Della

Della-a very lucky little Yorkie

Della learning about tomatoes in Italy!

Dear Jean-

We wanted to share the very sad news that Della (formerly known as
Babs) passed on February 1. I apologize for taking this long to let
you know but writing to you just made it all seem so final. I
couldn't bring myself to do it until now.

Della came into our lives on November 4, 1999 and brought more love,
compassion, joy and laughter than we ever could have imagined. She
was thought to be between 10-13 years old when we adopted her but as
each year went by, she seemed to get younger and younger. She saw me
through three very long years of law school, pulling all-nighters
with me without a peep of complaint. She made at least a dozen trans-
Atlantic flights accompanying her dad to his new team with the start
of each hockey season. She was a perfect traveler every time. After
being freed from her prison in Missouri, she became quite the
globetrotter living in NYC, Paris, Frankfurt, and Italy, adapting to
each new city with such ease and grace. We made dozens of new friends
simply because she was by our side and everyone wanted to know her.

With her little tongue hanging out, she attracted attention
everywhere she went, educating people about the misery of puppymills
and inspiring them to adopt from rescue groups and shelters. For over
seven years, she was an amazing, powerful ambassador for puppymill
rescue.

The last two years of her life were spent living in the Italian Alps.
We had never seen her so happy. Every day we took her hiking to the
top of a nearby mountain where we ate lunch together, followed by a
peaceful nap in the sun. Being blind and deaf didn't slow her down a
bit and she became a regular fixture in town. People we didn't know
would call out "Ciao Della!" as she walked though the piazza every
morning and she was warmly welcomed in every cafe and restaurant with
treats waiting for her.

After suffering so horribly at the hands of puppy millers, Della
didn't have any reason to trust humans again. But she did. She gave
us a chance and stole our hearts completely. Veterinarians didn't
think she'd live for more than a year when we first adopted her. We
had over seven years with her--the happiest years of our life. A true
testament to the power of a second chance filled with love.

There are no words to adequately thank you for rescuing her and
bringing her into our lives. We miss her deeply. She was the best
thing to have ever happened to us.

Love,
Dana and Mike Harder

in the sun- her favorite place

hitting the town market with dad

I am so sorry to hear about sweet Della but oh my goodness - what a rich and wonderful life she had with Dana and Mike. Living in the Italian Alps with lunch on a mountain and a whole village to love her. She is healthy and young at the Bridge and she will be with her wonderful family forever. What a beautiful story about a beautiful little soul. PMR should be so proud to have given this little one such a fantastic life.

Odean in PA
"And if I laugh at any mortal thing, 'tis that I may not weep." Lord Byron