Saying goodbye to Bella - my all-weather pup

My beloved all-weather pup, Bella, the little dog with the big heart and attitude to match. She was my world. I will miss her every second of every day.

On a beautiful first day of spring in Montreal, I said goodbye to my beloved pup Bella. At 16, Bella had developed some serious health issues over the last two weeks and let me know her work here was done. It was the most difficult decision I have had to make in my entire life.

Bella came to us from Kiko Dog Rescue in 2011. A misfit of sorts, she was a perfectly imperfect terrier with a heart of gold and the idea that somehow, she was bigger than her 20 pounds. She quickly showed me why,  you see Bella, was a survivor. Born at a puppy mill and passed around to several homes, she had an edge that we softened quickly. I understood her. She understood me. And so forged a relationship that would flourish for 14 strong years. Bella loved me, her greeting every night was epic. Our neighbours knew when I was home. Bella and I shared our space, our time. We had a profound respect for each other, we even shared Chapman's vanilla frozen yogurt.

So why talk about her on my weather blog? Bella was an all-weather dog. We walked daily, often 2-3 times everyday, regardless of the weather. By my count over 14,000 walks in those 14 years. Most of the images you see on this blog were taken with her by my side or in the car with me.

We walked in every type of weather, without fail, heavy snow and rain, warm or cold. Every day. Every season. We both loved fresh snow. Bella loved chasing falling leaves. During the April 2023 ice storm, we walked in darkness during the early morning hours, around downed trees, and cuddled on the couch for warmth as power was out for days. As well we watched countless sunrises and sunsets.

Most recently we viewed the ending stages of the lunar eclipse. Bella was an early riser, motivated by the thought of breakfast after our walk. Followed by some couch time, while I reviewed the different forecast discussions and commuter weather models.

Bella and I visited the historic weather office in Hatteras, North Carolina on the Outer Banks in September 2018. (ValleyWeather Photo)

Bella even accompanied me to one of the first weather offices on the Eastern Seaboard when we visited Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in September 2018, just after hurricane Florence. Our trip was almost cancelled due to the storm, but in the end the barrier islands were reopened just in time.

Bella never failed me. Her love was pure and unconditional. She knew me, I knew her. Eagerly she would wait at the door every morning, even in her final days. Today, Friday, March 21, there was no walk for the first time in 14 years. Bella thought I had all the answers. I thought she did. I had no answer for this. The grief is deep. My heart is broken. They say time heals, we shall see.