Baxter the Interview

This is Preston investigative reporter for prestonspeaks.com  Today I have the honor to interview another wonderful Westie from Westie Rescue Southeast named Baxter.

Preston:  Baxter, thank you so much for taking time from your busy nap and looking out the window to talk to prestonspeaks.com

Baxter: Your very welcome youngster…oh I mean Preston.  When I was your age we hadn’t ever heard of dogs having blogs so this is really neat that your speaking on us dogs behalf to the humans.

Preston:  I bet also when you were my age you walked both ways uphill in the snow to get to puppy class every day too…hehehehe..but anyway back to the interview. May I ask how old are you?  I hear you’re in your golden years.

Baxter:  I am 11 years young.  but I have a lot of bounce left in my step and plan to be around for quite a few more years.

Preston:  I hear  you have a heartbreaking story about how you ended up in WRSE. I know it is hard to talk about but can you share with our viewers.

Baxter: Well I have only had one home my whole life.  While I was a puppy my mommy got me and we were quite a pair for eleven years.  I loved her so much and she took good care of me.  If I had a problem I was always taken to the vet, had toys, and she made sure I had plenty to eat.  Honestly, between you and me I had her wrapped around my little paw.  I loved food and she loved giving me food.  I would give her my big puppy dog eyes and she would cave.  She gave me alot of human food and I gave her alot of kisses.  I was her best friend and she was mine.  But then she started to get sick and had to go to the human vet (doctor) more and more and the family came over more and more.  It was decided that she needed to go to assisted living. But there was no where for me to go….

Preston:  Do you need a blanket to wipe your eyes off on?  Please continue we know it is tough for you…

Baxter:  My human brothers and sisters couldn’t take me home with them because they lived out of town or in an apartment.  So it was decided I was going to go live a while at Wills Animal Hospital.  The people at Wills especially Brad my vet tech was just amazing!  I lived there for quite a while and they helped me lose my extra weight and helped me grow my hair back.  Then one day my foster mom Rachel showed up and off I went to my new home and I was told I was a WRSE very loved Westie.

Preston:  Tell me about your foster home.

Baxter:  Well my foster home is Westie central.  I have a awesome big brother who also just happens to be called Preston and looks just like you, hehehe.  Then I have a foster brother named Elvis who was a former puppy mill dog just starting out his life as a pet.  Elvis asks me alot of questions about how being a pet is like and I try to tell him about all the wonderful things being a pet means such as not having to worry about getting your next meal, going to the vet even if we don’t like it, and most importantly the oh so nice belly rubs.

Preston:  My research says you recently appeared on Dog TV’s the biggest dog loser.  Tell us about that experience

Baxter: Well I was almost the winner and would have won 50,000 dog biscuits but a great dame won.  He lost more weight than me..but he had more to loose.  Plus, who wants to get a great dame mad?!?!?  I started out at 37 pounds and over the months with the help of Wills Animal Hospital I am now down to 20 pounds.   That is 17 whole pounds!  It was tough I had to give up human food and take medicine but it was to the point that if I didn’t the vet told me I wouldn’t have long to live.  A 37 pound Westie is almost twice the size we are suppose to be.  The extra weight was hard on my heart and my joints. I had allergies too and that caused me to lose almost all hair.  So I was one ugly Westie..37 pounds and no hair?!?!?   I had hit rock bottom.

Preston:  So how did you dig you way out of your weight challenges?

Baxter: I did it for my mom.  She needed to get well and I needed to as well so I followed Doctors order to the tee.  But I admit there wasn’t much opportunities for me to cheat either. But I feel like I’m 6 again and I’m ready to live life again by going to doggie socials and dog parks and playing with my foster brothers and did a mention chewing chew sticks..yum!.

Preston:  So your looking for a new forever home.  What kind of home are you looking for?

Baxter:  My idea home would be with another dog and no kids.  I’m a senior dog and having a bunch of kids around could be stressful.  I love to lay around and watch people and the outside world. My new parents need to understand I wouldn’t do well on long hikes and games of Frisbee or agility. They also need to be understanding that I may have some accidents every now and them because my bladder doesn’t work as good as it use to.  Finally, since I need to take maintenance medication every day they must be willing and able to buy my pills and give them to me each and every day.

Preston:  Well I hope you find your forever home soon  and it has been a pleasure to bark with you!

After our interview Baxter’s mom passed away.  She was very loved my her family and friends (and Baxter).  The family requested that memorials be sent to WRSE to help take care of Baxter.  A family friend is planning on adopting Baxter in the next couple of weeks.  So Baxter will have a new forever home soon!