A Year ago today...

A year ago today, we brought home our Woolly dog. I remember the feeling we had driving up to Fontana, I kept thinking "okay today we are just looking at the new pups, not buying one..." Well, that is a hard to do when the puppies were as cute as they were. The breeder told us that he had just gotten back from Sacramento with two pick of the liter pups. They were the cutest little chunks! We wanted a brindle one, but the breeder was keeping that one, so there was this little Fromentino guy....our Woolly Boy :) Instead of picking out a puppy from the new liter, we fell in love with Woolly and couldn't say no to bringing him home with us. After a lunch at Cheese Cake Factory we decided we would go back to pick him up. We were so excited!

The day we brought him home



Always wanting to play with Ruca, it wasn't long before he just stood next to the dogloo and could reach her.



Woolly's first trip to the river, he was such a good boy!



Woolly's favorite thing to do, hang in the garage with us



This was taken on right around his first birthday

It is still hard to look at all of our pictures of Woolly and Ruca and for our hearts not to hurt a little. Not only was the loss hard for us, but it was on Ruca too. How do you explain to a dog where her brother went? I miss seeing those two together. Woolly passed away four weeks ago tomorrow. The vet's office that did the surgery on him then laid him to rest, sent us the most precious gift that we received in the mail today, a year to the date that we brought our boy home with us. I cried as I saw Woolly's paw print in the clay. What a sweet gift to give us. It is something that we will always treasure.

Rest in Peace Love

RIP Woolly Bully Boy

When we got our first puppy together not even a year ago, we never imagined we would be saying goodbye just a month shy of having him for a year. Besides Ruca, I had never been close to a pet. I grew up with dogs my whole life, but they were pets, not exactly "part of the family". Woolly changed all of that for us. Leif and I fell in love with this little chunk, and he improved our relationship with Ruca. The dogs became our fur babies. We looked forward to Fridays and Saturdays hanging out in the garage with the dogs. They really were our kids. At night, especially this last winter, Woolly and Ruca would get to come in the house and sit by the back door...now that place feels so empty. When we are in the front, I just miss having my Woolly Bully come up to me and give me love. It really feels like a broken heart, I miss my boy. Ruca is getting extra attention and we are cherishing the moments we have with her. I never, never thought losing a dog would be this hard, but I guess that's the thing, he wasn't just a dog to us. He was part of our family. He had a unique personality, and although he could be a jerk at times he loved us, and we loved him so much. The outpouring love and support truly is more than Leif and I could ever ask for. To know that people do understand and they mean the words they say means more to us than we could say. We miss our boy and we know that this will take time....this sweet poem brought me to tears, but also is something I believe. My sister posted on my facebook that Woolly is in Heaven playing with Jesus and loving every moment. I miss him so much, but I know that one day we will be reunited. RIP Woolly, we love you!

I will lend to you for awhile
a puppy, God said,
For you to love him while he lives
and to mourn for him when he is gone.
Maybe for 12 or 14 years,
or maybe for 2 or 3
But will you, till I call him back
take care of him for me?
He’ll bring his charms to gladden you
and (should his stay be brief)
you’ll always have his memories
as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise that he will stay
since all from Earth return,
But there are lessons taught below
I want this pup to learn.
I’ve looked the whole world over
in seach of teachers true
And from the fold that crowd life’s land
I have chosen you.
Now will you give him all your love
Nor think the labor vain,
nor hate me when I come to take my pup back again?
I fancied that I heard them say,
“Dear Lord, They Will Be Done,”
For all the joys this pup will bring
the risk of grief you’ll run.
Will you shelter him with tenderness,
Will you love him while you may?
And for the happiness you’ll know forever grateful stay.
But should I call him back
much sooner than you’ve planned,
please brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.
If, by your love, you’ve managed
my wishes to achieve,
In memory of him that you’ve loved,
cherish every moment with your faithful bundle, and know he loved you too.