http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world Dogster diary for the dog Van Winkle en Copyright 2013 by Van Winkle & Dogster Sun, 19 May 2013 23:31:02 PDT Dogster Pet-o-matic Gennie - http://www.dogster.com 360 http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/824725 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:39:00 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/824725 Oooops, I was just getting my bearings, and now I'm a DDP again! I didn't even have to write a new ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/823923 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 07:14:14 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/823923 OMD, lookit me! I'm a Dogster Daily Diary Pick fur the second day in a row!! Thanks, HQ!! And tha ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/823633 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:30:15 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/823633 My Barkday was two sleeps ago, but mommy wasn't here to help me with my thank-you's until now. She ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/823033 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:02:03 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/823033 This is an OUTRAGE!!! Mommy and daddy have been planning a trip to someplace snowy, where somebody I ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/822304 Thu, 4 Apr 2013 15:45:14 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/822304 Click on this: My story to read about my adoption, if you don't already know the story. I don't kno ... My story to read about my adoption, if you don't already know the story. I don't know why, but mommy nevfur seems to get tired of telling people. Pawsonally, I'm more interested in when my supper dish will get filled up again, and when we'll go out on our next walk! Mommy says I'm famous. I wonder if I'll get bigger meals?]]> http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/820854 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 09:23:30 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/820854 Mommy entered me a contest! It was daddy's idea, and it involves FB. Mommy's not even sure what t ... Vote fur Winkie! It looks like I'm on page 4!]]> http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/820822 Sun, 24 Mar 2013 21:05:02 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/820822 Mommy went to add new photos to my page, and got a message that she was at my "display limit" of 127 ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/818402 Sat, 2 Mar 2013 19:05:16 PST Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/818402 It started out on the Worst side. We all got up early this morning, even though daddy didn't have t ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/817734 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 09:39:08 PST Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/817734 Today is my Gotcha Day!! OMD, I got so many nice pressies from my Dogster pals!! Thank you all so m ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/816808 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 20:46:58 PST Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/816808 Yesfurday, we went on a fun adventure! Hershey wrote about it in his diary. Today we went to t ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/814627 Sat, 2 Feb 2013 10:57:31 PST Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/814627 OMD, I'm a DDP today!! Along with my pals Whitley and Mr. Cutter! Thanks, HQ!! And thanks to Zoe, ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/814281 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:25:52 PST Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/814281 I have a Secret Admirer! OMD, who could it be?? They sent me a heart fur my page! Thanks, Secret ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/812394 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 06:49:46 PST Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/812394 Mommy says I shouldn't say that yet. I'm still taking my meds, and she wants to see how I do when I ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/811736 Tue, 8 Jan 2013 20:53:58 PST Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/811736 I'm feeling much better. In fact I'm feeling furrific! But four sleeps ago, I hurt! It hurt when ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/810476 Sat, 29 Dec 2012 21:47:34 PST Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/810476 My brofur Hershey has barked all about the howlidays in his diary, but I have a few things to bark, ... Hershey has barked all about the howlidays in his diary, but I have a few things to bark, too. This was my furst Christmas in my furevfur home! I already knew that hoomans bring trees inside the house at Christmas. My foster fambly did that. In this house, it meant my bed got moved! In fact a lot of furniture got moved. It was furry confoosing. Even getting the tree was an adventure. We all got in the car, so of course I went right to sleep. When I woke up, we were in a forest, and we went on a hike! And we sniffed and looked at the trees one by one. And then we came to one we all liked, and since daddy had a saw he cut it down! That turned out to be the tree that went into our house! Another adventure we went on was to a castle! That was a car trip, too. We stopped on the way fur cookies and to get some attention at a nice place with a lot of grapevines all around. But then we went on to the castle. I've nevfur seen anything like that befure! It was big, and all made out of stones! It had been raining, so we had to splash through some parts. There were stairs to climb up, and something called turrets, and stone passageways that led to big and small rooms, and stairs to go down again, and lots of people who really like little furry doggies with waggly tails! We even saw a ginormous rainbow in the sky! One night mommy filled up our dining room table with cheese and MEATZ™. Then people I've nevfur smelled befure started coming inside, and eating it all up! They all wanted to pet us, but no one was sharing their food with us. I got pretty tired, but couldn't find my bed at all. There were chairs and people where it was supposed to be. I was glad when they all went away, BOL! Another day we went downtown. When we got there we did a lot of walking. We saw lots and lots of people and got lots and lots of petting. There were lights, and the smells were amazing! Especially when we went through the Chinese part of town! After that comes the Italian part, and that smells delicious, too! Hershey and I got bullies and some spawcial Christmas treats while mommy and daddy ate at a sidewalk cafe. We were furry tired by the time we got back to the car and home again! The next day was Christmas! Mommy and daddy opened lots of gifts, then mommy's brother and his wife came ovfur and they all opened more gifts. After they left, Hershey and I got to open gifts, too! We got new toys that squeak! I fell asleep with one in my mouth! Since then we've mostly been resting and sticking close to home. Howlidays take a lot out of a pup!]]