Westie spends more than 400 days waiting for a home

RSPCA staff seeking a special home for a cheeky, chatty Westie fear adopters are being put off by his baldness.

Nine-year-old West Highland terrier Jay was taken in by RSPCA Macclesfield, SE Cheshire & Buxton branch in January 2021 when his owners suddenly fell ill and could no longer take care of him. He has been waiting for 411 days since to find a loving home to call his own.

Carmen Cole said: “Jay is such a little character and while he may be small, he certainly makes up for that in personality. 

“He was well looked after in his previous home and was much-loved. Sadly, however, he’s suffered from severe allergies his whole life - a common problem for Westies - and he’s now almost completely bald. 

“We worry that this is what’s putting potential adopters off of offering him a new home but we really hope that there’ll be someone out there who can look past his lack of hair and see that he has a whole lot of love to give.”

Jay’s paw-rofile

• I love going for car rides. Beep beep! 

• The best thing about being bald is that I don’t leave hair on the sofa! 

• I love munching on veggies - peas and carrots are my faves!

• I do a great little Shakira dance when my bum is scratched! 

• I’ll do practically anything for a treat! 

• I smell AMAZING (coconut oil is my secret!)

• I like all the attention so I don’t want to live with children or other pets.

• I’m happy being left alone for short periods of time.

• I can be a little grumpy and sometimes need some space.

• I will make you smile all the time! 

• You’ve got to pick up my poop quickly as sometimes I’m tempted to take a little nibble!

• I have expensive taste (being this cute doesn’t come cheap!) but I’m worth it! 

Due to Jay’s health problems he has a specialist diet and will need ongoing veterinary care and medication in his new home. He has eye drops for dry eye, cream and coconut oil to massage into his skin daily, special medication and medicated baths for his allergies, ear cleaner and steroids for life to manage his ear infections. 

Carmen added: “Poor Jay does have a lot of health problems which are sadly common for his breed. As he’s aged, some of these problems have flared up and we recently had to put his home search on hold due to recurring ear infections.”

The little terrier is also losing his sight so will need owners who will be understanding and supportive of this as he ages. He’s been in a foster home and is doing well but the team is desperate to find him a permanent home.

Carmen said: “Jay is such a sweet boy; he’s a real softie and although he’s quirky and knows his own mind, he has us in stitches all the time! He can be really playful and can sometimes be timid so he needs an owner who will understand his moods!”

Ideally, the RSPCA is seeking an experienced home for Jay. Staff would like potential adopters to visit him several times before taking him home so they can learn how to administer his medication and so he can learn to trust them. 

He’s looking for an adult-only home where he’ll be the only pet and would like a secure garden to potter in. Dust mites can cause his allergies to flare up so he’s best in a home with hard floors as opposed to carpets.

Jay can be left home alone for short periods of time but would like someone who is around for most of the day as he needs regular visits to the garden. He does struggle around other dogs so his new owners will need to help manage this.

Carmen added: “We know it is going to be a struggle to find a home that will tick all of Jay’s boxes and we understand that the cost of his ongoing care may be putting people off.

“But we won’t give up on Jay; he is a spicy character, who is a cheeky chappie with heaps of charm and who has expensive taste – but being this cute doesn’t come cheap! It takes a lot of work to look as good as he does – he deserves the very best.

“He’s quite chatty and can be loud sometimes as he likes to demand your attention. He’s a real softie with his own quirks and that’s what makes him so charming and lovable. 

“He is an absolute sweetheart and will make such a wonderful pet or companion for the right person.”

Find out more about Jay from his online profile or contact the branch rehoming coordinator on:

rehoming@rspca-macclesfield.org.uk

...or 01625 669620.