Wooffer 10/8/1995 - 10/6/2011

It is with great sadness that I tell you that Wooffer passed away yesterday at 5:00.

His spirit touched many lives.

Being a dog, Wooffer has a connection with all the other life that exists around him, from the smallest insect to the largest mammal, which is me. He is acquainted with the butterflies, the squirrels, the rabbits and the armadillos, the cats and the raccoons, the peacock and the chicken, the grasshoppers and the worms, the lady bugs and the birds. Nothing escapes his notice. He is interested in everyone and everything. An egret cannot have passed that he did not know it passed by. Every mouse, rat, mole or vole leaves its scent. Wooffer knows them all by heart. Every lizard and skink has left a mark and a trail for him to follow.

Wooffer also leaves a scent trail for all the other creatures to follow. It was inevitable that they all found each other and became friends. Wooffer is a small dog in a vast world. He does only little dog things, but he changed his world in small ways that have made a big difference. Every animal small or large (that’s me) has had a better life because Wooffer is here.



Love,

Betty, David and all the animals of the farm.

Thank you for telling us, Betty. Just know that our thoughts are with you all.

Ann

I'm so sorry, Betty. I know he meant a lot to you and everyone.

10/7/2011


Dear Betty...

As you know from the first time I saw Wooffer's
photo and read his story I fell head over heels in love
with a great dog, no words can stop the flow of tears
I'm shedding for this beloved little creature, he's with
God now helping him with all his little friends.....

Love Joe & Dusty......

Dear Betty,

I'm sorry to hear about little Wooffer. I'm glad that he will live on in your stories. The world will continue to be a brighter place because he was born into it.

Love,

Shelagh

Betty,
It is a sad day for all of us too. Woofer is loved by all who read your stories.

With much love,
Abe

Betty, I have had five dogs in my life. Each had a different personality. Each were unique. They all had one thing in common…they seemed to love being a dog. When there were no other dogs around, they would use me as a dog substitute. They loved walks in the countryside…smelling a million, and one smells. It use to make me wonder what it would be like in a world were you could see creatures, and things by smell.

I have a little, “Take a break book.” Not for publication, just to break away from the work of writing, and write gibberish for the fun of it. It’s about a dog named Ruff.

Ruff is made up of my five lost friends.

SENT AS PM

Betty,

I am so sorry.Wooffer was so unique. He was such a loving friend.
My heart goes out to you,

Thank you all for your kind words and gentle hearts.

David came home with a backhoe and dug the grave. Wooffer's body rests just a little ways past the back porch, under The Old Oak Tree.

We have talked and remembered many things to honor Wooffer this day.

As we were talking and remembering, the songs that he loved came up. He loved Sara Brightman, especially singing The Music Of the Night and Time to Say Goodbye. It mattered not where he might be on the farm, when I played one or the other on my old cd player, he would come and stand in front of the player and sing along. He did it so often that when Sara came to live with us, we named her in Sara's honor. So we played the music of the night and time to say goodbye this day.

I am sure there is not one doubt in anyone's mind that Wooffer has left his mark on all of our families lives. The children have grown up with him. David and I have grown old.

Wooffer would not understand all the tears that have been shed for him. He was all about the joy of living. . . the chasing of lizards and frogs. He had his nose into everyone's business.

Tomorrow would have been his 16th birthday. In honor of the birthday that he missed, I post the story A Time For Everything





October meant winter was coming. It was a time of getting ready for cold nights, and a time for storing up food for the hard times in the winter when food was scarce. Every animal does this in their own way. The squirrels, including Mr. A.A. Corn, Mr. Hoy T. Toity and Sir Right (Dickey) Doodah, were storing acorns and nuts.

The rabbits were getting as fat as possible to be ready for the cold nights and dry grasses. Old Agnes and her Thousands were lining the walls of the house with straw and grass to be ready for the cold times of winter.

Camille and the Bully Frogs were preparing places to stay indoors all winter long. They would not come out again until spring. Everyone was very busy.

October also meant Wooffer’s birthday was coming. He was going to be three years old. All the animals on the farm knew it. And even though they were very busy, they were all planning something special for Wooffer’s special day. Wooffer knew nothing of any plans. He never, ever, remembered his own birthday. Every day, Wooffer went to visit all his friends and watched as they prepared for the cold time of winter. He helped them when he could, but there was little he could do to help. He brought dried grass to Old Agnes and helped the squirrels bury acorns and showed the rabbits where a very nice stand of wild lettuce was growing but, mostly, he just watched all the goings on.

Whenever Wooffer was not around, all the animals stopped getting ready for the winter and got ready for Wooffer’s special day. Everyone was making something very special for Wooffer to show how much they loved him. It was going to be the best Special Day that Wooffer ever had! The party was to be held under the Old Oak Tree and it was to be a big surprise!

Finally, the big day came. It was a perfect day! The sun was shining, a breeze was blowing gently from the south, and everyone was ready. They gathered around the Old Oak Tree and hid. No one made a sound. At last, Wooffer came out of the house and wandered around the yard. Not one soul seemed to be out. He went over to lie under the Old Oak Tree and wait for someone to come around. All of a sudden, everyone leaped out at once and shouted, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WOOFFER!”

Old Agnes and all of the Thousands, Mr. A.A. Corn, Mr. Hoy T. Toity, Sir Doodah, Basil and his family, Silverthorn and his family, Camille and all her lizard family, Bully Frog and all the little green frogs, Cho Lee Yen and Margaret, Claudie and Mildred, Larry, Curly and Moe, you name them, and they were there.

Everyone was wishing him many happy days and patting him on the head and shaking his paws. Wooffer was smiling and all he could say was, “Gosh! Thank you all very much!”

