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Fantastic 14: Bella has a birthday
By Kim Campbell Thornton
January 19, 2010
I have been tiptoeing around for the past year, holding my breath. Even now, I’m almost afraid to write it: Bella is 14 today. The best part is that she’s a fairly active 14. 
Not in the sense of walking around the block or anything–she definitely sleeps a lot–but she still goes places with us and does some walking before reluctantly entering her stroller. She walks the eighth of a mile around the complex and does the dinner dance with as much verve as when she was a 3-year-old.
And behind that sleepy-eyed expression, she’s as sharp and funny as my 100-year-old Aunt Martha. Last night after I took her out to potty, I told her to wait while I stepped into the garage to throw the bag away. Naturally, when I came back in, she had already walked up a few steps. She stood there, smiling at me.
“You wait until I dry off your feet,” I said, and picked up a towel.
She turned tail and ran the rest of the way up. I’m sure she was laughing.
Her eyes are still good, according to the ophthalmologist who checked them at the Cavalier health fair a couple of weeks ago. No signs of glaucoma or cataracts. Not much wrong with her hearing, either. We’re pretty sure that she truly is deaf on one side, but I notice that she almost always hears it when I rattle the lid of the cookie jar. Must be the vibration.
I don’t know what the secret is. I wish I could bottle it and hand it out freely to dog owners. I do think that keeping her on the skinny side has been important, although I suspect that Bella would probably give up a few months in exchange for more cookies. Not me, though.
She is my dear heart.
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There’s nothing better in the world than an old dog.
Here’s to Bella, and to all the old dogs - may they all be as well cherished as Bella (and my own dear heart, Tessa).
Comment by FrogDogz — January 19, 2010 @ 2:14 pm
That is sooo cool :)
I wish her many happy returns.
Old dogs are so precious, yes puppies are cute, but seniors have history !
Comment by Alison — January 19, 2010 @ 2:15 pm
I love the pic of Bella. Such a pretty girlie dog. Happy Birthday Sweetheart.
Comment by Snoopy's Friend — January 19, 2010 @ 2:55 pm
Happy Birthday to Beautiful Bella (yes, I know that’s repetitious. I don’t care)!
Comment by Susan — January 19, 2010 @ 3:21 pm
Happy Birthday Bella! I too am a fan of old dog. I have 3 senior, Chinese Crested hairless dogs. Plus I adopted a 16 year old Chinese Crested Powderpuff named Tyke last year. Tyke is amazingly active and loves walks and riding in the car. I keep thinking that the rescue got his age wrong. Yet according to his records, he will be 17 next month. I cherish every day with my sweet, funny boy.
Comment by Susan G. — January 19, 2010 @ 5:35 pm
Yes, sometimes the dogs and cats more precious as they age.
Happy Birthday, Bella, you look like the bell of the ball!
In case anyone is interested, there are two websites that give free kibble to shelters if you answer a trivia question a day. I think site is sponsored by Friskies.
The two sites are: http://www.Freekibble.com for dogs and http://www.Freekibblekat.com for cats. Fun sites to go to but not always easy questions to answer but the donation goes through with right or wrongs answers.
Bella, I hope you get some good food and loving attention today!
Comment by Evelyn — January 19, 2010 @ 5:53 pm
Happy Birthday Bella!!!
“There’s nothing better in the world than an old dog.”
Word.
I lost my old man unexpectedly not too long ago. It was the first time in a decade we had not had an “elder statesman” in our home.
Days later I had a call from a shelter about a 10 1/2 year old bulldog dropped off because of a divorce.
Long story short, Bubba is most likely a permanent addition. We will try to adopt him out, but the reality is that people are reticent to adopt a dog they may not have for very long. Shame. After sleeping for the best part of the first two weeks here (recovering from the stress of being in the shelter), he has put on weight, attitude and slipped right into the routine here. Far far easier to blend in than a young dog or puppy would be!
People who discount older dogs, especially seniors as pets, have NO idea what they are missing. Viva Bella and all our senior pets!
And he pulled the exact same routine of taking off when I asked him to “wait” earlier as Bella. :) It’s wet and icky outside after all! But seniors get to get away with more around our house, a perk of age.
Comment by JenniferJ — January 19, 2010 @ 7:13 pm
Happy Birthday, Bella! She looks so sweet with her big eyes and the bow in her hair.
Comment by Eliblu — January 19, 2010 @ 7:38 pm
Happy Birthday Bella! May you enjoy many more!
Comment by Anne T — January 19, 2010 @ 7:42 pm
Bella, you are the BEST! Happy 14th, my darling girl. :)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — January 19, 2010 @ 8:54 pm
Happy Birthday Bella ! And many hopes we will celebrate many more. I too have seniors and they are very special,much as I love puppies and kittens I think any new additions here will be older.
Comment by Leslie K — January 19, 2010 @ 10:02 pm
Thanks, everyone, for the birthday wishes. JenniferJ, yes, Bella gets away with anything she wants to get away with.
Comment by Kim Thornton — January 19, 2010 @ 11:59 pm
Happy Birthday Bella :) You still look so gorgeous :)
Comment by Chloe — January 20, 2010 @ 1:08 am
Oh, that face! The cutest! Happy Birthday sweet Bella.
Comment by Nadine L — January 20, 2010 @ 2:17 pm
Our sweet seniors are my absolute favorite. Happy birthday, darling Bella - so aptly named!
Comment by Phyllis DeGioia — January 20, 2010 @ 4:11 pm
Beautiful Bella, hope your birthday was wonderful.
Comment by Vicki — January 20, 2010 @ 7:30 pm