By now most of you have heard the Belle story a number of times and can probably recite the highlights. But in telling it again we hope your hearts will be touched.

Belle was a senior dog whose owners dumped her instead of giving her the last golden days of life...nor did they grace her with basic medical care. Belle was the sweetest dog with big doe eyes and a honey colored coat. I suspect she had been under appreciated for a number of years, but even her filth could not hide the great dog within. Her mouth was rotten...she was the reason I coined the phrase "jungle mouth", there was just no other way to describe the decay of both tooth and flesh in her mouth. Her collar was so ragged it had hair growing into it and had to be cut off. When I cut off that awful collar I felt like I was cutting off shackles and freeing her. While slipping on a soft new collar felt like claiming her as our own. Poor Belle stunk...a lot of that was her teeth, but it had been ages since she had a decent bath. When a dog is that dirty you know it is not getting much in the way of affection. The worst news was the old girl was in major kidney failure which had been ignored. When she started to suddenly pee in the house, her family did not ask "Why?" they kicked her old butt outside...permanently. When she started to bark because she was hot and lonely they called us to take her away. Judy reported Belle left her home of several years without a goodbye pat from her owners. Judy also said Belle never looked back. Belle came to us in the middle of the hottest days of the year. Had she remained where she was she would have added heat stroke to her list of woes. Unfortunately her years of casual "when it is convenient" care from her owners cost her dearly.

After she returned to us she only lived a couple weeks. In those weeks, however she did receive all the love and attention we could give. She slept on a clean bed in front of the air conditioner bought for her comfort. She waded in the pool and lounged on the grass. Belle ate whatever food she wanted, KFC chicken tenders, beef heart, eggs, oatmeal. She wasn't being finicky, she felt awful and although she was hungry food just did not taste good to her. If she wanted my dinner I happily gave it to her and ate cold cereal. While Belle was busy dying we were busy hoping she could somehow recover...praying for that miracle that did not come. We raised funds for her and the phone wires seemed to buzz with news of Belle. The whole group fell in love with this one single old wore out hound. When she died many of us felt a great sense of loss. She was the one who got help too late. It was hard not to feel the pain of playing the "What if..." game. It was a harsh reminder of what can happen even after we think we have them securely in LOVING homes. It renewed our commitment to all greyhounds. After she died we wanted to honor her memory in some way. We had raised money for Belle's care, we decided to put that money in a separate fund and use it for special needs dogs.

So that is the history of the Belle Toll. Here is the future of the Belle Toll. The Belle Toll monies are still set aside to help foster dogs who have special needs. Dogs like Lance, Wyatt and Dima...and of course our silly Waldo. It is also used for the senior dogs we rescue. Often their vet care exceeds the adoption donation. Some of the seniors we have been able to help into homes are Babe (Easy Goss), Sylvia (Gracious Syliva), Timber and Leeta (Mals Lead On) The Belle Toll fund has also been used on occasion to help a family who has a dire greyhound emergency beyond their ability to pay. We are limited on what we can do....but with your generous donation we can help more dogs. As Valentines Day approaches what better time to celebrate your greyhound sweetheart. We ask that you consider a tax deductible donation. Not only to honor Belle but also to honor your own sweetheart-hound. A chance to celebrate each year of their lives by donating a single dollar (or more) for each year of your dogs life. Don't think you can't celebrate with us if your pooch isn't a greyhound...or even if you want to celebrate by counting your own years. If you did not get info in the mail....you can send a donation to...

Belle Toll

C/O Trish Olsen, 9 Grand Ave., Billings, MT 59101-6018

Make check payable to "GPARM"

Please tell us what hound you are honoring so we can celebrate with you.

I heartfelt thanks to those of you who already have paid the 2008 Belle Toll!!

Send one up for our friend Joe Tritchler from WY (adopter of Bella Diesel and Chopin). He is facing some health problems that has whisked him away to the Mayo Clinic in MN. Lets cover him with a quilt of prayers and well wishes for a speedy recovery. Be sure to remember his dear wife Linda in your prayers. I think it is harder to be the helpless spouse than to be the one that is sick.

It has been so COLD! TOO COLD!!! We had crazy winds on Saturday night which drifted all the snow in my yard in front of my kennel. Monday after the dogs were let out I went out and shoveled and shoveled and shoveled. I wanted to move the drift on Sunday but the winds were biting the skin and sucking the air out of my lungs. Weather not fit for girl nor pup!! The dogs have been staying in and are getting a little bored. I have been doing more inside games with them and trying to get some one on one with everyone. Today it was warm enough I took Dusk tracking...he did well. Charm had her first lesson in harness and she did great. Pixie, Katy, Brink, Tava and foster girl Run all did a little obedience. Nothing serious but enough to help with the boredom. There is a weight pull and Canine Good Citizen Test coming up in about 10 days. I am hoping to have Charm entered in the pull and Charm, Pixie and Run can maybe try for a CGC. Run has to get better on her down and learn a stay....I think she can. Whoever adopts this girl is sure going to be getting a great dog!!!