Mr. Hoy T. Toity told Wooffer he must sit in the middle and “receive his honors.” First, there was a speech made by Cho Lee Yen about what a wonderful friend Wooffer was to all, and another by Basil about the same thing. Then they all got down to giving Wooffer the presents they had made.

Sir Right (Dickey) Doodah presented Wooffer with a plaque made from the oak tree he had climbed, that said, “HE’S A FREE DOG, HE’S A TREE DOG, HE’S ONE OF A KIND,” on behalf of the squirrels. Basil, on behalf of the rabbits, gave Wooffer the stuffed cat toy that he had let them practice the kicking and screaming with, all sewn up and repaired as good as new. Cho Lee Yen gave Wooffer one of his beautiful tail feathers; Margaret promised not to jump in his face for at least a month; Claudie and Mildred invited him to dinner next Friday, and Larry, Curly, and Moe gave him a new marker so that he could mark his territory every day. As for Old Agnes and the Thousands — each one of the Thousands had drawn a picture of Wooffer showing the day of the Flood, and written their name under each one with a little heart drawn by it to tell him how much they loved him.

After all the presents had been given, they all wanted Wooffer to make a speech. Well, Wooffer had never given a speech before. But he gave one that day! Here is his speech:

“All my dear friends! You have all made me so very happy! We are all different in our ways, and yet we are all of one family. We each have our different problems, yet we all have one goal. That is to help each other and live happy lives together. I thank you each one, for the kindness and love you have shown me this day.”

They all cheered Wooffer’s speech and said what a lovely speech it was.

The party went on for a good long time, with everyone having a very good time, especially Wooffer. But it was October, and soon everyone had to get back to getting ready for the winter. Wooffer went home to tell his mom all about the Birthday Party. It had been such a nice surprise!

God Bless Wooffer

Love,

Betty

And God bless Betty, as well.

Ann

107/2011


Betty..

That was beautiful...God Bless


Love Joe & Dusty

Betty, I've just tonight seen this post, and I wanted to send my heartfelt sympathy to you over the loss of Woofer. I don't have to ask, or guess, I know he was a great little guy, and I know he spent his life in a wonderful world filled with friends and other little ones that he loved. I also know he was loved by you, and will be remembered. But here's the thing. He'll be remembered by all of us, and will live on because you gave him eternal life in the pages of your outstandingly warm and wonderful stories of him.

Two weeks ago we lost our little black Pom, Bones, and last week I went to the pet rescue center about 100 miles from here and adapted another one that looks as if he could be Bone's son. His name is Bear, and if I ever choose to write about him, and Bones, and McKenzie, it will be because your writing has inspired me to do so. I will not be able to write a story that will be as good as yours are, but one day, perhaps I will try.

Thanks for sharing Woofer with us, with me, and please know that I grieve with you, and that I know he would never have wanted any other person to be his friend and companion other than you.

Don

Betty I am deeply saddened by this news.
Although I never met Wooffer in person, through your stories he became a little light in my life.

My thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time.

I just opened this post today and was saddened for your loss. I have mentioned before that I heard a special report that many breeds of dogs have evolved because of their special relationship with humans. Their loss leaves an empty place in emotions. However, you have memories in stories to enjoy forever. It is such a treasure that you wrote and recorded your precious book. Because of you I wrote a dog story about Lady Ace, my standard poodle "guard dog" when I lived on the sailboat and submitted it to my publisher for a dog anthology. It was rejected: they wanted more humor in the stories for the anthology. I'm glad I wrote the story, though. It's not just the memories with the dog, but all the living that goes on while the dog is a member of the family that matters.

Every morning I set my bird's cage on the front porch, chat a bit and then spend my day with my "stuff." Each night I bring in the cage and chat a bit more. As I leave and arrive, we chat. I provide for her the things that she needs. I used to daydream about giving her freedom, but the hawks would get her. She deserves better. I remember the lines from The Little Prince to the effect that it is the care that you give that creates the unique place in your heart and you are responsible for what you have tamed. It's no wonder that cherished pets remain in our hearts. For a little bit of care, they give back so very much.

My children are making a concrete bench. The seat will be of stained glass embedded with a picture of Wooffer and lovely words to honor his life. It will sit under The Old Oak Tree beside his grave. Whenever anyone sits there, be it animal or human, they will remember Wooffer.

For all of you who have taken the time to post your kindness here, it means a lot to David and I.

Love,

Betty

Betty,
You and Wooffer have made a difference.
God bless you.

Betty, I am so sorry. I don't know what to say.

I am a 'dog' person and I know how our hearts have that special place for just them.

I love what your kids are doing to remember him by.

Sorry to hear about Woofer, Betty. Well, you gave him a great life for a long time, and he's thinking about you fondly right now for it.

Dear Betty,

I am so sorry to hear about your losing Woofer. He was a part of all our lives on the boards. He'll remain that young puppy you've written about forever. I love the idea of the bench--what a wonderful tribute! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Love,
Helen

My Sara and Jazzmin have grieved this week. They look out the doors and do a lot of dejected plopping down. Jazzmin has taken to licking Wooffer's favorite place on the floor.

I have gotten them some chicken jerky. Food seems their only comfort!



But, life has gone on, as it must, for the animals. The matter of living has taken it's rightful place over death. Not many of them can comprehend the long life of16 years. It seems well nigh impossible, a miracle.

I tell them that miracles are for everyone.



Love,

Betty

Betty Fasig wrote:

Not many of them can comprehend the long life of16 years. It seems well nigh impossible, a miracle.

I tell them that miracles are for everyone.



Love,

Betty

That's 112 years in doggy years a true miracle Betty!