Goodbye Sweet Willie

Willie
March 6, 1997-October 26,2014

I am heartbroken. It is so sad to even type the words that our sweet dog passed away Saturday morning. My little mini dachshund. He was our first baby. Eric and I were married in Feb of 1997, by March we were ready for our first puppy. My mom knew someone who had a litter of puppies, by April we were officially a family. We named Willie after Willie Wonka. Eric loved that movie and Willie had the most beautiful chocolate colored fur.

 That little guy would forget he was a small dog. He had no problem playing rough with the big dogs. His favorite pastime as a puppy was to chew up the carpet. He also was a barker. He would bark just to make sure you knew he was down there. His favorite place to sit was on the arm of the couch. He would watch out the window all day long. 

When we first brought him home Eric was working the night shift so I would have Willie sleep in the bed with me. That never changed. Every time I was pregnant Willie would lay in front of my stomach like he was protecting the baby. If I had to roll over he would growl as he slowly moved all over the bed to take his place back in front of me. My sweet protector.

Snakes! Willie's other favorite pastime was searching our yard for snakes and he seemed to find every one of them.  I will miss my little snake catcher :(

When the twins first came home from the hospital we could tell Willie was not doing well. He stopped eating for a few days and we just knew it was getting time. Some friends of ours came over one night with amazing ribs, potatoes, and more...we decided that night we would try one last time to get him to eat. That dog ate every bite. Any time we would go to feed him he would turn his nose until we gave him the good stuff. We always say those ribs gave Willie the will to live another year.

This past week we really knew it was time. His body was becoming more frail and he could not see well. Even though we knew it was coming it is still so hard. For almost 17 years this sweet dog has been at my feet. For 17 years there has been a constant bark in this house. I have not been able to stop crying. I cried walking down the dog food aisle in Target, I cry driving home knowing he won't be there. I cry when I look at the fence.

I know he lived he a good long life and it was time to let him go....I miss you my sweet Willie, we will always love you.

My sweet Willie

Best Buddies
Caleb and Willie

Joshua and Willie

Luke and Willie

Willie meeting the twins

My Florida dog, he never liked the cold!!

Goodbye Sweet Willie!