Two women panicked when they saw Bella the German Shepherd struggling to stay afloat in a river. At first, they thought she had fallen in or gotten stuck. But as it turns out, her leash was tied to a heavy rock and thrown into the water. A horrible person had intentionally tried to drown the pup in freezing water.
But luckily, the Good Samaritans arrived just in time. They pulled Bella out of the water and called for help. The Radcliffe Animal Centre in Nottingham rushed to the scene and helped her heal. Now, over a year later, Bella is getting her happily ever after.
A Near-Death Experience
After further investigation, vets discovered that the 10-year-old canine had lots of health concerns. It’s unclear how many of them were related to the drowning incident. But despite the odds, dog lovers fought for Bella. Professionals say she wouldn’t be alive if Jane and Joanne, her rescuers, hadn’t been there to help.
Bella was very underweight with a lot of skin conditions. On top of that, her pancreas was inflamed, and her kidneys weren’t functioning properly. So, it took about a year for the shelter to get her where she needs to be. With lots of love and a healthy diet, she made it.
“She looks like a different dog – her coat is beautiful and she looks so happy and full of life,” said Jane. “It’s great to see how she’s been rehabilitated and that she’s now going to spend the rest of her days at a loving home.”
The woman who purposely harmed Bella has been located and pleaded guilty. She was sentenced to a 12-month community order and received about $450 in fines. She is also not allowed to own another dog for the next three years. Yet, many petitions have been made to increase the punishments for animal abuse in England after Bella’s story went viral.
Retired Couple Adopts Bella
Now that Bella completed all her necessary medical care, she is headed off to be with her forever family. Maggie and Charlie were overjoyed to give the pup a place to spend her senior years. Their family had several Shepherd dogs in the past, so when they saw Bella’s story, they applied to adopt her.
“We know she will need regular vet appointments and are willing to finance those. We know she’s in her older years but we just want to offer her a loving home she so deserves after all she has been through,” said Maggie. “We’re both retired so she’ll have our company constantly which is what she needs and it’ll be great for us too.”
The couple has been visiting Bella regularly to help her bond with them before going home. The shelter staff has also been teaching them how to care for Bella’s complex needs.
Maggie and Charlie have the perfect home for Bella, especially since they have experience with her breed. They also have a secure yard, which is ideal since Bella doesn’t like other dogs. Plus, they’re patient and willing to give her as much love as possible.
Bella didn’t deserve any of the horrible things that happened to her, but now she’s as happy as can be. Senior dogs are often the most loving and grateful, so more people should consider rescuing one.
H/T: cornwalllive.com
Featured Image: @RSPCARadcliffeAnimalCentre/Facebook
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