06/19/2026
We have some incredibly sad news to share about our Lizzy. On Monday afternoon, she crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
Lizzy had been battling various illnesses for nearly two years. Despite all the medical treatment, supportive care, and love we could provide, this little spitfire was simply exhausted.
In 2024, the Care Team noticed that Lizzy wasn't acting like her normal spunky self. She was taken to BluePearl for an ultrasound, which revealed that the mass on her rear was likely a hernia or lipoma pressing on nerves and contributing to her incontinence. It was also discovered that her left kidney and ureter were enlarged and abnormal, suggesting a possible obstruction. In addition, she was showing signs of a neurological issue. Lizzy was started on medications to help manage the mass and treat recurring UTIs.
For quite some time, she continued to hold her own. When she felt up to it, she still ran with the Senior Scenter pack. Being a smart little pup, Lizzy knew when her body needed rest and would quietly retreat to a cozy spot. But by March, we noticed she was rapidly losing weight. Although her appetite remained strong, our once chubby little Chihuahua mix had become only a shadow of her former self. With heavy hearts, we made the difficult decision to help her cross the bridge and spare her further suffering.
Last Friday, two of her favorite humans, Jennifer and Steven Roche, took little Liz Lou on a very special outing. Her day included a visit to the Funny Farm Thrift Store, where she received lots of love from volunteers and customers, a walk in the park, and a lunch of chicken pot pie at Jennifer and Steven's home. She enjoyed every minute of it and was more than ready for bed when she returned home.
In the days that followed, former Care Team members and SS volunteers came to the Senior Scenter to visit, spend time with and love on this precious girl. Lizzy greeted each of them with her signature "COVID test"—enthusiastic tongue kisses right up the nose.
Lizzy was a Chihuahua mix who came to the Senior Scenter from Virginia after the two people who loved her dearly could no longer care for her when they both moved into a nursing home. It was clear from the moment she arrived that she had been deeply cherished. She was also the very definition of a spitfire. Sadly, when Animal Control went to retrieve her from the home where she had been left behind, she was handled with a catch pole. The shelter she was taken to continued using catch poles with her, leaving her with significant anxiety around new people.
Once she arrived at the Senior Scenter and had time to decompress, we discovered that all Lizzy really needed was the opportunity to meet people on her own terms. Beneath her tough exterior was one of the sweetest, most affectionate little dogs you could ever hope to meet. We learned to keep her safely in her house until visitors sat down, then let Lizzy approach and inspect them herself. More often than not, that inspection ended with face washes and kisses. Anyone who took the time to earn her trust became her friend for life, and she loved them with her whole heart.
When Lizzy wasn't curled up in a puppy pile, she could usually be found racing around the house or yard, making sure she knew exactly what everyone was doing. She brought endless joy, laughter, and personality into our lives, and she made us smile every single day.
We love you, Lizzy Girl, and we miss you more than words can say. Run free, sweet girl. Until we meet again. ❤️🌈🐾💔
