Dedication to my Belle

I remember back in university, my cousin got their first beagle. It led me to meeting my sweet Belle. We picked her up from the Breeder and she was supposed to be a tri-color Beagle but she was mostly black in color and oh so tiny. I named her after Belle from Beauty and the Beast. I don't know why I chose that name but perhaps she was the most beautiful thing that happened to me then. She changed my life. It was then when I first became a mom. As a puppy, we kept her crated to sleep and potty trained her (much easier than kids!) I remember one incident where I had her in a box in the car and was driving somewhere, when i stepped on the brakes too hard and the box and Belle tipped over and fell. I was mortified. How could I let my baby fall like that? As a puppy, I remember how soft the pads on her paws were, like a little baby. Belle grew into a long, tri-color beagle. She had a long tail that gave away all her feelings and loyalty towards her family. She was such an energetic dog. We would take walks everywhere and I loved those walks (well she pulled a lot so it was a fast-pace walk). It was like having a companion with you, without you having to talk to them. Any chance I got, we would go on walks around the neighbourhood. Belle witnessed my life change but was still the amazing, wonderful dog she was. Rob would soon come join in on our daily walks and when Sofia was born, I would have her in the ergo and walk Belle. Belle loved to run. Although her legs are short, they run fast. When we let her outside, she would bolt down the stairs so fast that her front legs would not be able to catch up with her hind legs. Once she was in the backyard, she would run laps around and around. The best was when she got to run in knee-high snow, she would try to run but it looked more like a hop.

Belle had many health issues, nothing major but she costs us. She would have benefited from dog insurance. One of her first surgeries was to remove a red lump in her eye (cherry eye). She had allergies which would cause her floppy long ears to get infections throughout her whole life. We tested her to have many food and external allergies. In her older age, she was in good shape but her ear infections continued and were a nuisance. When she was younger, we used to bath her in the tub and then carry her outside so she could shake the water from her fur. It was a messy affair and when she was older, we tried baths outside which was also wet and messy. I would do all the brushing of her hair. With beagles, they have two layers of fur which is deceiving as they don't look like they would shed much hair but boy do they!

When we had the minivan, we went on a few roadtrips with Belle. She would sit nicely in the MPV while we drove to the interior for cherry picking. She even rode the Hell's Gate in Hope, BC. She would like to stick her head out the window and let her ears flap in the wind.

Belle hated bikers and other dogs. She would bark and want to take a run at them so I had to be aware of it during our walks. She didn't like going to the vet and would whine and shake during the ride there except for the very last trip to the vet.

On November 23, 2012, we said our good byes to our dear Belle. She was 15 years old which in dog years is over hundred! In the past month, we saw a rapid deterioration of her health. She ate less and less and at our last doc visit, she had lost severe weight which prompted the doc to suggest that either we hospitalize her or let her go. She was quite thin and her hind leg was so weak that she barely left her bed but what a trouper, she would still try to get outside to pee/poop. It was so hard for me to see her so frail and knew that the time had come for us to say good bye. It would be the last time I would be able to stroke and kiss her. My sweet Belle. You will be missed when we go over for dinner. Words cannot describe how I feel with you no longer here. I am happy that you are not suffering anymore and in a better place. May we one day meet again in Heaven where we can go for long walks. I love you so much!