The incredible story of Winston, part 3
We are graciously greeted with beautiful leis by Cris and Punky, and Cris’ brother Tony. Joan was presented with an intricately woven ginger lei, while Ron and his dad Bernie were greeted with Maile leaf leis – a sign of respect and honor. A Micronesian ginger lei 
A Maile leaf lei 
Winston has mustered quite an army! While Joan, Bernie, Cris and Tony wait for (and deal with) the luggage, Punky and Ron go off on foot to find the airport quarantine office. Remember back in the very first part of this story about quarantine in Hawaii? We wrote: “Hawaii is a rabies free state, and they intend to keep it that way, with very strict quarantine requirements.” Now the moment of truth: will Winston and his paperwork pass all of the strict quarantine requirements and be released directly to us at the airport, or will he go to doggie prison for up to, in the worst case, 30 days? While in the quarantine office, we met a military man who was trying to claim his dog from overseas. In classic government SNAFU, his pooch has been sitting in quarantine for a day because the officer in the overseas office isn’t there when the Hawaiian office calls, due to the time difference, and when calls are returned, the Hawaiian office is closed. Then there is paperwork that needs to be signed by the USDA representative, but the USDA office on this island has been permanently closed, but the dog can’t be released until everything is settled. Ron gets nervous. It’s been an hour and no sign of Winston. Finally, someone nods towards Ron, and Ron presents the paperwork through the bullet-proof partition!?!. 5 minutes later Winston’s crate is rolled out to us, just about the same time that Tony shows up with his truck. One of the rules about claiming your dog at the airport is your dog cannot be taken out of his crate until you are off of airport property. So we pack Winston in his crate into the back of Tony’s pickup, and go in search of the nearest off-airport patch of grass. We find a park just outside the airport, the crate is opened and Winston is in Hawaii!!!! More to follow... |
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Ron!! keep it coming....I am on my tips here wanting to know more and how Wiston is....
Vero and Pisco (here with me also reading Wiston`s story) |
| Drat!!! Ron has done it again....leaving me anxious to hear more of the story. I'm thinking he should apply for a job as the writer of a mini- series especially when they say stay tuned next week.
Keep the story coming Ron....I love reading it!!!! Marianne and the critters |
| I can't believe Part 3 was written the day I joined. That's what got it all started for me. I was on in the early morning hours that day reading 1 & 2 til about 4 AM, since I was having trouble sleeping after losing Rosie. I was so enjoying this story and was disappointed when you hadn't started Part 3 yet. Since then I've been to about 50% of everything probably in the forum. Never realizing you had continued on with Winston's story. I just came onto it accidentally tonite when viewing the other picture area here and was getting all excited to hear about Winston's newest adventures meeting his new mom and dad, when you left me hanging out here again with Vero and Marianne. You rascal !
As you can tell we are all enchanted by this story. Thanks for continuing on Ron. Let's make it a mini-series that never ends. |
| A mini series, Great Idea! The Adventures of Ron and Joan, Sheepie Rescuers!
What beautiful lei's they presented you with. I am also looking forward to hearing more about Winston and his adventure in Hawaii. Stormi |
| ron you could write a kiddies book around his big adventure. I am sure he will love his new home. You could raise funds for rescue sheepies with it. you always finish your postings about winston leaving readers wanting more. luv pepe |
| I think you should get PIXEL interested. They could do a 3 Parter. Winston could be the next Nemo !
Joan and Ron those lei's are absolutely beautiful. Did they have one for Winston too ! |
| OK, Ok, I get the hint!
I am working as we speak on the final installment of Winston's trek with us. It will have pictures and music... If I can arrange it with the copyright owners in the next day or so. It's not a surprise ending folks! See you soon. -Ron. |
| Yea! what fun this is waiting to see what happens next. all with the happy ending that will get us all teary eyed.Thanks Ron.Love this site it is great. |
| Ron, you need to hurry up with your next update on Winston. He is the one that originally got me "addicted" to the site. Now I just like to come and read what is new with everyone. |
| Winston loves the park! Cris and Punky enjoy taking Winston for a couple of mini walks and within an hour we all pile back into the cars for the half-hour trip to his new home.
