Our dogs are such a joy to have in our lives. From their perspective, we are their entire world. There isn’t anything else to be happy about (besides food, maybe), and their entire lives are centered around us as their friends, owners, and pack leaders.
On the flip side, our pups don’t stay with us forever and usually have a good 10-15 years before they move on. As owners, it’s our responsibility to give them the best life they can possibly have during those 10-15 years!
Unfortunately, not everyone takes that duty very seriously.
While the vast majority of owners treat their dogs incredibly, even into their later years, some people don’t. In fact, it’s in those later years when they need help the most that people seem more likely to abandon them. Either they are too expensive to maintain, or they just aren’t as “cute” as they used to be.
The story of one German shepherd shows just how sad those situations can be – and how they can turn out for good!
One cold January day, a German shepherd named Bella was found near Long Lane, Farndon, near Newark in the U.K. More specifically, she was found IN the River Trent and had been left there by her owners.
They had tied her leash to a rock and tossed her in the water to drown.
We may never know what caused them to do this, but incredibly, Bella was found before it was too late. While paddling and barely staying afloat, Jane Harper and her friend Joanne Bellamy happened to see her while walking their dogs.
Pulling her out, they were shocked at the size of the rock she was tied to.
After being untied, they did their best to warm her up as the authorities arrived. Once they got her somewhat stabilized, she was taken to the local emergency vet for treatment since she was in really bad shape.
Incredibly, she survived the freezing cold water and made a recovery at the RSPCA.
It wasn’t over, however. Upon getting checked during her stay, there were some other health problems that Bella was facing. While the authorities looked for the culprits who threw her down there in the first place, the RSPCA helped Bella fully recover.
After 15 months at the RSPCA, it was finally time to find her a new home!
Bella was a senior dog, but there is always someone willing to add to their family! Luckily, Maggie and Charlie were those people that fell in love with her. The retired couple lived in a village in South Derbyshire and had looked after the breed in the past after their own passed.
“We as a family have had three shepherd-type dogs over the last 30 years and really love them. We lost our rescue dog Tia/Luna two years ago and my daughter’s dog Flame this year. We did really miss them. Then we saw Bella’s story in the press a few weeks ago and the fact she needed a home, so my daughter, Clare Lusher, encouraged us to apply for her. – Bored Panda
Now, with a family that REALLY cares for her, Bella can live out her days getting the love and peace that a senior dog deserves.
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