From Unwanted Shelter Dog to Best Friend

Over the last 9 months, I have adopted two cats and three dogs from a local rescue.   In July and February, I lost my two best friends, Newfoundlands named Molly and Tucker.  Both I raised from puppies and both passed away with in seven months of each other from cancer.  Molly was 13 years old and Tucker was just about to turn 9.  I knew I wanted to get involved with animal rescue several years ago, but with Molly in her senior years and not open to new dogs in the house, I knew I needed to wait until she passed.  When she did leave us, Tucker was so depressed and lonely, that I adopted my first rescue within three weeks of the day I let her go. 

Bella, my first adoption, was in a shelter in South Carolina where she was on the put to sleep list. She is definitely a good part hound and at best guess some mix of pit bull, German Shepherd and/or Ridgeback. I'm really not sure.  But, it doesn't matter what she is, because to me, she is perfect.  All 4 Paws Rescue in Chester Springs offered her rescue and she was transported up here in early July. She was welcomed into one of their foster homes and I met her for the first time about three weeks after she arrived. 

Recently, I found pictures of Bella, then called Sheila, from her time spent in the Darlington County Humane Society Shelter in South Carolina.  I admit that they made me cry.  She was within days, if not hours, of being put to sleep. But luckily for her, and for me, she was saved just in the nick of time.  The shelter staff and volunteers work so hard to save each and every one of the animals that come through their doors. I have been fortunate enough to get to know some of them, even from so far away.  They are wonderful, caring, passionate individuals and most likely are under appreciated and overworked. They love those animals and it shows in their dedication. Between January and April of this year, in only 4 months time, this particular shelter took in 1,228 unwanted animals, many just puppies and kittens.  That's over 300 a month!  How hard is it to spay and neuter???  There are low cost and free clinics available to those who need assistance.  There is no excuse not to spay and neuter a pet.  The animals pay the price for irresponsible humans.  Now, take their 1,228 animals and multiply it by
the thousands of shelters across the nation.  It's a staggering number of thrown
away dogs and cats.  Many of them will not find homes and will be put to sleep due to no fault of their own.  Many will never know love or compassion. So many have been terribly abused.

When Bella was left at the shelter, she had recently given birth. She was still pretty much a puppy herself and who knows if this was her first litter.  I hear that the puppy in the two shelter photos above was not hers, but that she nursed him anyway.  She cared about him when his own humans did not.
Mac, the puppy, came up with Bella on transport and was adopted pretty quickly.  Bella went into foster care and finally began to see what being cared for was all about. 

 
I lucked out when someone no longer wanted Bella. That was their loss and my gain.  Someone didn't take the time to care for her health or clip her nails or give her a bath and brush her. She was underweight and had the beginnings of mange. Someone didn't do the responsible thing and get her fixed. Someone didn't realize that this girl is one funny pup. She has personality and a sense of humor not often seen in dogs...or people for that matter.  Bella is sweet and playful, protective of her little sister, loves her brothers, she obeys the rules (most of the time) and loves me unconditionally.  She likes to talk in her hound voice when we are out in public.  She wants everyone to know she is there and has a lot to say to the people and dogs she meets.  She will roll her eyes at me and moan like a teenager when she doesn't want to do something I have asked.  She makes me laugh on a daily basis. Every day she finds joy in living. 

So much hard work and dedication went into bringing Bella into my life and I am
grateful every day.  She is an amazing girl!! And now, rather than spending her days in a concrete pen uncertain of what was going to happen to her, she spends them lounging on my furniture, rolling in the grass, playing with my others dogs, cats and foster animals and knowing she is safe and loved.