IN MEMORY OF BELLE.....

[GOLD HUNTER]

Guys we just got back from our camping trip in the Alleghany Mountains at Lake Moomaw.  I thought I'd take a little time and let all of my friends here that knew my little rat dog whose real name was Belle passed away on Monday, July 9, 2012.



I found Belle when she was 1 ½ years old, she was at my buddy Herm's house.  Herm's granddaughter was going to college and she asked Herm to find a home for Belle.  I had stopped by 1 day after scouting for turkeys and seen her for the 1st time.  I asked Herm what her name was and he told me Belle.  I said "Come here Belle" and she walked right up to me.  He said that he was going to have to take her to the SPCA because he couldn't find a home for her.  She then looked up at me with her dark eyes as if to say, "If you take me home, I promise to be a good dog".  I asked him if I could have her for my daughter.  He said "Sure". 



This is how Belle came into our lives.  We've had Belle for about 5 yrs and she was sharp and smart as a tack.  There were so many things that Belle liked to do.  She would ride on the ATV, fetch a ball forever, sit in the reloading room and watch me reloading for hours, she would walk to give me a kiss when I left for work and greet me when I came home, sit and watch TV with you all night and snuggle with you when you were sick.  When it was time to go to bed she would bark until you went and then she would crawl under the covers and sleep with you there.  If she got too hot she would come to the top of the bed, stick her head out onto the pillow and stay covered up like a little kid. If you used a crow call or a turkey call she would start howling.  I know the sound was high pitched to her but I always said if she howled at your call then it met Belle's approval.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTsz7qrM7fY&feature=autoplay&list=UUj_g9eliRzu_9DiDvRnpq6Q&playnext=28

She especially liked to go camping with us and sit around the campfire. The 1st night on our camping trip, she had a stroke and passed away in her sleep.   A friend sent us this poem which I added a little extra to the last line.



She will forever be in our hearts and we will miss her greatly.   
We love you Belle-Belle.


Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.........
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together side by side with Jesus into heaven....



 

[redarrow]

My heart felt condolences Brian. RIP Belle.

[hookedspur]

Sorry for your loss . A good dog is truly mans best friend .

[beagler]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your dog.

[slamman]

THE JOURNEY
by Crystal Ward Kent
When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey — a journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet also test your strength and courage.
If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark.
Along the way, you will learn much about savoring life's simple pleasures — jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joy of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears.
If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full of valuable information. Your pace may be slower — except when heading home to the food dish — but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field.
Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details — the colorful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig. Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world. We stop; we browse the landscape; we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows: that nature has created a marvelously complex world that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons brings ever-changing wonders, each day an essence all its own.
Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you. You will find yourself watching summer insects collecting on a screen (How bizarre they are! How many kinds there are!), or noting the flicker and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this; the point is in the doing, in not letting life's most important details slip by.
You will find yourself doing silly things that your pet-less friends might not understand: spending thirty minutes in the grocery aisle looking for the cat food brand your feline must have, buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the block an extra time because your pet enjoys the ride. You will roll in the snow, wrestle with chewie toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and even run around the house trailing your bathrobe tie — with a cat in hot pursuit — all in the name of love.
Your house will become muddier and hairier. You will wear less dark clothing and buy more lint rollers. You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse, and feel the need to explain that an old plastic shopping bag adorns your living room rug because your cat loves the crinkly sound.
You will learn the true measure of love — the steadfast, undying kind that says, "It doesn't matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as long as we are together." Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any living soul can give another. You will not find it often among the human race.
And you will learn humility. The look in my dog's eyes often made me feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw not some flawed human who could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful companion. Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so chose to love me anyway.
If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you will not be just a better person, but the person your pet always knew you to be — the one they were proud to call beloved friend.
I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear animal companion will follow a path you cannot yet go down. And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go. A pet's time on earth is far too short — especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just for awhile, and during those brief years they are generous enough to give us all of their love — every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left.
The cat that only yesterday was a kitten is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun. The young pup of boundless energy wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle now gray. Deep down we somehow always knew this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken. But give them we must for it is all they ask in return. When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead — young and whole once more.
"Godspeed, good friend," we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.

i understand friend.

[TRKYHTR]

Sorry to hear that Brian. I remember a few skyping sessions when Belle would show off for us. I know she will be missed.

TRKYHTR

[Hognutz]

Brian.
So sorry to hear of your loss of Belle. I know that your family loved her deeply. She is, at this moment, chasing butterflies with my beloved Hershey. The day will come, believe it or not, that you will smile when her name is mentioned. It will take some time, brother, but it will happen. The memories will neve fade..
                                                                                                                                                     Mike

[Wingbone]

I'm sorry for your loss. We often love our dogs as much or more than human companions, which makes them just as painful to lose. To me, God sends us these wonderful companions so that we can learn how to love Him, unrelenting and unconditionally, just as our dogs love us.

[Deputy 14]

Hate to hear that. Losing a dog is almost like losing a part of yourself.

[GSLAM95]

Looks like she was a great companion, time will help heal all wounds and I hope Belle is looking down to help find another companion to fill her shoes.  It looks like she gave the family a lot of good smiles over the years, thanks for sharing..

[BHMTitan]

Sorry for your family's loss.  Having several pets myself, it is suprising how attached you get to them.

[catdaddy]

She sounded like a great dog--its hard to lose one for sure.

[sixbird]

Don't know you Brian but I know your pain...I've lost some wonderful companions along the way, the innocent ones...I read something just the other day. It went something like "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened..."
They give us such joy while they're here and such pain when it's time to part...

[GOLD HUNTER]

Belle will forever be in our hearts and we will miss her greatly, thanks for all your kind words guys and its been a better week.

We love you Belle-Belle.

Brian, Debbie and Megan

[turkey slayer]

Sorry for your loss!