Remembering Bella: Help Needed
Donation protected
Bella was a four-year old, 100+ lb Cane Corso with a crazy underbite and hip dysplasia. She was a guard dog, a pillow, the best cuddle buddy and a wonderful playmate.
She was also the greatest companion I could ever ask for.
I rescued my darling Bella from a neglectful, disgusting and abusive puppy mill (the woman who was running the joint was trying to breed "the perfect Cane Corso" so that she could win dog shows and pocket the cash; the worst part being that the woman was also a law enforcement officer, which makes it even more problematic for me).
When I first brought her home, Bella quickly became one of the family. The family dog (a Chihuahua named Bandit) became her best friend, albeit a tiny, terrified one, and she instantly claimed a huge spot in my heart and the hearts of those who met her. I couldn't sit on the couch without having a giant, black-furred beast next to me, begging for pats and affection. On my days off, we'd go to the dog park, or for a long walk--which she would stay by my side and nudge my leg when she wanted me to pick up the pace. At the beach, she wouldn't hesitate to combat the waves and salty water when she saw me jump in, just so she could float at my side.
[Isn't she gorgeous?]
I did everything with that pooch when I could. I loved her dearly.
Did I mention she would always make Chewbacca noises and say "hello" (much like how Scooby Doo would) whenever my family or I walked into the house?
When life became more than I could bear, and the world seemed all the colder, Bella was a source of warmth and unconditional love that I came home to every single day.
Things quickly began to change once I moved out of my parents' house. Due to a slew of circumstances, I was not able to bring her with me. Trying to find a new home that would accomadate a 100+ lb mastiff was no easy feat. As if that hadn't been taxing enough, Bella began to develop depression, often sitting in my now-empty room and whining for hours on end, or laying on my parents' couch--exactly where I'd sit--without moving.
I wish that would have been the extent of her anxiety, but things began to worsen. She became aggressive and finnicky, often nipping at other dogs and baying at anything that happened to cross her path when it came time to walk her. With a dog that size, such behavior was dangerous. As the time passed, she continued to act out, despite eight weeks of obedience training via K-9 Perceptions and another month of extensive training through another facility. I have two younger siblings, plus family members with small children that often came to visit my parents. That sort of unpredictable behavior proved to be too much of a risk of injury.
After an incident of her biting my father while in a highly-frazzled state, Bella was brought to Switzerland Animal Hospital and we discussed with the vets what the best steps would be to helping my dog. I tried every possible means of finding a new home for Bella, a place where she could get the interaction with other dogs that she needed, but multiple veterinarians made a suggestion that made my blood run cold.
Euthanasia.
I would be held liable for any damage she wrought should she be adopted by another family or sent to another behavioral training facility. It was also clear that there was no reversing the mental deterioration that my dog was beginning to suffer from. Suffering seemed to be all that was happening recently, both by her and myself, who could only sit and watch as her mental state began to fade.
After months of exhausting all possible means of help, Bella was euthanized on Monday, August 18. I lost not only a pet, but my best friend and beloved member of the family. What's left now is a huge void in my heart and a few veterinary expenses.
Remembering Bella was put together to help me cover the cost of the euthanasia and cremation, plus the remaining balance of the behavioral training that she will not be around to complete. I thank you all for taking the time to read through this, and would appreciate any help that I could get.
Again, thank you all--and hug your pets often. ♥
~Jannelle Hernandez
Organizer
Jannelle Hernandez
Organizer
Jacksonville, FL
