Bella

As some of you know, I work with an animal rescue called "Safe Hands". They go to a kill shelter in Harlan, Kentucky and rescue innocent, abused, beautiful, lonely, loving puppies from being put to sleep. I hear sad stories all the time and this one really tore at my heart.

Bella is a sweet baby girl Bella with the enormous and mournful chocolate brown eyes. Bella of the softest kisses. Gentle and bashful, but so full of love. When they arrived at the shelter and went in back they found Bella laying on a rug, curled in a ball, shivering, laboring over every breath. She would not even look up. She would barely open her eyes. She'd been found on the side of the road, presumed hit by a car, two days earlier. They knew they didn't have the funds to care for a critically injured dog but they also knew they couldn't turn their backs on her. The shelter does the best they can but they have no funding for medical care. There really wasn't a question. They brought Bella to a local vet. As they carried Bella to the van and upon leaving the shelter she became quiet and still. They drove and while stroking her face, telling her she was a good girl and that they were going to help her, telling her the worst was over now and it would get better from here. Bella responded to the kindness, her breathing eased, her eyes opened, she looked into Janine's face (one of our rescuers) and Janine's swears if a dog could talk Bella was saying Thank You. Her gratitude and relief was palpable.

Bella has three fractures in her pelvis, she will need an expensive surgery (estimated at $2000-$2500) to plate one of the breaks and it is the only way she will regain use of her back left leg. Despite Bella's immense pain she is an incredibly sweet and loving girl. She is extremely grateful for any affection and repays it with soft, sweet Bella kisses. Give her a kind word, a gentle touch, an ear scratch and she'll gaze up at you with those big brown eyes full of gratitude and lay her pretty head on your lap. She is currently being fostered by one of the rescuers family members. She is happy to be warm, in a home, on soft blankets and in someone's company. She likes to be talked to sweetly. Her tail is always wagging. Her eyes smile shyly. She's so happy to be loved.

The orthopedic surgeon said Bella has a short window of opportunity to have this surgery. In order for success surgery needs to happen within 10 days of injury. They desperately need to raise the money for her. Can you help Bella? Any donation helps get Bella closer to walking again. Surgery for Bella is scheduled but they have to come up with the money to pay for it. The Moses Medical Fund (a fund set up in honor of one of the dogs to help injured dogs) has been empty for some time and, quite frankly, so has the bank account. They can continue to operate under "normal" (as normal as rescue can be!) circumstances but have no reserves for special needs animals as they have had in the past.

If you can, please help us help Bella. Because every dog deserves a chance at a good life. Because every life matters. Because Bella matters.You can donate to Bella's fund here: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/MN206.html through paypal or mail donations to:Safe Hands Rescue3732 10th Ave. S.Minneapolis, MN 55407

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you,
Erica