Heather Burns Memorial

Máthair Chúnna Faoil

"... and when I run out of fortitude I will pretend I have it."

Before Heather passed, we talked about how she would want our community to remember her and celebrate her life. I have also spoken about this with Mark. Heather’s greatest worry was always the older, chronically ill and hard to place hounds turned over to rescue. In the past, Heather and I have often discussed setting up a fund for these hounds, but with many other projects taking our time, this never came to fruition. Our community is going to change that; we are going to make them a priority starting TODAY.

We have had multiple older hounds with chronic health issues who have entered our rescue. These hounds are often hard to place. Potential owners are concerned with the costs affiliated with the care of an older hound as it continues to age; this a very valid concern. Many may not be aware, but Heather often adopted these hounds herself, caring for them and providing for their medical needs. Deaglan and Maddigan were two such hounds. They came to us underweight, with urgent medical needs and needing love and a soft place to land. Mark and Heather gave them the care they needed and the love they craved. They lived out the balance of their lives in a way that all hounds deserve.

In honor of Heather IWAMS and IWRMS have set up a fund to cover the medical expenses for these at risk and potentially unadoptable hounds. It will be named the Heather Burns Memorial Fund for Veteran Hounds. It will apply to any unadoptable veteran hound entering rescue. We will work out the details and I will get them to you as soon as I can. We have members willing to provide foster homes, care and love, despite the heartache that can come in loving an older hound. What we lack is a designated fund to keep these hounds in permanent foster, while still supporting the balance of our rescues. In this way we honor Heather with something that spoke directly to her heart. Please consider donating, in Heather's name, to the care for our veteran hounds in lieu of flowers or gifts.

When you make your donation, consider sending a note to Mark and take the time to share with him your stories of Heather. If you want to send him a card of condolence, send it to me and I will ensure he gets all communications from our community. My address is below.

Donations can be sent using the below link:

Heather was the "Mom" to many of our members. She was someone to call if you were worried, or just to vent, and she leaves a huge hole in our hearts. I spoke with her almost every day and I cannot begin to describe how much I will miss her; and I know many of you feel the same.

I will be taking over rescue, as well as Heather’s other duties in the interim, but I will need your help. I know in the past many of you have offered your help; please reach out if you are still interested. I cannot do this alone.

Heather always hated having her picture taken, preferring to be on the backside of the lens. As I went through the last several years of our pictures on Facebook looking for her beautiful face, it struck me what an engaging and interactive community we have grown to be. I know Heather was a big part of that, and she will want you to continue, and to strive for an even deeper connection. You should be proud of what we have created. Heather would want us to share stories and laugh, not cry. She would want us to smile, not be sad. She would want us to share hope, not regrets.

Heather was a force of nature, and words cannot describe how much she will be missed.

Until we meet again my Irish Viking Warrioress.

Tamara Dunn

President

Irish Wolfhound Association of the Mid South

Irish Wolfhound Rescue of the Mid South

2232 Old Reedy Creek Rd.

Cary, NC 27513

Heather Burns Memorial Fund PayPal Link

Hello Members,

You'll find the information to Heather's Memorial service at the link below. They will be offering the service live on Facebook. You do not need Facebook in order to view the memorial, just click the link and it will take you to the service. Let me know if there are any concerns and I will attempt to resolve them.

Tamara

By now most of you will know of Heather’s passing. She fought hard to stay with us, with her husband Mark, and with her beloved hounds. But as her battle continued, her body and soul tired. Each of us must go home when we are called, and Heather would have stayed with us if she could. The sadness and loss we feel is immeasurable. As I write this, I hope we can all choose to remember the quality and fabric of her life. She wanted each of you to feel included in our community. She wanted you to feel supported, accepted and loved. Our lives are filled with daily strife and ambiguity as they have never been before. Heather’s life was an example of caring and community. We can honor her memory best by taking time to laugh, love and connect with each other. Take time to grieve, and then take time to share stories and laugh.

Join Us here for Heather Burns Memorial Service

Death is nothing at all.

I have only slipped away to the next room.

I am I and you are you.

Whatever we were to each other,

That, we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name.

Speak to me in the easy way

which you always used.

Put no difference into your tone.

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed

at the little jokes we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.

Let my name be ever the household word

that it always was.

Let it be spoken without effect.

Without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.

It is the same that it ever was.

There is absolute unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you.

For an interval.

Somewhere. Very near.

Just around the corner.

Heather.Hounds.Lookingback.Spring.2019.j

Nothing is past; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before only better, infinitely happier and forever we will all be one together.

