A New Fund to Honor Eli, an Extraordinary Dog

Eli was technically a dog—part bullmastiff and part American bulldog—but, really, Eli was more like a human than a canine.

Endlessly loving and loyal to his family (especially his human mom), Eli was a celebrity of the Upper West Side of New York City, often holding court on Columbus Avenue while friendly passersby greeted him with belly rubs. Warm and gentle beyond measure, Eli possessed a humanity and strength all his own. He radiated goodness and fun, from his midnight romps with his sister and friends in Central Park to his hilariously spontaneous flops for attention or naps. His family often fell asleep next to Eli's curled-up form and would wake up with half of his immense body draped over them in an embrace.

Perhaps Eli's most remarkable trait is the one most difficult to describe and the one that that will be missed the most. He possessed an intangible humanity about him that he could communicate with a look or a tail wag. His facial expressions told you exactly what he was feeling at any given moment; from the hopeful eyes when he sensed he might be getting a snack to the cute and stubborn glare he would give if you asked him to scoot over on the couch.

His family spoke to him as they would any human and watched him react in real time to their words like a human. That will always stay with them. He seemed possessed of a personhood even beyond that of "beloved dog." From the ways he lounged with humans on the couch to his ability to find the person who most needed him in the room, Eli could always cross the communication barrier between dogs and humans effortlessly. Perhaps more than anything else, his family will miss looking at Eli and having him look back, knowing that he understood.

Eli also was undoubtedly resilient when it came to his health. Having torn his ACL twice and suffering from intense allergies and, ultimately, multiple malignant tumors, Eli was no stranger to the vet's office. His mom counts herself as truly lucky to have been able to afford all of the medical care that Eli needed.

The medical care he received, including multiple cycles of radiation, definitely granted Eli more time on earth and a higher quality of life. That's where you come in.

While every dog owner has a pet they love as much as Eli's family loved him, not every owner can afford multiple surgeries and cancer treatments. So, Eli's family has established Eli's Fund within the Waggle Foundation to assist pet owners who need financial aid in receiving potential lifesaving medical care for their pets. Grants are typically made in the form of matching donations at Waggle.org.

From Eli's family and the Waggle team, we thank you for helping us remember our remarkable companion.