Chiseled Ep 54 The Winston Project - Cindy Aronstam

Chiseled with Rob Commodari

Lots of people love their pets, but few turn the loss of their dog into a life mission. But that's what Cindy Aronstam did after her beloved English bulldog Winston passed away.
Cindy, a real estate agent in San Diego, had always been a dog lover. Her parents had a dog before she was born. She grew up with them. When she got her first dog of her own, she picked an English bulldog whom she named Winston.
Winston lived well beyond the 8–10-year lifespan of most bulldogs to almost 14 years old. His passing was so sorrowful to Cindy that she would take walks with her husband and stand behind him so that she would be protected from seeing other people's pets.
Two days after her beloved bulldog Winston passed, Cindy spotted a golden retriever with a gray beard and soulful eyes. She pulled away from her husband Jim and asked the owner if she could pet the animal. As she bent down to touch the dog, the owner told her, "This is Winston." And she knew that the loss of her pup wouldn't be in vain.
Fast forward and Cindy and Jim now have Harry, a "foster fail" that they were supposed to temporarily care for until he found a home. Turned out that Harry already was home, and Cindy found renewed purpose in helping not only her new pup, but all dogs.
Soon after, Cindy and Jim started The Winston Project, which aims to raise funds for shelters and rescues so they can do the work of saving animals. She says, hopefully, one day, the need for shelters will be eliminated altogether.
If you haven't heard the story of how my family got our current dog, I share it in this week's episode of Chiseled. If you're a dog lover, this episode with Cindy may well bring you to happy or sad tears, but it's a joyous and purposeful journey.
Cindy and Jim's Winston Project, which is now officially a 501 c(3) nonprofit, is having its first annual gala in San Diego on June 8, 2023. If you can't make it, you can donate. And you'll probably feel the urge after hearing Cindy describe her relationship with Winston, the Winston Project's goals, and her passion for saving animals.
You can find more about the gala and the Winston Project on Cindy's website as well as on Facebook and Instagram. And if you're looking for Cindy for real estate in the San Diego market, you only need to look up "the bulldog realtor." Appropriate, don't you think?

#thewinstonproject

#chiseled

#awareness

#thebulldogrealtor

#lifemission