Thank you to Save a Dog for a remarkable loving member of our family. 

On July 10, at the age of 14 and a half, Bella Dowling Milton passed on to her heavenly home. Bella was born in a southern state, adopted in April 2009 from Save A Dog in Sudbury. She lived most of her life in Holliston, MA, but vacationed in Jeffersonville, VT for a few weeks a year throughout her life.

Bella is survived by her adoring adoptive family: parents John and Stacie, siblings Abby, Stephen, Jake, and Andrew, her canine brother Marshall, and her canine niece Gracie, canine nephew Otis, and feline nephew and nieces Buster, Lu, and Chelsea. She is also survived by many special friends - Paula, Neil, Brian and Kristen, Mary, Joe, Sibley, Emma, and Eva.

Bella was a good dog. She did not suffer fools. She was playful and clever. She didn’t hesitate to make her needs/wants known. In her prime, her favorite games included bounce the ball off her nose, and pass the ball back and forth with a human playmate. She absolutely adored long walks on the trails of Smugglers’ Notch – wading in the streams and through the culverts, as well as exploring the beach of East Sandwich - hunting for something yummy and gross chew on.

Our Bella had not been ill for long, thankfully. The vet’s best guess was a neurological issue that may have resulted from a stroke, or possibly a fast-acting spinal cancer. It has been so very, very painful to say goodbye to our dear Bella – but it does help to know that she is no longer suffering. It also helps to know that many of our friends and family know what we’re going through, and they generously offer their prayers and good thoughts.