Sir Winston Needs Your Help

After weeks of searching for a Bernese Mountain puppy on September 15, 2021, I found a breeder in New Haven Indiana that had a litter that was born on September 11, 2021. If you are a believer of fate like I am and carry with you the ideology that everything happens for a reason, this was going to be the place for me to select my new puppy. I was immediately drawn to these pups since I have spent my entire adult life in public safety, September 11th holds an incredibly special place in my heart.

After all the formalities with the breeder, I sought out to select a name, it had to be something stately to honor the heritage of this breed, and it needed to also include some reference to September 11th. After weeks of consideration, I settled on Sir Winston Thomas Cavender, which became his official AKC registered name. Winston referenced the Bernese Mountain dogs stately heritage, and Thomas is my middle name, and of course Cavender is my last name, with this Sir Winston’s initials officially became WTC, which stands for World Trade Center. I wanted his stately life to be one of love and service to others to honor the 2996 people who died in the September 11th attack on the United States.

At 8 -weeks old on November 6, 2021, Sir Winston said goodbye to his parents and siblings and made the 300-mile trip to his new home, our home in Springfield, Illinois. Over the course of the last 7 months Winston has developed into a well-mannered and well-behaved gentleman. We have, since the age of 12-weeks attended obedience training three days a week where he is currently on level 4 of the 6-level training course. His gentle giant presence is loving, loyal and playful, he enjoys everything and everyone with whom he has the pleasure of meeting. He has traveled to Arizona by car, enjoyed indoor restaurant experiences with me, visited the Chicago Cubs Spring Training site in Mesa Arizona and in May of this year we had a trip planned to Florida to see family and seek new adventures.

Whether it is a walk down the street, or several miles or a ride in the truck, Winston is always seeking to please. His photogenic personality has filled up the storage on my phone and he poses on command. His favorite trip includes going to the Farm and Home store where we get his treats and to Lowes where our shopping time is always doubled with his need for lovin from everyone he meets. On my workdays in the office Winston is blessed to be able to attend daycare/ doggie play at Kinner's On 97 here in Springfield. It is there that he has fallen in love with his daytime caregivers as well as all his four-legged friends who he loves to be with. I have never had a dog as special as Winston, it is impossible to put into words the feeling that I have in being blessed with the opportunity to be his dad; he is my LIFE! Simply put Winston has become a constant bright spot in not only my life, but that of many others.

On Saturday, April 30, 2022, after noticing a few concerning issues at home over the week, Winston visited his local veterinarian here in Springfield. As suspected, he was diagnosed with a bladder infection, and we left with an antibiotic and headed to our obedience training class. While on our way there, I received a telephone call from the vet, she said Winston’s blood work came back abnormal and she wanted him back immediately for an ultrasound of his kidneys. Little did I know from this point my life would spin out of control and I would be faced with some gut-wrenching decisions regarding Winston. Within the hour it was determined that Winston was in acute renal failure and the veterinarian suspected he had a condition known as renal dysplasia. I did not know what that was, but within seconds I learned that there was no treatment and Winston’s prognosis was grim. I was stunned, overcome with emotion, and just devastated at the thought of losing him at just 8 months old.

In the hours that followed that, with the assistance of the veterinarian at the Springfield Emergency Clinic we were set to be transferred to Purdue University Veterinary Hospital in Lafayette, Indiana. It was hoped that this facility, which has kidney specialists on staff would discover another diagnosis and perhaps some treatable condition for Winston. A quick trip home to gather a few overnight personals and we were on the road for the 3-hour trip to Lafayette, Indiana. We arrived that the emergency care area of the hospital and Winston was immediately taken in for an examination and evaluation. He was hospitalized in their Intensive Care Unit and began receiving IV therapy and antibiotics, while undergoing a series of tests. As quickly as Sunday morning, Winston had a team of medical professionals assigned to him. Winston became a hit in the ICU, just as he had been every place he went, the staff loved him and all of them were giving him plenty of attention.

On Monday afternoon after undergoing a second and more concentrated ultrasound I met with Winston’s team of caregivers, where it was confirmed that he was in stage 4 renal failure with a condition known as renal dysplasia. It is believed that Winston suffered from this condition while he was in his mother’s womb and has managed and compensated since his birth. The caregivers are amazed that Winston is so active and playful, because most dogs at his stage of this disease are gravely ill and ready for end-of-life decisions.

Reality Sets In……the decision was made after consulting with his medical team that we would treat his current infections with antibiotics, change his diet to a kidney friendly diet and give him the best quality of life for the time he has left. As long as Winston remains pain free and is asymptomatic, he will be treated to prolong his current state. Although the medical team did not officially put a time frame in place, they told me that I should expect a sudden and rapid decline in his condition over the next 60-90 days. As difficult as it is, I am told that I will know when it is time.

I am taking a commonsense approach to this care plan with an incredibly heavy heart, I know what lies ahead and I know how painful that time will be, but I must continue to give him the life he is living now for as long as I can. I have struggled with the idea of a GoFundMe page; I have never asked for help my entire adult life. However, I have incurred some expenses that have necessitated some lifestyle changes to take the absolute best care of Winston that I can in his final days. I will continue to have special food expenses, daycare, medical care, medication, and travel expenses, beyond what I have already spent over the past weekend. With that, and after much consideration I have humbly decided to seek help through a GoFundMe page to help facilitate the medical needs for Winston in his final days. Any funds raised will be spent towards items and needs related to Winston care. When the time comes, and Winston crosses that rainbow bridge, any funds remaining in Winston’s account will be donated to an animal rescue facility.

I know times are tough, everything is so incredibly expensive, and everyone has their hand out for a variety of causes. I am graciously and humbly appreciative of any help, no matter how small it may seem that can help me provide Winston with the best care possible in his final days. Thank you for any help that you may be able to provide, even in the form of thoughts and prayers.

Much love,

Jeff & Winston