One of the heartbreaking truths that dog owners must face is the likelihood that they will outlive their four-legged companions. While this may not really be true for everyone, the majority of dog owners are aware that their pets will pass away before they do as dogs have a shorter lifespan as compared to humans.
As much as we really would like our dogs to be with us forever, this is impossible. This is why some owners struggle when their furry companions reach old age. This is also the reason why there are so many incidents of elderly pets being abandoned.
This is just what happened to Bella, a German Shepherd that was ten years old. She was discovered drowning in the River Trent at Farndon, Newark. According to witnesses, her previous owners chained her neck to a massive rock and threw it in the water before abandoning her.
Two women named Joanne Bellamy and Jane Harper observed the senior German Shepherd fighting for her life. They were right in the area at that time to walk their clients’ dogs.
They hurried to Bella’s location and pulled her from the river. They then transported her to the nearest veterinarian for emergency care.
The veterinarian congratulated Bellamy and Harper for saving the animal. He then proceeded to inform them of the several health problems Bella was experiencing.
Because of this, the dog walkers opted to hand Bella over to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), a group that rescues animals, to ensure that she receives proper treatment. The organization adopted her and collaborated with Radcliffe Animal Centre for her care. Bella lived with the RSPCA for more than fifteen months.
An elderly couple named Charlie Douglas and Maggie Mellis expressed interest in adopting her. They fell instantly in love with the elderly dog upon first meeting her.
Source: RSPCA (England & Wales)
