In Memory of Arianna
- October 2006

Arianna was born on Dec. 23, 1991 and was a champion before her second birthday. When JoEllen Garber (Aspect Kennel) was ready to retire her in 1996, I asked for Ari. But JoEllen told me that she couldn’t take a chance on Ari around my dogs (also from Aspect) since Ari believed that she owned all toys and that any dog that touched one must be smitten mightily. And so I gave up.

Six years later Charlotte Creeley of the French Bulldog Rescue Network reported picking up an old and sick dog from a humane society in Maine. She spotted a tattoo. It was Ari. Ari put on her ruby shoes and flew out to Kansas that year, 2002. She was still a tough old broad but the emphasis now was on the old, not the tough.

She still protected her stuffies by carrying them with her everywhere. She was aloof, regal, and above it all. And everyone loved her. In 2003 and 2004 her vet moved heaven and earth to find out what was wrong. She correctly diagnosed Cushing’s Disease. She continued to work on Ari’s foot problems. She called on dermatologists, vet schools, other vets, emergency room vets, large animal vets, exotic pet vets. This went on for years. We never did solve the problem completely but Ari’s feet got better. Finally, Ari started to slow down and the end came quickly. She died in my arms and we will always miss her.