In memoriam

Here's our dearest Tootsie taking a nap on April 20, 2018, exactly three years ago.

It's been a full year since Tootsie flew to the great beyond, but her spirit is here -- and always will be.

A Sandspit in Lake Lugano

One of Tootsie's favorite places was the park at the mouth of the Magliasina river. Sometimes, depending on the currents and other factors, a sandspit forms in the shallow waters where the river meets Lake Lugano. It's so much fun to stand on the sandspit!

The mountains in the far distance are in Italy, while everything else you see is in Switzerland. That's why every duck in Lake Lugano carries a passport.

 

Champ and Major

We're super excited about America's first dogs, Champ and Major! 

Angel Tootsie wishes them all the best. Here's a screenshot of the original announcement on CNN, Canine News Network.

A nap by the lake

Dearest Tootsie,

Do you remember your spring naps by the lake?

Or your naps on the trail? 

You elevated napping to an art form! 

Love, 

Mom and Dad

In memoriam

Dearest Tootsie, 

Today I'm thinking of you wrapped up in your green winter coat just below the top of Monte Reixa.

January 2017: Tootsie and her mom in the mountains above the Ligurian coastline on a clear winter day.

When you didn't feel like walking, I was always more than happy to carry you in my arms. That's because when you were in my arms, you were right next to my heart. You're still there, and always will be. 

Forever yours, 

Dachshund Daddy

Mommy, I just ate a flower!!!

Today is Tootsie's Gotcha Day. If she hadn't crossed over the Rainbow Bridge just over two months ago, we'd be celebrating nine years with our girl. Here are some of the last photos that Dachshund Daddy took on April 19, the day before Tootsie's passing. April 19 was a Sunday and Tootsie got to go on three walkies: a short one at 11:30, a longer one at 5, and a third one at 8. As usual, she got carried a whole bunch, which she absolutely loved.

Mommy, I just ate a flower!!!

Whenever DD took his dog-ter on walkies, he would keep Mom up to speed by sending her WhatsApp messages with photos of Tootsie. Sometimes, Tootsie would write those messages. "Mommy, I just ate a flower!!!", Tootsie texted with DD's help at 6:49 pm. That was the last message in Tootsie's voice that Mom would ever receive.

The picture above was sent to Mom by DD four minutes later. It's our very last photo of our girl. After that, on April 20, Tootsie got to go on two more walks: a constitutional walkie with DD at 12:30 am, and a morning walkie with Mom.

Our girl loved her walkies. While she got carried most of the time during the day, she would walk quite a bit at night. Either way, as a champion senior tube of fur, she loved being outside, even more so than when she was a younger pup.

Dearest Tootsie, we miss you. We treasure you.

Special walkies with Frank, Joy, and Keanu

Dachshund Daddy recently went back to visit our doggy friends at Casa Orizzonti. In the picture below, from left to right: Joy, Keanu, and Frank, who's staring at his yellow ball held by the volunteer who takes them on their daily morning walk. DD was able to tag along and carry Joy for part of the way. Very much like our Tootsie, Joy likes to be carried for a while before she agrees to continue walking with her own four paws.

Here's Joy, checking out a pee spot by the side of the road. You can also see Keanu's paws and Frank's forehead.

After the walkie, DD stayed to cuddle Frank and his friends. Here's little Frank taking a nap with his fur-sister Cindy. We like to think that our girl Tootsie talks to them in their dreams.

Check out their sweet doggy pillow in the upper left corner!