02/21/2026
For Anni
(My Best Friend)
You came to us on four soft feet,
but filled the house like a heartbeat,
tail thumping joy into the floor,
eyes always counting heads,
making sure your people were all there.
You ran fields the way some pray,
nose to wind,
muscle and instinct and grace,
an upland song written in motion.
Birds rose, shots echoed,
and you came back proud,
because coming back was always the point.
You loved children like they were yours,
stood watch like it was a sacred job.
First to the window,
first to the driveway,
first to say, I’ve got this.
You chased squirrels without apology,
and peace without effort.
If laughter broke out, you were there.
If tears fell, you were closer.
Your place was never far from us,
because love, to you,
meant near.
Now you run where fields never end,
where every scent is new,
every morning is bright,
and nothing hurts anymore.
We will feel the quiet you leave behind,
but we will hear you in it too,
in the rustle of grass,
the echo of paws in memory,
the way love stays
even when bodies cannot.
Run free, sweet Anni.
Thank you for choosing us.
Thank you for everything. 🐾🌈
~Adam Kokx
Yesterday, we had to make the decision that none of us ever wanted to make…to say goodbye to our gentle princess and the foundation for our kennel. Willow Hills Anniken will always be one of those irreplaceable family members, and our hearts are beyond broken. Every image, every memory, every moment knowing she is no longer with us brings an instant flood of tears. You were SO loved, and 9.5yrs was not nearly enough time. 💔💔💔
