When Roxanne, a Montego Bay resident, clocked in at the local garbage dump, she thought it would be just another hot, exhausting day in the Jamaican heat. Sorting through piles of overstuffed trash bags, she was focused on her usual tasks when something unusual caught her eye—a bag that looked a little different.
Following a gut instinct, Roxanne did something out of the ordinary. She opened the bag. To her surprise, a honey-colored puppy popped out. Shocked but relieved to find the little pup still alive, Roxanne’s heart swelled with joy.
A passionate animal lover and advocate, Roxanne didn’t hesitate to call for help. She contacted MBAH, a local animal rescue, who quickly stepped in. "Luckily, [the dog] was spotted by animal angel Roxanne," MBAH wrote on Instagram. The puppy, later named Winnie, was rushed to the vet. She was emaciated, limp, and struggling to move her back legs.
The team at MBAH quickly diagnosed Winnie with a broken spine, which left her permanently paralyzed in her hind legs. While they were able to assess the extent of her injuries, they were left with many questions about her past. How had Winnie ended up discarded in a trash bag at the dump?
Despite her traumatic experience and the permanent damage to her spine, Winnie’s spirit remained unbroken. The team at MBAH showered her with love and care. "She was spunky and never let her legs slow her down," said Sabria, a member of the team. "Despite everything she’d been through, Winnie was nothing but loving and friendly."
As Winnie’s spine healed and her health improved, she became an energetic, playful dog. When the time came for her to be adopted, MBAH began searching for a special forever home. Initially, they struggled to find someone local who could take in a special needs dog like Winnie. Then, out of the blue, they received an inquiry from someone over 2,000 miles away in Newfoundland, Canada.
Susan, a woman from Newfoundland, was looking to adopt a special needs dog and instantly fell in love with Winnie. The MBAH team was thrilled but faced one significant challenge—getting Winnie from Jamaica to Newfoundland. While MBAH often transported dogs internationally, Newfoundland posed a unique challenge due to its remote location.
“It took a lot of coordination and collaboration,” Sabria said. Winnie’s journey began with a flight from Jamaica to Toronto, accompanied by a loving flight escort named Christa. Upon arrival, she spent the night with a volunteer named Michelle, then went into foster care with a woman named Hope while her next leg of the journey was planned.
After four months in foster care, Canadian Wings of Rescue stepped in to coordinate the final flight. Winnie flew with Hope and a volunteer pilot, Greg, to her forever home in Newfoundland.
“Canadian Wings of Rescue is AMAZING, and they made the process so easy for us,” Sabria said.
Now, Winnie lives a life full of love and adventure. Once a discarded pup in the Jamaican heat, she now thrives in the snowy landscapes of Newfoundland, thanks to her new wheelchair. Spoiled and adored, Winnie embraces each day, grateful for the second chance she’s been given.
“She’s thriving and loves exploring Newfoundland with her wheelchair,” Sabria shared. "No matter the weather, Winnie is always ready to seize the day, showing us just how resilient and loving she is. She truly showed us the power of love and second chances."
