Bella's Second Chance: A Boris & Natasha's Fund Journey

Some dogs endure more hardship in a lifetime than anyone should ever have to face. Bella is one of those dogs.

Today, thanks to The Crossings Animal Society (CAS) and Boris and Natasha's Fund, Bella, an eight-year-old mixed breed pup, is getting the second chance she deserves. She is now safely settled in a foster home and preparing for a life-changing orthopedic surgery that will relieve years of pain and put her on the path toward finding a forever family of her own.

Bella's road to this moment has been anything but easy. According to Hamilton Township’s Animal Control, Bella's original owner gave her away to an individual approximately two years ago. Since then, she has been passed from home to home, never finding the stability every dog deserves. Eventually, she found herself in the care of a homeless individual, facing an uncertain future with no place to truly call home.

Despite the challenges she experienced, Bella never lost her gentle spirit. Through every transition, she remained loving and eager for affection.

When Bella eventually entered Hamilton Township Animal Shelter, veterinary examinations revealed that Bella suffered from severe degenerative joint disease (DJD) in her hip. Radiographs confirmed advanced arthritis in the joint, causing chronic pain and affecting her mobility. 

To relieve that pain and improve her quality of life, Bella requires a Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO), a specialized orthopedic surgery that removes the damaged portion of the hip joint. The procedure will eliminate the painful bone-on-bone contact caused by arthritis and help Bella move more comfortably. 

That's when CAS stepped in. CAS agreed to cover the cost for her orthopedic surgery, then place her up for adoption. However, a medical foster still had to be found to care for Bella during her 8–12-week recovery.

For the first time in years, Bella has hope.

Stay tuned for Part II of Bella’s story, where we'll explore the surgery that will help ease her pain and meet the dedicated animal advocates and foster family whose kindness is helping write the next chapter of her story.

If you'd like to help Bella throughout her journey, you can make a donation to Boris & Natasha's Fund here.