Cris and Punky have a beautiful home on the north side of the island of Oahu. They have a gorgeous yard with a six-foot fence on top of a low stone wall. In one ‘corner’ of the yard there is a running waterfall into a nice coy pond, which is adjacent to the masonry lanai. On the lanai are all the critical elements for living outside in Hawaii; a table with an umbrella, 4 comfy chairs, a barbeque, and a chimnea. They are on a corner lot, so Winston will have free reign outside around half of the house. After we arrive, Cris presents Winston with a gorgeous Kukui nut lei. 
Winston decides this lei is wonderful, and proceeds to run around the house. Unfortunately, he catches his front paw on the lei, which breaks and scatters the nuts, leaves and shells all over the living room floor. Well, he enjoyed it for a few moments, anyway! Over the next couple of days, Winston, Cris, Punky, Bernie, Joan and Ron (phew! What a list to type!) take some short trips around town. Winston gets to check out his new neighborhood, and his new beach. Winston makes some friends: 
Winston on his beach: 
With 6 of us, Joan and Ron decide to rent a full-size car. So, everything is going beautifully and then—Disaster. Winston bites Cris on the face. Not a vicious bite, but still a bite. Ron was standing right there and didn’t see the bite, didn’t hear a bite or a snarl. Winston just turned his head and bit Cris’s face hard enough to draw blood from her lip. Ron and Joan were flummoxed. Flabbergasted. Stunned even. Winston had never ever shown any sign of aggression whatsoever. We all figure he must have been startled or something, and we put it out of our minds. On Saturday the 10th, the cry was heard around the island on the “Coconut Wireless”: Surf’s up! Punky had heard the day before that there might be some big surf, and had made plans with us to take us to Waimea beach on the North Shore. All 6 of us pile into the sedan as we got an early start – good thing since we actually got a parking spot in the beach’s small lot, with only a few minute’s wait.. Another 30 minutes and we would have been stuck in miles of traffic. Big surf is quite an attraction, and these are the first big swells of the year, and it’s a weekend! BOY O BOY was that surf big! They say they were 25-30 foot swells. I have some video of it; someday I’ll get some up on the website. We visited a store in Waimea called Strong Current. Strong Current is a local legend, serving the long board traditionalists, and is run by a friend of Cris and Punky’s. You can take a look at Strong Current’s website here. Winston was the hit of the store, as usual, and even cashiered for a while. (We are still waiting for the pictures…) On the way, Winston had snapped at Punky, which was very troublesome, and still perplexing, but we just figure he is still stressed from his flight, uncomfortable with the seating arrangements, whatever. The next day he bit Punky in the face. It dawns on us we’ve done a bad thing. Up until this point, Winston was working for everything, being trained to sit at doors, to eat last, to be subordinate. He had earned the privilege to sleep in our bed, but it was not a right: he had to wait and be invited. Suddenly, everything is going so well, and everyone is so happy, the humans forget about the dog, and give him virtually free reign. Lots of love as usual, but little structure. What we think we’ve done is put Winston into a new pack, and he’s trying to figure out where he stands with these new packmates. As soon as we realize this, all is well. Cris and Punky take a more dominant role, Joan and Ron take another step back and all is well once again. Well now it’s time for us to part. We’ve been here 5 days, everyone is adapting, and like a rotting fish, guests stink after 3 days. Cris calls Joan aside and presents her with Winston’s Kukui nut lei, completely repaired. Joan cherishes this lei, and has it in a place of prominence in our home. It’s laid out in the shape of a heart. Ron and Joan have a last goodbye with Winston. 
