19/04/2025
In Loving Memory of Ching (Mai Ling) Bonacci
When Molly and Joe Bonacci adopted Ching on June 16, 2021, at the age of 10-11 years old, they knew their time together might be brief. What they couldn't have known was how this tiny dog with an oversized personality would capture their hearts and transform their lives over the next four years.
From her very first night in their home, when Joe prepared her a special steak dinner that sparked what would become a lifelong passion, Ching made it clear she had found her forever family. She was happy and wagging her tail the next morning as if she had been with them forever. As her many health issues were managed under their loving care, her vibrant spirit blossomed, and she began to thrive.
Ching may have been small in stature, but she lived large. An adventurer at heart, she traveled to Copper Harbor in the motor home, discovered the joy of swimming, and revealed her daredevil side during exhilarating side-by-side rides—the faster, the better!
She thrived among her pack of dog and cat companions and never hesitated to express herself with plenty of barking, especially when it came to her sacred 8 PM cuddle time ritual, when she would bark in the hallway until bedtime.
Her sense of smell was legendary despite not having the best vision. She could detect cooking steak from a deep sleep across the house—a talent she employed frequently as she enjoyed what must have been thousands of dollars worth of her favorite food over the years. McDonald's and Wendy's chicken nuggets earned honorable mentions in her culinary preferences. This little girl simply loved meat!
Ching battled many health conditions with remarkable determination. When she temporarily lost the use of her back legs, she fought her way to walking again through time, patience, therapy, medication, and sheer willpower (Molly even bought her a wheelchair just in case).
When pneumonia struck on Thanksgiving 2024, she bounced back from a 2-hour oxygen nap to resume her steak-begging duties without missing a beat. After that episode, she had her own personal oxygen setup at home.
The bond between Ching and Molly was something truly special—they were inseparable. Though Ching loved her entire family, she and Molly shared a connection that words can’t capture.
When glaucoma began affecting Ching's left eye in March 2025, it was somewhat managed, but things started to change as her mental health began to decline.
Despite all efforts, Molly and Joe made the hardest decision of all—choosing love over suffering. On April 6, 2025, Ching passed peacefully in Molly's loving arms.
Ching's legacy is measured in the immense joy, laughter, and love she brought to everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her spirit—demanding, affectionate, adventurous, and devoted—will remain in our hearts forever.
