07/21/2026
We are heartbroken to share that our spicy Stella has crossed the rainbow bridge. ๐๐ Anyone who knew Stella learned she had few friends but LOTS of frenemies. She was a complicated dog, who did everything on her terms. We rescued her 6.5 years ago & she and her sister Lulu helped heal our hearts after the loss of my soul dog, Bella. It was clear that they had a bad past, but she decided I was her person. Looking back, I see those moments of trust & love as little gifts from a misunderstood dog who found glimmers of comfort & joy during her time with us. When her health declined, she earned stroller privileges, & in her final days she demanded a rotating menu of scrambled egg, boiled chicken & rice, ground beef with vegetables, & soft serve, with her pills hidden in dollops of whipped cream. We spent our final evenings having living room sleepovers together to monitor her coughing & breathing, & when she painfully began to reject the food & people who used to bring happiness, we knew it was her time. These photos & videos are just a few of my favorites: Gentle belly rubs. Rolling in the grass, especially if it was stinky. Sunbathing. Playing with her sister & her many toys. Nose kisses. Loving on David (a rare & special treat he savored). Very challenging baths & haircuts, followed by zoomies. A skill for getting cozy. Hunting squirrels & birds. Car rides. Plus the fabulous grinch feet & ear bangs that made her famous. Even though she was such a tough dog that really challenged me, I feel such a void with her absence. I miss her little snarl, & seeing her waiting at the base of the stairs for me, or running over to the door with her tail wagging when I get home, or making biscuits on the side of the chair when itโs dinner time, & slowly creeping closer to my blanket until I spread it out for her to lay by my side. Thereโs so much more I wish I could do or say & time I wish we had, but it could never be enough. Run free, sweet Stella - thank you for choosing me & loving me every day of your time here. Mommy LOVES you & ALWAYS has. โค๏ธโ๐ฉน
