Winston Walker

Meet Winston Walker, a sharply dressed, 4-year-old Boston Terrier with an indefatigable can-do spirit. Winston lives with Donna Maria, Michael and Andrew Walker, and the not-so-thrilled-about-the-whole-situation Kitty Committee.

Donna Maria loves, loves, loves her some Boston Terriers, and had been looking for one to add to the family, but hadn’t found just the right fit. Meanwhile, Michael and their son, Andrew, 4, headed out to Petsmart on a food run for the aforementioned Kitty Committee.

Turns out that Paws, Claws and More (a rescue group out of Graves County) was there that day with pets looking for homes. When Michael saw an outgoing little Boston in one of the crates, he thought the little dog might be the perfect surprise for Donna Maria.

And “perfect” hardly begins to describe this fit. Michael gloats, “Winston has added so much fun into our home. He is so playful! Since Winston came, we take more walks together as a family and spend more time outdoors. It’s been great for the whole family to bond. We go to the park more often and stay for longer periods of time. Andrew enjoys helping to care for Winston and enjoys the role of Chief of Treats when Winston finishes going potty. This has definitely endeared Winston to Andrew!”

Want more evidence that this is a match made in heaven? Both Winston and Michael snore loudly. The only way Donna Maria can differentiate is when Winston exhales from a snore, his jowls slap together.

The Kitty Committee is less enamored. “Our cats are still deliberating over Winston’s most recent request to be acknowledged as a member of the committee,” Michael explicates. “Lily, the eldest cat and Speaker of the House, will have the final say. We should hopefully know their decision soon. Their meetings are short and filled with plenty of recesses…sort of like Congress but more productive and way cuter.”

Now, your writer needs to gloat a little bit about the Walker family. You see, Winston might have been passed over by most folks. He was missing something rather significant: a front leg. But that didn’t stop the Walkers, and it doesn’t slow Winston down a bit. “Even with one front leg, Winston walks and runs everywhere,” Michael says. “He jumps onto the bed and into the car with ease. He can even hike a rear leg when he pees! It’s as if he doesn’t notice and doesn’t let it affect him.”

The last word is from Andrew. “I love my Winnie Boo because he plays with me and chases me and lays with me when Mom and Dad read stories to me at night. He tucks me in at bedtime. I like it when he licks my face and my hands. It’s kind of really gross but it’s funny and it kind of tickles. His tongue is funny but I let him lick me because he loves me and I love him too.”

Lucky Walkers. Lucky Winston. Life is good!

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