> http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/802741 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:13:12 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/802741 My brofur Hershey tells me that back in the Olden Dayz on Dogster, pups used to Tag each othfur in t ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/800326 Sat, 6 Oct 2012 17:31:15 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/800326 Yesfurday we went on a home-town adventure. Mommy and daddy said we were going to see some blue ang ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/796949 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:20:37 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/796949 I just got this pawmail frm my pal Sunny: (That's a link, you can click on it!) "Hi Van Winkle, ... Sunny: (That's a link, you can click on it!) "Hi Van Winkle, "Your diary seems to get sooo much more attention than mine :( so mom was hoping that maybe you could post about my animal shelter who is in a really competitive contest right now. If any of our pals pawrents are on Facebook, could they vote for my shelter by clicking this link: The Humane Society of Lackawanna County "They sure could use the help!! Thanks so much. "Sunny" So if you can, I hope you will go to that link and vote! And then pawlease go read Sunny's diary! She's really a furry nice doggie!!]]> http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/795514 Sat, 1 Sep 2012 21:55:22 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/795514 Three sleeps ago, mommy and daddy both got up early. They started taking things out of the house an ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/794152 Wed, 22 Aug 2012 09:22:10 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/794152 I just got a p-mail from my pal River, and he says I won the Special Needs Category in the 2012 Adop ... Todd!!!! 2nd prize goes to Idgie!!! 3rd Prize goes to Angel Captain!! Conner won the Rainbow Angel division! Houndy won the Senior division! And Honorable Mentions went to Beanie, Natasha, Pogo, Risa and Zoey!!! Acfurrily, after you read all the stories I think you'll agree that evfurry single contestant is a winner! Because we all have the bestest mommies and daddies and furevfur homes in the WHOLE WORLD!!!!]]> http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/791021 Mon, 30 Jul 2012 18:02:01 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/791021 We had a fun weekend! Two sleeps ago we went to a place even mommy and daddy have nevfur been to be ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/789174 Tue, 17 Jul 2012 08:19:04 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/789174 I do. Some days not at all, and some days just a nibble. But some days I NEED to go out and eat gr ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/787088 Mon, 2 Jul 2012 19:24:39 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/787088 I'm late writing this, but you'll understand. It was three sleeps ago that we all woke up early ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/785977 Sun, 24 Jun 2012 19:19:14 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/785977 Mommy loves the wine country. It looks like I'll be making lots of visits up there, which is fine w ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/785023 Mon, 18 Jun 2012 13:17:28 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/785023 I'm letting mommy write this entry fur me: We saw Winkie's story on the news in February. My hus ... KTVU Story I called on the last day that applications were being accepted. It was a Friday, we both work and couldn't get there, but the foster mom sensed something and prevailed on the shelter to extend the deadline until Sunday. On that day, we gathered up Hershey and the camera, and went across the bridge to meet Winkie. It was love at first sight. We thought we were only submitting an application, and we knew we were were not the only applicants. But after chatting for awhile and letting the dogs get acquainted, the foster family and the shelter director excused themselves, and came back with adoption papers for us to sign. Winkie was ours! (click on) Adopted! I had never had a "special needs" animal before. Winkie isn't totally deaf, but hard of hearing following ear canal ablation surgery to eradicate his severe ear infections. No one knows what happened to his eye. His jaws are not strong. He can't play tug. He prefers small balls, apple and banana slices and soft treats. He can't jump, but he's good at crawling up on the furniture. (He totally took over my big comfy reading chair. Now we have an "arrangement," like a timeshare!) He doesn't like being alone. If he awakens in a room by himself he has a howl that can rattle windows! What had we gotten ourselves into? I was all over Dogster asking for guidance! The best advice we got was to take a breath, and treat him as a normal dog. We are careful not to come up from behind and startle him, something even humans who are hard-of-hearing can appreciate. He's learned hand signals for Sit and Stay. Of course, he has to be on leash if we're outdoors. For the most part, though, he doesn't realize anything is amiss! He's very attached to his brofur Hershey, following him wherever he goes. He can hear Hershey bark, so he knows when the mail arrives or someone comes to the door. Like Hershey, the highlight of his day is when daddy comes home! He also loves to ride in the car. That was a must for us! We're introducing him to our favorite doggy destinations, like the beach and the wine country, and he's just had his first ferry boat ride. Oh, how he loved the wind in his fur! He's understandably nose-driven, interested in everything, and especially attracted to other dogs. We love taking him to fenced-in areas where he can safely run off-leash! Now, we can't imagine our home without Winkie. We feel so grateful to the unknown person who found him, to Oakland Animal Services for the care they lavished on him, and to his foster family who loved him back to health for almost a year. We are just the recipients of all their good work. I'm still learning how to manage two curious cockers on two leashes, but Winkie is teaching us that nothing is impossible!]]