Many times, dogs undergo life challenges that shake them to the core and even affect their physical interactions with humans. This pattern has become a common phenomenon for some dogs, While some have a perfect life from the beginning of their lives through to the end, others inadvertently undergo worse things that are questionable to the human race upon which they rely and that is why, as humans, the humane ones that still exist amongst us must stand in line to help protect, preserve and love these dogs back to their optimal affectionate capacity.
This brings us to tell you the story of Bella, a German shepherd and a rescue dog who becomes an absolute love bug despite what she has been through.
BEFORE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
Just like most dogs, Bella was a happy and loving dog, but she was a stray, abandoned from birth. She has always lived her life on the streets, eating leftovers, and foods in the trash, and taking any water she comes across. As long as she could fill her stomach, everything else came second to her. Food and water were the most important after all. Despite this, nothing seemed to deter her, as Bella always wagged her tails happily and strolled into amusement parks and fields to play with children, while some parents chastised her and threw stones at her for daring to go near their beloved children because they considered him a filthy stray animal, but most actually appreciated and welcomed her kindness and love to the kids by letting them pat her and play with her. These kids looked forward to the goodies and rides at the parks, but they also looked forward to seeing Bella stroll in with her paws ready to play. Bella felt the same, also looking forward to that because that was the only place she had ever felt loved and thought she belonged there.
That was Bella, giving the love she had never received to kids, just to see them smile from cheek to cheek.
One day, trouble came knocking. She was about to cross the road at an intersection when she was hit by an incoming, speeding vehicle. The driver never stopped to see the damage he/she had caused to even think about rendering her help to atone for what he’s done, nor did anyone stop or make attempts to help her. Everyone just passed by while she whimpered and cried by the roadside with a broken leg covered in blood.
But just in time as luck would have it, a dog shelter worker was passing by and saw her dying with no one to care for her or take her to the nearest veterinary clinic. He made the call to an emergency, and she was immediately transported to the hospital to receive proper and adequate medical care before she died.
She was treated, and when she was discharged a few weeks later, the shelter thought it was high time to bring her in and find a home and a family to call her own. There she was with a bandaged leg and a broken heart, and they thought she needed the much-needed break and her life needed to take the best turn life could offer.
THE COMPASSIONATE COUPLE.
Bella moved from the veterinary clinic to the shelter but no one was having her. For the entire three months, she was up there, no one gave her a second look. Many people thought she was too much of a burden with her broken leg to cater for, but workers believed the one(s) were yet to come, and they kept all hopes up that someday she would be united with her true love(s) and true family.
One fateful afternoon, fate smiled on her when this couple walked into the shelter, They had almost given up their search there to go to another shelter when they were taken to her cage, where she stayed away from others, When they spotted her, it was love at first bark. They fell in love with her and insisted that she was their dog and needed to be brought back into their home, where she truly belonged.
According to a shelter worker, “It was as if they knew what they were looking for, even though she was going to be their first canine, When they spotted her, they didn’t want to check others out, they were so sure. They fell in love with her, and we knew they were perfect for her, so we couldn’t wait to hand her over to them so this newfound love could bloom in no time, We were so happy for Bella and for the couple too because they’ve found themselves to love and to hold.”.
Bringing Bella home was one thing, but living with her was a challenge for the couple at first, and no, it wasn’t because they hadn’t been dog owners before, the couple had equipped themselves with knowledge of how to treat dogs, dog emotions, and how they express them, and so on, both online and offline, by seeking advice from a vet and a family friend that had owned a dog over the years. They were prepared, it was simply because Bella was withdrawn and barely showed emotions, he just pawed around the house, eating her food and drinking the water that was provided for her, not demanding anything, and didn’t even give anything in return.
The couple wasn’t going to give up on her, so they brought her to the vet to understand the lack of emotions, as that wasn’t what they expected of her, even though they knew she was a rescue dog. They were made to understand the concept of the trauma she had been made to face, and if they still wanted her, they had to show her that their home was safe for her, that they loved her, and that she was a part of their family now.
The doctor told them, “What she needs is love and care, she has lived all her life on the streets, and even though she tried to love, people were cruel to her. It’s a terrifying thing to be dying, and no one came to one’s rescue until it was almost too late. We all can imagine how traumatizing that must have been for her.”.
The couple took that as a challenge, they read up about the 3-3-3 dog rule, which was that “the first three days should be used for adjusting to its new surroundings, the next three weeks for training and bonding, and the first three months for continued socialization and training.” They utilize these rules, training her on basic commands and bonding with her in their ways. It was safe to say, it took her three months to start showing emotions to them, and in those days, they loved her back to health, both physically and mentally.
In no time, Bella became the symbol of their love, she would cuddle up with them at bedtime, and movie time, and at the slightest moment, she felt like, she was a love bug now, and she was playing the role exceptionally well, like a second skin, as if that had always been her role, just waiting for the right moment and opportunity to unleash this part of her. But again, who would she have shown it to?
When the couple is out, she waits by the door, and when she hears the doorbell, she springs up, jumping up and down as if she were the one to open the doors for them, all this just to be reunited with them once again after a while or a whole day of not being able to bask in their affection. This brings smiles to the couple’s faces, and even though they were happy before, she spread even more love in their home. Their bond as a family grew stronger day in and day out, and their lives started to seem magical, just like a fairytale, only they had no castle.
Bella continues to spread more happiness into the hearts of her family, and they still live as one. Happy, loving, and caring more for one another. The couple agreed that they couldn’t have asked for any other dog than Bella and that even though they’ve been a happy couple before, she has surely brought more bliss and joy into their hearts and their home.
We are happy, and joy envelops our hearts that Bella gets to live the life she truly deserves, and whoever says there is no happily ever after surely has never read the story of Bella.
Her story is yet another inspiration from our canine friends that love can surely find one even at one’s lowest point in life.