As an active member/volunteer/supporter of Westie Rescue, I agree to abide with the following guidelines:

GENERAL ITEMS:
1. To maintain my rescue efforts as a non-profit endeavor whether my group is an organization recognized by the state and/or federal government or the work of one or more individuals.
2. To conduct my rescue efforts on a voluntary basis, receiving no personal or monetary compensation for rescue work.
3. To facilitate the rescue and adoption of stray, abandoned, neglected, abused and surrendered Westie of pure breed lineage and Westie-mixes displaying the physical and behavior attributes of a purebred Westie.
4. To ensure no Westie will be denied rescue because of age or physical condition.
5. To ensure all volunteers in my rescue group are educated in their area of service, whether fostering, adoption screening, temperament evaluation, transportation or educational outreach.
6. To educate potential adopters about the West Highland White Terrier breed including temperament, health, training and care issues promoting responsible pet ownership.
7. To recommend, if requested, specific breeder referral contact information or specific West Highland White Terrier Regional Clubs to potential adopters desiring such information but not to act as a general repository or adoption means for any breeder’s unsold Westies.
8. To support the definition of “responsible breeders” as: “Reputable breeders are those who study the breed, usually are members of local and/or national breed clubs, often exhibit at dog shows, carefully plan and execute a breeding program. They take all appropriate health care of the mother and puppies, socialize the puppies and carefully screen and educate the potential new owners of the puppies. They will stand behind their puppies to the extent of taking the puppies (or dogs) back if there is a problem and refunding money or replacing puppies with genetic defects.”
9. To obtain a complete release of ownership form on any owner surrendered Westie placed in Rescue.

FOSTERED WESTIE CARE
10. To provide every rescue Westie and all animals in my care appropriate food, water and shelter under sanitary conditions that meet or exceed all minimum standards as defined by local health and sanitation authorities.
11. To provide appropriate emergency veterinary treatment as well as routine veterinary evaluation and care for fostered Westies and all animals in my custody including regular inoculations, heartworm testing, administration of preventive heartworm medication and to ensure each animal is free of parasitic infestation.
12. To spay or neuter each unaltered rescue Westie while in foster care unless contraindicated by veterinarian evaluation.
13. To evaluate the temperament of each Westie and exercise good judgment to assure its suitability for placement and to not knowingly place a vicious or otherwise seriously temperamentally unsound Westie in an adoptive home.
14. To ensure that a veterinarian humanely euthanizes rescued Westies deemed unadoptable for reasons of health or temperament and to ensure the remains are properly disposed.

ADOPTION PROCEDURES
15. To thoroughly interview potential adopter utilizing two or more methods such as written application, phone interview, home visit and face-to-face interview with the goal of placing all rescue animals in homes that are breed appropriate and specifically appropriate to each individual Westie.
16. T never knowingly give or sell a Westie of any age to any pet shop, catalogue house, laboratory or any wholesale dealer in dogs or to any person who sells to any of the above nor to knowingly aid or abet the sale of any Westies through any of the above.
17. To never breed a rescue Westie or release a rescue Westie to any person for breeding.
18. To require a sterilization contract for all Westie when spay or neuter is not performed prior to adoption and to make every effort to reclaim any unsterilized Westies within three (3) months of contract date unless the veterinarian has provided a written certificate why the procedure is contraindicated.
19. To review the current veterinary records of all other pets in the prospective adopter’s home or receive a veterinarian reference on current pets or precious pets prior to placement of the rescued Westie.
20. To require that adopters be at least 18 years of age.
21. To obtain landlord approval for prospective adopters who rent or lease their residence.
22. To fully disclose all health and temperament information about each Westie and to never knowingly misrepresent a rescue dog’s age, medical condition and/or temperament to anyone.
23. To utilize a written adoption contract on each rescue dog.
24. To never release the original registration papers of any rescue dog to the adopter(s) even if the animal is sterilized to prevent their unlawful use.
25. To provide follow up advice and assistance to adopters.
26. To take back any rescue Westie placed by my rescue group at the request of the adopter. The refund of adoption donation will be at the discretion of the rescue Chairperson.
27. To maintain a waiting list of interested adopters when requests to adopt exceed available dogs.

INTERORGANIZATIONAL AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS
28. To abide by all written contracts entered into with a releasing agency or person and to pay agreed upon fees to releasing agencies for rescue Westies.
29. To conduct myself in a courteous manner in rescue work such that my behavior brings credit to the image of Westie Rescue and animal rescue in general.
30. To promptly return phone calls to agencies and private owners with pets to place or to make alternative provisions to have calls handled by another rescue representative.