Laura K. has always loved animals.
When she married, a series of cats began to wander into her life. “We have woods that border our house and acquired several pregnant female cats wanting to call our house home” writes Laura. “My husband and I both had dogs in the family growing up and we loved the neighbor’s dog, who believed our yard belonged to him too.”
“I experienced Corgis through a friend’s friend and thought they were rather cute. Then my parents’ neighbor got a Corgi for their daughter. Ruthie was so friendly and cute and would beg belly rubs from behind her fence. I began to think a Corgi would be a dog for us to have and started researching the breed. At first I was looking primarily at Cardigan Welsh Corgis. My husband and I drove to a dog show in Charlotte, North Carolina and met some breeders. It wasn’t the right time, so we put the idea on hold.”
“On January of 2009, we had to put my sweet Sally cat to sleep. She had IBD, which is like Crohn’s Disease in cats. She had issues from the steroids used to treat the disease and her time had come to go to the bridge. We still had other cats in the house, but at that time I really started asking for a puppy. I looked on Petfinder and in local newspapers. I tried to find a shelter Corgi, but there weren’t many listed. I responded to a breeder’s advertisement for pups and on Mother’s Day 2009 we went to look at them. I wanted a tri-color and a female, and there was one in a litter of eight.”
“I decided to name her Bella for the Italian word for beautiful. (I also learned a lot about Twilight, as many people thought this is where her name came from)! We brought Bella home for my birthday two weeks after meeting her.”
“During these two weeks, we prepared for the addition of a puppy in the household. My friends gave me a puppy shower, which was a great help to us new dog owners. At the time I owned a retail yarn store and Bella came with me each day to “work”. She loved the customers and thought they all came to see her, not to buy yarn. At the store I began holding my puppy in my lap on the floor, holding bones for her to chew on when she was teething. Little did I know three years later she would still want Mama to hold her bones steady for her from the comfort of my lap (now on the couch). She is a little big for my lap now and lies across the length of my legs.”
“My Dad was diagnosed with cancer that Summer, and though not a huge pet person, he loved Bella and made an exception to allow her indoor dog status. He succumbed to the cancer in February 2010 and Bella let me spill many tears on her shoulders. We also had to close the store due to the economy that year, and again she was beside me as we started the next chapter of our lives.”
“She still loves stores and this Christmas when we took her to a mall to get her picture with Santa, she looked in the different shops. I think she was looking for “her” store.”
“Bella is very photogenic and has helped me to decide to pursue photography — in particular, pet photography — as my next career. I am taking classes at a local college and hope to get her in the studio at some point.”
“I love this dog more than I ever imagined I would when we first got her. We have bonded so much and she wants to be by my side always (and is right now as I type this). Bella has helped me learn about the Corgi Nation, and for that I am grateful. I hope we get to meet some of our “virtual” friends in the future.”
“I am glad I researched this breed and love the quirks she shows me that are true to her breed. Her herding of our cats gives us much to laugh about and she is always such a happy girl. Hard to let life get you down when she is smiling up at you!”
“I hope we have many great adventures in the years to come. Thank you for letting me share a little about Bella.”
Such a beautiful girl! Every Corgi is a treasure – thank you for sharing!
I also have a Bella named after Isabella on Phineas and Ferb. I LOVE my little girl more than I ever thought I would too. They have a way of inching into our hearts!
Bella is beautiful! I also have a tri female named Belladora, Bella for short. I had never heard of Twilight until I named her and like you, everyone thought that was why I named her. I wish you many wonderful years with your Bella!
Bella is adorable and beautiful! I agree, nothing like having your corgi by your side to shed tears on. Mine likes to lick my face when he sees me crying.
Very well said and I feel the same way about all the corgi babies I have rescued. Thanks for sharing your story. They really do help you over all the bad things like loss of family members and would not trade my Toby for anything!
Hi Bella
Benny & Lily
I love it! Herding cats! My department chair will be happy to hear it IS possible after all.
a puppy shower?!! smh..some people
Bella is beautiful I also have a tri-color corgi he is three years old named Ace I love him glad to hear someone else loves corgis he is a wonderful pet…