09/16/2026
What an amazing story. We just had to share(:
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Some of the biggest heartbreaks I've ever experienced have come from losing a fur baby, and today is no exception.
This morning, Winnie crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and our family could not be more devastated.
Winnie would have turned 11 on October 3rd. She was 10½ years old and so much more than a dog. She was my best friend, our first baby, a daughter, a sister, a pampered princess, the boss of the house, and an incredible fighter.
She battled Stage 2 kidney disease, immune-mediated polyarthritis, and protein-losing nephropathy, and she lost her vision about three years ago. Over the past few weeks, her health declined dramatically. Mommy fought hard alongside her, but today proved inevitable.
So let me tell you how we first met.
Mike and I got married in September 2015, and we both knew—or maybe I should say I knew—that I wanted a dog. Mike wasn't ready. He didn't want to experience the heartbreak that comes with losing them someday. I was persistent, but I wasn't getting very far.
That December, we had upgraded from a pop-up camper to a travel trailer and were heading out for our first weekend trip. We had a campsite near Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster and were planning to attend Mike’s Aunt Justine's holiday party.
On the drive down, Mike told me we needed to make a quick stop. Apparently, he had signed us up for a cheese tasting in Amish Country. I remember thinking, "Seriously? I just want to get to the campground and enjoy our new camper."
We walked into the house, and then the basement door opened. Out came Winnie. The cutest little fluffball I had ever seen. Iinstantly burst into tears. The story goes that Mike had originally gone to meet a puppy named Winston, but when they discovered Winston was actually a girl, Winnie was born. We loved the name and never changed it.
From that moment on, she was ours.
The adventures we had with our girl were endless. She went everywhere with us. The Mummers Parade in Philadelphia, peeking out of a handbag under a blanket. Trains, boats, buses, RVs, campgrounds, and tents. The only thing she never traveled on was an airplane. She simply wasn't left behind.
She lived a wonderful life. Winnie was incredibly smart. She could learn just about any trick you taught her, and she absolutely loved people food—filet, cheeseburgers, chicken, French fries. If you were eating it, she wanted it. But her favorite place in the world was the beach.
Winnie was the inspiration behind e-Beach Wagon. When we first parked our RV in Cape May in 2017, Mike wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea. But we started taking Winnie to Higbee Beach on the bay side, and she absolutely loved it.The problem was that Winnie traveled like a small child. She needed her own tent, a cooler full of supplies, and enough gear to fill a wagon. The walk from the parking lot to the beach was long, and Mike became the designated pack mule, hauling Winnie and all of her belongings through the sand.
Eventually, he started saying, "There has to be a better way." And that simple thought became the spark that led to e-Beach Wagon.
When I first met Mike, he always talked about wanting a big dog. I told him size doesn't matter—every dog has its own personality.
Winnie proved that.
This tiny little dog had her dad completely wrapped around her paw. He was absolutely whipped, and honestly, who could resist her? She was lovable, stubborn, fearless, and definitely had a Napoleon complex.
Today, our hearts are incredibly heavy. My best friend and first baby is now running free again. She has her vision back. She has no pain. No limitations. No struggles.
We’ll miss the cuddles, the kisses, and hearing her little paws around the house. But more than anything, we’re grateful. Grateful for every adventure, every beach day, every road trip, every cuddle, and every moment we were lucky enough to spend with her.
Run free, sweet Winnie. We will love you forever! 💔🐾🌈
