About Billy....

We all think our pets are special and I've had many very special pets in my
life. But my little Billy was very special. He had many health problems in his 
life but he had such heart! He took it all in stride and never for a moment
did he give up on anything.  He would play and play! He had to have surgery on 
both back "knees" so at times I would call him my 3 legged dog when he 
would just carry one leg up high. But it never slowed him or 
stopped him from catching a frisbee in mid air!

We lived in Arizona when we got Billy and he was the apple of his daddy's eye!
When my husband (Billy's daddy, Johnny) got sick and had to be in the hospital,
I would come home at night and while Billy was thrilled to see me he would sit and
wait by the door for his daddy.  

When Johnny passed I always thought Billy sensed it. 
For many days I just sat in Johnny's chair and cried. 
Billy would not leave my side, he sat on my lap and licked every tear away.
That sweet little dog kept me going and kept me sane. I began to form the 
strongest bond with an animal I have ever had. We grieved together and we
became inseparable. He was just 3 years old when Johnny passed and for the
next 9 years Billy was my best friend, my baby and my complete focus.  

When he was 8 years old he was diagnosed with hyper-thyroidism and diabetes.
Two insulin shots every day and pills. He dealt with it like he did everything.
Got his shot, took his medicine and headed for his toys!
He loved to play and had so many little toys, each time he got a new one
I would name it and he learned them all. I'd tell him go get your lion and he would
throw toys out of his basket until he had that lion. He was very smart!
If someone brought him a toy he would not only remember which toy but
who gave it to him. When they would stop by he would root through
that basket until he found the toy they had given him. He always
made me laugh at his antics.

And then Billy was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. More pills,
but I needed to keep him going so we did everything possible for him.
He no longer played as much but he would go to his toy basket and
move things around a bit. At times he would seem like his old self and
play hard for a few minutes.

Then a few months before he passed he went blind. He took it in stride
and knew his way through the house, he could find his bed and toy basket
without help. He opened his own Christmas presents and as blind and as
sick as he was he had a grand time. The next two weeks he went
downhill quickly until I knew I could not let him suffer any longer.
He had very suddenly developed an open sore on his back and a large swelling.
He had trouble controlling his bowels and walking was hard for him.

I could see the pain in his eyes and so I made the hardest decision of my life.
We had to say good bye. I took him to my vet and held him while they
very gently put him to sleep. As he took his last few breaths I whispered
in his ear, "run Billy, go find your daddy, he is waiting for you!"

With tears flowing I tucked him in his blanket and put his favorite stuffed toy
between his front legs. His frisbee went with him too.
He would need that when he got to heaven! I am lost without him and he will
always be in my heart right beside Johnny.

One final thought......I don't believe there is a "doggy heaven."
I believe there is just one heaven for all of God's creatures so
that we can all be together again.

Charlotte "mama"

www.mamarocks.com