Below are some of the hounds Heather has helped throughout the years. It doesn't come close to representing all the rescues passing through our care, but hopefully it will give you a glimpse into the legacy of love Heather has left for us. I'll be updating as we go along, so where you can click on the link to see their stories.

Clever Caden and Cagey Calen

We received Caden and Calen as rescues through Heather. She was amazing and offered so many suggestions to assist them in transitioning into their new home. When we received Caden, he had lost all his fur from a flea allergy and we were concerned with him getting cold when on his walks. Heather mentioned this to her dear friend Rebecca Conti, and she mailed us a beautiful, IW sized cape for him to wear until his fur grew back. We were touched by that amazing act of kindness. My father, husband and I thought the world of Heather. She was always so kind and just made everyone feel at home. She had a wonderful sense of humor, was very knowledgeable, generous, and genuinely loved and cared about the hounds and people. I loved seeing her FB posts about her walks with her hounds and her encounters with box turtles. We offer our deepest condolences to Mark and Heather's family.
Wendy Stanton

Earl the Box Turtle

This is one of many Box Turtles Heather took a picture of before moving out of the road, saving their little, slow moving lives!
This particular fellow is known as Earl. Earl hasn't always made good choices, but after a wild start to life, and living a little dangerously, he finally settled down with a sweet girl in Terrapene Paradise. They dug in, built a little nest, and raised a bunch of eggs. None of this would have been possible for Earl if it weren't for Heather intervening in his dangerous lifestyle and showing him the error of his ways.

When you're driving around the Southeast and see a Box Turtle trying to cross the road consider stopping and giving him a hand in Heather's honor. And have a chat with him a bit about living a virtuous life.

Cuddly Ciaragh

Heather let me know that Ciaragh needed a home because her people had a drastic change in circumstance. We agreed to foster her with the intent of adopting her, and it was a rocky year before we made things official. Heather walked me through adding another female to my pack, she virtually held my hand when Ciaragh and Bryn were not getting along. She was the first person I called when Ciaragh went missing in May. I couldn't have gotten through that without her. I was a wreck, but in her gentle way Heather led me through all the steps necessary to get my girl back home. She and I called together on the phone when the man called to say Ciaragh was sitting on his front porch. And she arranged for someone close by to pick my girl up until I could get there the next morning. We changed her name to Ciaragh to not only honor her "Irishness", but also because I had met Heather's Caragh and fallen in love. I think Caragh passed shortly after we got our girl, and that made it even more right that we had changed her name. I would not be the IW Mom I am without having known Heather.
Nancy Dunne

Fraoch

Finn

Neither Finn or Pixie came to me through IWAMS or IWRMS, but Heather was involved in both.
Finn came to me shortly after I had to let my hound Willie go. He healed my heart and was such a clown.
Kathy Welling

Sweet Charley

Charley was rescued out of Florida as a puppy. Heather arranged for us to pick him up after our daughter's wedding. I will cherish the times we got to spend with her and will always be grateful she chose us to be saved by Charley.
Tamara Houser

Fab Frizzle and Beautiful Butler

Marvelous Mulligan

Precious Pixie

Neither Finn nor Pixie came to me through IWAMS or IWRMS, but Heather was involved in both. I know they both greeted her with joy.

Pixie came to me shortly after Finn passed away suddenly at home, again filling a huge hole. In each case, Heather knew they needed help and reached out through the national rescue network. They were both in Ohio, so not a part of her usual area, but she saw that they needed help, and that I needed healing. I don't remember how she heard about Finn, but she saw Pixie on a Craigslist Ad, contacted the owners and convinced them to work with rescue.

I will be forever grateful.
Kathy Welling

Enchanting Ms. Nellie

Nellie holds the title for oldest rescue at 9 years of age. Her family has so much love and heart to go around that they couldn't help but take a chance on Nellie. Nellie was made to stay outside, possibly the worst thing that could happen to a wolfhound! But those days are over and she lives in the lap of luxury now!

The Lovely Lillibet

Fine Finney

Finney is 3 years 5 months old and Heather helped us adopt him from IWAMS at 9 months of age. We will forever be so grateful for her help and knowledge of the breed on the first of what will be many hounds in our lives. My wife and I thank you, Finney thanks you, and our Yorkie and Peke/Yorkie mix thank you. Rest in Peace Heather, you will be sadly missed.
Ron Jones

Noble Oberon

In 2015, about 5 months after Connor crossed the bridge, I got a PM from Heather. There was a boy in Oklahoma in need of a rehoming. She sent Oberon to me and I will be forever grateful. This June, when it was time for Oberon to cross the bridge, I talked with her again, to let her know, and to thank her again for all the joy he had brought me. She brought so much joy to so many people and hounds. She leaves such a legacy of love. What greater accolades can be said. Ann Livingston

