Padre Luigi (Weegee)

2002-2012

It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of a wonderful friend. Luigi (or Weegee) first came into our lives when Steve and I adopted him shortly after moving to Sicily, Italy in 2002. He was just like our first born at the time. He made us laugh, comforted us, and gave us unconditional love everyday. I have fond memories of playing fetch with him in our apartment. We had a large kitchen and he would run from one end of the room to the other over and over again. That was when he was only 4 or 5 months; he was just a little guy. Then over time his love for food (a true Italian) came out. Oh, he would get in sooo much trouble getting into food that he wasn't allowed to have. We would bring the groceries home and it would only take 2 seconds for him to get his little nose into one of the bags and start chewing straight through to eat some bread. LOL We would joke and say he had an obsession with food. But that's what made him Weegee. Overtime his belly started to show his love for food and he would have this adorable little waddle as he walked. 

Several months passed and he was no longer "an only child". Sophia, came into our lives. At first, there was a lot of growls and hisses, but overtime these two became inseparable. They napped together, played together, and Sophia would even clean Weegee's areas where he could no longer reach because of his big belly. LOL It was especially nice because Steve and I would travel a lot, so they would keep each other company while we were gone.

Then in 2008, Steve was being sent to Iraq for a year. Tyler and I decided to go home to live with my mom and help her cope with the recent passing of my dad. Unfortunately, we had to split up Weegee and Sophia because my mom already had her cat, Snuggles. It would have been overwhelming to have three cats in the house and Snuggles was already not very thrilled about the guest coming to live in her territory. LOL Over time though, they learned to deal with each other and often were seen in the same room together just a foot apart from each other. LOL

When Steve arrived back home and it was time for us to move back to the U.S., it was decided that Weegee stay at my mom's. By this time, she had grown too attached to him. Snuggles was not well and we figured that after her passing that Luigi would make a good replacement. Yes, it was a sad and difficult decision to make, but we knew that my mom needed Luigi more than we needed him, especially at that time. He was a great companion to her over the years and kept her company. A couple years later, Snuggles passed away and there was a sense of comfort knowing that Luigi was there to help her through the loss.

Luigi was extremely happy at the "Walker Resort". Mom gave him lots and lots of love and care over the years. And he returned the same to her. 

Then last summer, he became ill. We noticed a cyst on his nose that, in time, spread. He would have good days and bad days. For awhile, we actually thought it was getting better, but it eventually came back. Mom noticed a difference in his health just recently and he seemed to have gone down hill fast. There were other complications as well. He had several vet appointments, however we knew there was not much they could do. He would never be the same Luigi.

This afternoon, my mom, took him into the vet once again to get looked at to see if there was anything they could do more to help him. The vet basically said that he would never get better. My mom was left with a difficult choice to make. She talked to Weegee and explained to him that everything was going to be OK and that soon he would be in God's garden. He would be all better and free of pain. My mom said her goodbyes and then went to the waiting room. Very soon after, the vet came running out of the office with tears in her eyes. She said "He's gone! He's gone! Whatever you said to him, it must have released him and he just went on his own." She was about to give him the shot to put him down, but he had already deceased. He was just waiting for my mom to say that it was OK to go. 

Weeg, you were a great friend. I will truly miss your snuggles and how you would bump your head into me to show your love. You always had lots of purrs to share with us. You are unforgettable and will forever remain in our hearts. We know now you are free of all your pain and suffering. You are joined by Snuggles. Together you will run in the garden and probably fight over food (LOL) because that's who you are and WE LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH FOR BEING YOU.