Hello everyone, my name is Jeni Ji Cousins & I live in Calgary Alberta Canada. This is my sweet baby Bella. She is a King Charles cavalier spaniel & was born on January 1 2021.A month before I got her, I had a dream about her & heard the name “Bella. Within a month, she showed up. I booked an appointment to go see her. I knew she was mine the minute she clung to me and looked into my eyes especially after the other puppy bit her on her ears. She came running to me yelping & I held her close to my heart and said everything is going to be OK. Mummy is here now. I bought her from Top Dog Store In Calgary Ab Canada on March 15 2021 who I later found out the extremely hard way is a puppy mill. I cannot believe someone would sell animals who are & will be suffering & putting financial stress & emotional stress on the owner & family of our beloved pets . I’ve reached out to Marion Church who is the owner of Top Dog Store & she showed no compassion to Bella & myself over everything that’s been happening . She said to take her to her vets & I called & they told me they don’t want nothing to do with this & hung up the phone on me . I was shocked but yet not surprised. Many people who I have talked with have told me Top Dog Store is a puppy mill & they have been in trouble in the past & how many people who bought dogs there have had endless health issues . I wish I would if known this before . As far as I’m concerned I rescued Bella . 

I maxed out all my credit cards & used my tax return and what cash I had on me to buy her. She cost $4700.Money which I did not have. Needless to say I got ripped off & taken advantage of when I was very vulnerable. One of my closest friends had just passed away at Christmas 2020 with covid and that devastated me more then words can express. We had so many plans together & because of covid I did not have the chance to see him and to say goodbye to him. I was pondering for a while to get a dog as it was. It was really getting to me being alone. I had no idea what type of dog I would be getting as I normally rescue all my animals. Everything happened so quickly & I was not familiar with a King Charles cavalier spaniel but looking into her soul, I fell in love with her right away. We instantly connected with each other. She is so friendly, has such a beautiful spirit in her and loves everyone. How could I not buy her! She stole my heart on first eye contact.

Within a short time of having her, she started developing health issues, she had diarrhea and started to yelp when the animal hospital vets picked her up. They were saying right then and there Bella has spine issues and I was in complete disbelief. I had been back and forth nonstop to the vets in tears seeing my little girl suffer which maxed me out again financially. I have lost a lot of sleep over this, have missed work as I work on call at a hospice and have already spent way over $15,000 as it is allready . The vets are saying Bella has syringomyelia and needs a MRI.

Bella also has seizures when she gets excited & they are called Episodic Hypertonicity .She can have a seizure at anytime etc.My next step is to get her DNA to confirm the exact seizures etc.

SYRINGOMYELIA- As a result, pressure builds and the fluid is pushed into the spinal cord where it forms fluid pockets called “syrinxes”, damaging the spinal cord. Affected dogs can suffer significant pain, weakness, incoordination, and even paralysis. Diagnosis:

The only way to confirm a diagnosis is by MRI (Magnetic Resonance imaging). This is essentially a picture of the water content of the body presented in a series of slices (like a loaf of bread). The syringomyelia can be easily visualized as a pocket of fluid (syrinx) within the spinal cord. There would be two reasons to have an MRI performed on your Cavalier: a) to rule out syringomyelia so that the dog can be treated accordingly and b) when it is determined that the dog must have SM surgery.

I know that King Charles Cavalier Spaniel do have issues from what I’ve learnt but spending $4700 from a puppy mill store is disgraceful ! Considering they say how your getting a healthy puppy ! 

MRI IS $3300 plus other tests etc & my insurance won’t cover it due to this being a pre-existing condition, all current vet bills that I’ve paid for, they do not cover due to this being connected. I went numb instantly and was extremely overwhelmed as nonstop tears of visits to the vet. I cannot even begin to read into what’s happening anymore. After Bella has the MRI and depending on the results Bella may need surgery, & definitely further treatments, Rehabilitation Therapy, Acupuncture & pain medications ongoing etc. I did not get insurance right away until it was to late within 2 days after the vets being concerned. 

My mind was overly emotional, I could not think. I was barely getting any sleep due to worrying what to do next. I am already in debt over $40,000 and almost homeless & bankrupt. I am not one to ask for help when it comes to myself as my ego and pride takes over. I hold onto faith as best as I can & look at the positive things in life and grow from my challenges. How ever this is a innocent animal that needs help. We need to be the voice for our animals and stand up for them. Dog spelled backwards is GOD after all. Our animals bring nothing but unconditional love to us.

Bella has a few symptoms right now of syringomyelia.

 How could someone sell puppies to people knowing the dogs would suffer and the emotional pain and financial hardship it puts the owner through. I am completely heart broken! As of right now, just to give you an example, she cannot even wear a collar due to her rubbing her face on the ground, scratching her mouth nonstop yelping the minute I put her leash on. I just bought her a harness as she loves her walks.

I was working on call at a hospice but due to Bellas condition I had to turn down many hours and shifts & recently had to quit working there. Bella is my everything, my one and only. I’ve had many friends and family pass away on me throughout the years. Within a year and a half, I had 17 friends/family pass away and both of my dogs & it continued nonstop. I handled that all on my own in my own way. Having a animal can help a person heal in many ways.

Any and all donations are welcomed as I cannot have the MRI done unless I raise the funds. I am completely maxed out financially. Right now, just alone the MRI is $3300 and I know that cost will increase with the results. I am praying Bella will be OK. I will do everything I can to make her comfortable as best as I can. Surgeries, treatments, vet exams, pain medications treatments etc. The list goes on and on. I am currently waiting for the neurologist to call me for the consultation which is $300 just for the chat etc. Due to my current debt load being over $40,000.We truly need as much help as possible.

As of October 2021 Bella had her MRI, I took out another credit card to pay for everything . She is on pain medications & anxiety medications & now also she is on Chinese herbs etc . She cannot even get spayed as the risk is to high due to her seizures etc . She scratch’s her ears to the point they are inflamed called phantom scratching . No one can even pet her due to her yelling etc . 

I am going back to VCA down South in Calgary again to see the Nurologist & I really don’t know what to expect anymore at all . It’s been non stop vet bills etc . Even one of my vets say that Bella is best at VCA due to her seizures.

Bella is also now going to a holistic veterinary and on Chinese herbs to help with her seizures & ear scratching non stop as her ears are inflamed.She cannot be spayed right now due to her seizures etc . The holistic vet will see Bella again in August to see if they can spay her again etc depending on her circumstance etc & unfortunately at this time being August 22 Bella had a seizure at VCA and she cannot be spayed due to it being to risky.

Bella is now getting treated for ear disease & is on more medications & food changes as well . I do not know how much time I have left with Bella due to her condition and cherish each and everyday she is with me.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to read our story. Both Bella and I appreciate anyone who can help us & will be truly grateful for what you can do for us etc. Can you please share this with as many people as you know.We desperately need your help!

Thank You, Bella & Jeni Ji Cousins.