A tribute to my darling Ella-Bella

ArchandEbs · #1 02-01-12, 09:00 AM

To my Darling Girl

Christmas and New Year have been really hard. I miss you more every single day.

I remember the day I got you so clearly. You were sick on me on the way home in the car and we bonded from that moment onwards.

You and Arch were pals from the moment you met. He adored you.

You were a good puppy - you learned so quickly. A clean girl - you were house-trained almost from day one but you did like my shoes in those days...

When you were two you got very, very sick. You were at the vets for days and you wouldn't eat unless one of us (me, my mum or dad) was with you. It had on your vet records "very attached to owner".

In the end they referred you to the Royal Veterinary College to the top neurologist in the country. The journey down was horrendous. I went the wrong way on the M25 and after discovering my mistake when we got off the motorway and went the right way there had been an accident by Heathrow and all the time you were dying in the back of the car.

A crash team was waiting for us at the Royal Veterinary College and the specialist (who wanted to know why I gave you an Italian name as he was Italian) fought so hard to save you. You were there for three weeks. I visited you every weekend.

When the specialist saw the improvement in you when I was there he released you from hospital but I had to take you back for a spinal tap.

You'd have ensephalitis, menangitis and had several strokes - but you wanted to live so much that we saved you. Many told me to let you go but the specialist begged me to give him more time. I'm so glad he did because it meant I had eight more wonderful years with you.

It took a while for you to be rehabilitated after your illness. For quite some time your front legs would stop but the back ones would still be moving. When you came home you couldn't make it up the stairs so I ended up sleeping downstairs with you so you didn't hurt yourself trying to get up the stairs to me.

We moved to Australia and we lived in Perth. You loved going to the beach and when we moved to Brisbane you were back on the plane again. In Brisbane you went to the doggy cafe every weekend with Arch - you loved your puppycinnos.

You were a very well travelled girl with Arch always by your side. You were an inseperable team. I adored you both and you adored me.

If I had to travel for work you would always lay by the window in the bedroom waiting for me to come home.

You were always there by the door when I got home and used to run around looking for a toy to greet me.

When we got Harry you were so gentle with him and when he passed over to the bridge you were sad. We fostered Poppy and although she was years younger than you - you accepted her - although I could tell you thought she was a hooligan!

When Arch got sick you were bewildered. After he died I could sense your lonliness. You'd never been separated apart from when you were sick. We did things together - just me and you and I know you loved those times when it was just the two of us.

Along came Nina and then Addison and you accepted them both. Nina adored you and the cattle girls although very lively were always so gentle around you.

Addie used to lay behind you when I went to work. She enjoyed your quiet company.

I noticed your back legs started to go a bit saggy - a bit like Arch's did and although the vet tried to re-assure me that it was arthritis I knew it was something more sinister.

On our last day together you didn't greet me at the door. I knew something was wrong. I rushed you to the vet who told me your blood tests were normal except for one.

We brought you home and I knew you weren't right. Your breathing was shallow so we put you on the bed so I could keep an eye on you during the night. You woke us up a couple of times and we gave you water and you laid back down.

At about 1.30am you slid off the bed. I asked you if you were OK and you wagged your tail and lay down on your side and went to sleep. This is when you got your wings.

I woke at 4.30am and I thought you were still with us - your eyes were shut but your stomach was still moving - but when I felt you you were stiff. I was hysterical.

I fell asleep during the day and I thought I felt your head on the bed comforting me like you used to do.....

Then one week later you were the first thing that greeted me one last time when your ashes were returned.

You're now back with Arch at his side and I have a big hole in my heart. The house seems empty without you.

A few days ago I saw a program on the Royal Veterinary College and saw the specialist that saved you. Bittersweet memories - would they have saved you a second time if we were still there...I'll never know.......

I love you so much my darling, gentle girl. You were only 10 and never in my worst nightmares did I think I'd lose both you and Arch in the same year. I hope you are happy and healthy at the bridge with Arch, Harry and darling Rover. Love you always x

LOVEGSD · #2 02-01-12, 09:14 AM

Oh Lisa I can barely type for tears, what a touching tribute to your beautiful Ella-Bella, you clearly had such an amazing bond and what a wonderful girl she was.

RIP special girl, run free with Arch and Harry.....forever loved...xxxx

Sylvieliz · #3 02-01-12, 09:19 AM

What a wonderful tribute for such a special much loved girl.
RIP sweetheart you had a fantastic life so full of love and care.

Am so very sorry

ArchandEbs · #4 02-01-12, 09:48 AM

Thank you both - it's been a terrible year losing both Arch and Ella-Bella plus Harry in October 2010. I've had a bad couple of days - especially after the puppy went home (he reminded me of Ella-Bella as he was so gentle and followed me everywhere).

I'm hoping 2012 will bring us more luck and I can get through a year without losing another beloved pet.