Ron, Joan and Bernie are off to the other islands, and then on to San Francisco where Bernie had attended UC Berkeley after his service in WWII. We’re told that Winston is settling right in. He loves to hop up into bed at 6AM every morning and wake everyone up. Then, as soon as they’re up, he hops in! What a sneak! If you haven’t already, you’ve just GOT to take a look at him on his page at ww.oes.org: Click here for Winston’s page part 3 Epilog: Missing Winston Everybody who has come in contact with Winston has been indelibly marked by his sweet personality. The Rescue Angel Realtor Penny, Foster care providers Nancy, Ron, and Joan, our neighbors, and now, judging by your response, you dear readers have all been touched by him and his story. How he managed to maintain his great personality after such an awful mistreatment is a mystery. Joan and I have been around a few sheepies, Nancy has fostered hundreds. We just can’t get him off of our minds. He is really a special, sweet kind of guy, and we all miss him. Thanks for letting us share his and our story. Joan and Ron. |
| >>>Grabs tissue dabs eyes, blows nose...sniffs
No thank you Joan and Ron for telling us this wonderful story of Winston. There are a lot of heros in this story and it's amazing how so many four legged ones helped out Winston. He is a very special boy. Thanks so much for this story. Marianne |
| Ron, Joan, and All,
You did good you guys ! It was worth the wait. I knew Cris and Punky would have a lei for Winston too !  What wonderful people they are. Winston is in Paradise and He knows it, doesn't he ? Bless you all for all the patience and love you gave to such a wonderful, sweet boy.
I love all the pics and that music is PERFECT ! Okay. I got to the end of the book and as usual I want more, more, more. I know we can count and Cris and Punky to send you updates on life on the Island with Winston. Please keep us posted. Thank you ! |
 Beautifull!!!!!!!!! just loved every minute of it.
you guys did great!!! thanks
By the way..ahve you asked Cris and Punky to become members of the forum? that way we call all know news on Winston |
| Super story with such a happy ending. Winston deserves the life of a "beach bum" for all that he's been through. I agree with Vero and hoping that you can get them to join the forum. |
| Loved it!!! Great Job as usual. Should have hand clapping smileys!
Great web page too. I couldn't get the music to play though ... so I am going back to click on that link ... I wonder where it will go..? Love the Winston story. It is one of the first things I remember reading when I joined last fall too. You guys really have done a lot, not only for Winston, but all of us! Thanks. |
| Ron,
You are a great site administrator. Thank you. Now that we have all breathed a sigh of relief that Robin is safe with Marianne, will you have a minute finish the Winston story? Henry's Mom |
| I did! Its on page one of this topic! |
| Hey all, last Sunday there was a comic strip that was exactly Winston!
[broken link removed] Enjoy! EDIT: Go figure: The day after I post that link, they change the layout of the site and the link is broken. HEre, try this one: http://www.fborfw.com/strip_fix/archives/000023.php If that didn't work for you, here's a direct link to the image: http://www.fborfw.com/strip_fix/strips/040418.jpg |
| I just discovered this site today as well as the photos at oes.org
What a truly amazing story. I read the entire thing, feeling more than a little bit smug knowing that I wasn't going to have to wait for the subsequent and final chapters in the tale. Winston is an incredibly lucky pup and I'm so glad that he was adopted by Cris and Punky. Like others have mentioned, the world's a better place because of people like Winston's rescuer, Penny. I like to think that most of us would do the same thing if we were in her situation, but, sadly, there will always be people like Winston's first owner out there. Thank you so very much for a lovely read! I'll be checking back from time to time and wish all of you the very best. From my furry kids (Maggie & Emma) and I with love <3 |
| Thank you so much for your story about Winston. I was missing my boy Tramp and looking for some comfort, when I clicked on it. |
| I have just found this site whilst looking at some pics. What a wonderful story, I am so happy for winston. It seems like hes going to have a very happy life. I am in the middle of desparately trying to persuade my husband to agree to us getting a bobtail. I have previously owned one many years ago and she was the light of my life and I still miss her dearly all the time. Your story has cheered me up greatly. |
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