'Lovable, sweet, feisty' Westies invade Bushy Run Battlefield site

A contingent of about 40 West Highland white terriers invaded Bushy Run Battlefield State Park in Penn Township on a sunny Saturday, trekking on land where their ancestral owners once fought Native Americans 260 years ago this summer.

The cute lovable canines, better known as Westies, invaded the historic battlefield with their owners — volunteers with the Westie Rescue of Western Pa. — for a day of fellowship, food, fun and fundraising for the rescue efforts the organization supports. They cover a region that stretches from Western New York to the West Virginia border, said Michelle Clemenson of Pine Township, a club officer.

The semi-annual gathering, which drew close to a 100 people, not only brings Westie lovers together, but helps make the public aware of the Westie Rescue group and what the organization does “to try to find a good match between a (Westie) dog owner who wants to relinquish his Westie and an owner,” Clemenson said.

“We try to find them a good, new forever home,” Clemenson said.

The organization, which has about 50 volunteers, raises money through donations and selling raffle tickets to pay for veterinarian bills that may arise during a Westie adoption, Clemenson said. A donation also is requested of those who adopt a Westie through the organization.

“We all love the breed and are willing to help,” Clemenson said.

This breed of Scottish terrier is believed to have descended from the Lowland terrier, a short-legged, wiry-coated breed that was one of the most common in Scotland in the early 1700s, according to the website Crazy Over Westies. About four decades after the breed was created, soldiers from the Scottish Highlands were part of the British and Colonial American force that were en route to lifting a siege at Fort Pitt when they encountered Native Americans.

They were bred to be used in hunting small game, willing to go down into burrows to get at the animal, Clemenson said.

Kim Bard of Penn Township brought her Westie, Marley, to the Bushy Run park.

“They are a feisty little breed and are very sweet and lovable,” said Bard, who has owned Westies for some 20 years.

Jennie Mackay of Verona, the retired owner of a dog grooming business in Oakmont, said she has Westies for more than 20 years.

“I like them ’cause they are affectionate and they’re intelligent,” Mackay said.

Marla Taylor of Bethel Park brought her Westie, Wallace, to the gathering, still grieving over the death of her 15-year-old Westie on Thursday. That pet’s death followed the passing of another of her Westies earlier this year.

As for finding another Westie to give Wallace a companion, Taylor said Westies are hard to find from a breeder and can be pricey. There are often waiting lists for a puppy.

“If you can find a good one, you will pay money,” in the range of $1,800 to $2,700, Taylor said.