ADOPT A WESTIE

Looking for a new best friend?

We take our time finding the best match for each rescued Westie and ask questions to be sure the transition will be as smooth as possible.

We are excited you’re thinking about adopting a Westie. Please read the important information below.

DEAR WESTIE FRIEND,

Thank you for applying to adopt a rescue dog. Each Westie who comes to us is very special, with a unique background and needs.   

Some of these dogs have come out of traumatic situations. For all of them, it is stressful to lose the home they have known. This does not mean that they will not make wonderful pets. 

However, just as you may have certain desires about the dog you want to adopt, so each Westie also has special needs, which we try to determine through an initial health, background, and temperament evaluation. This is never easy. Therefore, we ask you to be as thorough as possible in answering the questions on the Adoption Application form.

Some of the rescue dogs are released to us from Shelters or Animal Control organizations. When a dog is released to us from an individual, we require that the person giving up the dog sign a Release form to protect the person adopting the dog. We will also require you to sign an Adoption Agreement form to protect the dog. In the event you are unable to continue to give the dog a good home, we require that the Westie be returned to us. Our policy also requires that every dog adopted from our program be spayed or neutered.

We operate primarily in the North Texas area. If you are not located in this area, the placement of one of our rescue dogs presents logistical problems. We generally do a home visit with prospective adopters as part of our screening, and nearly all of our volunteers live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. There are some ways around this, using a mix of digital photos and phone discussions, but our placements are usually made within reasonable driving distance of D/FW. We do not ship dogs. Applicants must be prepared to travel to the D/FW area to meet dogs and transport any adopted dogs home.

A Few Words About Westies & Children

We do not adopt to families who have children under the age of eight (or homes where young children are or are going to be frequent visitors) because many Westies do not do well with young children.

MEET YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND

Please complete as many of the fields in the application form as possible.

FAQs

  • Essentially, the application process is complete upon entering your information into our database. Typically, we have every application ready for access within a 24- to 48-hour period. We are an entirely volunteer-based organization so this time may change - but usually, we're fairly quick in getting new applicants into the active process.

  • There is no real answer to that question - at least not one measured in days or weeks. We will contact you when we have a dog who needs a Foster or Forever home whose needs align with your desires. Usually, when we have an available dog, we'll either call or email all those applicants who are suitable for that dog. Remember, our goal is to meet the dogs' needs first, matching them to the best environment. Most Westies in the WRNT program have already been through an awful lot of trauma - emotionally and often physically - and it is their needs we have to consider first.

  • WRNT maintains a file of information on prospective adopters within the Dallas Fort Worth area of Texas and on what Westies they may be willing to consider.

    The first step of the process is to complete the adoption application form which is available here on our website.

    The application must be completed by the person who will be adopting the dog and is legally responsible for it.

    Your application will be reviewed once you complete and submit it, if this is tentatively accepted by the Board of Directors the next step is initiated.

    A WRNT Director conducts a vet check (if you have a vet reference listed on the application).

    A WRNT Director will conduct a home visit, this allows us to get to know you and the other members of your household so we can assess which personality dog will be a good match for you. It also allows us to decide if we feel you are a good candidate for adoption and that your home is a safe environment for one of our dogs.

    If all of the above passes, a meet-n-greet is scheduled for the rescue and the family to ensure it is a perfect match. If we all feel it is a successful match then the adoption can be scheduled.

    If it is not a successful match, your application will be kept on file for up to 6 months and reviewed as new dogs come into the program.

    If you have submitted your application and you have not heard back from us then it is most likely that we feel we do not have a dog that will match you at this time or that your application has not been accepted by the board of directors.

    Most applications once tentatively accepted are processed and contacted within the week it was submitted.

    Please visit our Adoption page for online applications.

  • Once you have your new fur kid home that is not the end of your relationship with W.R.N.T. We will allow you to settle in for a day or two and then we will contact you to see how everyone is settling in and to answer any queries/questions you may have. We do like to stay in contact with you on a long-term basis to make sure it is all working out ok and also there is nothing more fulfilling for us to watch one of our foster dogs bloom into a wonderful Westie. Our foster parents like to keep in touch with the families that adopt their dogs and we will also send you our monthly newsletter and details of any events that we feel you would like to attend. We invite all our past adopters to our annual events such as the ice cream social and Westie walk.

    We will always be just a click or a call away. We like to think that you adopt the dog and WRNT.

  • The minimum donation for most adoptions facilitated by WRNT is as follows:

    Under 1 year: $600 each

    1 year -8 years: $500 each

    9 years and over: $350 each

    In 80% of our adoptions, this amount is far less than we spend to rehabilitate and return them to health. Any amount you wish to donate over the minimum request is very much appreciated, and is eligible for favorable tax treatment as WRNT is a registered 501(c)(3) Non-Profit organization.

    **There are always exceptions and each dog-requested donation will be decided on a case-by-case basis, the requested donation will be confirmed at the meet and greet.

  • We strive to place every rescue Westie in his or her "forever home" and this is the reason we do the home visits and meet and greets, but things don't always work out as planned. If, at any time, you decide your adopted Westie is not going to fit in with your family, lifestyle, or other pets, we will take him back. In fact, when you complete an Adoption Agreement you must agree if you ever decide to give up your Westie, to return them to Westie Rescue of North Texas.

    We want you to love your Westie as much as he's going to love you, so if it doesn't work out, just let us know!