Volunteer-led Westie rescue • New England
Every Westie Deserves Safety, Dignity and Home
We give senior, medically complex and difficult-to-place Westies the specialised care, time and compassion they need — until they are ready for home, or for as long as they need us.
- All-Volunteer
- Foster-Based Care
- Long-Term & Hospice Support
Abner, adopted through NAWR in 2016.
Where would you like to start?
No Dogs Are Currently Available
Every Westie in our care is evaluated in a foster home before placement. This ensures they receive the right care and that we find the best possible match. Applications are always welcome, so we can move quickly when the right dog arrives.
How we help
Care for the Dogs Others Turn Away
Rescue & Surrender Support
We respond to surrenders and crisis situations with compassion.
Surrender informationOwner Support & Coaching
Helping families keep their Westies through guidance and resources.
Get supportAdoption & Placement
Thoughtful matching for lasting, loving and appropriate homes.
How adoption worksLong-Term & Hospice Care
For Westies who need lifelong care, comfort and dignity.
The Sprite Program
Buddy, cared for in the Sprite long-term care programme.
The Dogs Others Turn Away
Through our Sprite Program we care for Westies with complex medical needs, behavioural challenges and senior dogs who need more time. We provide veterinary care, behaviour support, long-term fostering and hospice care — always with patience and dignity.
Some of these dogs will never be adoptable. They live with one of our volunteers for the rest of their lives, and comfort and quality of life guide every decision we make for them.
All-Volunteer
100% run by dedicated volunteers.
Foster-Based
Dogs live in homes, not kennels.
Serving New England
Supporting Westies and families across the region.
Specialised Care
For seniors, and medical and behavioural needs.
Lives Changed, One Westie at a Time
Previously Rescued — These Dogs Are Not Available
Angus
Gus has unique behavioural needs that his family handles expertly. He is very active and has even gone surfing.
Read Angus’s story
Bear
A gentle giant who loved the outdoors but arrived with a lot of anxiety. In foster care he blossomed.
Read Bear’s story
Cassie
A 13-year-old “little black dog” who found a forever home with several other senior dogs and a wonderful mom.
Read Cassie’s story
Ella Holly
Born with two holes in her heart. She lives permanently in our Sprite programme, cared for by a volunteer.
Read Ella Holly’s storyA Temporary Home Can Change Everything
Foster families provide safety, comfort and understanding — the essential first steps toward a settled life. We have no kennels, so every dog we take in lives in a volunteer’s home while we learn what they need.
- We provide food, supplies and all veterinary care.
- You provide love, structure and a safe home.
- Hospice fostering and transport help are both needed.
- We support you throughout, and match every dog carefully.
Because each placement is matched to the household, applying does not guarantee that a dog will be placed with you.
Illustrative photograph — not a dog in our programme.
Help Us Say Yes to the Difficult Cases
Your support helps provide veterinary treatment, medication, food, rehabilitation and long-term or hospice care.
North Atlantic Westie Rescue, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity, EIN 27-4442364. Donations are tax-deductible.
There’s a Place for You on the Rescue Team
Foster Volunteer
Open your home to a Westie who needs somewhere safe to land.
Hospice Foster
Give comfort and dignity to a dog in their final chapter.
Westie Taxi
Drive dogs to foster homes, vet appointments and adoption days.
Coordination & Support
Social media, fundraising and the behind-the-scenes work.
Helpful Resources
Is a Westie Right for Your Family?
Learn about the breed, its temperament, and what to expect before you apply.
Read Article
Caring for a Senior Westie
Seniors are the dogs we most often take in. Five reasons they make rewarding companions.
Read Article
Understanding Common Westie Health Needs
An overview of the conditions we see and the standard of care every dog receives.
Read ArticleNeed Urgent Help With Your Dog?
If you are facing a crisis or need to surrender your Westie, we are here to help with compassionate options. We are unpaid volunteers, so please leave a message and wait for us to call back. If we have no foster home free, we will refer you on. Email northatlanticwr@gmail.com.