When Roxanne, a resident of Montego Bay, started her shift at the local garbage dump, she expected to go through her usual tasks under the scorching Jamaican sun. As she sorted through piles of trash bags, one caught her eye. Something seemed off.
Trusting her instincts, Roxanne did something unusual for her workday.
“She felt compelled to open the bag, and that’s when a dog appeared,” shared Sabria Hector from Montego Bay Animal Haven (MBAH). Roxanne was initially stunned to discover a honey-colored puppy inside the bag but relieved when she realized the puppy was still breathing.
As a devoted animal advocate, Roxanne knew just whom to call for help.
“Fortunately, the dog was found by Roxanne, a true animal angel, who quickly contacted us, and we rushed the pup to the vet,” MBAH posted on Instagram. The puppy, later named Winnie, was brought under MBAH’s care. Sadly, she was dangerously underweight and unable to move her back legs.
After a quick diagnosis, Winnie was found to have a broken spine, which had caused permanent paralysis. While the team was able to determine the extent of her injuries, they still wondered about her past and how she ended up discarded.
“It was clear she couldn’t use her back legs, but we didn’t know how severe the damage was or what had caused it,” MBAH posted. Despite her condition, Winnie was showered with affection daily, and though she never regained strength in her legs, she blossomed into a playful and lively dog as her spine healed.
“She was full of spirit and never let her legs hold her back,” Sabria said. “Despite everything she had been through, she was never aggressive—always loving and sweet.”
When Winnie was strong enough for adoption, the team searched for a loving home. After months without a local match, a message arrived from Susan, a woman living over 2,000 miles away in Newfoundland, Canada, looking to adopt a special needs dog.
Susan seemed like the perfect fit, but the team had one significant challenge: getting Winnie to Newfoundland. While they had experience transporting dogs internationally, reaching Newfoundland posed difficulties.
“Toronto is easy, but Newfoundland was tough,” Sabria explained. “It took a lot of planning and teamwork.” Winnie flew to her new home with Hope and Greg, a volunteer pilot, where she quickly settled into life in the cold Canadian climate. After months of waiting, Winnie was finally home.
“She’s living the good life now and even enjoys the snow,” Sabria said. Winnie thrives in her new home, exploring the stunning Newfoundland scenery with the help of her wheelchair. No matter the weather, she eagerly embraces each day, showing just how thankful she is to those who saved her.
“She has shown all of us at MBAH how resilient and full of love she truly is,” Sabria added.