Obituary for Artie Ivey Abitz

Arthur Ernest Frederick Ivey Abitz of the Hudson Highlands, New York, and Lake Huron, Michigan, passed away at Arthur Hill, his namesake home, after a brief illness on January 27, 2026. He died peacefully on his own terms, surrounded by those who cherished him the most.

Born in Franklin, Tennessee, on March 14, 2010, Artie was the first dog (as adults) of Cynthia and Joshua Ivey Abitz, adopted on July 7, 2010. Artie was both their son and their sun — the light in their every day. He exuded abundant joy for each day of life, and his tail was always wagging.

Artie was rescued while he was still in the womb. The nonprofit animal rescue WeHelpAnimals of Franklin, Tennessee, had rescued his mother, Molly, from a backyard breeder along with over one hundred other dogs who were barely being kept alive on cornbread and lard. As Molly recovered from dog bites she had received at the breeder, the staff at Animal Health Center of Franklin, Tennessee, discovered she was pregnant. Artie was born under the care of Dr. Benny Woody and his wife, Alix, who were the first to greet him as he entered this world. Alix and Woody would eventually become his godparents and dear friends of his human parents. 

Artie began his schooling when he was only a few months old. His parents taught him to be a gentleman through positive reinforcement training. Artie was a fast learner and eager to please. Before his first birthday, he was able to retrieve his favorite toys based upon their names. One of his skills was to fetch William, his favorite duck toy, upon request from a pile of other toys.

To embrace Artie’s enthusiastically verbal nature, his parents taught him early in life how to both talk and be quiet. He had an extensive vocabulary of his own, using inflections and groans for feelings and requests. His human mother taught him to say “please” when he was only five months old. “Please” was his favorite word, and he used it several times a day for his entire life. He brought smiles with his swift clockwise turns, handshakes, and sitting up like a bear. Aware of his charming abilities, Artie taught himself how to balance on his back legs for more than two minutes. He then relished the accolades and hugs for the comic relief he brought daily to his humans.

Artie gave gentleness and loyal love to his family every day. When awakened by his mother in the morning, he would sleepily roll over and offer his belly to her. She would kiss his stomach for good luck and declare, “Now, today is going to be a great day.” He’d then kiss the tip of her nose to return the affection. It was impossible to have a Jonah day with Artie in it.

Artie’s canine father, Wolfie, came to live with him in July of 2011. Artie soon realized that having another canine around was far more fun than William the toy duck and his feline sisters, as much as he loved them. Artie and Wolfie were inseparable. They quickly gained the nickname, “the Grey Boys,” which referenced their gorgeous and unusual grey Shih Tzu hair. Together, the Grey Boys would travel through almost half of the contiguous 48 states; their parents did not travel without them, and they were always up for a good roadtrip. The Grey Boys went on annual roadtrips to visit their godparents in Franklin where they received dental cleanings and reminisced about being saved from the rough old days at the breeder. On many of these trips the humans would adopt another Shih Tzu in need of a home, and the pair of Grey Boys gradually turned into a pack.

Artie’s outgoing personality charmed his New York City neighbors in the first years of his life. Artie kept a policy about new people: there were no strangers, only friends he hadn’t yet met. He enjoyed daily walks with Wolfie in Riverside Park and Central Park. One special memory was when they were stopped by legendary comedian and artist Jerry Stiller on their way to Riverside Park for their evening walk. Stiller asked to meet them and exclaimed, “Wow, they are something special!”

Artie loved his city walks, but his favorite walks were along the shore of Lake Huron by his family’s cottage. Artie’s favorite thing was an evening beach walk after dinner in the cerulean glow of a summer moonrise. After the walks, Artie would cool off in the fresh water to take in the clean air and awe-inspiring views. He knew how to savor life, and he taught his humans that every day on this Earth is a mysterious and beautiful gift.

Through spending their lives with Artie, his parents began to deeply understand why animal companions like him are Saints. Artie was not just a dog. He was not just a someone. His soul and profound presence on this earth exemplified the definition of a Saint: he was healing, honest, forgiving, loving, and loyal. These qualities, as all companion animals embody, are sacred and a glimpse of the divine on this earth.

Artie’s saintliness inspired many works of art by several artists, including his parents and Jim Henson cartoonist, Guy Gilchrist. Photographs, songs, drawings, books, and paintings have been created to celebrate Artie’s joy for life and charming spirit. Artie was featured on two magazine covers, his namesake home is filled with artwork inspired by him, and a music album was just dedicated to him. 

In 2015, Artie’s humans purchased a house for him and his canine siblings in the Hudson Highlands of New York. They named it after him and called it “Arthur Hill.” This special place became a sanctuary for unwanted and unadoptable Shih Tzus. Artie and Wolfie welcomed these overlooked seniors and traumatized souls. In 2022, Artie’s parents founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Animal Saints Rescue Society, inspired by Artie and Wolfie. Animal Saints Rescue Society has since saved hundreds of lives by pulling Shih Tzu and other hair-not-fur breeds to safety from overcapacity animal control facilities who euthanize due to lack of space.

Artie was the self-appointed greeter for foster dogs entering the sanctuary at Animal Saints Rescue Society. He met hundreds of Animal Saints with a generous and loving spirit. Even the most traumatized, fearful, and reactive souls would be greeted by Artie’s wagging tail. He was a key part of their recuperation, and he sensed it.

Every life saved by Animal Saints Rescue Society has Artie to thank. Artie entered this world as a puppy. Artie left this world having inspired a movement.

Artie was preceded in death by his canine father, Wolfie, who died at the age of 18 on January 17, 2025. He is survived by his human parents, Josh and Cynthia Ivey Abitz, as well as several canine siblings, human grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A private memorial service will be held for Artie at the Animal Saints Rescue Society sanctuary on his birthday, March 14, 2026. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to Animal Saints Rescue Society at animalsaints.org/donate or by donating via Zelle to director@animalsaints.org. These donations will be placed into the nonprofit’s veterinary care fund to save more Animal Saints’ lives in Artie’s memory.

A Glimpse of Artie’s Life in Photographs

All paintings featured were created by Cynthia Ivey Abitz unless otherwise noted. All photographs copyright Cynthia and Joshua Ivey Abitz.