The walk and emu that helped heal a Colorado Springs woman’s heartbreak | Glimpses
Billie-Sue Mitchell often takes her 6-month-old emu, Dennis, on walks through Garden of the Gods. Dennis has brought some joy to Mitchell’s life after she suffered the loss of her brother in an accident in September. (Video by Skyler Ballard)
What people saw on the afternoon of Oct. 18 at Garden of the Gods was a woman walking a big bird on a leash.
Social media went wild over Billie-Sue Mitchell and Dennis the emu.
“It was the first time in a while I thought I would try to take a picture of myself,” said Mitchell, 55. “I put up my camera, and there were so many people behind me. And it just lifted my spirits.”
The curious crowd knew nothing about the events of Sept. 13.
That evening, Mitchell got a call. It was about her brother in California. The brother who always shared her love of animals, who always called to ask about her family. He’d soon move his own to Colorado, to be together again.
He was riding his motorcycle, Mitchell was told on the phone.
Her knees buckled. “No! No! No!” she cried.
Joshua Bellows, husband and father of two, was dead at 43.
For weeks, Mitchell couldn’t bring herself to leave her home on the acre of land south of Colorado Springs. In the backyard birdhouse lived the baby fuzzball-turned-5-foot, long-legged, beady-eyed child. Emus, Mitchell read, made good pets if properly raised. And good guards for her ducks. She contacted a breeder.
Turned out, Dennis became her guard.
In her grief, he’d make her laugh. He’d keep her busy. She’d feel his warmth when hugging him to attach his harness. They’d walk around the block.
Slowly, she thought of returning to their favorite place, that sanctuary of red rocks.
“I thought for the rest of my life I’d be in this blackness,” Mitchell said. “To take him out and see people smiling … it made me feel alive again.”
She was happy as ever to tell admirers about Dennis.
About how he loves her dog, Blue. How he loves to dance. How he loves to ride in the truck.
“He loves chasing motorcycles,” she said.
Contact the writer: seth.boster@gazettedev.gazette.com
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Billie-Sue Mitchell gives her 6-month-old emu, Dennis, a hug while walking through Garden of the Gods Park this week. Dennis has brought some joy to Mitchell’s life after she suffered the loss of her brother in an accident in September.
Dennis, a 6-month-old emu, visits with hikers in Garden of the Gods Park while walking with his owner Billie-Sue Mitchell and their dog Blue on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021.
Dennis the emu has the hair of a 1980s heavy metal rock star.
Dennis, a 6-month-old emu, hops out of the back seat of Billie-Sue Mitchell’s truck before hiking in Garden of the Gods Park on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021.
Dennis the emu likes walks in the park — specifically Garden of the Gods Park — along with dancing and riding in a truck.
Dennis-Rex, a 6-month-old emu, greats a young hiker in Garden of the Gods Park while walking with his owner Billie-Sue Mitchell and their dog Blue, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021.
Dennis the emu visits with hikers in Garden of the Gods while walking with his owner, Billie-Sue Mitchell, and their dog Blue. “To take him out and see people smiling … it made me feel alive again,” Mitchell said of walking with Dennis after suffering the loss of her brother.