Sadness: Bella (the Dog) Has Died... Tarra (the Elephant) Has Lost Her Best Friend of Eight Years

http://www.examiner.com/animal-advocacy-in-national/a-hole-the-universe-mourning...

From Elizabeth Nadler

Examiner...

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A hole in the universe: Mourning the loss of Bella

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Bonnie Snider
Animal Advocacy Examiner
November 5, 2011

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Advocates everywhere have been feeling the loss of Bella, the little dog who was the beloved best friend of the elephant, Tarra. It's as if there's a hole in the universe where Bella had been, and our hearts have turned to Tarra.

Tarra and Bella taught the world so much. They personified the example that all human beings should follow; that it matters not the color of your skin, your appearance, your beliefs, your background or anything else. What matters is your heart. Being allowed to have small views into the friendship of these two entirely unlikely friends was such a rare privilege.

Their friendship was a gift to both of them as well as to the world - Tarra, once a performing elephant whose guardian (Carol Buckley) had co-founded The Elephant Sanctuary in Howenwald, TN and Bella, a stray dog who had wandered onto the grounds there and decided to make it her home. Both considered by most standards to be "damaged goods", they'd known hard lives before finding each other. But in their friendship they found something so very precious – true and abiding love and devotion.

It's hard to put into words the sorrow that Bella's untimely death has brought to the advocacy community. We watched them with amazement and admiration. They brought smiles and light into the darkness that advocates see every day.

In the maze of all of the cruelty, brutality and sickening things that go on between humans and animals around the world, they were a refuge of joy and beauty. They gave us hope. They were the living, breathing examples of second chances, unbiased acceptance and unconditional love.

Tarra's final act of love for her friend in carrying her broken body to the spot they shared together most, making certain she would be found and not just lie where she'd been attacked was so inspiring. She loved her friend so much and her grief must be unfathomable.

The latest update from The Elephant Sanctuary pieces together Bella's final days. We can only try to imagine what Tarra felt or still feels.

Tarra stayed away from the burial ceremony by the humans, watching that from afar. Just as she had brought home her fallen friend's body while alone in the night, again in the privacy of darkness she had her own time of honoring her friend at her grave. The quote from this update speaks volumes:

"The following day, Caregivers made the heartbreaking discovery that Tarra had gone to visit Bella's grave sometime during the night or early morning. They found fresh dung nearby and an elephant foot print directly on Bella's grave."

Just as we can picture Tarra carrying Bella that night, so can we picture her standing on the grave of her beloved friend, as if for one final belly rub that Bella loved so much from Tarra. It was the final goodbye from an amazing and devoted friend.

The friendship of Tarra and Bella will be one that won't soon be forgotten. Their story will be emblazoned into the hearts of people everywhere - the sanctuary elephant and the stray dog; a friendship that defied conventional beliefs and inspired others to open their hearts to all beings.

Our hearts are with Tarra as she moves forward now. But we also know that Bella's spirit will forever be dancing in Tarra's heart and the love from that special friendship will never die.

Click here to read the update from The Elephant Sanctuary.

If you would like to sponsor Tarra or another elephant at the sanctuary, click here.

Bless all of the hearts who care about all living beings.

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Tarra... grieving for her best friend

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Beautiful, loving Tarra

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Bella... not to be forgotten

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Tarra... alone, now

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Tarra and Bella

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Tarra and Bella

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Tarra and Bella

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Tarra and Bella

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http://www.elephants.com/newsStory.php?newsID=1320

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The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee...

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We Say Goodbye to Bella, Tarra's Little Dog
2011-10-28

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My dear friends,

I write to you with very sad news. Tarra's little dog Bella has died. We found her body on Wednesday and have been dealing with the aftermath ever since, trying to work out what happened while we look after Tarra and each other.

We noticed Bella was not with Tarra at breakfast on Tuesday and later that morning she still had not appeared. Tarra and Bella have always spent short periods apart as one goes off exploring briefly on their own, but this longer absence worried us deeply and a search of the property was started which continued into the next day. The search ended tragically when Bella's body was found close to the Asia barn that had long been home to Tarra, her five sisters and Bella. During the time of the search our usually social Tarra chose to remain alone, watched over by concerned Caregivers.

Dr. Scott, our vet of sixteen years, examined Bella for the last time and, with advice from the experts from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, determined the probable cause of death was an attack by animals, most likely coyotes. We have sent off samples to see whether there were any other contributory causes.

Having carefully examined Bella's wounds and the place where she was found, we concluded that Bella had not been attacked near where she was found and neither could she have walked there.

As these investigations were taking place observant Caregivers, even more watchful of Tarra than usual, noticed blood on the underside of her trunk, evidence that pointed us in the direction of what likely happened that fateful night.

The most probable scenario is that during the night Bella strayed from Tarra briefly and was set upon. Tarra arrived too late to save her but was able to stop further damage being done to Bella's body. With deep sadness and deeper wonder we come to comprehend what likely happened next—that Tarra picked Bella up and carried her home.

Further evidence in support of our belief for what happened comes from Tarra herself. After Bella had been found, Caregivers ensured Tarra had every chance to inspect Bella's body before it was buried and to come to terms with her death, as this is an important part of the grieving process for elephants. But Tarra was not interested in either Bella or the group of Caregivers who would normally have drawn our inquisitive Girl to see what was happening.

It was only later when we had pieced together the whole picture that Tarra's behavior at Bella's grave made sense. Our poor, brave, loving Girl knew what had happened to her beloved Bella and, in the dark hours of the night as she carried her body home, had come to terms with her death.

Tarra's sisters will help her through her sadness. Although we cannot take away Tarra's pain immediately or the pain of all those that knew Bella, I do know Bella knew true love and true freedom. It will always be so for animals that find Sanctuary.

CEO
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We are very concerned for Tarra and the grief she must feel at the loss of Bella. Caregivers are carefully monitoring her during her time of mourning. She still has a healthy appetite, and we are sure she will lean on the support of her elephant sisters, especially Shirley, during this difficult time.

She appears to be doing remarkably well under the circumstances, and we will, of course, keep you informed through updates in the Asian Ele-Diary and in Ele-Notes.

We invite you to visit Bella’s Tribute page, where we’ve shared some memories of the time she spent with us at The Sanctuary, and also read the press release that was just issued.

“Bella, you will live on forever in our hearts. Don't worry, we will continue to look after Tarra, just as you looked after each other.” The Elephant Sanctuary Staff

Memories like these make us smile through our sadness….

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