Bella Dee

HAPPINESS AFTER A HORRENDOUS LIFE AS A BREEDING MACHINE

Poor Bella had a life of torment and pain in one of the worse puppy farms in Wales. She became surplus to requirements when her breeding days were over and she came into our care.

Bella has been cherished by Novena for 2 years and she became a very happy girl once again thanks to her. She was so gentle and giving. Everyone she met since she had been with Novena, was touched by her. They all loved her.

Sadly, Bella was given sleep to save her from suffering. She had been undergoing tests and it was suspected that she had cancer in her nose. She suffered several short seizures when she would fall over and immediately get up and walk around the house and garden again. She was exhausting herself fighting the disease and it was heartbreaking to watch her. At first, the medication seemed to be working and she was much brighter with tail wagging and appearing more animated.

Unfortunately, the test results showed that she has a particularly virulent malignant tumour. Bella was still eating and still enjoying short walks and meeting people but she was very wobbly, dopey (from the drugs) and beginning to find breathing very difficult.

As always, Novena put her darling girl first and made the brave decision to say farewell to Bella even though she knew that it would leave her with a broken heart.

Sleep well dear Bella. Another sweet and gentle angel has gone to the Bridge

HISTORY

Her owner had used Bella as a puppy-breeding machine for most of her life, and then wanted to dispose of her.

Irish Retriever Rescue-UK found her a forever home with Novena Dee on April 2nd 2005. The state of her fur and body required immediate treatment and surgery. Her coat was badly matted – obviously dating back years; her ears required to be syringed; she had a fractured canine tooth which was causing her pain, and an additional damaged tooth, both of which had to be removed.

In addition she had a very large, fatty lump on her chest and a small hard lump on her vulva, both of which had to be removed. Within a few days Novena had brushed and cut out all the matting and arranged for Bella to have all the necessary surgery, at a cost of almost £800, which was most of Novenas savings but Bella was well worth it to her.

The canine tooth was a particularly painful operation for Bella, as the gum had to be cut right down to remove it, and then sewn up again. It would appear from the damage to her teeth that Bella had spent most of her life outside, in a small area surrounded by a wire fence, and she had been chewing on the wire.

The big fatty lump was so deep seated that it was lodged in a muscle. The vet had to cut out part of the muscle to remove the entire lump. She had never seen such a deep seated lump, and advised that Bella must have spent her life on a very hard surface, and had developed the lump to protect her breast bone.

Where Novena thought Bella’s skin was ingrained with dirt, the vet stated that Bella had suffered skin disease from lying on hard, cold surfaces. Bella’s ear channels are very narrow and this was caused by several untreated ear infections over the years and also from neglect in not plucking the little internal ear hairs.

In addition, Bella’s hind leg muscles are very weak from years of lack of exercise. Her poor body is exhausted from the years of abuse, and her face and sad eyes also show this.

Sadly, all this is typical of an ex-breeding bitch from a puppy farm. Despite all she has suffered, she is gentle and trusting. We knew, in time, with love, care and security, the tiredness would fade and that she would gain more energy and confidence, all of which would ultimately reflect in her face and eyes.

Bella is now recovering and has settled in very well. She wins the hearts of all who meet her. Her main focus at present is asking to be stroked and hugged – she cannot get enough of it – and who can blame her? She has never known tenderness. She has so many new things to see and do, but most of all she has to experience the happiness and love she deserves.

Bella was sadly taken from Novena just as she was learning to enjoy life and now is at Rainbow Bridge.