Sweet. Sociable. Loving. My Heart Dog.
Chanel was my constant companion, my emotional support, and the dog who stayed beside me as though that was simply where she belonged.
“Chanel was my heart dog. She stuck to me like glue.” — Jill Lanese
Always by My Side
Chanel was my shadow. She slept beside me, followed me from room to room, and seemed happiest whenever we were together.
She was extraordinarily sweet, affectionate, loyal and social. People fell in love with her wherever she went. Even during the most frightening period of her illness, the people caring for her saw what I had always known: Chanel was remarkably loving and happy to see people.
I understood why. I had already fallen completely in love with her.
The Sweetest Beginnings
Before the hospitals, before the questions and before the heartbreak, there was simply Chanel — a beautiful Collie puppy at the beginning of what should have been a very long life.
Forever Loved
Chanel became critically ill at only four years old. What followed was a complicated medical journey marked by severe thrombocytopenia, concern about bone-marrow suppression, an estrogen-producing ovarian tumor, multiple veterinary hospitals, specialists, surgery, and an exhausting search for answers.
There were moments when diagnoses conflicted and when the medical picture changed quickly. I kept searching because Chanel was still engaged with the world and, while there was a reasonable chance, I wanted to give her every chance to recover.
She ultimately died after developing sepsis. Her story is medically complex, and the detailed timeline, records and environmental-exposure history belong within the broader research and documentary work of Bogart's Legacy.
But this page is not meant to turn Chanel into a case file.
Her illness occupied only a small part of four beautiful years.
Remembering Her Life, Not Only Her Loss
I want Chanel remembered as the puppy discovering the world, the young Collie racing through the yard, the dog sleeping beside me, the dog who stayed glued to my side, and the sweetheart who could charm almost anyone she met.
Most of all, I want her remembered as the dog I loved with all my heart.
From Heartbreak to a Brighter Tomorrow
Chanel's story does not end with loss. Her memory now fuels a larger mission: to support research, raise awareness, and help other dogs and families searching for answers and options during serious illness.
Return to the Chanel Memorial Initiative →