although crazy sometimes, bitsy made me laugh
often. with her ability good or bad to express how she felt at all
times, i loved the way you could have conversations with her as
if she really understood what you were saying. you'd make a high
pitch hello and she would recipricate with the same sounds, though
a lot funnier. my other favorite thing about bitsy was the way she
would chase dave's kite all around the beach barking with joy. i
remember the days when we would clean cars and casey and bitsy would
either take off on their nature walks or french kiss in the shade.
a loyal friend to the group and especially to dave. they had an
incredible friendship no one will ever doubt that. i cry writing
this email for a friend of mine has died. a happy life she had thanks
to her great friend dave. he saved her nine years ago and loved
her every day since. a wonderful dad and wonderful friend. Matt Kriser
Bitsy "is"
a character! I never met a dog who did a more effective job of letting
everyone know who was boss. I am truly grateful to have gotten the
chance to take Bitsy for her last kite-chasing event, a pasttime she
could keep up for hours. She is loved. I attached a picture of Bitsy
I pulled off a video tape. She is in a Princess Costume - HA! I have
never witnessed a more loving group of friends come together for someone
going through a loss. DaveE is a lucky, well-loved guy, and so was
Bitsy. Michael Hawk
I'm so sorry...she was a sweetie and she will be missed. I really
am sorry. I had no idea and I'll be thinking of you. It's the hardest
thing about being a dog owner, we get so attached and then the inevitable
happens. I guess it's lucky to have such an awesome companion for
so long, but it doesn't make it any easier. I especially enjoyed
a few times crashing on your couch and being awakened with slobbery
kisses - and not from some dude I met at a bar. She was a sweetheart. Emily Rosenberg
I can't even begin to describe the ache in my heart and tears in
my eyes right now.
Bitsy was human. Period. Sure, she barked and
scratched and licked, drank from a bowl, ran down tennis balls,
chased kites, barked at women, rolled in piles of dead fish(more
on this later) and posessed many of the behaviors typically attributed
to the canine. But I'll be damned if she didn't want to get in on
the conversation. And if she couldn't say it, her eyes told you.
MY FAVORITE BITSY STORY:
When Dave actually worked in an office doing
a structured 9 to 5, I was attending college and had time on my
hands. I offered to take care of a still young Sausage while he
was at work. Being the good papa he was (and always will be), Dave
happily agreed.
It was a beautiful warm day in the fall of 1993.
I drove a clean, fresh smelling Bitsy to Sunset Beach in Highland
Park. One of her favorite things was to romp on the shore, darting(yes,
there was a time she could dart) in and out of the water, chasing
down her favorite yellow tennis ball.
After an hour of fun, I told Bitsy that we had
to go. She said she didn't want to. I said that Dave would be home
soon and that he would take her out for more shenannigans. Hesitantly,
she followed and mumbled something under her breath I couldn't quite
make out.
We walked up the beach, a gentile breeze at
our backs. The breeze carried a faint smell that Wiggles immediately
picked up on. She stopped. Frozen. She turned her head sharply and
looked right at me. I looked back at her. She turned her head and
looked back down at the beach. I turned and immediately saw what
she had smelled and was now fixated upon.
A mound, two feet high, of dead, rotting, putritd,
diseased Lake Michigan nasty fish.
I knew what she was going to do.
"BITSYYYYYY", I said sternly, "NOOOO."
But I was too late. She was running faster than
she ever had. To this day, I've never seen such powerful speed and
grace(and for those of you who only knew bitsy in her later years,
she once looked great in a thong).
"Nooooooooooooo!!!"
She performed the difficultTriple
Lindy into the pile of dead nasty
and proceeded to roll around for Jebus knows how long. Seemed like
hours to me. Now I know Dave and Bitsy had many adventures together,
but I think I can safely say that at that moment, she had never
been happier, knowing my grief and the hour long shampoo bath that
was inevitable.
One hour, three flea baths and an Aveda conditioning
and exfoliation later, she smelled worse. I shit you not. It was
in her pores, coarsing through her veins. Nothing I could do but
drive her back to Dave's house, ring the doorbell and run. I don't
think Ma Eisendrath has forgiven me. I bet you my car still reeks.
