Sweetheart You had a Dream and I had a Dream. Your dream was to find your forever home a home where you could finally relax, one where you could rest in peace, one where you no longer had to compete for food or water, one where you had a nice place to sleep, one where you could finally feel safe but most of all, a home with human companions that would Love you and Care for you without question and Willow, we certainly hope that we were able to fulfill that forever dream for you even though it was only for short four months. Our Dream was to find a sweet Greyhound that was in need of love, care and compassion and not only did we find that in you, Willow my dear, you gave us so much more than we could ever ask for.
We adopted you July 5, 2011 (your GOTCHA DAY) and brought you home together with your brother Wammer, how could anyone ever split the two of you up as that just was not going to happen. We had no idea on where you had been, what you had gone through in your ten years on this earth but we know one thing, that to be born into this world innocent and so fragile and then to be used and abused by humans and then cast aside when they no longer felt you worthy of their desires is unforgivable. I hope that we as your last loving caregivers redeemed your faith in humans that there are many of us out there that feel Greyhounds were meant for more than what they used you for.
Willow, so graceful, so slender we LOVED you oh so much! You loved people, you loved other animals you loved life and you just loved to love. I will forever miss your sweet kisses you gave so freely and unconditionally. Never again will I see you rise to greet me, your beautiful face and happiness as you looked around the door to say hello when I came home from work. Your bed is empty now gone cold from your warmth, the love of your heart no longer lingers there. Never again shall we lie side by side to feel your soft beauty to scratch your floppy ears and hear you moan from pure enjoyment. To look into your soulful eyes and know that you loved us so pains me at your tragic loss.
How could we have ever known that you would leave us so soon, so unexpectedly and in so much pain? Just hours before tragedy struck, we were playing in the yard. You loved to play tag. You would race around the yard like a rocket expelling your love for life, your sincere enjoyment in playing with me and I loved you so much for that. We had gone for a walk. You ate your dinner. You relaxed on your bed and then we all went to sleep not knowing that this would be the very last time.
On November 15th I was awakened at 3am to your severe distress. You were in such agony panting heavily like none before. I felt your stomach and you cried out in pain and I knew something was really wrong! I rushed you to the hospital as fast as I could and by 10am they could do no more and I had to take you to the specialist. I picked you up at 10am and you were not the Willow I last saw at 4am, something was really bad. I rushed you to the specialist and after much examining they came to me with the dreadful news. News I never expected to hear, news I never wanted to hear, news that Willow dear I was going to lose you to God. They told me you had cancer of the spleen, that a tumor had ruptured and that you were bleeding to death. You were in so much agony, so much distress, so much pain how could I ever let this continue. They said that your cancer, hemangiosarcoma, was called the silent killer, as you never know you have it until it is too late as there are no symptoms. There was nothing I could do, nothing ANYBODY could do to save your life. The cards had been dealt. I thought your forever home was truly with us but I was wrong, as you are TRULY home forever and ever with GOD now, no more pain, and no more restlessness. My love, my beautiful Sweet WILLOW oh how it pained me so to say goodbye as I laid on the floor with you and looked into your soulful eyes one last time and called out your name, WILLOW, so slender, so graceful you never deserved what was handed you for the love you gave so unconditionally.
At 2:20pm, November 15, 2011, just 12 hours after it all began, you were gone! You left this world, but mostly you left me behind to mourn your loss with a broken heart.
As your spirit now plays with your fellow Greyhounds that have gone before you at that Rainbow Bridge, know this Willow dear that we LOVED YOU SO VERY MUCH and that we MISS YOU SO MUCH! Your brother Wammer hurts so bad he misses you dearly and wonders, where is my sister, where is my WILLOW?
With ALL of our undying love and affection, we long to be with you again some day, how did we ever know you would be taken from us so soon! Willow, you will be forever in our hearts, you are still loved so much!
Willow; thank you for picking us, for trusting in us, for loving us. Thank you for allowing us to care for you. Thanks for playing with me, for running with me for walking with me. But mostly Willow girl, how can I ever thank you for the sweet beautiful memories of you, My Sweet Willow girl.
Willow girl, run free, run with the angels, run with the other Greyts, run like you used to sweetheart, my heart is so broken without you!
RUN WILLOW RUN!
With all our love! And until we can meet again! I want you back so bad!
| Dan Boatman and Steve Heim |