Willow, a whippet /saluki cross,  was the dearest boy, who was with us such a short time and we miss him so much.

He first came to us through the  HWAR in October. He had such a difficult and painful time when he was rescued and it was many weeks and the loving care of the vets and his foster mums that brought him through to be well enough for us to adopt him . The first time we saw him, we fell in love.  He was to live with Bea, my next-door neighbour and dear friend, and share his home with Lily, a 14 year old whippet, also rescued in 2007.

 The pair fell in love  and were frequently to be found snuggled up in the same bed – often the tiny bed, bought for tiny Lily!!  Bottoms and heads hung over the edge and limbs were entwined and they were happy!  I think Willow’s last months WERE happy ones – he soon blossomed and, although blind and nearly deaf, knew his way around both houses and could make us understand, following a nudge on the leg,  exactly what he wanted us to do for him!  He loved to be cuddled, a back scratch and even to be carried between houses when it was wet or cold!

Every day ,my friend and the dogs came over to me in the morning, and we were together each evening as well, so it wasn’t long before Willow learned he got a tripe stick – his favourite treat – and was head of the queue.  He then took his prize to ‘his’ settee to eat it in peace.  He soon made friends with my two whippets and when not with Lily, could be found snuggled up to Polly, my 6 year old.  The four dogs formed a pack and Willow was loved by every member.

As he had seemed so well, was eating like a horse and putting on weight , it came then, as such a nasty shock, when he started fitting and was so very ill early one morning at the end of December. Fortunately we were able to give him medication to calm him quickly, but as it was not the first episode and he was in such irreversible distress and pain , we could not see him suffer a moment longer. Sadly we said goodbye to our beautiful boy, holding him as he took his last breaths.

Although our time with him was short, we miss him so much.  Lily and Polly in particular still seek him (Twiggy is too senile to notice, but she frequently shared a rug with him when the dogs were together) and there is a definite Willow-shaped hole in our hearts.

RIP dear Willow.

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