The 6-year-old dog chose willful cardiopulmonary arrest over looking like a damp ferret for the next three months.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Princess, a 6-year-old Shih Tzu, died Tuesday morning of willful cardiopulmonary arrest rather than submit to the utter humiliation of her annual summer cut.
During her six years, Princess achieved neighborhood renown for maintaining a pristine, floor-length coat and establishing an unbroken record of refusing every brand of dry kibble placed before her. She survived two residential moves, a dusty 2021 kitchen remodel, and a grueling three-day boarding stint she never fully forgave her family for.
The moment I attached the number-two clipper guard, she sighed, stared me dead in the eye, and willed her spirit to depart this realm. She knew exactly what the summer trim would do to her silhouette, and she chose death over looking like a shaved rodent.
Princess is survived by her owner, Carol Higgins; an aggressively defended orthopedic bed; and several local delivery drivers she viewed as mortal enemies. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you simply brush your dog.