I'd like to introduce you to Bella

This is Bella, our family GS who we lost to tumours of the spleen (and surrounding area as it happens) on 3rd January 2008. We do not know if she was in any pain or difficulty because she simply did not show it. But I did read recently that cancer and tumour of the spleen rarely shows up until it is too late, and that is in humans so no reason to suspect different in dogs. The vet said that even if we'd brought her in three months earlier it would have been too late. What a shame.

Bella came to us just under eight years ago as a shiny brand new puppy from a friend of ours at the time. Her mother was (is) such a wonderful dog, calm nature, loving and obedient that it was impossible to say no when she gave birth to three lovely pups - two boys and Bella. Sadly one of the brothers, Bilbo, succumed to a heart attack at four years old, the remaining brother is alive and well guarding a farm in Kent. The mother, Beauty, is still going strong, although she has had to have a hysterectomy and will never bear pups again.

Bella settled in to our family of six (at the time we had an au pair) immediately and became a much loved member. She had such a wonderful personality, albeit a little bit cheeky at times, always looking out for us and being with us wherever we went. If we were in separate rooms she would routinely wander around counting up to make sure we were all still present Life with Bella was a joy, although I suppose like anyone else we did rather take it for granted that she'd always be around.

She did have a few moments of trouble, less than 3 years old she had a serious infection of the womb and lost her "bits". She recovered well and was a strong and healthy dog after that. She was a bit of a scoundrel, she'd scrounge "biscuits" from us in turn, pretending that noone had given her one that day. And this dog, believe it or not, could actually smile! If you pleased her then her cheeks would puff up and front teeth show - it actually looked a bit silly, but completely disarming too. I didn't know dogs could do that!! And have never seen it before, or since.

As you can see from the photo, Bella was a long-hair. It would take no effort at all to remove two Tesco carrier bags of fluff from her when giving her a bit of a grooming. And her fur was omnipresent in the house. What is really odd is that since she has gone we have encountered tufts of her fur as if she's visited us. The most obvious occasion was a few weeks back where we found two large tufts on the mat by the back door where she used to lay overnight and watch the foxes in our garden. This is ages since she passed away, and there is no loose fur in the home. So where it came from is a mystery, these are large clumps like used to drop out of her at times! Very spooky, but also a bit wonderful too.

It was devastating to lose her so suddenly, it really was without warning. The night before she was like a Spring Lamb bugging us all to play with her (this was a large dog to be leaping around in the lounge!). The next morning she was a bit quiet, and then collapsed with really heavy and leaden breathing. We took her to the vet that morning at 8am and by 3pm she was dead on the operating table where the Vet put her down with our permission. The whole family were in shock, and that reached out to so many people you wouldn't believe it. She was so well known and loved in the area - people who regularly passed by were to ask us where she was and were visibly upset when told.

Bella's ashes are buried in the garden, near the patio where she used to sit in sun, rain and hail. Even where she used to sit and watch the fireworks on Nov 5th and New Year (she loved to see them!! whacky dog that she was). I tend to say "Good morning" each day as I set off to work and walk past.

She will forever be remembered by us, and is still loved by all of us.

Thank you for letting me share Bella with you.

[GSDOWNER]

First of all I would like to say how much Bella looks like George, she is a stunner to look at and as I have read she was a pleasure to own.

I tried to reply after you posted this but I had a stream of tears blurring my vision. This must of been very hard to write, and I hope you get some comfort writing Bella's Story

I am sorry for your loss of Bella, it is truly a sad day when we lose our loving loyal furball especially to an illness that is to late to diagnosed until its too late

I hope you are coping with your loss and Thank you for sharing Bellas Story

Joanne
xx

Thank you so much for the kind words. We like to talk about Bella, it keeps her alive in our memories. It amazes me how our friends and family still talk of her as if she would walk in the door any moment. A bright light dimmed.

Danny

[GSDOWNER]

I can imagine a bright light dimmed, I dread the moment I have to make the decision about George *omg eyes have filled up again* but hopefully the changes I have made to his lifestyle will give us many more years

Yes its so good to talk to people who understand your pain, the peeps on this forum have helped me so much, to think I set it up to have a good old whine and yes done lots of whining, but it helps

There are members on this site that know exactly the pain you are going through, they have gone thro the same, its a really bad illness, and I can imagine a heartbreaking one, this is one illness I hope George does not get......

[wildmoor]

Hi Danny I lost Storm to this in 2005, like Bella he didnt show any signs untill the night before he was pts. Janet another member on here to lost her lad to this, what they call the 'silent killer'
I know what you are going through, it may not seem like it now but things will get easier. I felt lost after Storm had gone as my other lad was pts. 18mth before. I actualy went out and purchased 2 more within a month as the house felt so empty. The first was Alfe 9mths old and then a 5 weeks later Zandi at 8weeks.
Although this may not be right for you it made life easier to deal with for me as it was the first time I had been without a GSD for 24yrs.
Pam

[LOVEGSD]

Hello Handson

I too read your post with tears filling my eyes and they still are as I type this....I will go to pieces when Diesel's time comes so I can't begin to imagine how you were all feeling.

