My dad and Willy - September 2008
(Carrie) My parent's dog, Willy, was sadly found to be full of cancer this week. After consulting with the vet and the rest of the family, my parents thought it best for Willy to be put to sleep on Thursday, as the cancer had spread to his brain and was affecting him physically.
Charles and I were able to spend time with Willy when we were in Utah two weeks ago and were glad to see him when he still seemed healthy. Willy sure enjoyed the head rub that Charles gave to him!
My parents got Willy after I moved away for college. Most of my memories of him are from holidays, family dinners, hikes, and watching him while my parents were on vacation.
Two funny memories I have of Willy occurred two years ago when I watched him while my parents were out of town. Willy loved to play keep-away with his plastic pink ring. He'd bring it right up to you and then make you try to get it from him. It was a funny game he would play. Once you'd get the ring from him, he would want you would throw it and he'd run after it, bring it back to you, and the game would start over. I played this game with him late one night upstairs in my parent's home. He ran down the tile hallway to catch his ring, but was running too fast, slid on the tile and slammed into the wall. He got the ring and came limping back to me. I thought he broke his leg and couldn't believe my luck. Thankfully he didn't break his leg and walked around fine after a few minutes. I didn't throw the ring down that hallway again.
My second memory that week is of Willy playing on the swings. He loved to swat at the swings and wrestle with them. It sure was cute to watch. I didn't want him to get stuck on the swings all day while I was at work so I decided to throw the swings over the monkey bars so that he couldn't get to them. It took me awhile to get the swings out of reach and they hit me on the head a few times in the process. Willy was not happy with the swing situation. He started jumping on me and growling, and so I thought if he wanted to play with the swings that much, then so be it. I didn't want Willy mad at me, so I took the swings down and he was happy after that. Luckily he didn't get stuck on the swings while I was away.
I'll sure miss giving Willy head rubs and playing keep away with him. I'm happy that I have some fun memories of this great dog.
4 comments:
Carrie, that was so fun to read! I especially love how insistent Willy was that you leave the swings down for him to play on! Love you!
I'm so glad you got to know Willy while you were "babysitting" for us! I'm really glad you got to see him play on the swings!!! And I have a great memory of Charles rubbing his head while you were here. Thanks for writing your memories.
That is soo funny that Willy was growling at you when you were trying to put the swings up. He was probably really upset that he couldn't play w/ his swings! What a funny dog! I'm glad you got to know him from babysitting and holidays. He was so fun!
Carrie,
These are great memories. Willy was one of a kind and his playing on the swingset is just one example of how he was so unique. Thanks for sharing that story.
Dad
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