Lil’ Holly Heart: Our Princess

    Picture it.  A huge park filled with hundreds of dogs – all shapes, sizes, and colors imaginable.  Lil’ Holly Heart is there, too. She’s a short-haired, red miniature dachshund, weighing in at just over eleven pounds.  Because she’s a bit older than most dogs there – she was ten years old at the time – she was just relaxing under a tree when two little girls ran over to visit with her.   Out of all of the dogs in the park, these two little girls are drawn to Holly.  There is something about her kind, gentle nature that attracts people of all ages.  The little girls stay with Holly until their mom tells them they have to go home.  They start to leave, but one little girl turns around, runs back to us, and says something we will never forget:  “Tell Holly she’s precious.”

     Lil' Holly Heart may be short but she is long on determination and ingenuity. Our Holly has shown that just because you are small you can still have a significant impact on the world around you. Just ask the folks who have spent time with Holly and they will tell you. Besides being the symbol of our determination to succeed, she is the sweetest and dearest friend anyone could have. She is just so darn cute!

     After her original "mom and dad" passed away, Holly was brought to the most wonderful veterinarian in the world -- Dr. Christine Wilson (now of Steele Canyon Veterinary Clinic) -- who asked us if we would consider taking Holly into our home. We happily accepted the opportunity to adopt her. (However, looking back, we know that she really adopted us.) We cannot express what an inspiration she has been for all of us.

     With very heavy hearts, we write that Lil' Holly Heart passed away on November 13, 2004, at the age of 15.  All who knew Lil' Holly Heart loved her, and she will always be treasured in our hearts.  Holly, you're precious.