The past month or so, despite the hub bub of the holidays, have been hard for me. I have suffered and mourned greatly for the loss of my little Aussie Tabu. It is always difficult to lose one of your family....even when logically we know it is likely we will out live them...the idealist believes they are ours to keep forever. In the process of grieving I have had some experiences that have left me both raw and healed. I have mourned with others who have lost dogs and have listened with fresh ears to their grief and found comfort there. I have read, prayed and cried and found no capsule to contain my pain. How can one little dog so full of sweetness and light cause such devastation?

Today I was sitting at the vet with a friend and spied a small book about dogs by Eugene O' Neill. Since I have liked so many of his writings I picked it up and started to read it aloud. I wasn't far into it when I realized I was on the old worn road to another emotional Tabu meltdown and put the book aside. I should have known....after all it was called "The Last Will and Testament of a Distinguished Dog" When I was home and everyone was in bed I decided to see if I could find the book. I did find it....but even better I found the writing on-line....I can share it with you and best of all it is FREE. I found many lines in this that have comforted me. I share it in hopes that it will give you a chance to treasure the dogs you hold dear now and to reflect on the dogs who have gone on.

http://www.eoneill.com/texts/blemie/contents.htm

Here is Ms Tigger enjoying the Christmas coat Mary Ragbourn sent her. My old barking, demanding, stepping in poop and tracking it around, sleeping with her eyes open, gotta love her Diva Princess Tiggy Pie.

Foster dog Dori is here for a couple of days. She seems to be enjoying the kennel life. It is funny how some dogs seem to love the routine of a kennel. You would think a soft couch would be the ultimate trump card. I will try to get a couple of pictures of her tomorrow. Also we should note that the two IGs that I took in for placement way back in Oct have joined forever families. Gloria the little female is now Gloria Tripp....when Carol was ready to find her a new foster home Dan professed love for her and she stayed. Racer the little boy has been fostered since just after Thanksgiving with the Hartes and they have fallen for him and he will share their lives. HURRAY for both!!!

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BTW in case you didn't get what you wanted for Christmas check out http://www.greytcoats.com/ They are in Oregon and just as committed to greyhounds as we are. If you order anything be sure to tell them I sent ya.

OH my gosh did you all see the picture of Rocket on the available page? http://www.gparockymountain.org/Available.html
Now there is a boy that should be snapped right up...if poor Bek doesn't fall in love with him!! That face! Those eyes! Things here are back to normal. Now that the Christmas pack is mostly dispersed back into their respective homes I have had more time to spend with all my dogs including Run...or as she is commonly called Run Run Fun Fun. Typically I add "ie" to all my dogs names so Dusk becomes Dusky, Sage becomes Sagey....well there is something wrong with calling a dog Runny....I have tried and every time I do it I think of something that smells bad and Ms Run certain does not smell!

The new Aussie girl Charm is doing well. She is smart, fun and no longer the new kid. Already another Aussie in need has joined the ranks. This one a 3 year old red merle girl named Pixie. She was very loved by her family but the more time passed the more they saw that she was just not the ideal match for their busy family home. With a heavy heart they let her go...with open heart I welcomed her.

Well 2007 was one of the best years we have had for adoptions. We are ready to kick off 2008. We have 3 nice dogs waiting for homes. Run is here with me and she is a pretty dark brindle busy body....cute and smart...she would love a active family but no cats!! Dori is at Tripps and is stunning but a little timid...she is looking for a quiet home who will adore her. Rocket is in Billings with Bek...she reports she is ready to start shopping for a home for this handsome sweet boy....he likes people but might be best without small children in the home. There is a possibility of some dogs coming from CO....so if you think you might be wanting to add to your family please contact you nearest eager rep!!

Update on Ducky (my girl Tava's mom). Looks like her arrival in MT will be postponed until after another kind of arrival...the arrival of some pups. She will be bred later this spring. I am bummed not to be getting my little hands on her right away but it will be interesting to hear about the pups and to watch them from the planning stage to the track. Tammy at the Nitro kennel promised updates.

The old dog saga continues with Tigger. She has started sleeping sometimes with her eyes partly open. Freaks me out!! I swear I thought she was dead twice this week. I don't think she is totally asleep but she isn't completely awake either...well she isn't completely awake until I rush to her, frantically calling her name...accidentally scaring the heck out of her. One of us is going to give the other a heart attack one day. Crazy dogs!!