My name is Winston!

Notes: 12-13-05 We are taking inquiries on Winston in hopes he may have a fur-ever home for his final days.
We would welcome a foster home for Winston.
Please contact us for information on our foster care program if you have love to offer a little old shih tzu.

Winston is a black/white shih tzu, 15 yrs. old, doesn't hear well or see well.
Winston's long time companion passed away. Family members are distraught as they had hoped to be able to provide for Winston.
Alas, Winston is not doing well in their care.

Winston comes with complete vet records. However, we will have one of our rescue vets look over the records, examine Winston in case there is anything he needs to make his stay here more comfortable.

We have been told that Winston would always come to his guardian, she would take him outside, he was totally housebroken. However, with her death and the move about amongst family members, he seems to be confused, thus is having accidents in the house.

We have already observed Winston gets around quite well for a dog his age. He trots on the leash, goes to the door to go outside, rode quietly in the vehicle in a pet taxi. Nice little fur-man.
We are thankful that the family contacted us rather than put this little fur-man in a shelter. Old dogs do not do well in a busy shelter environment.

Update 12-14-05 Winston visited the Warsaw Vet Clinic, seeing Dr. Candy, now practicing with Dr. Anstaett.
Winston weighs 14.3 lbs. The fluid was drained from the cyst on his head. Dr. Candy told us that it may fill up again, may need drained periodically. The growth on his right hind leg does not warrant surgery at this time to remove it. Surgery is too risky with a significant heart murmer that she graded at a 5.

His skin will require a special shampoo once a week. His eyes will need special ointment twice daily. His ears will need special ointment twice daily.
Updating vaccinations was not recommended. A dental was not deemed advisable due to risk of anesthesia at his age. We will not microchip unless a fur-ever home is found.

We have placed Winston in our Hospice program. No way to tell how long he may live. Some dogs come here to die the night of their arrival (like Otto) and go on to live for several months (like Otto did). We will provide the Rxs necessary to keep him comfortable.

We have found Winston to have very good house manners. He goes to the door when he needs out. He also goes out on a regular schedule, does his duty, explores a bit, then returns to the door.

Update 12-16-05 Winston was groomed by Linda's Grooming & Boarding of Lincoln. We had a lot of the facial hair shaved away so it would be easier to clean and medicate his eyes and ears.

Note 12-23-05 Winston seems to have adjusted quite nicely to life here. We have him on a regular schedule for eating, waking, bedtime, meals, and he is doing quite nicely. He no longer seems confused. He has his favorite place to lie which is under the computer desk chair or under the dining room table. He likes to be near a human, yet is never bothersome.

He gets along with all of the dogs and the resident cat. Nothing seems to phase the little fur-man.

He is medicated twice a day, eats dry dog food with a bit of canned food mixed in. His appetite is quite good now.

We have notified the family of his improvement. However, the family member is still unable to provide the level of care Winston needs to be content.

Thus, we shall patiently wait until a true shin-tzu lover comes along to give this little man the TLC he needs to be comfortable. We will continue to provide for whatever his little heart desires. Nice little dog!

Update AM of 12-26-05 Winston now takes his turn in foster care with Marti. She loves to cook for the old ones that need extra TLC.

Note 12-26-05 PM from Marti -
Now for the update on Winston, once again I am so honored to have a great man dog staying here. You saw how much he has settled in already and was not nervous at all with Jason as he sat at his feet the whole time he was at the computer, only moving to go to the front door when he needed to go out. He is such a great house guest and so sweet and just no trouble at all. He too loves to eat people food and gets so excited and becomes a little puppy again when it comes to food.

I'm so glad he likes it here with us and has settled right in just like he has lived here for a long time and is a real member of this family. He is at my feet and Carmie is on my lap. I feel loved and appreciated around here. He asks for little and gives so much. He is great with Carmie too. He has been a beloved pet for a long time and knows how to act like a real gentleman.

Note from 7 Bells - We stopped in this PM to visit Marti, show her how to medicate his eyes and ears, change the dressing on the growth on his right rear leg. She will do a splendid job. We also discussed people food. While we realize it is not the best for dogs, we also realize that dogs this senior, who have been used to eating people food, should be allowed to have people food. It surely makes Winston happy! Thus, we do it!!
His long time guardian fed him chicken and cheese. He will be allowed to have those items while in the care of Marti. He is also being allowed ham and eggs. He is getting around quite nicely for such a senior dog.

