memorial Winnie's story

DotInFlorida

Senior Member
Owned by
2 cockers
Last year about this same time I posted a bit on Winnie, out last Rottie. I promised at that time I would tell you a story. Here goes.....

Winnie was born not terribly far from where we live now and was part of a rather large litter. They were all so cute! Hard to choose, they all were so happy and plump. We picked a couple to look at apart from the rest and what did one do? Grabbed a huge piece of chain and started carrying it around! Then went for a swim in the nearest water dish. LOL Gotta have that one - what a character!

She grew up under the tutelage of Alexander and was the darling of everyone she met. We moved to our current home in 2003 and they both adapted quickly to a larger home and much larger yard. Shortly after we moved I was out back with them and happened to have Winnie on lead. She started acting sort of weird and jerked me hard forward and knocked Alexander sideways. At the same instance I heard a loud crack followed by a crash - where I had been standing was a tree branch that had fallen from a dead tree. I have not a doubt in my mind that Winnie saved my life and possibly Alexander's too.

She developed Vitiligo which is a pigmentation disorder and fairly rare. Two years later and she looked like a reverse dalmation. The vet had us take pictures of her and took those and the tests she had run to a large veterinary convention that happened to be in Orlando that year. She was a star! LOL We even had one specialist from the University of Florida come down to the vet's office and see her.

When we lost Alexander we couldn't bring ourselves to get another Rottie. We knew Winnie would be our last. We decided that when we lost her that we would only have rescues. So I guess Winnie is responsible for starting us on that path, and thus, Ellie, Otto and Charley.

It has been two years today since we lost our baby girl. I miss her still. She was my heart dog. I slept many a night with her on the floor in our den. I fed her "picnic" style in the same room. During the last 5 months she was with us she was crated during the time we weren't at home. The week before Thanksgiving 2009 we were playing out back and she cried out in pain - she had torn the ACL in her right leg. Two surgeries later and she was going to therapy and doing really well. On the day of her last therapy visit she tore the ACL in her other leg. I was right beside her when it happened and I will never forget that sound. One more surgery and beginning therapy and she started having pain in her front left shoulder. I knew something was wrong. We had her shoulder x-rayed and all looked normal except for this tiny, tiny spot which we all convinced ourselves was nothing. We though maybe the stress she had been under from limping had caused a strain so we stopped therapy so she could recover. One month (to the day) later we took her in for x-ray again as she wasn't getting better and I could tell she was in pain. (Rotties are very stoic and don't show pain as most other breeds do - you have to really look for it) That tiny, tiny spot had turned into full blown cancer and had almost eaten through the bone. Nothing we could do and her being in pain had no choice other than to make that horrid decision.

Dear sweet Winnie - you are always in my heart and I think of you often. :luv:
 
{{{Dotty}}}
What a story... send me your favorite pix of her, or, even better, one of her and Alexander, I'll paint them for you...
 
What a poor little girl. I'm sorry you lost her and she went through so much. I keep hearing more and more dogs tearing their ACLs and other joints. I think breeders should check for it as it's becoming a problem especially since it happened to my Gabby.
 
Thanks for sharing Winnie's story with us. She looked like such a sweetheart!! Poor dear!
 
There's really no way TO check for bad ACL, MCLs. Just like people, if you're hard on them they tear. Now if more than a few in a litter had it happen and it was reported back to the breeder (especially if the dog was fairly young) I might not breed those parents together again to hopefully not predispose any more pups to it but it would vary depending on the dog's age and how it happened.

Winnie is a PRETTY girl! I like her spots too.


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Great story, thanks so much for sharing it. I too, like her spots and have no doubt she save you that day.
 
Oh what a pretty girl she is. I sure love the spots on her. I am sorry you lost her few years ago. I love rotties, my brother in law had one Otis. He was the biggest baby and very protective of women and kids. Many times he would growl at my brother in law if he would touch my sister, me or the kids. All he has to say is NO and he stops.

((HUGS))
 
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story of Winnie, she sounds like she was quite the character. I, too, love her spots.
 
Winnie was a beautiful girl Dot - and Rotties can be such sweet, loving, tender dogs. It sounds like Winnie was pretty amazing.

Sending you hugs on this day, and every day that you miss her.
 
Oh Dotty...I also know how hard it is to lose a "Heart" dog as they come into our lives very seldom. They become so deeply etched into our hearts not one day passes that we do not think of them. Winnie was a very special girl which loved and saved her Mama. You were both so lucky to have had each other and I am sure she stills watches over you every day.
My thoughts and prayers go out to you. :prayer:
 
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