Winnifred 1996-2007
Just after Thanksgiving we found that our sheepdog, Winnifred, had advanced bone cancer in her right rear leg. Our vet told us she only had a month to live. In 2001, Fred had a freak spinal injury when she was out playing. She went up for a Frisbee and when she landed she went lame in both her back legs. A bone spur had caused a blood clot that put pressure on her spine and resulted in the injury. After a few weeks of walking her around with a bath towel harnessed under her belly to hold her up she regained the use of her back left leg. The vet told us then that she may never regain the use of her rear right leg and that it may have to be amputated. During this period due to the huge amounts of steroids she was being given she lost almost 30 pounds. But Winnifred rallied and slowly began to regain the use of her right rear leg. But she always walked with a limp in that leg after her accident. So when the cancer developed in that leg we had no way to know anything was wrong because she had always limped. It was not until she went lame in the rear right leg again that we knew something was wrong. By that time it was too late. I didn't really believe it when we were told that she was terminal, I figured Fred would get through this too somehow. However, her leg began to grow over the next month, but her mood remained normal (although she was on heavy pain killers). Then on Christmas day she seemed despondent. Normally Winnifred enjoyed holiday's where presents are involved and particularly loved opening her own, but not this Christmas. On New Years day it became clear that Winnifred's pain was outweighing the drugs that we were giving to her. She could not seem to ever get comfortable when laying down and could not get up without help. Over the next few days Winnifred's demeanor turned to that of desperation, she stopped eating and always looked panicked. We knew she was suffering. We had her put to sleep on January the 6th. She was one week away from her 11th birthday. Winnifred was our only dog. It's been almost 2 months now, but still, when I got up this morning I looked for Fred laying on the floor at the foot of the bed, when I get home from work I start towards the back door to let her in, when we go out to dinner inevitably I think we better get back to Fred soon, and on and on. She was an amazing dog who seemed to just know things intuitively. I swear I never taught Winnifred anything, and yet she was kind, well behaved and seemed to know exactly what I was saying all the time. Winnifred loved to swim, chase cats (even though she secretly liked them), catch a Frisbee, ride in the car, go with me to work, hang out in her yard and yell at the neighbors dogs, sit on the front porch, and so much more. She was with me before I knew my wife and before I knew most of my other good friends. She was with me through crazy bad times and crazy good times. And I'm still trying to figure out how my life works without her. I have been trying to put Winnifred's story on this forum since she died and have not been able to get through it. Until now. |
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| I am so sorry for your loss of Fred. It is amazing how these wonderful dogs intergrate themselves in our lives.
I hope with passing time, you will be able to remember her with more smiles than tears. Bless Fred! |
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your wonderful sheepie Winifred. Thank you so much for sharing Winifred and your story. I know you deeply miss her and I pray for you to have strength while you travel through your grief.  Hugs from Violet, China and me.
Tears. |
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I'm so sorry for your loss wendy and gismo |
| I am sorry for your loss. She was obviously a special dog! Your avatar of her jumping into the pool is fabualous. |
I am very sorry about the loss of your Winnifred. 
You did the right thing. She is now running free, without pain at the Rainbow Bridge. |
| Hi,
I know losing Winnifred has left a hole in your heart and although time heals, she will always be lovingly remembered. When you described her life it was obvious her uprights did everything humanely possible to make her feel comfortable and provide the best treatment. In time, you will be able to smile at the happy times and I encourage you to write about them as that too eases the pain. Thank you for letting us know a bit about your beautiful Winnifred. Marianne and the boys |
| What a beautiful girl Winnifred was! I lost my Beau last year to cancer and miss him every day, the wonderful memories of him help ease my pain, and I hope all your memories will help you as well. |
| Winifred will always be there forever in your heart and memories, sorry for you loss, it is a terribly hard time on all. Missing them is the worst but it does get a bit easier with time.
Thankyou for sharing your gorgeous winifred I know she will be sadly missed by you and your family. |
| I'm so sorry for your loss, but glad that you found some comfort in sharing your wonderful story. They live on forever in our thoughts and hearts. |
| I am so sorry for your loss. It is so obvious that Fred was totally loved and well cared for you. Hopefully in time the pain will ease. Your Fred has joined all the other sheepies we have lost at the rainbow bridge. |
| I am so glad you told us about Fred! She sounds like she was such a trooper and had an amazing life filled with love. I am so sympathetic to the tremendous loss you are enduring. You are very lucky to have such wonderful memories . . . |
| I'm very sorry for your loss of your sweet Fred. They leave a big hole. |
| Sorry to hear about your loss but know that you did the right thing. She is now playing with all the other sheepies, free of pain. There is a poem called the Rainbow Bridge which I found by searching this site. |
| Very sorry to hear about your loss of Fred. |
| It is so hard to lose our best friends.
