The Passing of Belle

I am interupting my cronological posts to report a passing of our dog Belle. Today we decided to let her go and suffer no more. She had stopped eating and was totally incontinent and just not her usual self. Every day I thought I would find her gone, but she was a stubborn dog. Her hearing was almost gone and her sight too. Although sometimes she would run and jump around like a puppy even up until a week ago, I could tell she was not feeling well. She was losing weight and shiving a lot. So we did the humane thing and had her put to sleep. She has been part of our family for almost 16 years. (that's really old in dog years)Belle was born probably in Nov 1994.She came to our family via the pet store in January 1995 at about 6 weeks old. She was a mixed terrier breed. We thought she would be a short haired dog, because her hair was short. We were surprised to find out her hair grew and she had a beard and she shed.She of course liked to chew on things and played fetch a lot. Especially with a stuffed animal. She loved to run and catch the stuffed bear and thrash it around just like she was killing her prey. It was fun to watch.Look she even had blue eyes like the rest of our family (j/k)When I found these pictures I realized I still have those shoes and I even wore them tonight. I can't believe I have shoes that are 16 years old and they still look pretty new. Too funny!This is how Belle looked most of her life until she got older and greyer and hairer. Although I usually shaved her at the beginning of the summer. But because of my wrist it didn't happen this year.
Some of the things I will always remember about Belle.
1. She would chirp - not bark but chirp when she wanted out or in. And if I went to a neighbors house she would follow me their and chirp outside the door until I left.

2. She loved to run after our car when we drove down the street. Sometimes she would follow us for 2 or 3 blocks and I would have to go fast so I could lose her, so she would go home.

3. She loved to sit on the back of the couch right above my head, when she was younger and more agile. Later on she got too heavy to jump up there and keep her balance.

4. She loved to sit at my feet no matter where I was in the house. She often kept my feet warm as I worked on the computer.

5. She was pretty good doing some tricks. Sit, lay, beg and rollover were her best ones. But latter in life didn't do them so much.

6. I remember getting calls from neighbors asking if we were missing our dog, and of course we were and we would have to go fetch her. As she got older I think she forgot where she lived.

7. She hated fireworks. Every year on the 4th and 24th I would have to put her in her kennel and cover it up, because she would just shiver and whine. I guess the noise frightened her.

8. She loved to be petted - if you started petting her she wouldn't let you stop. She would manuver her head under your hand until you started up again.

9. She was never too good at potty training. She never went in front of us - Oh no - she would go down into the basement and find little hiding places to go and leave us little gifts. (That is one thing I will never miss) Now I get to get new carpeting.

10. Belle was always forgiving, always loving and a devoted dog. She outlived all the kids growing up. I hope that now she is running and chasing balls in a better place.
Thank you Belle for being a part of our Family!