10/21/2026
Hello! I'm Winston, aka Winnie the Pooch, a bright and cheerful dog who's all about embracing life's adventures and snuggling up at home!
Quick Facts:
Breed: Border Collie/Hound mix
Gender: Male, neutered
Age: 5 years young!
Size: 70 pounds of love
Good with… Dogs? I'd thrive as an only dog, but a calm, well-mannered dog sibling could be a great buddy!
Cats? Unfortunately, no (cats and squirrels seem the same to me 🐿️)
Kids? 12+ if they're gentle and respectful
History
[Trigger warning…mentions of violence below). I don't want to dwell on the past, but I will share my story briefly. I lived in a home where my male owner was violent, and I'd try to protect the women. He'd turn on me, and I'd escape and run around town. Kind neighbors wanted to help, but there was no dog shelter. Thank goodness my owner left, and a neighbor rescued me! My new life is full of joy and safety!
Personality
I'm the goofiest, silliest, most loving friend you'll ever meet! I wake up each morning excited for the day ahead! I love sharing my joy with friends, and you might get a happy AROOO when you make my day! I know my forever home is just around the corner!
In the house:
I'm very well-behaved and love relaxing at home. I snooze on my bed or snuggle with my people, waiting to be invited on the couch. I'm completely house-trained and trustworthy at night. I don't bother shoes, furniture, or other items that aren't mine. Since getting rescued, I'm less interested in recycling, trash, and counters, but...if you leave food out, I might think it's for me!
Out and about:
I walk nicely on a leash and value my daily walk and sniffy time! I love rolling around in the grass and going on calm, spacious adventures! I'm great in a fenced yard, but get nervous if left outside too long due to my history.
Things that are still scary for me:
If I feel trapped or confined, I get scared. Most of the time, you can avoid these situations, but not always. At the vet's office, I needed to be held, but they were gentle and gave me breaks. I did great and was happy to get cookies and pets! You can tell when I'm overwhelmed because I get stiff, look away, and may give a warning growl or bark. Giving me space, breaks, and easy behaviors helps immensely!
I need a family who can share their confidence with me and manage these situations calmly. I'm learning to deal with my big feelings, but still need help! I don't hold grudges and am back to my happy self quickly!
Due to my past, I may get worried if I see people wrestling, dogs jumping, or surprise hugs. I also feel nervous with new people or fast runners, but I recover quickly! I bark at bicycles and sometimes runners, but I don't chase. I've shown great improvement and need a person who will keep helping me!
Favorite Activities
Here's what I love:
Cookies!
Tossing and pouncing on my lamb stuffie toy!
Learning new things (for cookies, of course!)
Snuggling with my people!
Getting dried off with a towel after swimming or a rainy walk. This brings out my happy AROOOOO!
Good people who let me introduce myself first!
Being told I'm a very good boy (because I am!)!
Going on adventures – walks, car rides, swimming, and more!
Health:
I'm in great health, a miracle given my past! I'm a little plump now (yay!), and my vet says, “looks great!” I'm up to date on vaccines and flea/tick/heartworm prevention.
Once I know and trust you, I'm happy to let you brush me, touch my face and paws, and tell me I'm handsome! I'm good for baths and LOVE being dried off with a towel! I'm good about my front nails being trimmed and learning to be more comfortable with my back ones.
Cohabitation
I'd love a fun, happy, calm home! I think I could be ok with older kids who are respectful and gentle. I'd be thrilled to be your only dog, but if you have a nice, polite, calm dog, that might be great too! No hyper, jumpy, or loud dogs, please.
Why I'm looking for a new home
I've never had a loving home of my own, but I've had amazing rescue and foster homes! They're helping me become the best Winnie-the-Pooch I can be, and they promise to find me the bestest cat-free, calm, loving, joyful home!
Summary
My foster mom says, “Winnie is the bestest boy! Joyful, smart, happy, forgiving, resilient, and silly! He just wants to feel safe and please his people, share love and joy, and live a peaceful life.” He expresses himself with happy howls and has the best facial expressions, making me laugh every day! He'd do best with a loving, confident, consistent person who will love him deeply and help him gain confidence and feel safe.
Winston's dream home would be with a single person, couple, or family who are loving and gentle, with a calm and peaceful living situation. They should have positive reinforcement dog training knowledge and love all the lovable things about me! If you're interested in adopting me, please fill out an online adoption application and live close to Ithaca, Syracuse, Binghamton, Rochester, or Elmira. We do home visits on every applicant, and can't do home visits where we don't have local volunteers.
