In Memory

Willie
May, 2007
We are sad to report that Willie finally succumbed to complications of kidney disease. The following is from Willie’s mom...

He became progressively weaker over the past few days; the decline was swift. A decision was made and Willie is now free from this most horrible disease. I havgeve cried a million tears over the past few days, yet I felt so at peace today. I praise Dr. Bone for making Willie comfortable and for being with me and Willie every step of the way on this journey. I am forever in gratitude to my dear husband for sparing me that last trip to the vet today. His heart is broken as well.

I will spare you all the details of Willie’s final days. It was rough for all of us, but I did everything possible to make sure he was not in pain. I think back to when I adopted Willie from MWDR. I tried so hard not to let this little dog get into my heart at first, because I knew he would not be around for as long as I had hoped. He was to be a companion for Dino, nothing more. But it didn’t take long for him to win me over...he truly was my once-in-a- lifetime dog. He followed me everywhere and was happy just to sit on my lap. He especially liked to sit on my lap out on the tree bench in my yard, soaking up the sunshine.

When Schultz entered the picture just about two years ago, Willie accepted him readily and had a new playmate. And, oh, the fun they had together chasing squirrels out back. Willie had tried in the beginning to horse around with Dino, but Dino is an aloof, independent doxie who is content to sit on the couch all day and not be bothered by all things dog. I guess he was an only dog-child for way too long.

Schultz was just a puppy when he joined my pack and had little social skills. At first, I’d take all three of them for a walk to the park, but Schultz was having a little attention defecit problem, which would result in a tangled mess of leashes and bodies. So, I decided to take only two dogs for a walk at one time, alternating Schultz with Willie or Dino every other day.

It was Dino’s turn one warm Fall evening, so I left Willie out on the deck to wait for us. Dino, Schultz and I made it down our street, across one intersection and to the park, about 1 block from home. Dino started acting strangely, pulling me to go back home. I ignored him for awhile, as I was watching Schultz to make sure he was getting down to business. But Dino kept pulling us back towards home. Finally I turned around to see what Dino’s problem was; to my utter disbelief, I saw Willie running down the block towards us.

The little stinker managed to squeeze between the deck rails, run down my street, cross the intersection and find us at the park! He did not have on his collar, my street is a little busy -- especially at that time of the day, it was getting dark, it was Fall and he blended in with the red and brown leaves...oh my goodness! He looked so proud of himself that he had found us, wagging his tail! How could I be mad? I just gave him a big hug, then had to carry him (remember: no collar, no leash) and manuever the other two back home. From that day on, all ´three went on walks with me. Recently, when Willie became weak with anemia, I’d put him in my red wagon and pull him along, with his ears blowing back in the breeze and his little nose taking in all the smells. He was a happy boy!

We crammed a lot into this amazing little dog’s life. He became a bit of a celebrity because of the article in the Chicago Tribune a couple weeks ago. We took him places, as he loved car rides. We spoiled him, not knowing what his life had been like before he was rescued or how long he’d be with us. In return, he taught me about life and how it isn’t always what you bargained for. He was the sweetest doxie boy, so laid-back, so patient with me as I poked him with a needle everyday for the last 9 months of his life. The last few days, as weak as he had become, he still managed to greet me at the door, tail wagging. As I lay my head next to him in his bed crying last night, he licked away my tears as if to tell me it was going to be OK. I feel the other sign that everything was going to be OK is that Dino and Schultz have been inseparable as of late.

Well, that’s it. Sorry this so long. My thanks go out to all of you who kept Willie in your prayers lately. Thanks again to Claudia and Bonnie for assuring me Willie would be the right dog for me when I adopted him. They were SO right...I would relive every moment of the last 4 and almost 1/2 years if I could. I hope to meet many of you at the next get together, although I think I will pass on the May one for now. Also, thanks go out to you, Patti, for putting together such a great group of doxie lovers.

Please hug your doggies for me and enjoy every day, as they aren’t in our lives for a long enough time.

Because of all Willie has been through, I think it has helped me become more compassionate in my own career as a therapist. I keep a picture of my three dogs on the back of my work ID. When someone asks about my dogs, I always tell them a little about canine kidney disease. I made it my mission to let other pet owners know that it is a disease that can be managed, that’s why I contacted the writer from the Chicago Tribune. But most importantly, what really matters is having a wonderful group like all of you at Tri City for all my dogs needs. I know you all see so many pets every day, but hopefully you will be able to remember my sweet Willie.

Ellyn