Lula

Lula, the happiest dog anyone ever met, passed away on Friday, May 31, 2024, from leukemia. She was eleven years old. She is survived by her “Mommy” (Katie), her “Boyfriend” (Chris), and her “Aunt” (Mare). Lula came into her Mommy’s home when she was four months old. She and Mommy shared a beautiful relationship. They were a precious duo, partners in crime, as Lula joined Mommy on many of life’s adventures. To be sure, Lula was more than a pet; she was Mommy’s beloved child. “Mommy and Lula naps” were precious scenes, picture-perfect postcards of love. Without a doubt, Lula’s preciousness knew no bounds, expressed with kisses, cuddles, and tail wags. A “Lula-lick attack” could be epic. And no one served as the welcoming committee better, especially when Mommy returned from a long day’s work.
When she was three, Lula quickly won her Boyfriend’s heart (who also happened to be Mommy’s boyfriend and future fiancé, Chris). Lula and Boyfriend had a sweet and devoted bond, expressed in endearing songs, amusing dialog, and supple belly rubs. Boyfriend’s work at home during the pandemic strengthened an already loving rapport to Lula’s delight: while Boyfriend graded papers, Lula nuzzled on his side, paw against his hip, ear on his laptop. She was indeed a teacher’s pet.
Lula’s playful, mischievous deeds also earned her the nickname “Stinkers” as she routinely outsmarted Mommy and Boyfriend to great amusement. From leaping into pools lacking permission, to lowering car windows with her paw, to fetching her pan for strangers, Lula charmed even the most hard-hearted. Her joyful, humorous demeanor often incited people to ask if she was a puppy, even though she was ten years old.
In 2017, Lula became temporarily paralyzed from an acute degenerative disk disease. Via surgery and extensive rehab (including a water tank and acupuncture), Lula returned to near full mobility, never letting residual arthritis stop her from playing with her pan. Lula had such a strong will to play with her pan that she often sought an audience, barking for Mommy and Boyfriend to join the fun.
It can be said that Lula’s favorite food was “food,” and some of her favorite times were breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She was regularly seen with a “peanut butter snout” after devouring a cong of Skippy. Lula also cherished “pizza bones” (crusts of a pizza) and Mommy’s baked doggy treats. Of course, she served as the best dishwasher on the East Coast, consuming every morsel.
But Lula most enjoyed her “walkies” with Mommy. After dinner, Lula would waddle the streets wearing an outsized smile, eager to wag her tail for new and old friends. Lula’s walks were like red carpet events—passing drivers smiled and waved; strangers stopped and said hello. People were her paparazzi.
In April 2024, a routine blood test revealed that Lula’s white blood count was low. Soon after, she was diagnosed with a rare and acute form of leukemia. To say this news came as a shock is a profound understatement. Before the blood test, Lula had no apparent symptoms; she was living her best doggy life. To some extent, initial treatments appeared optimistic, but the disease progressed rapidly.
Although her illness was brief, Lula lived her last few weeks the same as her first eleven years—joyful and without regret. While ill, Lula still adored her walks with Mommy, but this time in the “Lula Mobile,” a purple stroller designed for dogs. When desired, she ate chicken, peanut butter, and dental bones, and still found short bursts of energy to play with her pan and meet Mommy at the door.
The day before Lula passed, Mommy and Boyfriend brought her in the Lula Mobile to a local river. There, she toured the park, gazed at the geese, charmed new friends, and relaxed by the water. She even barked at a dog for good measure. That night, Lula ate a cupcake for the first time—her last meal. In sum, it was a memorable and perfect “Lula Day.”
The following day, Lula passed away at home surrounded by her loved ones and favorite pans. Although family and friends are heartbroken, Lula left this world with an enormous legacy. She will be remembered for her immense smile, pervasive sweetness, zest for life, food, and people, and her penchant for playing with her pan. It is not hyperbole to say Lula was the sweetest Poopy (yes, “Poopy”) anyone ever met. Nor is it hyperbole to say Lula left an indelible mark on those she left behind.
It is often said, “dogs are like family.” While fitting, this sentiment is incomplete as the unconditional love of a dog has no peer. This was never truer than with Lula. As she waddles across the Rainbow Bridge, tail wagging, eager to meet new friends, she undoubtedly looks back with amity, love, and affection. Indeed, that’s all she ever knew. Rest in peace, our little Stinkers. You are forever loved and sorely missed.