On a fittingly gray day, with dignity and grace, surrounded by his parents and in the comfort of the big bed, Arturo took his last breath. He was 13 years old and had endured several chronic illnesses, along with a recent critical care hospital stay. A small dog with a large personality and even larger list of aliases: Señor Arturo Ratita; El Señor; Captain Banjo Esq. III; Boo Boo Bear; and the eponymous, Smarty Artie Farty Party. Born in rural North Carolina, Arturo’s early years were shaped by living in a hoarding situation. It was there, surrounded by cats, that he picked up his impeccable grooming habits and cat-like insouciance. Every morning, after meals, and before bed, Arturo dutifully licked his paws and washed his face. He extended this ritual of grooming and love to only one other — his dad. Arturo did not give kisses freely and reserved them exclusively to shower his dad with non-stop morning and night face kisses. A champion Blanket Fighter in his early years, Arturo was renowned for his epic blanket battles that his long-time fans fondly remember. He retired having never lost a fight and funneled his athleticism full-time into fetch. An avid collector, Arturo enjoyed procuring new acquisitions of fetch toys in all shapes, sizes, textures, and pedigree. His parents encouraged this passion, and most recently delighted Arturo with a stuffed bear from their Colorado travels. Though he had two overflowing toy boxes, Arturo remained smitten most by Dog, followed by Fox and Donut. He never met a balloon or fruit he liked. A self-deputized crowd controller, Arturo was known to stand at the periphery of dogs at play and bark at them to stop. He mostly went ignored, especially by his playfully crazy cousins Sam and Frank, but that didn’t deter him from asserting his power. On football Sundays you could find him decked out in a Kansas City Chiefs jersey, cheering along with his dad. At most any other time, you could find him wherever in the house his mom was. She was decidedly the pack leader. Though he’d never admit it, Arturo secretly loved the silly songs she’d sing to him daily in his honor. A master manipulator, Arturo honed his skills to hustle treats and intimidate dog walkers who woke him from napping. He was equal parts handsome and cunning, and his megawatt pirate smile melted hearts worldwide. Arturo will be remembered as a passionate chicken lover (in food and friend form alike), power napper, treat connoisseur, photogenic model, and for doing everything on his terms and in his time. He defied odds — surprising his emergency, cardiology, and primary veterinary care team — and survived a critical care stay to grant us three more weeks with him and his lovable, feisty, independent, smart, mellow, curious, sweet, and at the end, incredibly snuggly presence. He is survived by his parents, Erica and Brian; his aunt and uncle, Tia Donellen and Tio Tom; cousins Alex, Dylan, Sam, and Frank; and his spirit human, Grandpaw Jack. - Brian and Erica