7-14-- We raised over $500 at our sale! Our hard work paid off for Bella! She is doing much, much better- even learning how to swim now! Thank you all so very much! Grand total now raised to date.... $3,100!!  :-))))

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6-11- 6-12-- Multi-Family Garage Sale being held to help cover surgery costs! Sat/Sun. 9-5 pm. 4908 134th Pl. NE, Marysville, WA. TONS of quality items at low prices!

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5-13 Bella had her final X-rays this morning and now has a clean bill of health! Yay!  For the next 2 months she still has to go thru re-hab and cannot play with other dogs yet nor be off-leash-- but at least she can come upstairs with the rest of us!!! No more confinement!!! Go Bella!! I am so relieved! Thanks so much, Everyone!! Looking forward to our BIG fundraising Garage Sale on June 12th!

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5-1 We are still accepting donations for her surgery and re-hab costs- sky high! Thank you so very much for whatever you can give. Please continue to follow Bella's story by checking back. God Bless!!

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4-20 Bella continues to be in strict confinement at home. She hates this! Thank goodness for doggie tranquilizers! In 2 weeks, she gets to go for 5 minute walks each day. Then another X-ray, and building each week to walking 5 minutes more. Whew- lots of care! In July, hopefully she will be able to roam around the house on her own.

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4-10 It looks like this Tuesday, the 13th, we finally get to bring Bella home after a whole month in the hospital!!! Now the hard work begins as we do rehab for another 2 months. No off-leash or stairs at all! Stuck in the crate for another month... But at least home with loved ones! :)

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3-30  Bella had a successful surgery last night and will be going into doggie care for 2 weeks at the Veterinarian. Go Bella!! Hopefully then I can bring her home. Whew!!!!! Please send doggie angels and donate to her surgery fund. Thank you!

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3-29 Bella is back in surgery for an infection on one of her incisions. We are awaiting the outcome. Poor thing! She may have to be at a hospital for the next 2 weeks. More to follow...

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3-26 News!!!  Hey Folks.. We are now 50% towards our goal! Yay! Bella and I are thrilled!! Tuesday Bella gets her 2 week check-up/Xrays/stitches removed. So far, so good! (other than not being so happy about staying indoors and crated for a month!) She's such a great dog, that I've heard very few complaints! Thanks again to everyone for helping save her life!

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A few weeks ago on our walk, my 8 month old German Shepherd puppy Bella started to limp and cry, and we barely made it home. It was devastating to see her in such pain coming on so quickly and out of the blue! This seemed really unusual for a puppy so young, that I immediately had her X-rayed. My Vet delivered horrible news that she would need a special operation on both her hips to avoid becoming lame, and that it must be done before she turned a year old. After I confirmed this with a well-known Veterinary surgeon, and hearing him say it was now of an "emergent nature", I decided the only way to afford such specialized surgery was to hold a fundraiser to help pay for her operation- and give her a chance for a normal, active doggie life- free of pills and pain. She has added SO much to my own life-- I want to help give her back her life. Our surgeon, Dr. Engen, said Bella has a 100% chance of recovery with this operation.

I've had my baby since she was 7 weeks old. She is such a wonderful dog with an easy-going and happy personality!! She is my lifeline! 9 years ago I was in a serious accident which involved complicated neck surgery, so I know what critical pain is like. Having a service dog around is vital to my own physical growth and personal morale.

Details:

Bella's surgery is set for March 15th (a bilateral double pelvic osteotomy). Basically, this means getting two new hips. The date chosen was the furthest the surgeons would safely risk scheduling so I could raise the necessary funds. I've decided to keep her fundraiser open thru the week past my birthday, May 29. Half the funds are needed the day of surgery, and the other half 3 days later when I pick her up. After surgery, she will have to recover and stay quiet in her dog crate for 4 to 6 weeks. There will be NO going down the stairs outside at all. I will be learning how to assist her with the important physical therapy that will be needed afterwards.

I am reaching out to all my friends and family, and all their friends and family, to help contribute to saving my Bella's life. I know you all understand this, as you know how important my dogs are to me. To all my Facebook friends who I have re-connected with, please see into your hearts and send a donation in to help Bella. I can't begin to tell you how much it will be appreciated. And finally, to all the dog and pet lovers in the world- you know what it is like to fear losing a pet.

Please donate whatever you can. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of Bella's and my heart!!!!!!

Love and doggie kisses,

Pam Koons and Bella

PS- Please click on the "Tell a Friend" button on this page to share the news. Thank you!