The "Tail" of Bella
Bella--the name means “beautiful girl” in Italian. And this brindle girl is just that. You might not know it at first glance. Right now Bella is still skin and bones, and recovering from a nasty skin infection. Our little Bella is a diamond in the rough, who has already been through so much. And now she needs your help. Bella needs a costly surgery: Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO).
The "Tail" of Bella:
Picked up as a stray and taken to animal control, poor Bella was a mess that no one wanted to take a chance on. She had been living on the streets, scrounging for food wherever she could. She was underweight and malnourished, with her bones visible through her skin in many places. She also had a terrible skin infection. Photos of this sweet two-year-old show missing patches of fur. Her coat doesn’t shine the way it should. Her eyes are pleading. She has already been through so much in her short life. Bella just wants what most of us do: a comfortable place to rest our head at night, enough good food to eat, and maybe most importantly someone to love us. Luckily for Bella, Atlanta Boxer Rescue took her in.
Not long after she came to ABR, her foster mom noticed that Bella’s back leg was having spasms. At times this poor little Boxer girl would have to sit down, letting the spasms run their course before she could walk again. Bella’s hips were x-rayed and initially diagnosed with Arthritis. But even with initial treatments Bella still cried in pain. After seeking a second opinion Bella was diagnosed with a fracture. ABR learned that Bella needs to have a costly surgery, Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO). In this procedure the head (or ball) of the femur is removed. The remaining part of the femur forms a false joint with the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the area. Even though this false joint is not as good as a real joint, there is a significant reduction in pain. Many pets that have this surgery return to almost normal function.
With this surgery, Bella could lead a relatively pain-free life. She could romp and play like a normal Boxer should. She could even live in a house with stairs and other dogs!
A surgery like the one Bella needs can cost well over a thousand dollars, even with the reduced rate given to rescue organizations. Helping Bella means using most or all of the rescue’s resources. Not helping this sweet girl who has already been through so much seems unfathomable. What can you donate to offset the cost of this surgery? One of ABR’s youngest supporters has already pledged “all her Christmas Sacajawea dollars and a regular 20, too”. Every penny helps. Will you help our sweet, beautiful girl?
As always, thanks for your interest in Atlanta Boxer Rescue.
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