Miracle Dog Survives Twenty Foot Fall into Geist

Jessica holds Belle -her miracle dog.

A small, white dog recently survived a twenty foot fall from an overhang after landing in Geist Lake. This cute, little cuddly Havanese just happens to be one of our family pets. Her name is Belle. Belle is an elderly dog who for several years now, has suffered from Cushing’s disease and diabetes, requiring her to receive two injections of insulin every day. In addition, she is blind and deaf, but she is the most gentle, loving, laid back, ultra-sweet soul you could ever imagine in a pet.

This strange accident happened on May 6th about three weeks before her 15th birthday. One afternoon, we noticed Belle wasn’t sleeping in her bed. We started searching for her throughout the house and yard, which escalated into a rummage around our neighborhood. Belle and her sister, Jamocha (also Havanese) do not typically stray away from our yard. Together, they usually go potty outside and come back in right away. My daughter, Jessica, began exploring around the area for Belle with the help of her friends.

I was just about finished making a flier to post at the entrance of our neighborhood when suddenly the door bell rang. It was a man holding Belle who was shivering. He said he was fishing and saw her near the shoreline, lying down in shallow water. We knew instantly that Belle must have either got lost while smelling her way back to the door, or experienced her first episode of senility by wandering way out to the edge of the vacant lot next to us before falling into the embankment.

We were beyond thankful to have Belle back. After a warm bath, we wrapped her in blankets and held her all night. The next day, she visited the Log Cabin Animal Hospital where Dr. Erin Smyth examined her for any possible broken bones. She had none. We will never understand how she didn’t have even one fracture anywhere.
However, her back was injured and arched as she could hardly walk. For a couple weeks, Belle would tremble when standing or sitting in certain positions. She appeared weak and tired. We literally carried her for every step she tried to take.

Every night as we said goodnight to Belle, we feared it may be her last day alive. Jessica cried many nights not knowing if she would awaken to spend yet another day with her most favorite dog in the world. We held Belle as much as possible to strengthen her will to live. After about two weeks of receiving much family love and taking an arthritic pill (anti-inflammatory and pain medicine combined), Belle miraculously improved.

One morning, she woke up and popped up eager to go outside to potty. In fact, she trotted to the door. She showed no signs of any back pain or fatigue whatsoever. Belle was completely back to normal. I had to ask my kids if they had prayed extra hard the night before because I couldn’t believe her phenomenal recovery. She is now off the arthritis medicine completely and continues to marvel us each day. She celebrated her 15th birthday on May 31st. She is now 105 years old in people years and still going strong. Dr. Smyth sums up Belle’s situation well when she says, “Belle is the Energizer Bunny of dogs. She continues to cope with the illnesses and injuries that life throws (or rolls in this case) at her with great strength and spirit.”

Ever since this accident, we watch every move Belle makes when she is outside and we continue to hold her and love her as much as possible. Belle will always remain our “Miracle Dog.”