all dogs go to heaven

Toni and Jim, my amazing San Diego family that I lived with before I left, had to report the sad news of the passing of two of their dogs. This is a family so full of love, and my heart is heavy for their loss, so I'm sending love back their way and wanted to share their beautiful puppy eulogy. Boris and Duke, you will be missed.

Friends,
We're saddened to report the passing of Duke and Boris Rondinelli this afternoon. We will always remember these two as best friends who traveled literally thousands of miles and survived many adventures together. They were preceded in passing by their Mother, Shannon Crofts, in 1998, brother Oscar in 2000, and Father Dennis Crofts in 2001.

Duke and Boris were joined by fate. Duke was born in Sugar City Idaho. Boris, born in Ramona, CA, joined his mother as a gift from Toni.

After a brief period of separation immediately following the passing of their Mother in 1998, Duke and Boris took up residence with their stepmother Toni and brother Oscar in Oakland, CA. In the care of their stepmother, they lived a full and exciting lifestyle, traveling extensively across the US, Canada and Mexico. The dogs went on to set several records including: Greatest Culinary Diversity in a canine (2003), the 30 yard Feline Pursuit (2004) and Most Relocations across North America in a 15-month period (2006, 2007).

Over the last few months, we had noticed both dogs declining in health, but the decline was particularly acute with Boris. He had lost about 30 percent of his body mass over the last 4 months, and was having trouble standing. Over the last few months he had suffered two severe eye infections and what we believe was a stroke. Duke was blind, deaf, very frail and in declining health as well. Their mental and physical health further declined after our most recent move to Carlsbad, CA. We came to the difficult decision that it would be unfair for these two partners in crime(see subsequent note about Astro, their feline sibling) to survive without the benefit of each other's company.

They are survived by their Stepparents, Jim and Toni Rondinelli, sisters Gigi and Lola, and step-sibling Luca. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Obama For President campaign.