BELLA, Border Collie
“I adopted Bella as a healthy and spirited nine-year-old from the Toronto Animal Services, but within a year, she developed intervertebral disc disease. (IVDD) and lost the use of her rear legs and tail. After her surgery she was no longer in pain, but she had a long way to go before she became healthy and mobile...”
"For me, the portrait of Bella is a very special reminder of her spirit and grace, despite her disability."...Margaret
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BELLA Medium: My Statement: Together we decided on a head study that showed Bella’s alert and gentle personality. Suzanne
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Bella’s journey to regain her health and independence was not an easy one for either of us, but she soon became as easy to care for as an able-bodied dog. Bella had a wheelchair which she used for play and exercise, and had so much fun in it that she regularly had to have the wheels replaced.
In her wheelchair Bella could run freely in the park chasing squirrels and greeting every dog she met. She regularly visited the leash-free areas along the waterfront, and ran along the shoreline through the sand as easily as the other dogs. She even plunged into the water for a drink and a dip to cool off.
On hot days Bella left her wheelchair on the shore, donned her lifejacket, and swam as strongly as she ever did. Bella went hiking in the woods for hours, summer and winter, and thought nothing of getting into a good friendly scrap with her doggie friends along the way. There she was able to satisfy her natural instincts of sniffing and herding without limitations.
Bella loved the winter. In the snow she could roll and ‘run’ about in the back yard out of her wheelchair, with her back legs cushioned and sliding on the snow behind her. In her wheelchair with her wheels up on skis, she raced through the snow, fashionably dressed in her boots to keep all four feet warm and dry. She also loved to ride in the car, up in her wheelchair, with her head hanging out of the window for fresh breezes.
In the house, Bella was usually out of her wheelchair so she could rest. However, that did not mean that she rested all the time. She pulled herself along with her very strong front legs into the kitchen to check on the contents of the cat dish, into the living room to snooze on the carpet, and even bumped herself down the short flight of stairs to bark at the front door at the slightest sound. She needed my help getting back upstairs though, and waited patiently for a ‘leg-up’ from me. Her favorite spot was on her blanket on the couch, where she snoozed for hours in complete bliss. Every night Bella slept on her bed in my bedroom, where she belonged. She slept soundly and looked forward with a yawn and a stretch to each new day.
Bella spent three and a half years as a ‘wheelchair dog’, healthy and spirited with a good quality of life and much activity, including therapy dog visits and wheelchair relays. She had complete trust in her care-givers, and rewarded us all with heart-warming antics every day. With her ‘sister’ Holly to keep her company, she had a full and active life, keeping me in shape too. And along the way she touched and inspired more people than I can even count. She was a wonderful companion dog and has enriched my life immeasurably.
"Thank you, Bella, and I miss you!” ... Margaret
“We were invited to participate in two of the annual Canadian Paraplegic Association's wheelchair relays. Bella ran on Louise Russo's team, being the third runner in a team of eight. There were many companion and service dogs there, but Bella was the only one in a wheelchair. Our team didn't win, but we sure got lots of attention!”
Margaret