A bouncing, bubbly ball of fur, rising eight inches from the floor, came bounding into the family room in front of Angela Corradi. “This is Eli!” she exuberantly proclaimed. She beamed at Eli, a Norfolk English terrier, who has been the Corradi family dog for 10 years.

“We’ve had her since she was a puppy!”

Eli is an integral member of the Corradi family, especially for Angela. Corradi’s two oldest daughters have moved out, and the youngest is away at college. Eli has become a great source of fun and company in Corradi’s home while her husband is at work or running errands.

Just like Corradi, Eli loves to camp in the mountains. Every September for 15 days, the Corradi family takes a trip to the San Martino Di Castrozza Mountains in northern Italy. It’s a great time to reconnect and enjoy one another’s company, Corradi said. It’s a particularly lovely vacation for Eli.

“She loves to run and hide in the tall grass, to smell the wild flowers, and to chase bumble bees,” she added.

Eli also loves the beach. Every year, the Corradi family takes a two-month vacation at the beach in Fano. It has an open-door policy, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins visit for a few days. Though beach rules forbid Eli to enjoy the beach during the day, Corradi frequently takes her dog there in the evening. There the two of them splash each other playfully in the Adriatic Sea.

“Eli is the center of our family. We all love her very much. It’s her warm, sweet and fun personality that allows me to enjoy life even more.”