Winnie

When I was in 4th grade, my family moved to a new house. Unlike most people who move though, we moved four houses down the street. It was an easy transition because I could easily see my old house from our new yard!

                 Anyway, soon after moving, we got a new dog. A puppy named Winnie! She was, and still is, very small and white. Her breed? She is a cockapoo (cross between a cocker spaniel and a poodle). Like I said, she is small and white, so naturally we don't always see her when we are walking. She has been stepped on more than I can even imagine. The vet considers this a possibility as to why she is, well, insane.

                We all love Winnie to death, but she has an attitude problem. Despite her cute and furry facade, she bites, she barks, and she scares little kids. We at first found it a little scary, but mostly entertaining. Eventually it got bad enough though, so we had to put her on a medication. Puppy Prozac! This anti-anxiety pill keeps Winnie from barking and biting, theoretically. She still has these habits, but less than before.

                Winnie is a loved and cherished member of my family. She has always been there for us (or so she thinks) and we have always loved her. Whenever anyone comes to the door, be it the mailman or some kid getting his/her stray ball, Winnie is ready to alert the family by barking as loud as she can. It may just be annoying to us, but in her mind she is guarding and protecting the family, and that's all that matters. Also, when anyone is sick or injured (such as anything from a flu to recovering from surgery to breaking a bone) Winnie will cease her barking, cease her biting, and sit by us protecting us and making sure we get well soon.

                 Sadly, Winnie, our beloved pet and devoted guardian, was recently diagnosed with a fast acting case of liver failure. She is still waking around (two days after diagnosis, three after symptoms arose) but is much quieter, and won't eat. The vet said that she has a matter of days remaining. Even though she is dying at the young age of six years old, we can find comfort in the nature of her life. She had everything anyone could want. Every day she could sleep whenever she wanted, only awakened to eat or go for a walk. She had everything she needed. We even picked up her droppings and fed her daily mood enhancing pills! She lived a life of luxury, but behind the glamour of her luxurious lifestyle of freedom and relaxation was a sense of purpose and power. She "earned" her treasures by protecting the family. Without her, the mailman surely would have killed us. Along with every little kid to cut across our yard, and every neighbor to come talk with us/ borrow something. She even went above and beyond her duty, sleeping by our side every time we were dealing with even the slightest ailment. Winnie is a special part of our family. It will be sad to see her go, but I will never forget her and will cherish these last days with her.