A WHOLE NEW WORLD

Lisa and Willow

I don’t know who you are, but Mom asked me to tell you a little about myself.   I was born one cold winter in Georgia.  I lived with my birth mom and canine relatives with no humans to feed us or watch over us.  My mom found food in garbage cans and she taught us which plants and bugs were okay to eat.

When I was 5 months old, some humans tricked us, put us in their truck and took us to a very scary place.  Now keep in mind the only humans I had ever known threw rocks at my mom as she took food from their garbage. These new humans had food for us and wanted to find us homes.

One day, 2 special humans came to meet my brother and I.  I was so frightened I stayed curled up in a ball at the back of the pen.  The next day they returned and took me with them. They called me Willow and said they were my new mom and dad.  I was terrified of everything.  The car.  The traffic.  The people.  The noise.  All of it!  We arrived at a place mom called “home.”  I was more scared than I was hungry so I didn’t eat for 3 days.  I was afraid to walk, so Mom carried me for weeks. 

Slowly I realized I might be safe, even though I was very scared.  To tell you the truth I stayed a little scared for years.  Anything new or different, and let me tell you every day there is something new and different, I still get a little scared.

Mom and Dad were very patient with me. They saw my courage.  I was so afraid I never thought I might be brave.  I felt safe and happy with Mom and Dad until they brought Ruby home.  Now I have to share.  My toys.  My house.  My yard.  I even share Mom and Dad.  Don’t tell Ruby, but I think she makes our house very exciting.  That Ruby, she is not afraid of anything and I kind of admire her for that.  Even with Ruby for a sister I feel safe and happy.

I spend most days with Dad going on walks.  People tell Dad how pretty I am.  I love when they comment on my tail because it is quite magnificent.  Everybody says so.

A little known fact about my breed is that we are the fastest long distance runners in the dog world, which makes me very special.  Mom and Dad tell me every day I am special not because I’m fast, but because I am the bravest dog they have every known.