We are sadly seeing an increase in abandonment of senior and special needs dogs that is simply beyond our comprehension. Tossed out like trash, this tiny 4.5 pound, 13 year old, Yorkie girl is now off the streets, out of the shelter and safe with Paws Give Me Purpose Inc.
Meet Bella, one of our newest senior Sanctuary residents. Although we will never truly know what Bella has been through in her life, we do know she has this second chance to live her golden years to the fullest.
People seem to think that small dog breeds can’t possibly cause any harm, so they believe they don’t require training. This is not quite so because even a tiny Chihuahua or Yorkshire Terrier can become a trouble maker with excessive barking, possessiveness, combativeness, being snappish, and so on.
In addition to her major medical issues, Bella’s behavior is off the charts inappropriate. This tiny little girl has some serious guarding issues which affects her behavior toward people and other dogs. Her nickname here in Sanctuary is ninja; and it’s not meant to be funny at all.
Although we as humans regard any bite as aggression, for dogs, biting is a natural and normal means of canine communication and defense. It’s actually surprising that our dogs don’t bite us more often than they do! Aggression is generally caused by stress, which can come from a variety of sources. Pain, fear, anxiety, arousal, any kind of threat to the dog’s well-being can be considered a stressor.
It is very clear Bella has suffered through major trauma in her life. It is evident she has been seriously neglected for a long time, then tossed out like garbage. No one knows how long she was on the streets until she was found, and then she spent time in a noisy shelter which ultimately was going to be the place she would lose her life; we could not allow that to happen.
Bella has received the immediate urgent medical care she needed and will continue to receive the expert care she deserves. She suffers from some serious stomach and esophagus issues which causes her to suddenly vomit her food hours after it has been eaten. Her stomach also gets extremely distended at times. The major concern is that she is not receiving the necessary nutrition she needs even though she has an amazing appetite.
Bella also suffers from severe dental disease and a skin condition known as Seborrhea, also known as Seborrheic Dermatitis. With seborrhea, the sebaceous glands of the skin produce an excessive amount of sebum causing her skin to feel wet even though it is flakey and her coat is like someone dipped her in oil.
For those not familiar, Seborrhea is often a secondary condition. Primary conditions or diseases include allergies, endocrine disorders, dietary deficiencies, malabsorption disorders, parasites, and autoimmune disorders. Seborrhea can also be an inherited disorder. Our Veterinary team is running more tests to help narrow down the exact cause of Bella’s condition so we can give her the best medical treatment possible.
It goes without saying that we will do whatever is necessary to help Bella heal physically, emotionally and behaviorally. Our promise to Bella is to provide her with a safe and loving environment for the rest of her life and we are committed to keeping this promise.
Paws Give Me Purpose will do everything possible to help Bella have the best life going forward but we cannot do this alone.
We ask that you please make your most generous gift to help us with Bella’s care. If anyone is interested in sponsoring Bella’s lifetime care in Sanctuary, please reach out to us directly.
PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/pawsgivemepurposeinc
Venmo: @PAWSGIVEMEPURPOSE-INC