Note 12-29-05 We were taking Winston to Dr. Candy for another look at the growth on his right leg. It bleeds, Winston licks at it, thus Marti is keeping it bandaged.
En route to Doc's ofc., Winston had what appeared to be a seizure. We thought he was a goner.
Doc Anstaett was in the office, thus saw Winston. He believes it to be the heart and has asked us to avoid any possible stress. (Guess that means Winston won't have to see Doc again as he stresses too much going there?)

Update 12-30-05 from Marti-
Winston has been doing great since his wild afternoon yesterday, When we got home he took a 2 hour nap when he awoke he went outside just like always and when he came in I fixed dinner, he ate every bite ,went back outside and laid behind my chair and slept off and on during the evening and all night. This morning he was back to his ole self and ate good went outside and then I fixed his leg, he had removed his bandage sometime during the night and put in all his drops, if I say stay Winston he sits very quiet while I medicate him, he is a great dog and he obeys just fine. Before I left he went outside and when he came back in he jumped up on the love seat and was there the whole time I was gone . He still likes to be nearby wherever I am , but is getting very attached to my loveseat.

Update 12-31-05 from Marti -
I cannot get over how good a dog little Winston is, he knows what and how to do what is expected of him here, only barks when the need arises or food is being prepared and I am taking a little too long.

I truly feel as if the Lord has brought him to me for the last leg of his life. I always pray over each and every dog that comes into my home and the Lord always honors me with the greatest dogs I could imagine. Little Winston is truly a gift to me from the Lord and I love him so much. I know deep inside of me when the Lord sends me certain dogs, because they fit right in here and I begin to love them immediately and that love grows stronger each day. He looks at me with such love and is so grateful for the care he receives and the yummy food, that my love is growing for him in leaps and bounds. I feel so honored that the Lord and Judy allow me to care for this truly loving and super special dog.

Update 01-02-06 from Marti -
Well I know I told you about Winston this morning but he really did take to Alyssa (7 yrs. old) like glue and begged to be up on the bed with us last night. He went to her side and did his begging and she just picked him up and then I realized he was in bed with us he stayed real close to her and went straight to her pillow and laid down and went sound asleep and was really crowding her but she loved it. He was so cute about it and she and I just laughed and laughed about it. Finally he must have gotten too warm and I noticed he was moving toward end of bed. I lifted him down and he went straight to his regular rug and was soon fast asleep. I am going to see if he wants to bunk in again tonight. Then this morning as soon as she got up and sat down on loveseat he jumped right up beside her and wanted her to pet him. I was so surprised by all this, not because he isn't friendly to everyone, but because I had no idea he had ever been around kids. Oh well, they sure got along great. I was so pleased.

01-06-06 Note from Marti-
Winston is doing just fine. He does sleep a lot but I think that bath really helped and he doesn't seem so uncomfortable. He is still eating well today and doing well.

He has never had an accident since I got him. His foot wart smells a little when he gets the bandage off and licks on it a lot. Made sure it was doctored good before bedtime.

Update 01-07-06 Marti has advised us that Winston will only eat his turkey and cheese now and even less of that. He refuses to eat any dry dog food at all. Thus, he can have whatever "people" food he will eat. He sleeps most of the time, yet still goes to the door to go outside and barks to come back inside. She tells us he is the greatest little dog she has ever had the honor to care for.

Update 01-10-06 from Marti-
All is very well here today. It was actually a nice quiet day. Winston is so good and mellow and is always very close by me now. He is a gentle and loving and soooo sweet. I often think about the wonderful lady that raised and loved him for most of his life. I know he misses her very much, but has made a special place here and in my heart. Oh, boy it will be hard somewhere down the road with this one. I gathered my two little ones close to me and rubbed their bellies and hugged them.

Update 02-06-06 from Marti-
All is fine here, Winston is just going on and on and is happy as a lark. As long as we don't interrupt his schedule he does great. He is my shadow and stays close by me all the time. Still loves his chicken .

Update 02-18-06 from Marti-
Winston is such a gentleman. If someone comes in to visit and he is on the loveseat, he greets them then immediately jumps down and goes to his little rug behind my chair. He is always close by me and protective of me but never in the way or a pest. He is so wonderful and now sleeps in late and eats later than he used to. He does not seem to mind this cold weather at all. He goes out and loves to roll in grass and checks things out, and seems to love the wind blowing through his hair. He is still such a beautiful dog and always so good and well mannered. He has truly won my heart to him. I am so grateful to the Lord and all the ones who made it possible for me to have the honor of knowing and caring for this truly amazing little fur-person. I hugged him and petted him a few minutes ago and thought to myself-- Mister Winston has been so patient and loving and has now finally got me trained. I love it.