A frightened puppy wandered for weeks with a plastic jar stuck on its head – starving, dehydrated, and barely clinging to life. Though she couldn’t eat, drink, or breathe properly, she never stopped searching for a miracle.
The frail dog, who was helplessly roaming around the island of Guam, was found by Stephanie, a volunteer with the Boonie Flight Project, an animal rescue organization.
And Stephanie knew that if she didn’t act fast, this little creature – starving, dehydrated, and terrified – would not survive.
“We didn’t know how long she had left,” the thoughtful rescuer told The Dodo. “She was rapidly deteriorating. I absolutely could not leave her.”
The rescue
Armed with a large net and a crate, Stephanie and a few dedicated volunteers moved in. After taking her to a safe place, it took a team effort to free the dog, who was too weak to resist.
“She was very docile once we got her,” Stephanie explained of the frightened puppy. “[Then] we were like, ‘Alright, we gotta figure out how to get this bucket off your head.’”
One volunteer held the bucket, another gently restrained her, and thankfully, the plastic popped off quickly.
Though the dog was physically free, emotionally, she was still locked in fear. She immediately ran and found shelter in a corner of Stephanie’s garage, trembling and withdrawn.
“She laid down and wasn’t interested in interacting with us,” Stephanie said, adding that “luckily, beyond being extremely dehydrated and emaciated, she was in pretty good health.”
Winnie
After the vet checked her out and gave her the “all clear,” the rescue group decided to place her in foster care until she was healthy enough to find her forever home.
But first, she was given a name that matched her gentle spirit: Winnie the Pooh, or Winnie, “who would get his clumsy self stuck in jars too,” Boonie Flight shared in a Facebook post.
Once stable, Winnie – estimated to be a couple of years old – was placed in a loving foster home. But the road ahead was long.
Slowly learns to trust
In her new foster home, Winnie kept to herself, hiding away in the bathroom for weeks. She avoided people and refused to engage – it was clear that years of fear and neglect had shaped her world.
“She really didn’t care to willingly put herself around people,” Stephanie said.
But love works quietly. Day by day, Winnie began to thaw. She discovered the comfort of a dog bed, then the joy of lounging on a couch.
“Eventually, she realized dog beds are comfortable,” Stephanie said. “She discovered couches and was like, ‘Oh, this is better, too.’”
Belly rubs
She also watched as the other foster dogs received affection and belly rubs – and slowly, she let herself believe she could have that too.
“Being in a foster home with other animals, she was able to witness animals receiving love and attention from people,” Stephanie said. “The foster really worked with her to slowly get her out of her shell and have her come out and interact with people.”
With time and patient care, Winnie started seeking out attention – from people she trusted.
“Eventually, she did start seeking human interaction from people that she’s comfortable with,” she added. But she was still dealing with healing and trusting people
Forever home
About two and a half months later, it was time to find Winnie her forever home. And that’s when Mary Doggett and her family entered her life.
Doggett, who lives in North Carolina, picked Winnie up from the airport after a long flight and noticed the pup was scared all over again.
“She was very, very terrified,” Mary told the Dodo. “She didn’t even know how to play with dogs.”
And then the family’s other dog, Maple, stepped up immediately, taking on the role of big sister. Maple gently guided Winnie, teaching her how to play, how to be part of a pack, and most importantly, how to trust again.
“They have formed an attachment that I don’t see in any of our other dogs,” Mary said. “She watched Maple to see how Maple behaved with everybody. And slowly she’s building that trust with people and other dogs.”
“She is definitely part of a pack now,” Mary said of Winnie. “She’s come so far.”
Today, Winnie is a different dog – playful, trusting, and part of a loving family. Her story is a powerful reminder that healing takes time, love, and patience.
Please watch the clip that show’s Winnie’s transformation and then let us know what you think of this incredible story!
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