Operation Wild White Rose

The mission was simple, originally: retrieve four dogs rescued from a puppy mill in Pennsylvania. Then, Maryland Westie Rescue (MWR) learned of 20 more Westies coming in from a puppy mill in Iowa. In the 10 days before the actual "mission" (dubbed “Operation Wild White Rose” for the wild rose that is Iowa's state flower), we began arranging foster and even permanent homes for the incoming Westies, coordinating people and schedules, and coordinating with Greater Annapolis Veterinary Hospital (GAVH).

On Saturday, March 1, MWR sent three cars to retrieve the dogs (to western Pennsylvania, not all the way to Iowa, but still over 500 miles round trip!). Vickie C. and John G. (in one vehicle), and Ann P. and Phil M. (in a second vehicle) arrived to pick up the dogs about 7 p.m., then started the trip back. Volunteers Don and Durie would bring the remaining four back on Sunday. The first 20 Westies, including two puppies, arrived about midnight, disoriented and scared, at "Mission Central" (the home of Angie G. and Kevin W., who let us use their vacant home while they were out of the country) .

With the help of Jill S. and KJ from the Companion Animal Rescue Alliance (CARA), the dogs were bathed and their dirty, matted fur clipped. (Follow this link to CARA's Westie Story.) About 3 a.m., Jill and KJ left with three of the Westies, and three exhausted MWR volunteers went home to sleep, leaving 17 dogs to spend the night with brave but sleep-deprived Ann. One demanding Westie girl, named Missy by the volunteers, became "puppy mommy" to our two puppies: Merry and Pippin (a Westie-mix). Of the others, one girl and the two boys spent the night in crates, while the rest were grouped into several X-pens.

The next morning, Phil took four of the dogs to Frederick, Maryland, to transfer to Mary Ann of Westie Rescue, Inc., and then met Don and Durie as they were bringing the four remaining dogs from Pennsylvania. These four, plus four from the group that stayed overnight, went to GAVH. Meanwhile, we conducted our first home visit for a prospective foster family.

Back at "Mission Central," volunteers Gwen L. (an expert groomer) and Tara L. groomed the remaining nine dogs, while Vickie and John provided water, clean pads, and lots of love to the Westies. That night, Phil stayed with the remaining nine dogs.

On Monday morning, Vickie and Ann returned to help care for the Westies until their afternoon appointments at GAVH. Volunteer Bob K. arrived at GAVH to help out as Drs. Elizabeth Daher and Norma Woodburn (and many of the veterinary assistants) examined the 17 dogs. By late afternoon, our first two adoptive families arrived to meet and adopt their new Westies, Missy and Slinky. Bob took twin sisters Macy and Capri to foster, while Vickie brought the two puppies to Gwen for fostering. Three of the dogs (having recently given birth and thus not able to be spayed) went to the For Top Dogs Boarding Kennel, while the rest stayed at GAVH for a few days.

By midweek, nearly all the remaining Westies were at the Kennel. The following Saturday, March 8, Phil and Angie met two more adoptive families and several foster families at the Kennel. Both Bianca and Gwen (the dog - not the volunteer) went to their forever home, while the rest went to foster homes. Thanks also to our wonderful foster families: Barb and Tom H., Lisa and Phil L., Don and Durie W., Bea and Rich G., Kristen T. and William C., Steve T., and Irene and John G.

And just when you thought 24 Westies rescued from a puppy mill were more than enough...

Operation White Carnation

While still placing the remaining seven Westies in foster care from "Operation Wild White Rose," MWR learned of another nine (eight girls and one boy) Westies coming from a puppy mill in Ohio. As usual, the planning began over a week before the mission (dubbed "Operation White Carnation" for the scarlet carnation that is Ohio's state flower). Ann and Angie arranged vet appointments at GAVH and began finding foster homes and other boarding arrangements for the incoming rescues.

Saturday morning, March 29th, Phil and John loaded up a car with six crates and headed to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to meet the driver bringing the dogs. Unfortunately, that arrival had been delayed, so by the time they arrived, Phil and John had no time to get them to GAVH before it closed. Fortunately, John and his wife, Vickie, (plus their own rescued Westies Dougal, Lucy, and Miss Idgy) graciously offered to house the dogs at their home.

After a brief stop at Angie's house for supplies, the dogs arrived at Vickie and John's house in College Park, Maryland. Once "settled" into X-pens, Vickie and John began bathing and quickly clipping the seven girls and -- surprise -- two boys -- the second boy discovered as they were getting bathed.

Early the next morning, Phil returned to help John take the nine Westies to GAVH for exams, shots, bloodwork, and short-term boarding.

As of April 1, 2008, the majority of the dogs from Operation Wild White Rose have been adopted! However, there are several still in need of homes. One of the dogs from Operation White Carnation has found her way to her permanent home. For the remaining 8 - they are patiently waiting for that perfect home to come along.

We are in urgent need of funds to cover the medical costs of 33 rescued Westies (and one Westie-mix) Please donate toward Operation Wild White Rose
and Operation White Carnation today!

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