Winston. By The Seashore.
The Super Rescue Dog
Story and photograph by Anna Cooke
T
The universe rearranges itself according to our beliefs about what is real. It does this through our own declara- tions of “what is,” not through declarations of “what is not.” Physical reality is created from focus. When we focus on what we don’t want, rather than what we want, the mani- festation power tends to follow that focus. For two years, Sherry-Lee carried a photograph she
had cut out of a magazine. It was of a black and white French Bulldog. Wherever she was, when the conversation turned to dogs, Sherry-Lee would pull the piece of paper from her wallet, unfold it and pass it around. “That’s my dog, Mr. Winston,” she would announce.
Ohh’s and aww’s would follow with questions, like, “When did you get him?” To which Sherry-Lee would reply, “I haven’t yet. But, this is what he looks like, and he’s trying to find his way home to me.” In the meantime, Sherry-Lee did her due diligence in
reality, and filled out a dozen applications to different Frenchie rescue groups across the country. Then, she patiently waited. Chicago French Bulldog Rescue emailed Sherry-Lee
about a French Bulldog who had been found abandoned, locked in the bathroom of an apartment, apparently for quite some time. He was about two years-old and weighed only eight pounds. His normal weight should have been around 30 pounds. He was starving to death. Mr. Winston was finally real and making his way home
to Sherry-Lee. It took five volunteers to help transport the dog from Chicago to North Carolina. A friend of Sherry- Lee’s traveled to North Carolina to bring him to Dunedin, where Sherry-Lee lives. She was unable to make the final leg of the journey with Winston, as she was also right in the middle of moving a historic home in Dunedin from a city- owned lot to her own lot. Saving the home from demoli- tion, she was about to embark on a half-million dollar makeover. The Honey House was originally built in 1910 and was once home to a Civil War captain. The project for Sherry-Lee at the time, was to demonstrate that old homes can be brought back to life. “They don’t have to be destroyed,” she said. “Given a second chance, an old home will come alive again.” Since Winston’s previous world had been confined
Z
French Bulldog Rescue Network:
FrenchBulldogRescue.org Florida connection: Joan Cleveland -
Joan.Cleveland@
FBRN.net Letitia Wallace -
Letitia.Wallace@FBRN.net
Remember, give it some time to find the right dog for you and your family. The rescue groups are all-volunteer organizations and may only be able to respond to you after hours.
56 THE NEW BARKER
within a small bathroom, the bathroom in Sherry-Lee’s home became the dog’s refuge. “The first thing he did when we brought him inside was climb over the couch and run into the bathroom to hide. He stayed there the whole night. I could not coax him out,” said Sherry-Lee. He would potty and eat inside the bathroom. He slept inside the bathtub. Sherry-Lee adjusted for Mr. Winston. That was around 2007. It would take Sherry-Lee plen-
ty of patience, time and a handful of trainers to help Winston become the dog he is today. He’s a funny and proud little dog with a big personality. He still finds com- fort in the bathroom when Sherry-Lee is not home. But loves curling up with her in bed at the end of a long day. Given his second chance, Mr. Winston is now thriving, and their worlds manifest around each other.
U
www.TheNewBarker.com
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