Sanitation Worker Opens Garbage Bag And Finds Winnie Barely Alive Inside

Roxanne, a sanitation worker from Montego Bay, Jamaica, clocked in for her shift at the local garbage dump. She never anticipated that her workday would take a heart-wrenching turn. She clocked in for her shift at the local garbage dump. The Jamaican sun beat down, and Roxanne sorted through the usual heap of overstuffed garbage bags. One bag stood out to her. Something about it didn’t seem right, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that she needed to open it.

Following her instincts, Roxanne made the decision to tear open the garbage bag. To her utter shock, a small, honey-colored puppy Winnie was inside—alive but barely. The dog, who was later named Winnie, was malnourished, limp, and struggling to breathe. As a lover of animals, Roxanne wasted no time in calling Montego Bay Animal Haven (MBAH) for help.

A Shocking Discovery

“It was a moment that took her breath away,” said Sabria Hector, a representative from MBAH. Roxanne had never expected to find a living creature inside a garbage bag. Thankfully, her instincts had led her to take action. Winnie was rushed to the vet for an immediate evaluation. Though she was alive, it was clear that she was in critical condition.

In a post on Instagram, MBAH shared the story of Winnie’s rescue. He described how the sweet pup had been found in a garbage dump, clinging to life. “Luckily, she was spotted by Roxanne, who quickly reached out to us,” MBAH wrote. Winnie was brought into their care, where they immediately began working to save her life.

Winnie’s Health Struggles: Paralysis and a Broken Spine

Once at the vet, Winnie’s condition became clearer. She had suffered a broken spine, which caused permanent paralysis in her hind legs. Despite the grim diagnosis, the team at MBAH remained optimistic. They showered Winnie with love, affection, and all the care she needed. Her road to recovery would be long, but the team was committed to helping her heal.

“It was clear she couldn’t use her back legs, but we weren’t sure of the full extent of her injuries or how they had occurred,” MBAH wrote. What had happened to Winnie before she was discarded at the dump remained a mystery. However, despite her physical limitations, Winnie’s spirit remained unbroken.

Winnie’s Resilience: A Spunky and Playful Spirit

As the weeks passed, Winnie proved to be a fighter. Although she never regained the use of her back legs, she healed from her spinal injury and began to show her true personality. Winnie became a rambunctious, playful pup who didn’t let her paralysis slow her down. Her zest for life was evident to everyone who worked with her.

“Despite all the horrible things she had gone through, Winnie was never aggressive or mean. She was always loving and friendly,” Sabria recalled. The team at MBAH fell in love with Winnie’s spunky personality, and it wasn’t long before they knew she was ready to find her forever home.

Finding Winnie’s Forever Home: A Special Journey to Canada

As Winnie regained her strength, the team at MBAH began searching for the perfect home where she could live a happy, fulfilling life. While there were no local adoption inquiries, MBAH received a special message from Susan, a woman living over 2,000 miles away in Newfoundland, Canada. Susan had been looking to adopt a special needs dog and immediately fell in love with Winnie’s story.

The MBAH team was thrilled about the match, but there was one major challenge: How would they get Winnie from Jamaica to Canada? While MBAH was accustomed to arranging international adoptions, Newfoundland posed a unique challenge due to its remote location. “Toronto is easy, but Newfoundland is hard,” Sabria explained. “It took a lot of coordination and collaboration.”

Winnie’s Journey to Newfoundland

Winnie’s journey to her new home required meticulous planning. For the first leg of the trip, Winnie flew from Jamaica to Toronto, accompanied by a flight escort named Christa. After arriving in Toronto, Winnie spent the night with a kind volunteer named Michelle and then went into foster care with another volunteer, Hope, the following day. Winnie’s stay with Hope lasted four months while the team worked on arranging the final part of her journey to Newfoundland.

At long last, with the help of Canadian Wings of Rescue, Winnie was able to complete her journey. She flew to Newfoundland with Hope and a volunteer pilot named Greg. Upon arriving in her new home, Winnie quickly settled into her surroundings. She may have once been a dog from the Caribbean, but now, she’s thriving in the snowy landscape of Newfoundland.

A New Life for Winnie: Thriving with a Wheelchair

Winnie’s story is one of incredible resilience and the power of community. Today, she enjoys her new life in Newfoundland, where she has access to a custom wheelchair that allows her to explore her surroundings with ease. According to Sabria, Winnie has adapted beautifully to her new home. “She’s spoiled rotten now and even loves the snow,” Sabria said.

No matter the weather, Winnie is always ready to enjoy the outdoors, and her wheelchair has given her the freedom to experience life to the fullest. Winnie’s transformation from a discarded, paralyzed pup to a happy, adventurous dog serves as an inspiring reminder of the strength and resilience that animals can show.

Conclusion: Winnie’s Journey of Survival and Love

Winnie’s incredible journey from a garbage dump in Montego Bay to a loving home in Newfoundland is a testament to the power of compassion, quick thinking, and dedication. Without the actions of Roxanne, the sanitation worker who followed her instincts, and the dedicated team at Montego Bay Animal Haven, Winnie’s story may have had a very different ending. Today, Winnie is a beloved member of her new family and a symbol of hope for rescue animals everywhere.

To learn more about Winnie’s story and other animal rescues, visit Montego Bay Animal Haven on Instagram or follow Canadian Wings of Rescue for heartwarming updates.