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FM Willoughby was born in February 2000. He is an American Pit Bull Terrier rescued from a shelter in Southern California through the web site Pit Bull Rescue Central. At the age of six months, Willoughby broke and dislocated his rear leg in a fetching accident. But what a trooper! He has gone on to earn titles in flyball, agility, and weight pulling. In 2005, he placed 1st in the Willow Winter Carnival State Championship Weight Pull, and in 2006 placed 1st in the World Championship Fur Rendezvous Weight Pull. Willoughby's other favorite activities include lure coursing, mushing, skijoring, swimming, and greeting his "parents" at the door with a shoe in his mouth. Willoughby is happiest when running at warp speed or handing out kisses. To our great sadness, Willoughby was diagnosed with splenic hemangiosarcoma (HSA). On 9/24/08 he had an emergency splenectomy (ruptured mass on the spleen) and two blood transfusions. HSA is a highly aggressive and metastatic cancer, with a median survival of 1-4 months. Sweet Willoughby is still with us and we are enjoying every single day we still have with him. For more information about this devastating disease, visit the modiano-lab (University of Minnesota). |
