Stella

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Very sad news. Our sweet Stella is gone. We are heartbroken. Thank you again for giving her to us. She was such a very very special girl and I cannot believe she is gone.
Debbie
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This is so hard to write.

Mark and I just got back from a Florida vacation last night. Stella was kenneled at our vet's while we were gone. She needed a dental cleaning and gum surgery (she has the condition where the gums overgrow the teeth) and I had canceled it in January when I left town to be with my mom before she died, so we planned to have it done while she was "at camp."

Tuesday I called the vet to check on her and she hadn't gone in for the procedure yet. A couple of hours later Dr Curley called to tell me Stella had a problem with the anesthetic and was on life support. And that was it. They had done the usual pre-op blood work and don't use ACE but it happened. She had a mild heart murmur and had been under a number of times for various procedures but this time she couldn't take it.

Stella was such a very special girl. You may already know her story but let me repeat it in honor of her memory. In May of 1998 she was rescued from a horrible situation in the Central Valley here in California. A relative basically "stole" her and another white boxer to take them to rescue.

They had been living under a chicken coop. Stella was emaciated and nearly hairless due to severe demodex. She had obviously been bred and her legs were swollen. One eye was crusted. Apparently there was some consideration of putting her down, but rescue angels and a caring vet started treatment.

A foster home was sought since due to her condition she needed to be away from other dogs. Mark and I still had no dog since Otisse had died the previous September. We figured when the time came the right dog for us would appear.
We heard about Stella on the internet and were lucky enough to be selected to foster her. We were warned we would be shocked when we saw her and we surely were (I know rescue folks have to see such sights way too often, but we had not).

Needless to say we embarked a "failed foster." After a couple of weeks we asked if we could adopt her. She endured the demodex treatment and when she was well enough needed heartworm treatment as well. And then when she got better she went into heat and needed a spay. Throughout everything she had the sweetest disposition. Because she was skin and bones when she arrived of course she was allowed to sleep on the sofa, which thereafter became hers (complete with a "Princess sleeps here" pillow. She was an escape artist who refused to be in the yard by herself, ever. Fortunately, we lucked into two fabulous women who walked her during the day while Mark and I were at work. First Leslie, then Tracy, bestowed so much love on Stella. Tracy almost immediately began taking Stella with other dogs, sometimes as many as 6 together! I could not believe it; our first boxer girl Otisse had been so aggressive such a thing could never have happened. But Stella thrived and with Tracy's help became a better socialized boxer....As long as she was allowed to sit immediately behind Aunt Tracy in her truck. If any other dog dared to take that place, a lot of boxer talkin' occurred.

Stella loved anyone who loved her. She was very gentle with children. Allowed the little girl across the street to walk her up and down the sidewalk. Always ready for a WALK! Loved her mookies, the soft squeaky toys. Flung them up into the air and sometimes onto the fireplace mantel (only broke one thing that way). Her last new one was a red heart with white fur around the edges. Had a sensitive tummy and sometimes vomited when she ate or drank water too fast. Got disoriented at night sometimes and peed on the floor before coming to get us up to take her out. Helped me see an incredibly beautiful moon on many nights during 2 a.m. potty trips to the back yard. Whined at cats and tried the play bow on them to no avail. Talked to us when we weren't ready for a walk if she was. Loved to slurp spagetti noddles, lick the ice cream bowl and have juice from the tuna can sprinkled in her bowl. Never had enough WALKS!! Enjoyed a little parmesan freshly shaved on her dinner and a little French bread on occasion. Was the star of "Stellavision" which allowed us to watch her snoozing interminably on the sofa while we were at work. Saw the ocean for the first time in July and went crazy with delight. Loved car rides, rolling in the grass snorting with pleasure, spotting squirrels, and staring out the front window waiting for visitors. Kidney beaned big time; practically made a doggie donut. Loved getting and giving kisses. Boxed the leg of anyone not paying enough attention. Hated thunder and baths. Was allowed to go to family holiday dinners because she was a good dog.

She was almost 10 and while at the beginning of our relationship we never imagined she would be alive and with us for nearly 4 years, she acted like puppy and we hoped she would set a new record for boxer longevity. Not to be. She sure brought us (and others, too) a whole bundle of joy and will always be in our hearts. Oh, here come the tears again.

Stella bella stella stinky peanut p-nuttiest nut cakes good dog honey bunny bunny rabbit sweetie sweet pea stinky stinky winky estrellita stella wella stellie tella princess miss stella love bug bug bugsy missy my little angel angel dog sofa dog baby girl queen of everything
Debbie Cauble
San Jose, CA

Remembering our beloved Stella (July 15, 1992 -- February 26, 2002)
(white rescued boxer, cropped ears) and our first boxer Otisse who taught us to love the breed (1989? -- September 17, 1997)