Winnie the dog marked a major milestone Saturday, turning five with a community birthday party at Charlotte’s Freedom Farm in Chatham-Kent. Winnie, who was born without fully formed front legs, was celebrated at the farm on Brooks Line with a birthday party that included a barbecue, games, presents and plenty of attention from supporters. The party was originally scheduled for last Saturday but was postponed because of rain. This weekend, farm founder Lauren Edwards said the weather — and the turnout — could not have been better. “We were lucky we had to postpone due to everything last Saturday,” Edwards said. “Because today? We couldn’t ask for more. No wind and it’s a beautiful day.” Edwards said the day offered Winnie’s supporters a chance to celebrate him alongside the farm’s other animals. “Today, we’ve had a great turnout,” said Edwards. “We’ve got the barbecue going. We’ve got lots of games. The dogs have been hanging out, opening presents. Winnie gets spoiled every year, for sure.” The event was also meant to shine a spotlight on disabled rescue animals more broadly. Edwards said Winnie still has a way of changing people’s understanding once they spend time with him. “I think it’s a bit of a shock when you first see him without his legs, and then you spend a few minutes with him and realize how much he’s adapted,” she said. Winnie came to Charlotte’s Freedom Farm as a six-week-old puppy and has since become one of the farm’s best-known animals. Edwards has previously said Winnie has helped change the way people view disabled dogs, showing visitors that his disability does not define him. She said that message was easy to see at Saturday’s party. “He just jumped right off and he’s on two legs taking off,” Edwards said. Charlotte’s Freedom Farm currently has nine dogs with mobility challenges, including dogs that use wheelchairs and prosthetics. For Edwards, part of the impact comes from seeing the animals together rather than focusing on any one diagnosis or limitation. “I think it’s really great for people to see them and see how well they do and how they adapt,” she said. “There’s a whole group of them, and they’re all running around happy.” Edwards said Winnie has built a strong base of support, with many people coming out Saturday not only to see him, but to meet the other animals at the farm. “Winnie has a lot of support,” she said. “We have a lot of people who have come out to see him, see the other dogs and see, honestly, all the animals.” “Seeing the others running around in their wheelchairs, it gets a great reaction from people, for sure,” she added. The farm had previously said the birthday celebration would follow a ‘Greatest Showman’ theme, chosen because of the movie’s message about celebrating what makes people — and in this case, animals — different.
