Belle

Belle was my husband's dog for six years before she met me. Despite her best efforts to get rid of me (oh, the things she did!), I became her mumsy, and she was stuck with me. She was a daddy's girl and quite protective. She wanted to stay an only child and she managed that through her life. I always said that she didn't really like me, but she tolerated me, but now and then, there was a chink in her armor -- sometimes, she'd let me play catch with her; she preferred that I put on her favorite polar bear sweater because I could do it right; she welcomed me home after work; and she'd sit in my lap on car rides. Although tired over her last year, she made it to 18 years old. She was so spirited, I thought she would live another couple of years, just to stay with "daddy." But my husband was right: she was weak and her body was shutting down, and it was time. We will miss our little girl, but we know she's somewhere where she can chase the ball all day and there are endless "meaty" treats.