I am sorry for your loss of Fred. |
| I'm so very sorry to hear of your loss of your precious girl, Winifred. She sounds like she was truly a wonderful girl, very loving and much loved. The line that hits home with all us sheepie owners is "I'm trying to figure out how my life works without her."
She will always be in your heart and memories. And in time, I hope you can give another part of your heart to another sheepie. You're in my thoughts in your time of grief. |
| I am so sorry for your great loss. Don't feel bad that it took you a while to post about her, my Katrina has been gone five years now and I haven't been able to memorialize her in this way.
Winnifred was a beautiful girl and it certainly is evident by your pictures she was very loved and had a great life. I hope you find comfort during this difficult time. |
That was a truly beautiful tribute to "Fred". I had not read this until this morning, and it made me cry.  I know now for sure, just how much you love our sweet sheepies.
I hope that seeing another wigglebum for a little while come Tuesday will help you and your wife in your healing.  |
| As I read your moving tribute to your dear Fred, I thought I would cry as I usually do when I read this page. But it was like I was reading about my Tyler and I found someone who had many of the same experiences, I smiled and it was as if I could see your dear sweet Fred and Tyler playing together. I'm so very glad that she had you and your wife to love her. She sounded like a very special gal with very special people.
I lost my dear Ivory many years ago ( she was a Samoyed and white Shepard mix) and I was devastated at loosing her. So when Tyler had his Bladder stone surgery when he was around 9 years old, I knew it was time to find the dog who would help me past the inevitable loss (he missed his 13 birthday by a few months) and that is when we adopted Kiera Jean, and she was the best thing I ever did for both Tyler and for me. She was so sweet and it was so helpful to have her to hug. I know it will sound trite and right now you can't imagine not feeling the pain, but you will get to a place where the pain will be less and the memories will bring smiles. I'm finally getting close to that place most of the time. I still weep at times, but I remind myself that he was in so much pain at the end, it was really for me that I would have kept him around. May your memories of your dear Fred fill your hearts with smiles and warmth! Always |
| Hello my new friends,
I want to thank all of you for your kind words and well wishes. By reading this forum I've been encouraged to look at getting another sheep sooner rather than later. We are in process of adopting a wonderful Sheepdog that needs a home (thank you Betsy, I can't begin to describe how much). I know how crazy this will sound, but I hope this is ok with Winnifred. You all have been a great help to us in making this decision. I'm looking forward to becoming a part of this online community for now on. Colin |
| To Winnifred's family,
I'm so happy that you will soon be helping another much deserving sheepie of a forever home. Homes such as yours are hard to come by and Winnifred would be honored you are helping another. I recently wrote a post just below yours in memory of my beloved Shaggy whom I lost 3 years ago. She will be with me forever and I often still speak of her but now always of happier times and fond memories. Trust me the pain does subside. I wasn't prepared for another sheepie only 2 wks after her passing but there was a desperate plea on this forum for help with a dog. Thus Panda came into my home and I have never regretted it. He wasn't to replace Shaggy as each are unique and special in their own ways. Although I also had 2 others in the home, Panda has repaid me back tenfold with his love as I believe he knew he was finally in his forever home and was so grateful. In retrospect I realize now that with Shaggy's passing it allowed me to have room for another and thus Panda's life was spared as he was due for euthenization. The two people responsible for arranging for Panda to be with me, Roy and Elby also had one that passed, Tsung Tsung. We often said it was to honor Tsung Tsung and Shaggy that Panda was saved. They would have been proud of us. As Winnifred is certainly proud of you Colin for helping another of her kind. Remember as long as she remains in your heart she is with you forever. Glad you joined the forum and will be looking forward to hearing upcoming stories and photos of your new one. Marianne and the boys |
| Thank you for sharing Fred with us. She sounds like she was a wonderful member of your family but also the sheepdog family at large.
