Many of you at the kennel knew Desire to Win. She was an extremely timid dog at first and was returned once. We will never regret having adopted her. The dread that we both felt in our hearts is true. The limp did not improve and we brought Winnie to the vet. She has bone cancer in her right shoulder.

The x-ray showed a fuzzy build-up of calcium around the shoulder, the pure sign of cancer within the bone, to which the body is reacting. The vet was quite certain that the x-ray confirmed what we see from her physical symptoms. The cancer appearing in the shoulder is also the classic location.

From everything we know from many other owners' experience and what the vet said, the option of amputation and chemotherapy is not really an option. The surgery is terribly invasive and few dogs are cured, many die within four to six months, during which time, they have just barely recovered from the surgery and chemo. We have talked about this many times as we have seen others go through this situation.

Winnie would only have weeks, not months, if we did nothing. Also, there is a real strong possibility that she would break the bone, because it has been weakened. In fact, that is how many owners discover the cancer - the dog breaks a leg.

We got Winnie when she was 4 years 1 month old and she just turned 10 last week. Over that time she really became a real dog, as opposed to the very scared animal that we adopted.

So we called the boys and brought Winnie home. The vet gave her pain medication and she is not suffering.

On Thursday, we had to put Winnie to sleep. It is so sad, but probably a strong message just how fast she went downhill. Within the last two days she went from eating half to eating nothing and showed confusion. She just had just reached her personal finish line. We talked and talked to her and showered her with love and then decided it just was not right to have her continue to suffer and not be able to even function minimally.

So, we brought her "pack" with us to the vet to give her company for her one last trip. As usual, she was a perfect lady.

As our first, she will always have the most special place in our heart. She made us love greyhounds and gave us more than we ever asked. She had the most beautiful gait in the world - elegant and athletic at the same time. When I was out at the horse pasture I would feel the nose (poke poke) in the back of my thigh and I knew all I had to do was put my hand down and I would have Winnie's head to pet. She would have chased tennis balls until she died of exhaustion. It was a joy to watch when she had a squeaky toy in the back yard and she would create a game for herself grabbing it and throwing it up in the air and catching it again. We could never have asked for more and we are so grateful for everyone's kind remarks and insight.

When the time comes, we will be ready to love a new angel, but there will always only be one Winnie the Pooch.

my deepest sympathy is with you. theres no way to describe the loss. i know all to well how bad it hurts. my thoughts and prayers are with you all. winnie is with friends at the bridge. run fast run free.

I cannot begin to express My sorrow at this news. My thoughts and prayers are with You and Your family.
Run like the wind Winnie.

Gary

May all your good memories of Winnie crowd around you and comfort you. May you find peace.

Run free, sweet Winnie...my prayers and sympathy to you and your family

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I know Winnie was a special girl for you. The first greyhound is the one that brings the love of greyhounds to your heart. They will also hold a special place for the world they have opened up. May your memories comfort you.

I don't think I knew Winnie, but she sounds like she was a wonderful girl.
My sympathies are with you. She will be missed, but is now running free from pain on her angel wings.

i am so sorry for your loss. run fast and free, sweetie

I'm so very sorry.

I am so sorry.

I am so sorry for your loss.