Eli

10/19/2005-7/20/2021

Born into my hands and left in my arms. He was the first of my Bichons to bear the Solstice name, my first show dog, my first champion. More importantly he was my copilot, my sidekick, my shadow. He loved people and babies of all species. He loved to be chased (his favorite game), he loved to get into the trash, and he loved to push all the pillows off the couch whenever possible. He was a teacher and contest dog for so many groomers, and truly loved coming to all the grooming shows to strut around the trade show. He loved going to the beach, and road trips to Michigan. Mostly, he just loved being wherever I was. He was truly ‘my’ dog. He earned his CGC and TKN at age 13, teaching us it’s never too late to learn new things, and he enjoyed one more strut around the show ring for old times sake in the parade of champions at the national specialty at 14.  As his health started to slowly decline, he became close with my husband Jeff, who would let him up on the couch next to him and would slip him chips, and let him lick his ice cream bowl.

Kidney disease is a slow and terrible illness, but he held on as long as he could. He took his nightly fluids without batting an eye, and was still stealing chewy bones from the girls whenever he got the chance. Meds were a challenge but with a little creativity we figured it out. He somehow beat a nasty bout of pancreatitis last fall, we were sure that was it for him. I wasn’t ready, I asked him to stay… so somehow he did. We got to have thanksgiving and Christmas together, and then New Years and Easter and Fourth of July. But his body was getting tired, and his mind was getting cloudy, and it was clear his borrowed time was gone. We made the hard decision to help him gain his wings this morning, the final thing I could do for a dog that has given me so much in the almost 16 years we were together. I miss him so much already. My original three are back together again.

Love you my bestest boy, my Punky Pie.