Waylon
4/9/1997-4/18/2006
He came into my life when he was a year old. He was abandoned and abused, rough and skinny and rather hound dog looking, he was rather uninterested in me. He had a lot of issues and destroyed much of the house. It took months to get his health problems under control and his aggression from previous abuse took years to straighten out. He had a deep love for me and for tennis balls. Despite his quirky ways those closest to him grew to love him. He was dignified and goofy at the same time. He was the beloved leader of our pack at home. Like King Arthur of Camelot, his followers adored him. He was a fair and gentle ruler. He had all the qualities I would look for in a husband. He was funny and had a great sense of humor. He was loyal and honest. He never did anything to upset me intentionally and would protect me with his life. He was a hard worker and respectable. He didn't try to make people like him but everyone did. He wasn't needy and let me have my space. He was strong and athletic and up for anything. He was quick to forgive my faults and quicker to apologize for his own. He was smart and eager to please. There are so many amazing memories I have of him. All the crazy things he did, the sweet things, but mostly the fact that he loved me unconditionally. He was there for me through years of trials. Always steadfast, never wavering. He was devoted to me and gave me his heart 100%. I have always been scared of what horrible things could happen to me. When Waylon was with me I knew I was safe. He had proved several times without hesitation he would protect me.
I found out about his cancer in February of this year. It was an unexpected blow to my heart. Waylon was indestructible, he was going to live forever. I vowed I would do everything it took to save his life. Our journey took us to the University of Madison Veterinary School, renowned world wide for it's cancer treatment. We headed up in a good mood to start the battle against the disease. Chemotherapy, and I was sure he would go into remission for years. When we got there the vet was positive. But, things took a terrible turn for the worse. Waylon's cancer had spread through is body and the vet said was untreatable. I drove home devastated, how could this be? We were going to fight. I researched every diet and supplement possible. I ordered all sorts of supplements and herbal remedies. I switched his diet to a homemade raw one, spent countless hours preparing his meals, I knew we could beat the odds. Waylon was doing so well, he wouldn't die......but then the bad days started and things quickly got worse. I came home from work one night and Waylon came to me. He stood in front of me looking into my eyes, I knew it was time. I snuck to the bathroom to cry alone and he sought me out. Waylon never came to my when I was crying, and for the first time he came and rested his head on my shoulder to comfort me. It was a hard night and I had to help him out to go to the bathroom every couple of hours. As soon as he would come out the door, Ruger-who thought of Waylon as a hero, came from his sleep in the shed and walked beside him to the spring. He would stand there in the night patiently waiting for him to finish drinking and then walk him back to the house. All night long Ruger came out to stand near him. Neither Way or I got much sleep that night, we were both restless until we finally cuddled up together one last time. We slept soundly til morning. I snuck downstairs to call the vet about bringing him in. Waylon came down shortly after and gave me a small, half-hearted tail wag. I took him to the vet and opened the back of the car up, the sun was shining brightly on him, just how he loved it. The vet came out while Waylon rested in my lap and we sent him off to heaven peacefully. I drove around some time with him, taking him to the state park to lookout over the river. It was a beautiful day, Waylon would have loved one more run through the woods, one more sniff of the breeze, ears blowing in the wind, I would have loved to watch him. I held him for hours while my husband dug his grave up on a hilltop. I wanted to keep him forever, never let him go, if only I had a minute more with him, I would have given all that I had. I carried his body up the hill and buried him with his favorite things, some collars, treats, his favorite blanket, a soft dog bed, and of course, tennis balls. Early the next morning I looked out the window up at Way's hilltop and there was Belle, sitting on his grave. I was touched by how affected the dogs were to lose their leader. Losing Waylon was a loss so profound words could never even start to explain it. I miss him more each day and life will never be so sweet as it was when he was here.
I am blessed to know what true love is and I am tortured to have lost it. I will carry him with me forever--in my memory and my heart
Thank you to all that treated him well and especially those that loved him.
