Beautiful Bette has been many things to her Mom Joie M. “My first adult pet. My first Corgi. My first child!”
“We brought Bette (Honeyfox Secret Serenade) home just a few weeks after my young husband suffered a mild heart attack, and she was a life saver. She softened him and gave him something fun and wonderful during a hard time.”
“Saturday mornings we woke up excited, wondering what we could do, where we could take her so the family could be together. We began to plan our vacations around her, and when she had to have her baths we’d get in the tub with our “Bwave Bette” to calm her puppy nerves.”
“When she was only six months old, she penned the sheep at a herding trial. Bette has always been smarter than any of us.”
“In the following years, we had a son and she was incredibly
patient and loving with him, even when he tried to torture her.”
“I would find her asleep in his Moses basket from time to time (when he wasn’t in it, of course!)”
A stolen kiss never hurt anybody.
“When he started riding his pony, Bette would trot alongside them, keeping that pony in line.”
“Bette, who’s now seven, accompanies me to work (I’m an Episcopal priest), where she has also helped a lot of troubled people in their crises. She has passed her TDI (Therapy Dog) test.”
The family expanded when Piper (Honeyfox Piece of My Heart) came along. You know how it is with Corgis and stopping at just one!
“Unfortunately, our Bette was diagnosed with lymphoma of the central nervous system last Fall. She did great on a combination of chemo, homeopathics, supplements, and home-made food until May, when her blood protein levels dropped through the basement floor and her createnine levels went through the roof. The neurologists and a new internist conferred that it could be cancer or could be an auto-immune disorder based on new tests, so we don’t really know what Bette has and that is infuriating.”
“We consulted with a specialist about treating the kidney issues, but in the end it looks like a lot more money for only a matter of weeks for her and they may not be good weeks, either.”
“Although her coat is turning ragged and her copper tones have a little gray in them, Bette still plays with her little sister Piper, swims, and chases everything out of her yard.”
“Her life has been half of what it should be in years, but so very full in spirit. We will never quite recover from losing her when she goes.”
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Welcome to The Daily Corgi, Bette!
You are some kind of wonderful!
Seven years is just not long enough. That just breaks my heart. .
Bette has given so much love in her short life – so far. I'm still praying for a miracle!
Aunt Stacy
Bette is lucky to be so loved. My prayers are with you all.
Seven years is definitely not long enough, though they have been wonderful 7 years from what I can tell. Cheerish every moment with her. What a very sweet story about Bette.
I have a Honeyfox Corgi, too! What a great breeder :).
Just wanted to update. Not long after this post was written, I took Bette off all meds and gave her a good quality holistic food and fish oil. She is still ALIVE! We are so thankful. I don't know what is going on with her inside because we can't keep piling up the vet bills after spending our son's first two years of college on her but she is all spark on the outside. Thanks for the prayers and good thoughts!
At the beginning on November 2012, Bette started getting very finicky about her food. Who ever heard of a finicky Corgi. I took her to the vet and her BUN and creatinine were off the charts (really, they were too high to read). The vet showed me how to do a subcutaneous fluid IV at home and we also put her on an injectable (in the port) medication for nausea as she was throwing up lots of bile. Soon, she was not eating anything and Saturday, November 10th, Bette started hiding from us and trying to walk away when we would find her. He breathing was rapid and strange sounding and her heart was pounding. We realized our girl needed our help in the worst way possible. We wrapped Bette in a quilt made for our son. It had sheep on it and she did herd when younger. We all gathered around her, told her we loved her, and prayed over her. As a priest, I got out the holy oil I use when I anoint people at baptism or anoint the sick and dying. I anointed Bette and asked that God give her peace and let her know she is loved more than we could say. Then we took her to the vet (I am so thankful she actually LIKED going to the vet so this did not cause extra stress). When it was time for the injections, I held her and cried harder than ever. Letting Bette go was the worst day of my life and that is saying a lot….mostly about how special she was and still is.
I believe all of creation is gathered into God and that I will be reunited in some way with my heart dog. Until then, we are giving lots of love to Piper and will have more Corgis in the future.
I’m just reading this story now, and having lost my Romeo to cancer this year, I could feel your story. The love we share with these beautiful creatures is one of the most blessed gifts of all.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful story. I have tears as I write this. How these animals touch our lives is amazing! {{hugs}} and know my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Joie –
I don't know what words to say that can help you and your family with your grief and loss of Bette except to say that you all seemed to enjoy such love of each other. That will never change – in this life or the next. I've recently lost three Corgis in the space of 15 months so I know how hard it is to let them go. I seriously thought it would be easier not to have another dog – much less a Corgi – but am thrilled to say I opened my heart and home to a Corgi rescue – 9 month old Dante – who has shown me once again how special these guys are. His love of life and all those around him is so easy to see and experience. I am once again able to enjoy my life as well. I wish you all the best.
Deepest sympathies to Bette's family. Sending her on her way with oil and prayers is a wonderful ritual. Thank you for sharing so much about Better and your family. I pray for healing and comfort for all of you.
Oh Joie, I am so, so sorry. I'm in tears, thinking of how you are hurting. I wish you peace. And with time it will come; I felt totally unable to comprehend the reality of losing my first puppy-child (also to cancer), but it sinks in and after having done it twice more — all to cancer — in the span of five years I can say it doesn't get easier.
But that pain, no matter how collossal it seems, pales in comparison to the sheer love and joy they bring to us. Each dog is a wonderful unique spirit, and I can't wait for that lucky pup who finds their way into your home in the future. Blessed he will be!
What a wonderful seven years the darling Bette had with you, more love and joy than some people get in a lifetime ten times as long. Blessings to you all.
There is nothing worse than taking a dog to the vet to have it euthanized. I have been thru this 3 times, and it gets worse every time. RIP Bette.
My heart goes out to you – our Corgi was the best dog we ever had and hopefully we'll have one again someday. Please know many of us feel your pain and understand.
Had to put our Ayla down at 7 yrs and 3 days. Never gets easier but is the kindest thing to do in the face of suffering that is not going to improve. Our sympathies to you and your family.