I learned the importance of “the right way” after the passing of my dear Bella | Opinion
My wonderful dog Isabella (aka Bella) died Saturday morning. Bella, whom we rescued off a rural road in Jefferson County, has been a big part of my daily life for 10 years. We went through a lot together, the good times and the not-so-much. I’ve had many great dogs in my 77 years, but none were as kind, considerate, and patient as Ms. Bella. All she ever wanted - aside from a soft bed, good meals, lots of head rubs, and regular treats - was to “hang with her peeps.” If we were having a conversation, she would follow it back and forth with her expressive eyes, as if she knew exactly what we were saying … and totally agreed.
We knew we made the only decision possible, to have her life ended peacefully. The X-rays clearly showed she would have been enduring terrible pain over the next days, and there was no path to recovery. What made this end-of-life process more bearable was the competent care and sincere compassion given by Bella’s Dr. Elizabeth Bohannon of Paws and Claws, a veterinary clinic on Bradfordville Road. Dr. Bohannon made sure we were given the facts about Bella’s condition and that we were comfortable with our decision. We also knew she would make Bella’s passing as peaceful and pain-free as possible. Dr. B, you are the best.
After the tears - and then more tears - and trying to adjust to the suddenly empty house, I went about dealing with Bella’s things, like her big bed, which we will donate to the Humane Society. i had just received an order from Chewy, a Florida-based online retailer of pet products, containing her pain meds and a big bag of unopened prescription dog food. I called to stop the automatic shipments and to see what they would recommend for proper disposal of the items. The nice lady who answered my call at Chewy expressed her condolences and suggested donating the dog food to the Humane Society and following state guidelines for disposal of the pain meds. And then came the huge surprise. She added – unasked - that they would be processing a refund for both the dog food and the meds - a considerable sum.
Fast forward to Monday when I was moved to tears to receive a beautiful bouquet of tiny pink roses and peace lilies with this message: “We hope these flowers bring you comfort and remind you of the love Isabella left on your heart. Warmly, Sarah and your Chewy family.”
Such caring and kindness can move mountains and truly redefines “the right way.”
Evelyn Melton is retired from the Florida Department of Children and Families and is a resident of Westminster Oaks in Tallahassee.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: I learned the importance of “the right way” after the passing of my dear Bella | Opinion
