Originally Posted by Teresamag (Post 3505008)

My heart is breaking today - one of my best friends of my whole life has left me behind. Even though she has been slowing failing this last year I never wanted to be without her. Little 3 ½ lb Belle came into my life as a 6 week old puppy ~ MY first ever dog. I had grown up with outside dogs and had working farm dogs as an adult but wanted a Yorkie of my own after meeting one at a friend’s house. Belle-Belle was so tiny as a puppy - she only weighed 19 oz and got her name from the character in “Beauty and the Beast” and because she had to wear a bell around her neck as a puppy so we would know where she was at all times. I brought her home at 6 weeks old ~ much too early ~ but with the breeder telling me it was ok - I didn’t know any better. My two wonderful vets helped me keep her in the world at this early age and one of them helped me gently release her from this world this afternoon.
Belle had luxating patellas and collapsing trachea but was very healthy until this past year. She gradually became hard of hearing, had trouble seeing & eating, slept more and more but was still enjoying life until lately. Belle could have died at 6 weeks old when I bought her home way too early & could have died a couple of other times but she was so tough. Unfortunately for all of us the passage of time is tougher and time can’t be beat forever.
Belle “grew up” with my kids who were 2 & 5 when I brought her home. She learned so quickly - especially how to get what she wanted. Belle learned to sit under my daughter’s chair at mealtimes to catch any dropped food & my daughter learned to purposefully drop tidbits for Belle to enjoy eating with us.
Belle never had any puppies (she was too small) but she taught many Yorkie puppies (and one Boxer) over the years to listen to doggy body language - especially “time to leave me alone” but she was all noise and never hurt a puppy ~ she even had the Boxer fooled. She never “loved” the puppies much because they tried to play too rough with her but she loved when people came to visit. I think she truly believed each person was there to see & pet her only!! She would do a little dance and stamp her tiny feet to say “look at me” when people didn’t pay attention to her. She loved just climbing into people’s laps - she never knew a stranger & loved everyone. When she didn’t get off the couch the last time we had visitors I knew our time together was short.
Belle loved to “GO” and ride in the car, she absolutely loved riding in my lap & was the only one to be allowed to do it. We took our last car ride together this afternoon to my vet’s office where they were very good to the both of us & she passed over to the bridge as I held her. I felt the last beat of her heart as she gently went to sleep and left this world.
Ms. Belle never had puppies but left her own “legacy” behind. Because of her I am a Yorkie breeder today. She was sent home way too early & had both LP & CT. Seeing her deal with these issues made me want to breed healthier Yorkies & to educate families about the correct care of Yorkies. Belle had a wonderful, loving, outgoing personality and a beautiful silky blue coat. These things made her the perfect Best Friend and the ultimate Yorkie for me. Because of her example of what a Yorkie looks like, what their temperament should be & how her health should have been I have had a “blue print” to strive toward when breeding.
Belle taught many people that “frou-frou” dogs are “real dogs” & perfect companions. My husband became her favorite “pillow” after we married and he loved her as much as I do. We are all sad at her passing but know she is no longer in pain and is happy and free.
Our life is better ~ richer even, for having lived with this small Yorkie with the huge personality for 15 years. I will miss hearing her bark at “intruders” turning into our driveway, miss her begging for the last bite of ice cream (which she always got), miss her being the “Queen” at the top of the couch, miss her “telling off” huge dogs, miss her laying warm and small on my lap or in my bed and especially miss her telling me how much she loved me with her warm brown eyes. While we were waiting in the vet’s this afternoon Belle gave me kiss after kiss and gazed into my eyes. I truly believe she was saying “goodbye” and “thank you”.
Belle - you saw me through some difficult times over the years and it was my privilege to help you through this last difficult time in your life. Thank you for sharing your life and your spirit with all of us. I will love you and miss you forever.
RIP: Belle
11/10/96 - 4/18/11