12/10/2025
Winston looks up at Gwen Ingle as he wags his tail.
Winston is a 5-year-old Golden Retriever who tends to nudge Gwen as if to be sending her a message.
Winston's kind brown eyes sparkle as Gwen wonders if it might not be Winston doing the talking.
It might be Buzz.
Buzz Ingle could do it all.
He could take care of the horses and dogs and cats on the small Westover, AL farm.
He could fix the cars, do the bills, take care of the yard and many times do the cooking.
And when Gwen surprised Buzz with a dog named Winston on April 10th, 2020?
Buzz would take care of the Golden Retriever, too.
"They had an instant bond," said Gwen about the day over 5 years ago when Buzz and Winston met.
The moment Winston arrived in Buzz's life, the dog put his head in Buzz's arms as they drove down the highway.
"Buzz had Winston for 4 years, and they were so happy together," Gwen told me.
Gwen's voice trailed off to a whisper.
It was November of last year when then 80-year-old Buzz Ingle suffered a stroke.
"Buzz was at Brookwood Medical Center in Birmingham for about 3 weeks" Gwen told me.
"Buzz came home in December of 2024 and suffered a seizure," Gwen added.
"He just wasn't the same," said Gwen. "Buzz died on January 23rd of this year."
It was a dark time for Gwen Ingle in early 2025.
"I tried to find a purpose," said Gwen. "I attended grief therapy sessions- I was lost," added Gwen.
"I had no family here, and Buzz did everything around the house. I wondered what was next," Gwen told me.
What was next was closer to Gwen than she thought.
She thought about the days before her husband died.
One day, Buzz was in deep sleep, his arms stiff and his hands clenched in immovable fists.
Gwen knew Buzz's end was near.
"Would you like a guest?", said the kind woman as she led a therapy dog to Buzz's bedside.
"Buzz hadn't moved for hours, but his hands unclenched and he rubbed the dog's head," said Gwen.
Gwen thought a lot about how that dog helped comfort her husband in his final hours.
She thought about how Winston enriched Buzz' life in her husband's final 4 years.
She contacted Hand in Paw, a wonderful organization in Birmingham that provides therapy dogs to people in hospitals, senior living facilities, libraries and classrooms.
She enrolled Winston in obedience training.
"Winston did great!", said Gwen.
"He graduated, and he now has his Hand in Paw scarf and ID," added Gwen.
"Winston is an official therapy dog!"
Gwen Ingle might be a lot like you.
Perhaps you have lost a spouse or a relative or God forbid a child.
Gwen wants you to know you are not alone.
She knows all about your sorrow and your fears, and she wants you to know hundreds of people love you.
Gwen Ingram feels blessed.
She feels blessed because little did she know that as she has led Winston to comfort so many, it's her dog that has provided therapy to her.
Bringing joy and comfort to others has brought Gwen joy and comfort.
And during those times when Winston gives Gwen a nudge, she know it's most likely Buzz sending her a message.
"If you have love rather than hate when you grieve, it's a gamechanger," Gwen told me.
"Loving others with the help of Winston will forever be my story," Gwen added.
She sounded more energetic, more excited as she spoke about the therapy she has received from the dog that was there all the time.
She sounded content as Winston sat by her side.
*Be sure to give Gwen and Winston your best. see more 👇👇
