I'm participating in DogFest Southwest 2025 in memory of my first puppy that I raised for Canine Companions.  Her name was Wilona, but she was also known as Willow, Wilsy, and many other terms of endearment given to her by Lucy, the young lady she was matched with.  Willow passed away on May 13, 2025 just 3 weeks shy of her 15th birthday.  The funds raised here will help ensure that future young ladies like Lucy will have the opportunity to have a service dog such as Willow at their side.

Willow was a loyal heart, a steady presence, a guide through life's adventures with Lucy—this remarkable service dog was more than a companion; she was a beacon of courage, resilience, and unwavering love.

From those first steps of independence that Lucy and Willow took together over 13 years ago, to the boundless horizons that once felt out of reach, this devoted friend walked alongside Lucy, offering confidence, strength, and joy. Willow's gentle reassurance in moments of uncertainty, her steadfast loyalty through every challenge, her ability to turn the ordinary into something extraordinary—these gifts will never be forgotten.

The paw prints left behind are not just in the places Lucy and Willow traveled together, but deep within the heart of the one she served so faithfully and all who knew her. And though her physical presence may no longer grace this world, her memory lives on in every fear conquered, and every bright new day embraced with the spirit of adventure that she inspired.

Forever cherished, forever loved. Run free, precious Willow.