Winston the Battle Buddy

Sometimes it seems your world is crashing down. You’re all alone with nowhere to go, no one to love and no one to love you. It’s a scary lonely place to be.

Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you’re so defeated it’s hard to climb out. It’s hard to have hope and believe you really have a purpose in life.

That’s exactly where Winston found himself when he was wandering the streets in downtown Macon. He landed in Andy and Beth Wilson’s backyard looking pathetic and possibly injured.

Beth was concerned about his well-being and called my animal group, Central Georgia CARES. Miss Becky Angelo immediately went to the Wilson’s home, only to find Winston too skittish to capture. In fact, Winston ran away, going into deeper despair.

It was obvious Winston was not going to be easily rescued and a trap would be required. Thankfully, Winston was caught the next day and it wasn’t long after that the Pixel Fund accepted him as a rescue.

Things were looking up for Winston. But sometimes wounds of past experiences run so deep they never leave. And so it was for Winston.

He didn’t have much luck being adopted by a family. Instead, he was taken to Todd Pitchford of Detection Dogs of America, for training.

During the training, Todd noticed Winston displayed traits characteristic of a tracking dog. Todd’s daughter would hide from Winston and then the search was on. He located her every time. The only reward Winston wanted was affection.

Todd trained him on tracking for several weeks. Then he realized Winston might be the perfect search and rescue dog for Hopes and Dreams Riding Facility, an organization in Hahira, Georgia for veterans suffering from PTSD run by his friend and veteran, Mike Randall.

In addition to being a vet himself, Mike has three sons who also are veterans. Mike’s experiences and the experiences of his sons and his desire to help others is the reason he founded Hopes and Dreams 10 years ago.

It’s a nonprofit organization providing equine therapy to our cherished veterans who’ve come home from war but brought the war home with them. Winston understands that. He carries his wounds too.

In fact, when Mike met Winston, there was an immediate connection and he knew Winston would be a perfect companion for not only the vets but for Mike, too. Mike considers Winston his battle buddy.

So does another vet at the facility. He and Winston are inseparable. They spend lots of time playing and Winston makes the veteran laugh. That’s a really big deal.

Now Winston, who was formerly homeless, hopeless and unadoptable, has a very noble purpose. He ministers to those who sacrificed so much for our country. Learn how to donate to them at www.hopesanddreamsridingfacility.com.

Winston is a clear example that if you’re in a dark place with no hope just hold on. A blessing is right around the corner.

This story was originally published May 23, 2017 at 4:04 PM with the headline "Winston the Battle Buddy."