Alli came to us serendipitously. She was the answer to a prayer at a time when I needed someone to lean on. Little did I realize how amazing a poodle can be when it comes to providing a therapeutic paw!

I was fortunate to have purchased her from a wonderful woman in Florida. She had bred a one-and-only litter with her pet Zoey and a breeder’s stud dog. The stud came from a significant Piccadilly influence, with CH King Champagne’s Taste being her maternal grandfather. The litter was from hip and eye-certified parents. All the pups were clean, well-cared for and dearly loved. That was good enough for me.

As Alli grew, it became clear to me (someone who had bred and shown dogs and livestock all of my life) that Alli was a beautiful canine. I had her evaluated by a breeder/handler and was thrilled to hear she was sound enough, pretty enough, and enough of a representative of the breed standard that puppies could be in our future!

After completing all of Alli’s testing (hips, eyes, SA, Vonwilibrand’s Disease, Neonatal Encephalopathy), we looked for a suitable mate. We were lucky to make a connection with Dr. Christine Scruggs, the founder of Tivin Standard Poodles. We bred two litters with Tiven Boys (see Puppies) with an exceptional outcome. Alli retired from breeding in 2013 and lived out her years as the matriarch of Wool ‘n Wind. She spent her days working in many venues as our lead therapy dog and was requested by name at several area nursing homes, libraries, and schools. She was a great source of support to area students when we were called to provide grief counseling following a tragic event affecting one of our school communities.

Alli lived up to her name every day!

Wool ‘n Wind She’s My Best Friend “Alli” passed peacefully on November 3, 2021. She died the way she lived, peacefully and kindly, taking care of the people who loved her. On what was an otherwise typical day that Included a ride to work with Bill, Alli passed in her sleep on the back seat on the ride home.

Alli was a special dog from the start. Whelped in Seminole, Florida on March 23, 2009 Alli was born with a purpose. She was one of a litter of 13, and while it could have been any of them, she choose Donna Grant to be her forever mom. Donna will be eternally grateful that she did. Alli came home to Connecticut and quickly became ‘a regular’ at Edgewood Yacht Club. Her home was aboard Downeast, but she loved sailing on any vessel who would have her. Growing up as a social girl at the yacht club, Alli matured into a roll of service, providing love and affection and spreading Poodle joy as her profession. She went on to receive her education at Tails You Win earning her CGC. She advanced I’m in her training to earn her therapy certificate. She used her credentials to carry out her life’s work at TEEG, helping people to learn the value of canines in providing comfort to emotionally involved youth, helping them to be able to regulate their feelings and continue with the activities of their day. Alli went on to work in schools, nursing homes, and community settings throughout Northeastern Connecticut. She was a gifted Therapy Dog. She had a keen intuition when it came time to making herself available to the person who needed her most. Alli excelled in doing grief work with adolescents and stirring lost memories in the elders she loved to visit.

She is the founding matriarch of Wool ‘n Wind Standard Poodles, delivering her first litter at three years old and her second at 4 1/2. She was the proud mama dog of 14 beautiful puppies, the grandmom of 18 and the great grandmom of 39. She was the mother, grandmother, and great grandmother of several Champion and performance titled dogs, but even more importantly she is the dam, grand dam and great grand dam to scores of beloved family pets; many who have followed in her paw-steps, leading a purposeful life of service in their home and community. Living her best life to just a few months shy of her 13th birthday, Alli will be missed by countless children, elders and dog lovers throughout the region, and for a special few of ‘her people’ she will leave a hole in their hearts and her paw print on their soul.

Private graveside services were held for immediate family only.

In memory of Alli, the family asks that you spread random acts of kindness to loved ones and strangers alike.