Only once in a blue moon does that special dog come into your life. Ellie was that perfect dog.  Thanks Ragom!

She was spoiled for sure. She knew how to ask for her 1-2 walks a day in the park where she hunted down all the chipmunks and squirrels at every tree and lamppost. If we stopped for food or drinks, she waited patiently outside, peeping in the door in anticipation of what treat she might get out of it. She proudly pranced by everyone who said she was a beautiful dog. And she was kind to every kid who wanted to say hi to the “puppy.”

Comfortably at home she found many of her beds and would prefer if they were either in the sun or near her humans.  She insisted on sleeping in the same room; sometimes even made her way up to the bed. She took many naps on the big blue chair, which later became know as her blue throne. 

She always let me know when someone was at the door by barking but never biting, though she loved to chew. If it was a rawhide bone, it only lasted 15 min; a tennis ball was ripped apart until it was raw; toys didn’t stand a chance. But she never chewed on anything she shouldn’t have. You could leave food on the counter and she never counter surfed (except that one time where that cheese was just a little too close to her nose just as we were talking about how good she is.)

She always wanted your attention. If she felt ignored, she laid her nose on your lap or even the laptop until you scratched her ears. She insisted on being with you every step and did not like to be left at home so she took many trips and errands in the car, waiting patiently for the destination. She even got to go out to eat at dog friendly restaurants and was well behaved.

If she needed to be taken care of, every one of her friends and relatives were always willing to do so. She often hung out at grandmas where she loved to watch the wildlife outside. She even got to stay at a doggie country club one time where she received an A+++ on her report card.

When my husband and I met, the two of them had an immediate connection. She soon became familiar with his name to her, “Your Buddy.” She would anxiously await his arrival and they developed a game they called, “Treasure Trail.” The game became a necessity in her daily routine, begging and whining for it like nothing else I’ve seen from her.  The game involved hunting for treats in the house or in her backyard. In the winter, mazes were shoveled and mountains built, just for the fun of the game.  They both loved to play. At our wedding, Ellie even got to be our Dog of Honor.

Her favorite place in the world was the cabin where she ran free and followed any living creature. She even chased a bear away. She persistently chased squirrels, endlessly hunted chipmunks, found dead animals of all kinds from fish to deer.  She loved to run with her friend Dakota or take a walk on the frozen lake with her buddy.  If it was summer, she tried to catch minnows in the lake or sit in front of the boat with the wind in her ears.

It was also the cabin that ultimately caused her death. She loved the woods and the swamp, which also meant lots of ticks. Despite using the proper tick medication, she still got ticks and ultimately Lymes disease, resulting in renal failure. She surprised all vets by outliving the 2 year survival rate, living instead for 4 ½ more years.  We were able to say goodbye to her at home. So sad for us, but I guess heaven wanted their furry red angel back.

We miss those pleading doe eyes, which always got what they begged for; the soft furry ears which always wanted to be scratched; and most of all the never ending love and affection you gave to everyone she met. Most of all, we miss all the life lessons you gave to us: patience, forgiveness, enthusiasm, passion, love.

So as Savana Frame said it best, “I love you and miss you the rest of my days and it has been an honor to walk across this land with your faithful head right at my hand.”

We miss you Ellie!