boldest, a black male named ‘Tamaska’, which means ‘Mighty and Kind’. Tamaska is the enforcer, or the ‘bouncer’ in the pack. As in humans, true Alphas do not need to make a lot of noise and throw their weight around. This is done by the insecure, even inadequate individuals.
We can learn so much from animals, yet so often get it hopelessly wrong by putting our own ‘spin’ on their behaviour. We should try to understand their language instead. It is a great injustice to ‘humanise’ them, and expect them to understand our human values, which they never will, condemning them when we get it wrong.
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24 - 8 - 08
An Italian Evening was held recently, raising the magnificent sum of £578 for our funds. Click here to read more about this sterling work and view some images of the event.
20 - 8 - 08
Please click here to read a heart-warming story from the annals of Westie ReHoming's recent work - "When Harry met Phoebe".
20 - 8 - 08
Eight Westies have been stolen from gardens in the Swindon area in the last six weeks. The gardens have all been seemingly impenetrable, and entry has been forced to gain access to the dogs. Police believe the dogs are being stolen to order, and Westies are all too high in the popularity stakes.
Dog theft is endemic throughout the country, but the Swindon dogs are known to us. Can we please urge you not to leave your dog unattended in the garden at any time of day, and never to leave it in your car whilst it is out of your sight? The latest dog to be stolen could not have been easy to take as he has considerable ‘attitude’. His abductors who now have teeth marks on them for their trouble judging by the blood on his face when he was found later dumped him onto a main road. He and his owner were reunited, but it could so easily have had a less than happy ending. Sadly, dog theft is not a priority with the police.
Please take a look at the Dog Theft Action website.
14 - 6 - 08
Scruffs 9th. Annual Fun Dog Show took place today and broke all previous records. It was a tremendous success and had a real party atmosphere. A full report will appear soon on the Events page.
28 - 5 - 08
Sadly, we have lost two of our little fighters that were rallying to first class care after neglect and abuse. Susie, the subject of our early appeal passed away in December – see the entry on the Appeals page, and little Maggie died last week from tumours. We did not put out an appeal for Maggie, but many of you will be aware that she came to us last year with her brother and had suffered unimaginable neglect and cruelty. When our volunteer Claire brought her to us we thought that she might leave us that very day, and many tears were shed when we saw this poor little scrap, too weak to stand, with her deformed, broken leg. Weighing just a half of her proper bodyweight she needed to be built up before any treatment could be started. Eventually we needed to have her leg amputated, and Maggie blossomed into a happy little girl thereafter. Tragically, tumours developed recently and one particularly aggressive one took her life last week when she was put to rest to avoid suffering. Her carers, Alan and Eve miss her terribly, but little Robbie continues to thrive and enjoy life to the full. It is unlikely that the perpetrator of the abuse will be reading this which is a pity. He would have then known that after 8 years of not knowing what love is, these little dogs enjoyed the best years of their life.
Rest in peace Susie and Maggie, at least you left this world having finally found love and compassion.
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