Winnie has a traumatic past. This three-year-old Lhasa Apso was found abandoned and neglected, her fur matted and crawling with fleas.
Winnie was found alone near some outbuildings, where she had probably been for weeks. Her fur was so badly matted that it had fused to the skin and she could hardly walk. A kind member of the public brought her to Woodgreen and we immediately took her to surgery.
We had to use clippers and scissors to get past the tough matted fur. And once the team were through the worst, they spent an hour shaving back the rest of the thick mass of fur. You could see the instant relief on Winnie’s face. Next, we gave her a warm medicated bath to soothe her skin and encourage the hair to start growing back.
Winnie was extremely withdrawn and didn’t want anything to do with our dog carers. It was clear she had never been loved or experienced any comfort. She needed lots of time, patience and affection to recover from her physical and emotional trauma. One of our devoted and experienced fosterers, Stella, welcomed Winnie into her home. This gave her a warm and safe place to recover.
Stella had three other dogs in the house and they helped Winnie to relax and grow in confidence. After a couple of weeks, Winnie grew more comfortable with this new way of life, so it was time for Stella to focus on her training. Winnie had quite a lot to master, starting with basic house training and then learning how to wear a harness and a lead.
“I think my dogs had a lot to do with her rehab. They interacted with her and taught her how to play. She also met lots of people and other dogs on her walks, which helped her grow in confidence. Winnie was such an affectionate little dog. She loved to sit on my lap in the evenings with the television on. Her transformation from the mess she was to the beautiful girl she is now, makes it all worthwhile.” Stella, Winnie’s fosterer
Six weeks later, Winnie had transformed into a confident canine and returned to Woodgreen, ready to find a new home.
Our experienced team worked hard to help Winnie, both physically and mentally, so she was ready to trust humans again and look for a new forever home. We're seeing more and more abandoned pets - and we'll never turn them away.
We began our search for the perfect match, someone who could give Winnie the best chance of happiness. Winnie needed a peaceful home where she would get plenty of attention and love. During the filming of The Dog House, we introduced her to Lauren who was looking for a loyal companion to bring some happiness to her life.
It was a bit of a nervous start for Winnie in the Meeting Pen. Some dogs love anybody that shows them affection, but others hold themselves back until they build that trust. Winnie needed extra time to sniff around before making her way to Lauren who was patiently waiting for her. After some gentle encouragement, it was a delight to see her little tail wagging. She even took some treats from Lauren’s hand.
“Winnie is a confident, sassy, loveable sweetheart. She loves cuddling on the sofa in the evenings and going for long, muddy walks in the forest. She is my absolute best friend, partner in crime and shadow. I don’t know what I would do without her funny little personality and quirky ways.”
Clarence the Dachshund-cross was brought to Woodgreen because his owners could no longer keep him. As a very energetic and playful dog, he was becoming too much to handle, especially for the other two senior dogs in the home. Find out how he got on in the Meeting Pen.
Every pet we support needs time, care and attention before they can recover and find the right home. We need your support now more than ever. Will you help ensure we can continue to be there for pets and their people when they need us?
Our team works tirelessly to provide safe shelter, specialist care, and a brighter future for thousands of dogs, cats and small pets. Whatever the reason for a pet coming to us, we don’t turn them away. At Woodgreen, our priority is to help every animal, no matter what their background or how challenging their care.