Certified Therapy Dog Bella Needs your Help

11/21/2022 Update

I received the following letter and Bella is having surgery tomorrow. GoFundMe will be used for her physical therapy, brace, medications etc.. Still, anyone wanting their money returned, I will be happy to do so just send me your contact information. I love you all, and thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Hi!

To summarize, I am a board certified veterinary surgeon at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Mount Laurel (this is a smaller satellite clinic to the much larger location in Tinton Falls). After speaking to my hospital director, we wanted to extend the offer to perform Bella’s surgery at no cost. This would be a TPLO surgery which is what I recommend for any large breed dog. I am happy to discuss details and have availability to perform the surgery as soon as this Tuesday.

I moved to Union at the age of 8 years old and lived on Garden street near Battle Hill so obviously would love to help out the community.

The hospital director just asks for permission for us to post this story on our social media.

I love what I do and perform on average 4-6 TPLO surgeries a week. It is a great surgery to get dogs to as close to 100% as possible as soon as possible!

Please let know availability tomorrow and contact info to discuss more details if you are interested.

Best Regards,

Steve Fernandez, VMD, DACVS-SA

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Hi, my name is Sheryl and Bella, a 6-year-old Golden Retriever certified Therapy Dog who needs your help. She needs to have surgery to repair her ACL. Bella is beloved by the students and staff at a local elementary school in Union County. All students from the school can visit Bella for all different reasons. These reasons include reading to Bella, coping with life events (deaths, stress, etc.), and helping a preschool student with diabetes receive his injection.

Bella's owner Nicole McGuire is a signal mother. Her husband passed away from cancer a few years ago. Nicole's daughter, Heather, attends the local community college and volunteers at the elementary school to assist with Bella.

If Bella does not receive the surgery, she will be forced to retire. As a result, the many benefits her work will no longer be provided to these elementary students. In addition, Bella appears to be in pain. She will have to wear a brace.

Please read the Tap into Union online Article about Bella working in the elementary school.

On Line Artical 2021Dec03

Please read the Tap into Livingston online Article about Heather McGuire & Bella volunteering in the community.

TapIntoLivington202219Nov

The money raised will go to pay for Bella's ACL surgery.

From West Essex Tribune (on-line)