I stopped asking why she did it a long time
ago. Although, now that I've had years to reflect, I think she was
just looking for an excuse to get me into the tub with her.
She knew exactly who I was. She knew my smell,
my voice, my touch. She wouldn't acknowlede my presence with a bark,
but a combination of broken English and Rottweiler/Shepard. I mean,
SHE WAS REALLY TRING TO TALK TO ME! She remembered the times we
spent together and we had a bond that was truly special. I often
said she was my girlfriend.
It was my great honor to help raise and spend
time with a soul that made me feel special. Thank you, Dave.
I now understand why they are man's best friend.
I will miss her and can only hope to one day have a dog that was
half as special as Bitsy, and friends who would care for her so
much. James Rategan - - - - - - - - - - - "Think where man's glory most begins
and ends and say my glory was I had such a friend." William Butler Yeats
Bitsy is a whole lotta Dawg, with a whole lotta love that will continue
to stay with us all as long as we have memories of her. So here
is my part in helping out that thought. Bitsy Story 1: I shared
a design studio at Syrcuse with Dave and Keith. And after a long
night into morning of cigarettes and art markers we decided it would
be best to get a few hours of sleep before our 6 hour critique.
So the 3 humans plus one medium sized dog (at the time) jumped into
the burgandy cruiser and set out for bed. I opened the rear window
so Bitsy and I could get some cold morning air. As i was dozing
off I suddendly heard a high pitched shreik and had the weight of
a rather disturbed dog all over my lower body. We're talking claws,
hooves, nails and that sandpaper sort of feeling you never want
to even think about (especially at 5AM) all over me. Panick? Not
me. There was no time. Once I realized that Bitsy had put her paws
apon the arm rest to get a better view and accidently closed the
electric window trapping her neck between steel and glass it was
a no brainer. Get the window open... FAST! Easier said than done
with a Rotweiler/Doberman mix. Anyway she was freed and proceeded
to give me some serious affection. All i can say is thank goodness
because i had no time for affection during that semester. Bitsy
and i will be forever buds. A dawg gone friend to the end. She will
be missed... No time for story two now. Perhaps later. Brian Unflat
She'll be missed. Dave, I've been
sharing the stories and tributes with my team here at Polo and everyone's
been touched. We're all very sorry for you. She was a great, great
friend. David Grime
I can't even explain in words how touched I am by all of the humans
and canines (and other animals!) who were there for Bitsy, and are
now there for Dave and Muddy. There is never a good time, nor is
it ever easy to lose a friend, especially a companion as loyal as
Bitsy. She definitely was the Queen... Yet I have to say, even when
terrorizing Luna and Maple, there was something about her you just
couldn't help but admire! Nobody could accuse her of having low-self
esteem. Spending some late nights with her, and often three-day
weekends at Dave's working on the magazine, I was honored to see
so many sides of Bitsy. Every night around 10-11, she'd wiggle around
the kitchen, and she and Muddy would get frisky...it was her most
playful time. And very late at night/early in the morning, she'd
lay on the giant pillow, helping us edit, while moaning with pleasure
from the all-over body massage I'd be giving her. It was our secret
bonding time, when she just didn't have the energy to try to intimidate
me with her growls. Bitsy remains with us in spirit...and somehow
has "stolen" two tennis balls from Maple, as if to say, "Thanks,
I'll take those now, their mine!" However, I'd like to believe that
in doggie-heaven the tennis ball supply is unlimited; I think she's
doing it just to be Bitsy. But I know she'll be with us forever,
whatever form she may take. And she'll be enjoying Camp Dogwood
as much as all the other dogs...I'm sure of it. To Dave and Muddy
we send all of our love and good wishes. You're in our hearts. Love - Janice, Barry, Luna, Maple, Jake, and Obelix
(and Marge!)
My first Bitsy experience happened a long time ago, when she was
just a puppy...1992.
Dave left her with Keith and me during Spring Break, our senior
year.
We were still doing work that week, and had gone off to the studio
during one of the days. Bitsy took it a little personally that we
left her at home (with Zane, Paul's kitty.) When we arrived back
at the apartment, the place looked as though a tornado went through.
