Ella “Cinderella” Gilbert

October 5, 2003 – December 17, 2009




The wonderful people at the CWRVG named her “Cinderella” because her story had a happy ending. I came across Ella by chance, this is how it goes. I happened to be in a pet store that I frequented regularly to get my puppy fix. I would never buy one from a pet store. There happened to be a Vizsla puppy in there that did not look good to me. They were asking $800.00 for him and I thought that was not right. You know he came from a puppy mill. I don’t even remember how I came across the rescue website, but I did and I saw Ella. Filled out the application and someone gave me a call. I had the feeling that Ella might be a hard one to adopt out, because she had puppies with her and thought they would go first. The rescue picked her up from a Kansas shelter after she was picked up by animal control running loose and delivered her pups the next day. She was in pretty sad shape, but with the love of the rescue, they nursed her to health and taught her manners to be adopted.

When I went to pick up Ella, I was at the door and she ran up to me and laid down on her back in total submission and said let’s go home. That is what we did.

Ella was a very sweet, gentle girl. Very Velcro too! After she was with me for six months, I noticed something on her nipple, which turned out to be breast cancer. She had a partial mastectomy and she recovered from her surgery. The vet also noted from the x-ray that Ella had buck shot on her whole left side, as well as various BB’s. About a year after that, more possible breast cancer; another surgery which removed all but one nipple. She recovered well from that surgery as well. Four years later, a large mass by her genitals. The cancer had grown so quick. I promised her I would not let her suffer. It was December 17th and with the vet who had done her previous surgeries, helped me to help Ella cross over the rainbow bridge. No more pain and no more cancer! I miss you Ella.

This poem is for my girl: A Parting Prayer

Dear Lord, please open your gates and call St. Francis to come escort this beloved companion across the Rainbow Bridge.

Assign her to a place of honor, for she has been a faithful servant and has always done her best to please me.

Bless the hands that send her to you, for they are doing so in love and compassion, freeing her from pain and suffering.

Grant me the strength not to dwell on my loss. Help me remember the details of her life with the love she has shown me. And grant me the courage to honor her by sharing those memories with others.

Let her remember me as well and let her know that I will always love her. And when it's my time to pass over into your paradise, please allow her to accompany those who will bring me home.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of her companionship and for the time we've had together.

And thank you, Lord, for granting me the strength to give her to you now.