FAQ’s

I sent in an application but heard nothing

• We understand this can be frustrating!   However there are only 3 people involved, and only 1 reviews applications.  When we post a dog as available our system posts it to more than 30 sites, and this can generate over 100 applications.  So if we  post 5 dogs, we get 500 applications, and it’s just impossible for us to answer them all.  Only those selected as potential adopters will be contacted

 What do you look for in an adopter

• We look for people who have a special affinity to the breed.  If you want a small cute dog, then we will suggest contacting your local shelter.  If you want a Westie, or a Scotty, and have experience with the breed, you will get some consideration.  Here is what we look for:
  • An affinity for the specific breed. Previous experience with the breed is a big plus, as is having a similar dog.
  • A house where the dog will not be left alone for long
  • Another dog to play with 
  • A fenced in yard for Puppy mill dogs which are generally a flight risk
  • A willingness to take a dog which is not house trained and is very scared and work with it to help it adjust
  • You will not keep the dog in a crate- Mill dogs have lived their lives in a cage… we don’t want that to continue
  • Generally we are looking for a specific fit to the unique personalities of the specific dog

How do I adopt a dog

• The first step is to fill out an adoption request on our ADOPT A DOG page.  This will get you into the queue for one of our dogs.  The next step is to read the adoption contract to understand what is involved.
• We will ONLY contact you if we feel you are a good fit for the dog.   We won’t adopt a dog if we feel there is not the right environment, attitude or situation.  We are very protective of our dogs. However, we do want to find loving homes for all of our dogs, so getting to know you and what you want it very important. Not every dog is a perfect match for every family, but with the right amount of patience  a dog can usually be found that will match the personality and needs of a family.

What is the difference between ADOPTING  a dog and RESCUING a dog

• There are a number of organizations who provide adoption for Westies who’s owners have surrendered them.  Normally these dogs are family pets, so they usually are housebroken, generally with few issues.  It may be that the owner is moving to a place that doesn’t accept dogs, or they’ve had a new baby and aren’t comfortable with the dog around the baby.  This is an ADOPTION situation.   Rescue dogs, on the other hand, come from horrific situations where they’ve lived in wire cages their whole lives, being bred over and over again until they’re about 3-5 when they’re given  up or killed.  (Click here  to to learn about Puppy Mills on Youtube… see how horrific the conditions can be)  We rescue these dogs from mid-west puppy mills and socialize them, teaching them that humans do not always hurt them.  Many of these dogs has some health problems that require treatment and we provide vet care until they are ready to be placed.  They are spayed or neutered and de-wormed (almost all mill dogs have parasites) and we list them on either Petfinder or Adopt-A-Pet.   We DO NOT ship dogs to New England without an adopter, it’s simply too expensive, and we don’t have places to “hold” a dog until we find a  home.   A rescuer must make a commitment to take the dog before we’ll ship.   Occasionally, of course, these placements don’t work out and we will take the dog back and find a new home, but it’s more the exception since we screen our rescuers very carefully.   You must understand that when you RESCUE a dog you are saving him from a tortured life, and you must expect that you will have to house train the dog and provide him with an initial vet visit almost immediately upon receiving the dog.   The payback is that these dogs are sweet and loving and recognize that you’ve saved them from a concentration camp for dogs.  We ask for a donation for the dog to cover the enormous expenses we have with these dogs that adoptable dogs don’t generally incur.   PLEASE READ OUR PUPPY MILL RESCUE GUIDE before committing to one of our dogs.     Remember you are SAVING a dog from a horrific life and  you will be rewarded with a loving friend for life.

How much does it cost to adopt a dog

• We do not charge to adopt a dog, but we ask that the charges incurred in transporting the dog from puppy mills and vet bills . In general it costs about  between $450 and $750  to get one of our rescues.  (Puppies are  $850 due to the additional vet charges we incur. NOTE: Puppies are not spayed and neutered)  These donations are completely tax deductable as we are an IRS 501c3 organization.  Increasingly we are forced to obtain puppy mill dogs at puppy mill auctions where we must bid against puppy mills who want the dogs for breeding stock.   This has caused a huge variability in costs to save the dogs.   These costs, plus increases in vet bills must be covered, so we are increasingly making the donation reflect the actual costs of saving the dog.

• We are more than happy to discuss specific circumstances and adjust to specific needs.  Please feel free to discuss it with any of us.

Where do you dogs come from

• Many of our dogs come from mid-west puppy mills, although sometimes we do get dogs that have been given up by their owners.  We have had dogs from elderly people entering nursing homes who could not keep their dogs, and it’s very important that their best friend is found a great home.  We encourage adoptive parents in this situation to share with the elderly person who gave up their dogs.  You can imagine the pain involved in this situation. Our puppy mill dogs have lead horrific lives, often kept in outdoor cages and mistreated.   These dogs can pose a challenge to the average adopter, and we are very careful to insure that these dogs are placed appropriately.

I’d like to visit your dogs

• NNEWR is a volunteer rescue organization.  Our main intake facility is in Auburn Kansas.  Our dogs are rescued from puppy-mills in the midwest and fostered by our founder or other people prior to adoption.   Once we find someone who wants to save one of our dogs, we arrange transportation from the mid-west to their final homes.  We generally do not transport dogs who are not placed due to the trauma of the transport and the cost of transportation.  :

Do you have any rules about adopting

• Generally it’s a question of finding the right match between dog and family.  You should know that Westies are generally not a good match for families with small children, and we’re usually pretty careful about that.   This is a good article from OK Westie Rescue  about Westie personalities   CLICK HERE

I have a Westie I’d like to give up

• Send us an e-mail right away with your phone number.  We will contact you immediately:  EMAIL TO: rescue@nnewestierescue.org