> http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/784209 Tue, 12 Jun 2012 21:15:44 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/784209 Today Hershey and I got our brushings early, and we did not do a bye-bye daddy. I know what that me ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/783943 Sun, 10 Jun 2012 19:47:49 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/783943 Today we went on an amazing adventure! The sun was shining, and it was furry warm outside. That ha ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/781840 Sat, 26 May 2012 19:38:04 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/781840 I'm beginning to get the hang of this. If mommy brushes us right after breakfast, and if daddy does ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/781704 Fri, 25 May 2012 23:19:16 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/781704 This morning mommy gave us our brushings right after breakfast. And daddy was still home. That's u ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/779821 Sat, 12 May 2012 22:31:25 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/779821 I thought I had the routine at my new home pretty well figured out. Most days, we get up early and ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/777543 Sat, 28 Apr 2012 10:25:53 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/777543 Today was supposed to be furry special. My Furst Big Adventure, mommy said. All week long she's be ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/776712 Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:50:58 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/776712 Have I told you about the Wag Hotel? It's a place where mommies and daddies take their doggies to p ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/776130 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:41:10 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/776130 "Did you have fun on your birthday, Winkie-dink?" "What barkday, mommy?" "You remember, Winks, ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/773548 Tue, 3 Apr 2012 20:58:32 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/773548 Well, this was a most unusual day! After daddy went bye-bye, mommy put our leashes on and took us f ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/772907 Fri, 30 Mar 2012 22:38:54 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/772907 There is a lady who comes to our house sometimes. Hershey calls her Auntie Myrna, and mommy says sh ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/771837 Fri, 23 Mar 2012 22:57:43 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/771837 Today mommy took me and Hershey on a furry Big Walk! I could tell Hershey knew where we were going, ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/771589 Thu, 22 Mar 2012 08:39:29 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/771589 OMD! Not this day (as Zaidie would say), but yesfurday when we came to Dogster, mommy went "OH!!" ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/770251 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:16:24 PDT Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/770251 This was a furry unusual day! Furst, it rained all day. It's nevfur done that since I've been here ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/769683 Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:51:41 PST Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/769683 As of today, I've been in my new home fur two weeks. I like it here! My new mommy and daddy play w ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/768735 Sun, 4 Mar 2012 22:07:34 PST Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/768735 I'm still figuring out how things work here. Mostly, we spend the day with mommy after daddy goes b ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/767932 Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:41:52 PST Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/767932 If you read my Arrival Story, you know I was rescued by Oakland Animal Services. They put me on TV ... update I suppose it's like the end of one story, but it's also the beginning of a new one!]]> http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/767540 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:03:25 PST Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/767540 My people were acting kind of strange all week. They hugged me harder, and when we went visiting th ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/766986 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:56:58 PST Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/766986 Mommy says the Diary of the Day ought to at least be a fresh one! I'm not even home yet, and I have ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/766676 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:45:52 PST Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/766676 Do you like my page? My pal Molly's mommy has been working furry hard to make it spawshul! Mommy is ... http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/766326 Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:22:30 PST Van Winkle ~ writing at dogster.com http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1235208/diary/Winkies_world/766326 Winkie hasn't quite joined our family yet. We just met him today. We had seen him on TV. That was ... TV. That was one week ago today. My husband had suggested a couple of times that we might think about adding a dog, but I resisted the idea. But Winkie wouldn't leave my mind. So I prayed for a couple of days. And then I called the number and spoke with his foster mom, Kay. We thought we'd meet him today, and our application would be added to the others, and we'd hear in a week or so, one way or the other. Instead, everybody fell in love with everybody and before we knew it we were signing papers and Winkie was ours! I wish I could say that Hershey and Winkie became instant buddies. Honestly, they pretty much ignored each other. We'll see how it goes when we bring Winkie home next weekend. But I want to go on record as saying, Winkie is the cutest, most lovable doggie in the world (after Hershey!), and the bravest I know of! I hope we'll give him the home he deserves. I've never had a "special needs" dog before. Winkie is deaf, and blind in one eye. If anyone has experience or suggestions, we're all ears! Except Winkie, BOL!!!]]>