Liffey

Dapper Dublin and Impish Iris

This is Dublin, age 5 and Iris, age 3 years, adopted by the graces of Heather. I was on the waiting list for one hound, and two came together. They were bonded so Heather asked me if I could take two. I said Yes! And have been blessed with these Dublin and Iris. I know they are happy to still be together, and all three of us are so grateful to Heather. I never got to meet her except through texts and phone conversations, but I felt like I had made a real friend. I will miss her greatly. I wish the blessing of comfort and peace to Mark, her family, and her friends.
Janis Lukes

Moose

Gorgeous Georgia

This is Georgia, probably one of Heather's last rescues. She was picked up by Jackie Carswell after a late night phone call letting her know there was a hound desperately in need. Georgia spent her first two years living outside on a porch, covered with fleas and with little room to run and play. She is now a bed hog and learning how to be a good dog while living inside a home. She is a sweet girl and so excited to play and please.
Ginny Culp

Loving Liam and Saucy Siobhan

I was blessed to meet Heather. I did not know it the first time I spoke to her, that she would make a step change in my life... but that she did.

December 2016 two of my three young hound girls decided to wander out of our woods and into the neighbor's driveway. Their naughty behavior became a Facebook post which showed up on Heather's radar. Heather's warm, friendly and effective system let me know about the girls' shenanigans. I will forever have Clover and Gwyneth's "Wanted Poster".

From the first conversation, Heather welcomed me into the group. I have had the opportunity to meet others who are owned by their hounds. I am now a part of local wolfhound people who support each other, which was quietly facilitated by Heather.

Over time Heather helped me with many an issue, both big and small, which one or the other of my hounds was facing. She was a wealth of information.

The greatest eye opening experience for me over these last four years, was the rescue operation. How the hounds were identified. How the people needing to place those hounds were supported through the process of making the decision to give them up, which was often a hard choice for them to make. How the hounds were evaluated and matched to new families. For me, meeting a rescue hound with their new family, and seeing how happy they were together, changed my mind about adoption.

In 2019 Clover was diagnosed with heart disease and given 6 months to a year to live. In February 2020 Gwyneth passed shortly after being diagnosed with Lymphoma. After losing Gwyneth I knew Harper would not do well when the time came for her litter sister, Clover, to pass on. As a family, we decided to adopt rescues instead of looking for a puppy.

Heather found us Liam and Siobhan just days after Clover passed. Harper was alone without Clover for three weeks and she was in mourning. Heather once again knew something we did not. Heather knew that Harper really wanted a brother and my husband really wanted a son.

I knew the matching was perfect within a week when I saw Harper do somethinng I never thought I would see... One morning it was time for everyone to take their potty break and it was raining. Harper and her sisters didn't like the rain. That is not the truth, Harper darn near HATED the rain! My husband and I took Siobhan and Liam out on leashes as Liam was still recovering from foot surgery. Both of them went out in the rain as if it was nothing different. Next thing I know, Harper scoots out of the garage and does her business without the normal pleading I would had to have done. Siobhan and Liam and still investigating the smells from overnight before they choose their spot. I turn around and see Harper, standing in the rain and watching Siobhan and Liam. Harper waited in the driveway for Siobhan and Liam to come back. As they approached she was so excited, she was bouncing up and down. I never thought I would see Harper dance in the rain, this I should have had a picture! Heather called it a breakthrough. Heather knew what our family needed.

Heather changed lives. She changed the lives of hounds. She changed the lives of people. Those of us who met her have the opportunity to show others the caring and sense of community she gave to each of us.

Lori Simonelli

Lilly and Gilroy

Lilly rescued in December 2016 and Gilroy rescued April 2017. Lilly is now 8 and Gilroy is 5. Thank you Heather for giving them a second chance and enriching our lives.
Ginie Cabaniss

Remy and Jamison

Remy and Jamison were rescued June 16, 2013. Remy crossed over at age 6 and Jamison at age 8. Thanks to Heather Burns we had 3 wonderful years with them. We laughed a lot about having them and living on Wild Turkey Rd.
Ginie Cabaniss

Fortunate Finn

My boy Finn was a rescue from Heather. One of the many Finn's already pictured here. I told her I loved his name and she joked that it was undoubtedly one of the most popular boy names out there.
Sissy Munger

Ebullient Emmy

Heather brought Emmy to us at 1 1/2 years. We were her fourth home. Now, at 3 years of age she is a certified therapy dog, has her Canine Good Citizen and her trick dog title. And she is the "All Around Best Dog Ever"!
Jan Gibson

Henrietta - Terry Andrews