Our Carolina Dream House is everything we hoped it would be…it only needed one more thing to make it a home. And now our newest family member is here!
Hi everyone, I’m Winnie!
As you may already know if you have been on my Instagram Stories lately, this was a momentous weekend for the Carolina Dream House crew!
On Sunday we all piled into the car and drove to the Black Dog Club shelter to pick up our newest family member, and while we were all excited, I think the Southern daughter would have floated above the car in happy anticipation if she didn’t have her seatbelt on to keep her inside.
But just to back up for a sec…a little doggo history.
As so many of you know, our family started our dog journey years ago with our beloved Dixie, who will always have the biggest part of my heart when it comes to sweet pups.
We adopted Dixie through Aunt Mary’s Doghouse and our beloved Aunt Mary Cody, who has been there for us every step of the way every since she put baby Dixie in our arms way back then.
We lost our sweet Dixie right before we moved down to the Carolinas, and even though she lived a happy and rambunctious long life, there is a Dixie-sized hole in our lives that is still a mixture of tears and happy memories.
Aunt Mary (and many others) promised that Dixie would let us know when the time and dog was right for us, but I honestly didn’t think that was even possible. My Dixie sadness was too big to even imagine it.
But my sweet Southern daughter believed. And she looked and looked for a dog to rescue, and Aunt Mary gave us both her wonderful advice and her firm belief along the way that a dog was out there that needed us.
And so one day we found Winnie.
There is a lot we don’t know about her, including exactly how old she is (we think about one) or what kind of dog she is (other than sweet and smart).
We don’t know what her early months were like. She knows “Sit” but she is very skinny. She’s gentle and friendly, but we have yet to hear her bark.
She’s only had her name for a few weeks so she doesn’t always know it, but she is learning fast.
What we DO know is that she is curious and sweet and carries her tail high, which we know is a sign of a happy dog.
We know that while she has Dixie’s sunny outlook on life, she is definitely more mellow.
We know she likes snacks as much as we do, and has already mastered The Look.
And most of all, after just a few short days, we know she is already a member of our Carolina Dream House family as she scampers back and forth between the main house and the Casita.
So my sweet Dixie, wherever you are, you are such a good dog for sending this very good girl our way.
Our house is now completely a home.
Tracey says
So happy for you! Welcome sweet Winnie!
Thank you so much Tracey – we are head over heels!
Susan says
What a lovely girl! Your hearts must be so full.
They are! We feel so lucky!
Cynthia Meador says
Congratulations on your new family member! I am so happy for all of you. She is adorable.
Thank you! She really is such a cutie. :)
Tammy J. Cedar says
Beautiful fur baby.
She is! Thank you! :)
Terry says
How nice! She’s adorable! Wishing you all the best!
Thanks Terry – we are so happy!
Shelley S says
Oh my goodness! Congrats to all of you, Winnie especially! What a lucky girl to land with you. She’s the cutest! And I adore that name! I have horses, why have I never used that name? Oh, probably because all our dogs have come with names. LOL We’ve rescued/adopted for more than 25 years.
We currently have three rescue girls, two Golden Retrievers an a Golden/Aussie mix. (Berkeley, Sadie, and Grace) We lost my husband’s heart and soul Doberman Layla on 12/23/19, and after searching for another to adopt who wouldn’t be aggressive with our current pack, we’ve decided to get a puppy (EEK!) in the Spring. This new girl, not yet conceived but already tentatively named Karma will be the result of a many months search for a breeder we’ve checked out thoroughly and feel is a person breeding for the right reasons.
I still have some qualms about not rescuing, but my hubby is 71, I’m 61 and we’re pretty sure this will be one of our last dogs- certainly our last puppy!
I wish all of you tons of joy and adventures!
Shelley! I’m so sorry it took me so long to answer this sweet sweet message – it got stuck in my drafts! At any rate, I love that you have three rescues, and OH MY GOSH about the puppy! And your next horse definitely needs to be named Winnie :) I hope you and your husband and your sweet pups have the happiest of New Years. xo
Shelley S says
No problem whatsoever on the delayed response, because it allows me to respond and reveal our breeder had a puppy come available on a litter born on 10/24, and we picked up “Karma” a week ago Friday!
Delighted, exhausted, busy, laughing like crazy at my hubby’s conversations with her. How do people manage without a dog – or 4 – in the house?
Oh my gosh, I am SO excited for you! Enjoy every minute with sweet Karma – and yes, there is nothing like a dog (or several) – Winnie is snoozing at my feet as I type! :)
David Leite says
Welcome to the family, Winnie. I know you’ll be well-cared for and well fed!!
Auntie David
Thanks Auntie David – sending a puppy hug to Devil Cat! xox
Karen Sarnowski says
Ahhh, a sweet story and Winnie does indeed look like a sweet pup. Put a big smile on my face, thank you!!
Thanks Karen – she definitely has us all smiling here too! :)
Annette says
Kate
She is so sweet and I am so happy for all of you
I know that void and after our German shepherd passed I just could not get another but recently have been thinking about it. Your story inspired me to maybe do it.
Winnie is a very lucky girl as she will certainly be spoiled with lots of love and many treats
Enjoy!!
Annette
Thanks Annette! I don’t think I could have done it – my daughter definitely led the way – but now I am so glad we did! Keep me posted on what you decide…xoxo!
Rosemary says
Welcome, Winnie! :-) xoxo
Miss you! xoxo
Theresa Murphy says
I love a happy dog story! And that dog won one of the dog lotteries with your family! So happy for you guys! Hugs all around!
And we feel like we won the dog lottery with her! Yay!
Cee Pluse says
I’m so glad you found your newest furry friend to cherish – I am sure you have your beloved Dixie’s blessings. Winnie sure looks like at least part Treeing Walker Coonhound to me – a popular hunting dog in the South. You all can look forward to lots of happy times ahead with your new pup, and it looks like she is already quite comfortable being a part of your family!
We think you are totally right about the Treeing Walker Coonhound part (and Dixie, who was a redbone coonhound, would be proud!). :)
Shelley S says
I absolutely concur! There’s definitely coonhound, most likely Treeing Walker Coonhound in her background.
We tend to adopt dogs whose backgrounds are known, like owner surrenders which come with some background, but I have a friend who used one of the genetic services to figure out her dog’s background. She was interested in finding out to determine if there were any health issues common to her dog’s ancestry.
If we ever adopted another mixed breed we’d definitely consider doing that.
Yes, when we Google Treeing Walker Coonhound we can see so much of that look in her. And we are considering that as well – it’s amazing what they can figure out these days!
Martha in KS says
Winnie the Pooch is precious. Her face looks like a beagle, but she’s definitely a Heinz 57. So glad you’ve found your new baby. Singing “Winnie the Pooch, Winnie the Pooch, tail straight up & oh so happy…”
Well, now I am DEFINITELY going to call her Winnie the Pooch now. Love it!!!!
Terr says
She is gorgeous! Congrats!
Thank you – we are in love! :)