All the cushions on the couch were ripped and eaten apart, and the
garbage was EVERYWHERE! Keith was fuming, and it was my job to save
Bitsy (Keith was REALLY bitter!), and take her for walk... a really
long walk!
As a cat person, being responsible for Bitsy was the first time
that I ever had to take care of a dog. She was a great companion,
and being around her made me so comfortable that I could imagine
having a dog of our own someday.
Bitsy will forever be in our hearts.... Sarah & Keith
Of all the dogs I've ever known, Bitsy was clearly the most human-like.
She amazed me everytime I would hang out with
her or take care of her how keen and intellegent she was. Simply
amazing, I must say, watching her awareness of the world and reactions
to everyday events like she was a part of the whole process...
A few such instances of her attunement occured
during a routine visit to the Devry p-a-r-k. We brought her favorite
tennis ball, and Bitsy proceeded to catch the ball on every throw.
Anytime she missed there was a fast dart to the ball to bring it
back to me. One time, I faked out all the dogs and they ran clear
across the field. Bitsy just stood there watching me, ball still
in hand, until I tossed it in the other direction for her to grab
- nothing could get by Bitsy.
Whenever we were hanging out in the Melrose
Apartment, Bitsy would plop herself down on the couch...just chilling
out with everyone. If someone would come over and ask her to get
up, it always seemed wierd to me - she was just like one of the
rest of the guys hanging out, a real part of the family.
Goodbye Bitsy, you will truly be missed. Love, Andrew
I think about bitsy everyday, it's hard to look at jake and not
think about her. jake and bitsy were the ultimate pals and lovers,
true girlfriend and boyfriend. i still remember the first time i
met both jake and bitsy, at the apartment on cornelia, with the
couches ripped to shreds. i was terrified!!! but, over time, i quickly
came to love and cherish bitsy, and spend much time with her living
in melrose and countless trips to the beach and the park, and just
hanging out. she was a love. and i will miss her. jake sends his
love to bitsy, and to muddy, and will never forget his best girlfriend. Judy
I cannot tell you how much I am going to miss
you. Even though I was afraid of walking near you at Dave's apartment,
and could only back into the back seat of the car butt first for
fear of you, you were "the girl in my life". I will always
carry with me the large black spot on my tongue from where you bit
me when I was just a puppy. I promise to keep good watch over all
of the your true friends, Dave, Muddy, and all of the tennis balls.
I can't guarantee all of the long distant water retrievals, but
I will do my best, I had plenty of time to study your technique.
Bitsy, you were and always will be the leader of our pack. You were
a good friend to my human and the shining light in the eye of your
human, Dave. We will forever search the world for someone who could
kiss like you. Love, Forrest
At first I missed her for Dave. Now I miss her for me - no challenge
in being at Dave's anymore - at least not a canine one:) There was
little greater reward than her acceptance. Still lots of doggie
love at 2025, though.
Love and healing to Dave and Muddy and the rest
touched by this loss. All of this support is amazing. Astounding
how much good can come from a sad thing. Sarah Rosenberg
I have been reading all of the kind words written
about Bitsy and have been deeply touched.
I met Bitsy the day that Dave found her in Syracuse
and have been present to see the love and devotion that Dave had
for her. She was a great companion, friend, and confidant. Although
it was one of the most difficult things that I have ever had to
go through, I was with Bitsy in the vet office for her last hours.
I talked to her, rubbed her, and when it was her time--I told her
it was ok to go and that Dave loves her very much. There were a
lot of tears for Bitsy as we all loved her very much.
One of the worst things that happens in these
situations is that all efforts are made to save the patient, but
sometimes that just doesn't work. There were 10 staff members helping
out and would not leave to go home until Bitsy could be moved to
the emergency care facility. The bill that Dave incurred was sent
to my house, as I don't want David's last memory of Bitsy to be
a debt sitting on a credit card. I am reaching out to all of Bitsy
and Dave's friends to try and contribute whatever you can find to
help pay this bill.
Thank you to everyone and if you would, please
email me and let me know if
you will be able to help.
Thank you all and please give whatever you can. Brad, Kari, and Sammy.
