Beth Widdows 11/21/46-9/16/23

Beth was the original founder of Westie Rescue Michigan, and she began this organization single-handedly in 1999- 2000. Westie Rescue Michigan was her vision, and she alone – more than anyone else - helped it become a strong and vital Rescue organization with a growing group of committed volunteers and adopters. Beth created, nurtured, supported, and saw to it that WRM held to high standards. This Rescue organization was her passion and she truly lived it. Without her, Westie Rescue Michigan (WRM) would not exist. Beth was a strong, indomitable woman until September 2023, when pancreatic cancer took her life. It is still unfathomable for many of us in WRM that she is gone, but her legacy in this organization shines on. Beth was the ultimate champion for Westies, particularly rescued Westies; she was an advocate and protector, levelheaded, and fair. Beth was a mentor, activist, educator, and friend. Her many contributions in this organization benefited and glorified Westies in everything she did - because she gave 100% and succeeded at it masterfully. Beth’s many accomplishments included fostering, transporting, vetting, educating, and mentoring for two decades. She created the Foster Binder, wrote the Christmas Newsletters, created, maintained, and updated our website, secured sponsors and donors, attended Club and Rescue meetings, hosted mailing parties, archived records, directed auctions, and personally achieved fame at excelling at a great number of dog sports, games, titles, and events. It took a dozen of us volunteers to fulfill all the jobs Beth did on her own for years! No one will ever succeed in earning more titles for her dogs than Beth; she truly believed dogs should be more than a warm body sharing our home. Her dogs excelled in Agility, Obedience, Rally, Earthdog, Nose Work, Fast Cat, and Lure Racing. For all that, many of us long time volunteers are grateful to have known Beth and to have called her a friend; she has been a hero to many of us in Westie Rescue Michigan. Some of us may only do one great thing in life, but Beth did many great things. She was – to many of us in WRM – an unsung hero. Let us always remember Beth Widdows: say her name, and sing her praises, now and for as long as Westie Rescue Michigan thrives.