Thank you for sharing Bellas story, she sounds like she was an absolute joy to live with and my goodness wasn't she a pretty girl...

I look forward to chatting to you and learning more about Bella

Lynn
xx

[zaclucy]

Hi Handson

As Pam has said, I lost my Zac to this illness last summer, and your story made me cry again, just to think what you are all going through. My heart goes out to you, but Bella will always be in your heart. My Zac's ashes are still on the shelf above the bed, I can't bear to move them yet. I got Barney, a 12 week old GSD, a few weeks after losing Zac, as the house was too empty, and I had to have something to fill the void.

Janet x

Thank you all for your very kind words of comfort. And I am likewise grieve for your own losses. We know they're going to go before us, but it does not help when it inevitably happens. These wonderful creatures become such deep-rooted members of the family that the loss is so very painful.

Our family remember Bella with great love and fond memories. She was such a docile creature, loving as well as protective, and never one to make a much of a fuss about anything. She was our first GS and I was told that they were a very flexible breed. Our Bella certainly proved to be that. As our family grew and circumstances changed she was quite content to go with the flow. She would learn and adapt readily.

Fun moments? There are far too many to list - and I have some that make me smile so much that people in the street give me strange looks. This dog was so human in many ways - she used to love Saturday nights, curry night! We'd always have some leftovers and she took great pleasure in scoffing a few bits of chicken with whatever sauce was over them - even my Vindaloo! Her table manners were impeccable, she'd sit in the dining room and wait patiently until we had finished.

Words, she knew quite a few - Biscuit was her favourite as she was a right belly on legs with a bit of GS wrapped over for good effect! She'd do anything for a treat and was a snip to train. She'd always do it just that bit better for a tidbit, of course. "Coat" was another - well you can't go outside without your coat - which was our codeword for her lead. "Get your coat on" would result in this very long GS bounding around like a spring lamb - anyone would think we never ever took her out! And it didn't matter the weather, she'd want to go. But try and bath her and the water, to her, took on sinister proportions. It was like an Inquisitors torture to her - talk about put on a grumpy face! But she'd get her own back with a good soaking shake after she got out.

I mentioned fireworks previously - Bella really did like these, even if they were in our own garden. Everyone tells you that animals are frightened - not Bella, she'd just sit there and "oooh" and "aaaaahh" quietly to herself. We live near a large Indian community and so from November until January there are always firework events going on.

Bella was completely impervious to weather. The rougher it was the more she'd like to sit out in it! Snow was something of a mystery to her - the first time she tried to eat the entire garden. But she'd quite happily lay in it no matter how deep it was! Then come running up for a warming cuddle at our expense, brrrrrrr

Furniture - well we made it clear to Bella from the outset that sitting on the 3-piece was a no-no. If it ever went quiet and she was not around we'd know where she was. Walk into the lounge and she'd skulk out of the door just before you got there. But the giveaway were the warm leather of the chair and the indentations of her feet where she'd just got up. But every now and then she'd forget herself and clamber up alongside while you was watching the telly. Then a few minutes later she'd go into a mad panic and leap off - remembering she was not supposed to be up there!

Overall Bella was such a well behaved little lady that she drew favourable comment from everyone who met her. She was a bit territorial and would bark at people the other side of the fence. But everyone knew she was around, and the feeling of security that gave was hard to describe. There were few that she did not trust, Uncle Trevor being one - he growled at her when he first met her as a puppy and lost her trust forever. She used to give him a right growly-barking at when he visited, and then fixed him with one of her stares for ages

The time will come for another GS to join the family. Not as a replacement for Bella though - that could never be. Bella is missed, but still loved and always will be. We're over the worst, but still have been known to look for her or inadvertently call her name in an unguarded moment

Thank you for allowing me to share a few of our moments with Bella. If I had my way she'd take the spare plinth at Trafalgar Square - and she'd be much more worthy than those who've been suggested so far

when i lost my dog last year, i couldnt bear the silence,no more tapping on the laminate,no more hair on the sofas,no more muddy foot prints running through the house,something which annoys us all....until they are gone, then youd give everything you owned and more, to have just one more muddy paw print or a hairy sofa!!
bella sounds like she was such a character, she'll always be with you,in your heart and your memories..
after i lost my dog boss last july, within a few weeks i had fred,not to replace boss,it was the emptiness,i had a dog for 14 years,then suddenly there was nothing..
the pain gets easier..all though i still shed tears for boss daily..and i often pat his casket which sits under the fire where he used to love to lie,when i pass away i shall have boss beside me,and no doubt many more fur babies that pass through my door..but having fred has helped me get over his loss,hes like a gift from boss,and i thank him every day.x.x.x.x.