Reba, one of the "Grand Ladies" of BHRA fame went to the Bridge on June 14, having been the love of my life for 10 blessed years. Reba had such a quiet dignity, a generous soul and such intense devotion that her passing has left a huge hole in my heart and the hearts of many of my friends who came to love her.
 
Ms Reba came into BHRA as a shelter rescue from Montgomery AL in early 2000—heartworm positive and with terrible ear infections. I went down there that day to help BHRA spring two bassets, and the moment I saw her, I knew she had to be mine—something in her expression, her beautiful looks and a gentle nature tugged at me from the first moment. But I also knew that it would be a very hard sell to convince my Mom (who I lived with) that she simply had to become a member of our household. While Ms. Rebs went through her heartworm treatments and her vetting and with the help of another of the BHRA Trustees, a plan was hatched—to convince Mom to let me have her for my birthday. And so, in June of that year, the beautiful girl became mine, and she has given me years of joy.
 
Reba never met a person or other dog she didn’t like. She had not a jealous bone in her body---and through the years has put up with untold numbers of fosters coming and going, always accompanying me on transports—she always rode shotgun, and went just about everywhere with me—she loved car rides. She had the most beautiful manners, and also had a great joy for life---she was funny, playful and always ready for a belly rub. She was quite elegant, yet had a bit of clumsiness to her that was charming…one of my friends who spent tremendous amounts of time with her would crack up when she’d trip over something, insisting her long ears and long snout were getting in her way. Reba and her Columbo were special buds—he had a huge crush on her!
 
A few years ago, Reba was diagnosed with an enlarged heart and some other medical problems that were kept under control with meds, and last year she suffered bloat, and yet came through the emergency surgery like a dog half her age. As she got older her muzzle grayed out but she always kept the amazing dignity that was her trademark. And now the grand dam is at the Bridge with so many of her friends—she is young again. There will never be another Reba but in her absence, I am left with nothing but wonderful memories of the girl who shared my life. Rest well my sweet girl.