My Mom just send me a message today telling me that her dog "Miss Belle" passed away early this morning. Miss Belle joined our family in 1994 when Cole was just 1 year old. Miss Belle (a Boston Terrier) lived, loved and made us laugh often. In 1999 she moved to Nahna's house (Mom) because she had bilateral cataracts and was going blind. Although she could barely see she lived a full life and was able to maneuver even the most challenging obstacles in the house. When she went outside...she knew how many steps to go off the porch, how many to get to the tree, the driveway, the lamp post. I was amazed when I watched her walk outside and at certain points take exact 90 degree turns to get to where she wanted to be.Miss Belle's health has declined over the past couple of months. Last night, as Miss Belle frantically searched for a place of comfort. Mom layed down on the floor with her and held her tight assuring her that everything was OK. Miss Belle finally found enough peace and comfort to sleep for a couple of hours. The following day as Mom ran some errands she prayed that God would take her peacefully. As Mom returned from the her errands she entered a quite house with Izzie (Mom's English Bulldog) patiently awaiting her arrival. She was led into her bedroom and there was Miss Belle...she had peacefully passed on to Puppy Dog Heaven.
As with all our pets, Miss Belle was laid to rest in our backyard near her best friend Beau (one of my English Bulldogs). She was wrapped in a blanket with some food for her travels and her "Miss Belle" collar loosely around her neck. We will never forget her...she held her own amongst years of dogs and cats that preceeded her. Miss Belle's best friend was Beau who loved her and protected her during her younger years. He preceeded her death in 1995. We'll never forget how she would snore while sleeping. How she would grab your arm with her paw repeatedly until you gave her attention, only to keep doing it again and again AND AGAIN until you were forced to move away from her. How she would follow at your heels throughout the house only to run into you when you stopped. How she would stand outside the shower to lick your ankles dry whether you liked it our not!
Miss Belle wasn't a dog of abounding energy, she was a lazy dog that just liked to hang out and chill. She was slapped by many cats for her curiousity but didn't really care. She got along with other dogs that would come and go into her life...always trying to make friends even if they didn't reciprocate...she would try again. The next e-mail after my Mom's news was the one below. How appropriate...
Rest in peace Miss Augusta Belle...you will remain in our hearts and minds forever.
There is a God in the Post Office. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service.
Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:
Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith.
We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith, 'in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:
Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven.
Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.
Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.
I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.
By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.
Love, God