We never really mend when our sheepdogs leave us. We still tear up. It's OK. They are and were a very special part of our lives and we should feel blessed to have had them with us, tho' granted for far too short a period. Fred can not be replaced, but there is probably a little spot in your heart for a new sheepdog. He or she won't be Fred, but someone else you can once again laugh with. |
| thats all I can do after reading all that. Do let us know if you get another, Fred would want you to share your love with another dog |
| Thank you for sharing Fred's story with us. Your words of love for her paint a picture of a very loving, selfless, beautiful girl who was a best friend and constant companion for you. How could you not be lost without her?
I can't help but think she'd be pleased that you loved her so much you'd choose to bring another sheepie into your home and give them the same kind of wonderful life you gave her. |
Beaureguard's Mom wrote: I can't help but think she'd be pleased that you loved her so much you'd choose to bring another sheepie into your home and give them the same kind of wonderful life you gave her.
ditto  |
| I'm SO glad to hear you may be adopting another sheepie!! Of course Winnifred would be thrilled! She wouldn't want you and your wife to be sad any longer. You gave her a beautiful life, she gave you many memories in return, and now she wants you to share what you gave her with another sheepie in need.
Good luck, and be sure to let us know what happens!! |
| Hello Friends,
Thanks to Betsy and Ingrid at OES Network of the Southeast, we are adopting Sadie (you can see her in Betsy's post here http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?t=12624). Looks like she is moving in this weekend. |
| Winnifred sounded like such a sweet sheepie girl, and she is very beautiful. What a lovely bond you shared. I'm glad you were able to share her story. Judging from how our dogs seem to put us first with their unconditional love, I'm sure Winnifred will approve of your new sheepie.
Sharon and Max |
 Congratulations on your new sheepie girl. Winifred would be proud, you saved one of her friends. Best of luck with Sadie, she is a beautiful sheepie girl.  |
| Hello again,
I thought I'd share with you guys some lyrics I wrote for Winnifred. My writing partner has put them to music and demo'd it. If you would like to hear the demo, you can here... http://www.colincrews.com/surprise-ending.mp3 Surprise Ending I said - I knew You before you were born You were waiting by the door The link that holds us forged Like nothing came before I said - I would Be with you all your days Dry you from the rain Like a first taste of champagne Nothing could be the same You’re still real to me I’m devolving piece by piece Moving inexorably To this surprise ending I said - I’d help I couldn’t and broke down With friends circled around So much sorrow I almost drowned Nothingness replaced the ground Memories are reality Now silence holds lease Moving so suddenly To this surprise ending You’re still real to me I’m devolving piece by piece Moving inexorably To this surprise ending My mind - gets lost In eleven years gone by Hills we had to climb The roads we had to drive In the end always surprise They say to let it be And there’s peace time will bring But it’s always been you and me Until this surprise ending |
| You really helped me to feel your pain for your loss.
I don't know whether to thank you or not. Time [is]is[/i] the great healer- the pain never ends, it just becomes bearable eventually. I hope that time comes quickly for you. |
| I am so sorry for your loss of Fred |
| Hello friends,
It was one year ago today that we lost Winnifred. Fortunately I have plenty to keep me busy today. But I think we will have some champagne later to celebrate Fred's life. When she died I swore that I wouldn't get another dog for at least a year, out of respect for Fred. But the two months without a dog was just unbearable, and honestly I don't know what I would have done if we hadn't adopted Sadie (thank you Betsy!) and then got little Stella (not that little anymore) a few months later. Anyway, I want to thank the members of this board once again for all your kind words when I needed them. You all are the best! I wanted to share with you this link to a song I wrote about the first 2 months after Winnifred left, sorry it's a little sad, but appropriate I think this morning. It's called The Last 60. Here's to Winnifred - I miss you. |
| Hi, I am glad you decided to bring another sheepie into your life, even better a second one, you will always remember every sheepie you once had the honour to share your time with they are soooo special. I had to have my old boy put to sleep last year and I still have that frrling he is still around today, enjoy yourselves with these wonderful dogs and have a happy and interesting New Year. Hugs from all at Tikki-ti-boo |
| What a beautiful song! A fitting tribute to a Sheepie.
I'm sure Winnifred is smiling upon you and is still by your side. |
CBC26 wrote: When she died I swore that I wouldn't get another dog for at least a year, out of respect for Fred. But the two months without a dog was just unbearable, and honestly I don't know what I would have done if we hadn't adopted Sadie (thank you Betsy!) and then got little Stella (not that little anymore) a few months later.
No, Colin, thank you for adopting a sheepie in need. I am sorry for the loss of your sweet Fred, I know you still miss her. Just keep the good memories in your mind and heart. Enjoy the new memories you are making with Stella and Sadie! |
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