Tabitha
4/9/1997-4/18/2006
True Love
They say you only find true love once and mine without a doubt was Waylon.He came into my life when he was a year old. He was abandoned and abused, rough and skinny and rather hound dog looking, he was rather uninterested in me. He had a lot of issues and destroyed much of the house. It took months to get his health problems under control and his aggression from previous abuse took years to straighten out. He had a deep love for me and for tennis balls. Despite his quirky ways those closest to him grew to love him. He was dignified and goofy at the same time. He was the beloved leader of our pack at home. Like King Arthur of Camelot, his followers adored him. He was a fair and gentle ruler. He had all the qualities I would look for in a husband. He was funny and had a great sense of humor. He was loyal and honest. He never did anything to upset me intentionally and would protect me with his life. He was a hard worker and respectable. He didn't try to make people like him but everyone did. He wasn't needy and let me have my space. He was strong and athletic and up for anything. He was quick to forgive my faults and quicker to apologize for his own. He was smart and eager to please. There are so many amazing memories I have of him. All the crazy things he did, the sweet things, but mostly the fact that he loved me unconditionally. He was there for me through years of trials. Always steadfast, never wavering. He was devoted to me and gave me his heart 100%. I have always been scared of what horrible things could happen to me. When Waylon was with me I knew I was safe. He had proved several times without hesitation he would protect me.
I found out about his cancer in February of this year. It was an unexpected blow to my heart. Waylon was indestructible, he was going to live forever. I vowed I would do everything it took to save his life. Our journey took us to the University of Madison Veterinary School, renowned world wide for it's cancer treatment. We headed up in a good mood to start the battle against the disease. Chemotherapy, and I was sure he would go into remission for years. When we got there the vet was positive. But, things took a terrible turn for the worse. Waylon's cancer had spread through is body and the vet said was untreatable. I drove home devastated, how could this be? We were going to fight. I researched every diet and supplement possible. I ordered all sorts of supplements and herbal remedies. I switched his diet to a homemade raw one, spent countless hours preparing his meals, I knew we could beat the odds. Waylon was doing so well, he wouldn't die......but then the bad days started and things quickly got worse. I came home from work one night and Waylon came to me. He stood in front of me looking into my eyes, I knew it was time. I snuck to the bathroom to cry alone and he sought me out. Waylon never came to my when I was crying, and for the first time he came and rested his head on my shoulder to comfort me. It was a hard night and I had to help him out to go to the bathroom every couple of hours. As soon as he would come out the door, Ruger-who thought of Waylon as a hero, came from his sleep in the shed and walked beside him to the spring. He would stand there in the night patiently waiting for him to finish drinking and then walk him back to the house. All night long Ruger came out to stand near him. Neither Way or I got much sleep that night, we were both restless until we finally cuddled up together one last time. We slept soundly til morning. I snuck downstairs to call the vet about bringing him in. Waylon came down shortly after and gave me a small, half-hearted tail wag. I took him to the vet and opened the back of the car up, the sun was shining brightly on him, just how he loved it. The vet came out while Waylon rested in my lap and we sent him off to heaven peacefully. I drove around some time with him, taking him to the state park to lookout over the river. It was a beautiful day, Waylon would have loved one more run through the woods, one more sniff of the breeze, ears blowing in the wind, I would have loved to watch him. I held him for hours while my husband dug his grave up on a hilltop. I wanted to keep him forever, never let him go, if only I had a minute more with him, I would have given all that I had. I carried his body up the hill and buried him with his favorite things, some collars, treats, his favorite blanket, a soft dog bed, and of course, tennis balls. Early the next morning I looked out the window up at Way's hilltop and there was Belle, sitting on his grave. I was touched by how affected the dogs were to lose their leader. Losing Waylon was a loss so profound words could never even start to explain it. I miss him more each day and life will never be so sweet as it was when he was here.
I am blessed to know what true love is and I am tortured to have lost it. I will carry him with me forever--in my memory and my heart
Thank you to all that treated him well and especially those that loved him.
Tabitha
Waylon was the first Weimaraner to ever receive the Onyx title in flyball. Along with the birth of my children it was the happiest and proudest day of my life. I am thankful for an amazing flyball team that helped a dog who formerly attacked other dogs achieve such status.
This is Way and I getting ready for our race.
Lined up to start.
Waylon at the box.
Tabitha, the story of Way always breaks my heart. I ball reading about it, or your montage you put on BF. I think it reminds me of a beloved pet, Roscoe, I lost a couple years ago. You are awesome for all the work you do! I just wanted to thank you!
ReplyDeleteAw Maggie--you are SO SWEET!
ReplyDeletethank you :)
i hope way and roscoe (love that name) have made friends in heaven..or at least taken turns peeing on trees :)
thank you for reading and your comments!