Remembering Bella: Support Front Street Shelter

Hi everyone,

Bella, our lovely Bichon, passed away suddenly two days ago. We had very little time to prepare, but made sure she was comfortable as she passed. She was an adopted pup and spent the better part of her life with us. She stole our hearts, food, and spirit. She personally taught me patience and the value of time. My wife and I miss her dearly and would love to use her memory for a positive effort.

As we've been going through the grieving process, I've found that completing goals and finding purpose has helped me succeed in finding joy in remembering Bella. I set up a fundraiser in her memory for Front Street Shelter, as they do amazing work in supporting the community's pets. As we navigate this new Bella-less reality, I often have to tell myself the below, that my feelings are okay.

"If I had lost a human partner, there would have been the usual funeral rituals, and being an emotional basket case would have seemed understandable. But our culture treats the death of a pet more like the loss of an automobile. When it wears out, you should just go buy another one. Well-meaning friends and family members had advised this in their attempts to help me feel better. What they didn’t get was that I had lost a soul mate—an irreplaceable relationship—not a piece of property."

https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/essays-culture/pet-loss-dog-grief/

Thank you for any contribution, small or large, to Bella's memory.

For Bella, Our Shining Star

Oh, Bella, small and snowy white,

A bundle of joy, pure delight.

Spunky spirit, forever bright,

In your presence, hearts take flight.

With every bark, with every play,

You’ve colored lives in your own way.

A lover of treats, your favorite feast,

Each nibble savored, joy released.

You loved every moment and were thankful for each bite,

Shaking your paws up and down so light.

You’ve danced through days with boundless cheer,

A tiny guardian, ever near.

Through all the years, your love’s been true,

A loyal heart in all you do.

Now as you journey to skies above,

You carry with you all our love.

Forever cherished, sweet and kind,

Your pawprints and barks linger in our mind.

Rest, dear Bella, in peace and light,

Our little star, forever bright.