As soon as I picked him up all four paws went straight out in the air and he made this little grunting sound which was obvious that he was afraid of heights. When I put him close to me he nuzzled right into my neck. I put him back down and looked into his eyes and then I just knew it was him. He was so beautiful.

Winnie came home with me and the very first night I put a blanket next to my bed so he could sleep next to me. I awoke to this crashing sound in the bathroom.

I remember so vividly thinking "ut oh he's already being naughty the very first night." As I walked out I saw Winnie RUN by me with something in his mouth. I looked in the bathroom and found my floral arrangement pulled apart. I went back into the bedroom and Winnie had arranged eucalyptus all over his bed and layed on it. From that moment on I knew he was an extraordinary dog. He was exceptionally smart and often he outwitted every single family member!!

He was diagnosed with hip dysplasia when he was still a puppy. I vowed that I would take care of him no matter how much it cost as long as he didn't suffer. I literally sat with him and explained that I'd NEVER let him suffer and he would lick my face like he understood.

I watched his weight closely and decided to put him on some "light" kibbles since he had a few extra pounds. (His nana pup argued with me and always stuck up for him and said he was thin) .. Winnie continued to gain weight and I was baffled. I couldn't figure it out. My mother (Nana Pup) picked him up and took him out for a walk on my work days. I fed him his kibbles in the morning and he ate ALL of them so his bowl was completely empty and then Nana pup was coming over and filling his kibble dish feeling sorry for him as he whined and told her his story that he was not fed. He was eating twice the amount of light kibbles!!!

The little rascal did other things too. He had four different routes for walks and he did each route in order so that he'd complete all four before he'd start over. If we tried to alter his plan he'd sit in the road and he wouldn't budge. After awhile he'd give in and we'd start walking and before I knew it he had to take me around a tree to go potty and somehow he ALWAYS got me oriented back the way he originally planned like I didn't notice. I used to let him get away with it and LAUGHED hard at his wit!! Half way through his walk he ALWAYS ran back to me wagging his tail so hard his whole hinde end was moving and kissed my whole face (and Nana pup's too) and I'd tell him how much I loved him.

When he rode with me in my truck I'd put the standard shift in reverse and he'd automatically look to the rear of the vehicle just like me. He was a clean freak and whenever he scratched his paw he'd sniff it and gag. Friends and family would run to see him do it (and he always did) because they couldn't believe it.

Winnie started to get really ill the fall of 1998 shortly after he began taking Rimadyl. He wasn't his playful self. He was depressed, lethargic, and had terrible diarrhea.
He died a slow death and he suffered.

I promised him he would never suffer and to this day I still cry whenever I think of him and how he and I parted. For those of you that don't know Winnie amputated half of my nose on Easter Sunday 1999. He had just gotten so sick that he could not function properly anymore.

He was euthanised while I was having my surgery. I could not be there to hold him or say goodbye and he spent his last days at the vet being quarantined for rabies in a cage. Winnie had never seen a crate in his life.

I have tremendous guilt and will forever be in tears remembering my baby. He was the best dog and I will never get over his loss. I will never forget how my best friend and I parted.

Winnie the Pup rest in peace. I will reunite with you someday.
I know you will be waiting for me, loyal as ever.

Suzanne Shasteen