Help Winston Heal: A 5-Month-Old Corgi Fighting to Walk Again

Meet Winston, a 5-month-old Corgi puppy whose life nearly ended before it truly began. Winston arrived at My Why Rescue as an emergency after his owner requested euthanasia without seeking treatment or even asking about a prognosis. We were told that one minute Winston seemed fine—and the next he suddenly couldn’t move his back legs. What veterinarians discovered next was devastating.

Initial concerns included possible botulism, but diagnostic testing quickly revealed the real cause: severe trauma. Winston was diagnosed with a diaphragmatic hernia, meaning a tear in the muscle separating the chest and abdomen that can prevent normal breathing and organ function. Even more heartbreaking, X-rays confirmed bilateral fractures in both of his hind legs. This wasn’t illness. This was trauma.

We don’t know exactly what Winston endured—whether he was kicked, beaten, or thrown—but it’s clear his tiny body went through something unimaginable. Despite that, Winston has shown incredible resilience and a will to live. Instead of giving up on him, we chose to fight for him. Winston underwent lifesaving surgery to repair his diaphragmatic hernia, followed by another surgery to repair the fractures in his hind legs. Thanks to the dedicated veterinary team and quick action, Winston survived.

Winston has officially been discharged from the hospital and is resting safely with a loving foster family. He still isn’t putting much weight on his back legs yet—which is expected after everything his body has been through. He remains bruised, swollen, and sore, but he is finally somewhere quiet where he can begin to heal.

The good news is that Winston is already making progress. His veterinarian has cleared him to begin water therapy and physical therapy, which will help him rebuild strength in his injured legs. His first rehabilitation consultation is already scheduled, and he will return to the specialist in two weeks for follow-up X-rays to check how his fractures are healing.

This rescue happened in a matter of moments. There was no time to fundraise first—only time to act. If we hadn’t stepped in, Winston would have been euthanized that day. Because we said yes, this sweet puppy now has a chance at life. But lifesaving care comes with a cost. Winston’s medical treatment—including emergency diagnostics, multiple surgeries, hospitalization, and ongoing rehabilitation—has brought his total veterinary bill to $10,423.90 and his journey is not over yet. Now we need your help to finish what we started.

Your donation will help cover:

🐾 Emergency and surgical care

🐾 Hospitalization and medications

🐾 Follow-up veterinary visits and X-rays

🐾 Physical therapy and water rehabilitation to help Winston walk again

Every donation—even $10—brings Winston one step closer to a full recovery. If you’re unable to donate, sharing Winston’s story can help him reach the people who can. Winston has already survived the worst moment of his life. Now, together, we can help him learn to run, play, and be the happy puppy he was always meant to be

3/28/26 Update

Winston continues to amaze us with his resilience and sweet spirit. This brave little 5-month-old has officially started week two of his rehabilitation, including both water therapy and laser treatments to help him regain strength and mobility in his hind legs.

We’re happy to report that Winston had a follow-up visit with his surgeon yesterday — and everything looks great. His surgical sites are healing well, and he has officially been cleared with no restrictions. This is a huge milestone in his recovery journey.

While this is wonderful news, Winston still has an important road ahead. After everything his body endured, he needs time and consistent therapy to rebuild the muscles in his hind legs. Physical therapy, water rehabilitation, and continued strengthening exercises will be key to helping him walk, run, and play like the puppy he’s meant to be.

Through it all, Winston continues to steal hearts everywhere he goes. His care team describes him as incredibly sweet, gentle, and full of love — despite everything he’s been through. He greets everyone with trust and affection, reminding us daily why we fought so hard for him.

Winston is making excellent progress, but his rehabilitation is ongoing — and so are the medical costs. His therapy sessions, follow-up care, and continued monitoring are essential to helping him regain full mobility.

Please consider making a donation today to help cover Winston’s ongoing rehabilitation. Every contribution supports his water therapy, laser treatments, and continued veterinary care as he works to rebuild strength in his hind legs. If you’re unable to donate, sharing his story also makes a meaningful difference.

4/7/26 Update

Winston has officially been adopted and we truly could not have dreamed of a more perfect match for this incredible little survivor. After everything he endured — the trauma, multiple surgeries, and weeks of rehabilitation — seeing Winston step into a loving forever home is the moment we have all been working toward.

While Winston continues his therapy in Delray Beach, his future is already so bright. Soon, this resilient puppy will be jet-setting and spending his summer in East Hampton, NY — a life filled with love, adventure, and comfort that once felt impossible for him.

Winston has been such a joy throughout his journey with us. Watching him heal, grow stronger, and show his sweet, gentle spirit every single day is something we will never forget. Despite the unimaginable trauma he experienced early in life, Winston never stopped trusting, never stopped loving, and never stopped fighting. He reminded everyone around him why giving animals like him a chance matters so much.

While this is the happy ending we hoped for, Winston’s journey came with significant medical costs. His emergency diagnostics, lifesaving surgeries, hospitalization, and ongoing rehabilitation quickly added up to an extensive veterinary bill — and those expenses remain.

We stepped in without hesitation to save his life, and now we need your help to cover the cost of the care that made his happy ending possible.

Please consider making a donation today. Your support helps cover Winston’s outstanding veterinary bills and allows us to continue saying “yes” to the next dog who needs urgent, lifesaving care. Every contribution — big or small — truly makes a difference. Thank you for helping us keep our promise to Winston… and for helping us be there for the next one who needs us.

5/2/26 Update

We are so happy to share that Winston is continuing to do wonderfully. After enduring lifesaving surgery for his diaphragmatic hernia, surgery to repair fractures in both hind legs, and weeks of rehabilitation, this brave little Corgi continues to make incredible progress.

Winston is still attending water therapy and physical therapy to help rebuild muscle strength in his hind legs, and at his recent follow-up with the surgeon, he received the best news possible: Winston has been cleared with no restrictions.

That means he is now free to run, play, and enjoy life like a normal puppy — something that once felt so uncertain when he first came into rescue.

He is getting stronger every day, and with continued therapy, his future looks incredibly bright.

Best of all, Winston is now safe in his loving forever home, surrounded by the care and happiness every puppy deserves. This amazing outcome would not have been possible without your support. From emergency care and multiple surgeries to ongoing rehabilitation, Winston’s journey was extensive — but because of you, he got his second chance. Thank you for helping Winston heal, grow stronger, and step into the beautiful life ahead of him.