Snowy

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A Tribute to Snowy

February 28, 2008 to July 14, 2025

Came to us: September 30 2019

We applied to the Westie Rescue Association of Canada when we saw the posting about Snowy, feeling that we could fit the bill for the little darling. It was an honour when we received the phone call from Wendy Turner to say that we would be able to foster Snowy. We were leaving for a long-planned trip to Italy and Spain right after the phone call and were unable to take Snowy until we were back from our trip. We returned home from our trip on September 28 and Wendy arrived with Snowy on September 30. It was the easiest adjustment we have ever made to a new family member, although, of course, at that point, Snowy was going to be a foster dog.

From day one when he arrived, we had his bed beside me and that did not change. We spent nights sleeping like this for six years. Snowy settled right in, and we settled in with him.

Snowy arrived at our home in October 2019. By March 2020, we were in isolation with the COVID pandemic. Snowy got us out of our suite three times a day no matter the weather and able to talk with other people who were doing dog walks. He helped us get through that time.

When Snowy arrived at our home, he had very recently had surgery on his cruciate and could only do short walks. He wanted to walk more and recuperated quickly under the guidance of our lovely vet, Dr. Loff. We learned that if one knee needs to be operated on, the other knee is likely to go. Within a few months, that was the case. He quickly had surgery on that knee with the financial help of the Westie Rescue association and was able to get back walking normally very soon.

Snowy was very nervous in the car on the way to our home. It took months for him to let us lift him from the car without his wanting to jump to the ground, not a good idea because his legs were fragile. Wendy did everything that was humanly possible to get him to settle in the car, even lovely classical music. Within the first six months, we found a system that worked for drives with Snowy. It turned out that in true Westie spirit, he wanted his independence, including being the driver’s assistant. His harness was in the seat belt, a box on the floor making a flat surface, and he was able to co-pilot. Snowy knew when we were going to visit either of our daughter’s homes and was very relaxed. He knew the routes and would pace and worry if we took a different route. The driver was able to stay focused even if occasionally Snowy forgot the rules of the road and gave him a kiss on the ear.

Snowy was very sociable, always ready to greet visitors with enthusiastic tail wags and kisses. He loved canine and human visitors

Westitude did keep us on our toes. He was careful choosing his canine friends. If he decided that another dog was not to be on our friends list (a very rare occasion) , he would pull on his lead as hard as he could to get to the other dog. We never knew what instigated this reaction. Fortunately, it was rare and we were able to cross the street or go in a different direction to divert him. It also helped that he was little enough that I could pick him up and get him away from the situation.

Snowy loved having our grandchildren in his life. Grandson Liam and his sister, Chloe, took on being Snowy’s babysitters and teenaged family.

Once we figured out a way that Snowy enjoyed being in the car and with the help of a light sedative from our veterinarian, we had some great trips with Snowy. Snowy would enjoy the trip, have a good sleep in a hotel, and be his usual inquisitive and friendly self. We enjoyed trips to Tofino, Burns Lake, Ladysmith, Parksville, Victoria, Saturna Island

Westie Walks in Vancouver with the Westie Rescue Society were a highlight of our year

The Oldest Westie Beside the Youngest Westie 2025

Ready to Race 2024

Snowy slowed down doing things in his last year. He enjoyed a second time being the eldest dog in the Westie Walk in Vancouver on June 1, 2025 and shortly after (on July 14, 2025) when he was 17 ½ years old, he succumbed to a lung infection. He brought great joy to our household, a quiet enthusiasm for life, walking, people, other dogs. We are grateful to the Westie Rescue Association for the opportunity to be Snowy’s family for the last six years of his life.