Bella Needs Your Help for Surgery

Please help with Bella's surgery and medical bills!

Bella has been in my life since 2019, but I did not own her then. We did not live in the best of environments. When I first met her, I would joke that she didn't even act like a dog - she was round like a potato with four legs and scared of every little thing. Quick to hide, slow to trust. With time and a lot of work though, I gained her affection, helped her lose weight, and tried to give her the most comfortable life I could have despite not owning her.

In 2023, Bella and I finally were able to leave that unsafe living situation together. I like to say that we healed and recovered side by side. She has come out of her shell greatly since coming under my care, and it has been wonderful to see her transform from an anxious, skittish baby to a confident diva. If you have been to any one of my get-togethers, you have seen how she now likes to float around, getting attention and snacks wherever she goes.

However, Bella has been struggling with a major health issue that she now needs surgery for. In 2021, her previous owners noticed she developed a limp. It turned out that Bella had what I now know as luxating patella, a genetic condition that often affects small breeds like her. However at the time, there was not much that I could do, as she was not yet my dog. However, despite having this genetic condition, she lived normally with joint supplements and a bit of a limp.

Recently though, that luck has run out. She injured herself while I was away at work. The doctors are saying she has a torn CCL — think of a dog equivalent of an ACL — and is in need of reconstructive surgery. I am cynical that pet insurance will cover given her history. This is because when I formally adopted her and got her under pet insurance, luxating patella was already a pre-existing condition.

I come to y’all today to ask for help — please help me keep giving Bella the life she always deserved. I realize times are tough for everyone, but I would greatly appreciate any help folks are able to give.