Proud Parents of a New......

Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Fikes are the proud parents of a new Bouncing Baby Boy Westie named Mac or Mackie.

The 20-pound, two-plus-year-old West Highland Terrier arrived at Hamer Hills Farm Sunday, January 14, at 6:30 p.m.

The new arrival is already excelling in his job of lap-sitting with his Grandmother, Alice H. Sanford and charming everyone with his overwhelming cuteness.

Louisiana Westie Rescue to the....uh....rescue....again!  When the little old gentleman Westie Rebel died the day after Christmas, we had to find another lap dog for Mama as soon as possible!  It is breath-taking to see how calm and happy she stays as long as there is a little furball around, preferably snuggled against her.

Gordon and I drove to Brookhaven where we met Vickie of Hammond, LA.  Vickie has been a foster home for rescued Westies for quite a while.  She was the foster home for Annie and Rebel, that we adopted in early October, 2006.

We took Annie with us to visit with Vickie and her two Westies, Dougal and Lucy.

Annie was nervous because she had changed home a good bit in the latter part of 2006.  We gave her some herbal travel anxiety drops and tried to keep our energy calm and happy.

There were wags and wiggles aplenty when the four Westies greeted each other.  I had never been around that many Westies at one time, so I was on Cloud Nine!

Annie recognized Vickie right away, and pulled against her leash to reach her favorite foster mom.

With all of that wiggling, squiggling, yipping sniffing and wagging going on at once, it was difficult to take care of the paperwork.

So we put Dougal and Lucy in the back of the Westie-mobile to curl up in their own padded beds (that fit perfectly in the back of that adorable car!)  The windows are perfect for the little Westies to lie in their beds and look out at the world around them. BMW's MINI Cooper should consider a Westie as the car's mascot!

Annie and Mac had a chance to greet each other while the humans signed paperwork and a check.  After a short human visit and some skeptical lip-curling and growls from Annie who was not pleased about this overly-enthusiastic little boy, we were ready for goodbye's and a three-hour trip back to the farm.

Gordon and I have HUGE admiration for these foster Westie moms!  They can't help but fall in love with their little charges as they nurse them back to health and work through any bad habits or fears the Westie-rescue might have.  It was hard for Vickie to see Mac leave her...just as it was hard for her to let Annie and Rebel go to a new "forever home".

You can see that Annie well remembered Vickie's obedience training (with treats), and Mac must have been a top student in  Vicki's "Good Manners" class!  Vickie was not holding any treats, but both little dogs, with no prompting or commands, sat and looked up at her in anticipation when Vickie stood up.

In the first picture on this post, notice that little Mac is balancing on his hind legs.  His little paws never once touched my skirt as he negotiated for the return of his beloved chipmonk.  He is such a little gentleman!

It broke my heart to see how uncertain Annie was about the whole trip.  In the past quarter-of-a-year, she had traveled long distances only when she was passed to a new home.  My heart hurt thinking she was afraid we were giving her away.

I wish we had had the videocamera on when we returned to the farm and she hopped out.  She was soooo happy to be home again, and I think she finally accepted that this is her forever home.

Annie has spent a lot of time snuggled against me since we returned...either sitting on top of my feet or in my lap or lying on some part of me when she slept at night. She is such a loving little eight-year-old Westie.  I just cannot understand how that woman threw her away...but I am thankful we have Annie now, and she will have love and people around 24/7 here on the farm.

Little Mac is a dream Westie!  He gives lots of kisses, and he is just so HAPPY!  Max is quickly melting Annie's initial jealousy.  He has gotten her to play with him yesterday and today....and then she will stop abruptly, remember that she is supposed to be indignant over the new addition, curl her lip and pretend he does not exist.  It is hilarious!

Mac was turned over to a shelter with two other dogs (different breeds) when his owner moved to an apartment that would not accept pets.  Mac is a happy little fella, and he was apparently not overtly mistreated. 

His coat was impossibly matted, and he did not want to be brushed, so grooming and dog baths were apparently not part of his life.  The mats in his hair were so bad that when little Mac was under anesthesia to be neutered, his hair was detangled only then.

Would you believe he was absolutely perfect when I gave him a bath in the shower with me yesterday?  Not a peep, no attempt to get out...he was perfect!  That little boy has a huge heart to learn what he needs to do to fit into his forever home! We did not know he could bark until today when he joined "the pack" announcing the propane supply truck!

The new-mama-to-be in me could not stand the anticipation Saturday afternoon, so  I whipped up this new bandana for Annie with some cute little yo-yo's.  I can't seem to get yo-yo's off my mind since my last yo-yo-fling!

Then on the drive down to Brookhaven, I appliqued a "M" for Mac and embroidered some vines and daisies on this bandana for Mac.

Oh my.....how quickly two adorable little Westies can turn an otherwise sane and stable 44 year old woman into.........(I'll let you finish the sentence. *sheepish grin*)

Gordon is not in much better shape.  He adores these two little powderpuffs, but I won't tell you how silly he can get while playing with them.  You know men and their macho reputation!  *chuckle*. 

The English Shepherds met Mac with calm resignation that they had yet one more furry critter to watch over.  The English Shepherds are not completely convinced that the Westies are actually dogs.  I think the Shepherds think there is part cat in the little fluff balls!

Rosalie the rescue Siamese mix, has observed this new addition with haughty disdain....from some safe high perch.  To our knowledge, little Mac has not clapped eyes on Rosalie....yet....but we know he smells her presence.  He discovered the obscure little box with buried "tootsie rolls" this morning.  (If you don't know what I am talking about.....don't worry....and don't ask. You don't need to know!  *laugh*)

You can be sure to see more pet pictures in the months ahead.  For now, I am going to get some puppy-snuggle-therapy!

Comments

[kaniesa]

Excellent info, I liked it.

[Penny]

Mary....How are your Westie paintings coming along? I'd love to see your work! Please email me at penny(at)pennysanford (dot)com. Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting on our fur-babies!
Fondly,
Penny

[Mary]

Congrats on your new arrival!.. Gorgeous westies there! If you'd ever consider letting me use them as little models for my paintings....... :)