Help save my baby Bella after brutal dog attack

On Saturday April 12th at 6:45 PM my 15.5 year old bichon poodle baby and I were walking home from our daily walk in my neighborhood in Wilmington, North Carolina about one minute from my home when 2 large loose mixed breed pitbulls owned by negligent neighbors were running loose and brutally and viciously attacked us. These dogs charged at us with their mouths wide open, growling, baring their teeth, and I knew we were about to be attacked and possibly killed. In an effort to protect Bella, I picked her up from the street and held her as tight as I could in my arms and attempted to run to our home but they circled me down in the middle of the road. They ripped my baby Bella out of my arms with their teeth, mauling her all over the road as she screamed and cried and made sounds I have never heard in my 16 years of loving my baby. I was dragged across the pavement while trying to save her and I couldn’t. Two neighbors eventually heard my screams and ran to help who managed to detach the dogs and get them back into their yard whose gate was wide open with a broken latch. Bella sustained highly serious traumatic injuries and was immediately taken into emergency surgery with stitches, staples, and had a drain inserted. She was bitten and punctured on her eye, her pee hole, her back, shoulders, and has blunt force trauma to her organs. They ripped her skin completely off of her.

Bella declined rapidly within days and I had to transport her 2 hours away to NC State where she remains in critical condition. She is suffering from severe life-threatening complications from the attack and doctors are working around the clock to try to save her life. Her blood pressure is dangerously low and she is receiving multiple blood transfusions. She has Pneumonia, long contusions from blunt force trauma, multiple collapsed lungs, as well as significant damage to her heart. Bella went Septic and went into Septic Shock and right-sided heart failure. She has fluid in her chest and lungs. Her abdomen also filled up with fluid. Infection spread from her skin and now she has systemic inflammation and infection affecting the blood flow to all of her organs. She cannot breathe on her own right now at all and the next step if things decline is mechanical ventilation instead of the oxygen chamber.

The owners of these dogs have taken zero accountability, refuse to pay for Bella’s medical needs and bills, or for anything.

Bella was so healthy and happy and they ripped it all away from us within seconds.

Bella’s medical expenses are up to over $50,000 and will continue to be more and more the longer she is in the hospital. I have drained all 3 of my bank accounts, applied for new credit cards, care credit, applied for credit line increases. I am absolutely drowning and doing everything I possibly can to save my baby girl. She does not deserve this!!!!! I am not one to ask for help and so many people have pushed me to make this page for days and I truly have been embarrassed to but now I know I truly need so much help and CANNOT do this alone. Thank you from the bottom of my broken heart to anyone who donates to help my Bella. Every single dollar will go toward her treatment and medical expenses. THANK YOU.

UPDATE: Bella was finally discharged Sunday April 27 after 8 days in the ICU and was doing very well! 24 hours later, I had to bring her back because her breathing declined again. They confirmed more fluid buildup in her lungs due to a blood clot that they suspect is from catheter placement long-term. Another life-threatening complication. I am completely devastated. We thought she was coming home finally and I only had 24 hours with her before she was gone again. She will be there an additional 10 days at the minimum with more treatments, oxygen therapy, and another $14,000 deposit. I won’t be able to go home to Wilmington with her still. Please keep praying, consider donating if you feel in your heart to do so, and sharing her link and story. I appreciate all of you.

UPDATE AGAIN as of 6/9: Bella and I are back in Wilmington after a 4 week stay in the ICU at NC State but we are FINALLY discharged! Things are still not great but I am doing everything I can. Bella is still fighting her blood clot that was discovered on 4/28. CT scan showed it is massive and extended all the way down into her left front leg. This blood clot is still affecting her breathing significantly and has led to chylous effusion in her chest. Bella needed to be drained a total of 8 times so far as the blood clot is blocking her thoracic duct, her main lymph vessel in her chest. This is leading fluid to accumulate in Bella’s chest which is affecting her ability to breathe. Bella cannot eat on her own still as the blood clot in her neck is still present and is compressing surrounding tissues. It is painful for her to swallow. Her heart and lungs have still not recovered from all her injuries and the Septic Shock. She still has pulmonary hypertension and an enlarged heart from the severe pressure in her lungs. We have a very long road ahead of us still with many many more veterinary appointments, ultrasounds, tests, treatments, and medications. Her one blood thinning medication is around $700 a month and that is just one of them. I have not been able to work as I am catering to Bella 24/7 and I’m very sick myself from not eating, sleeping, and dealing with this nightmare for going on 8 weeks. I am very behind on my payments to the hospital on top of being able to afford anything else for Bella or any of our basic bills to live. Please continue to donate or share my baby girl’s link. We are in the $70,000 range in medical bills and lodging at the airbnb I had to pay for to be by the hospital. This will be neverending for the foreseeable future. My girl is alive because of every donation made and we still need a LOT of help and support! Thank you so much. ❤️

UPDATE: Bella’s fluid has started building up rapidly with a vengeance and her blood clot may have dislodged which has put Bella back in the ICU. We recently had surgery of a pleural port to help manage her fluid buildup. She needs drainage 2 times a day. She is also having seizures and neurological issues now. We are fighting so hard but cannot leave Raleigh for the foreseeable future and need a lot of donations to help us have a place to stay by the hospital for Bella’s daily drainages and everything else she needs. We are in hell right now and just keep praying we can get past this again!

-Amanda and Bella