Could Bella Be Your Own Emotional Support Dog?

Hi, I'm Bella

Bella is a sweet 5 year old female pit bull terrier. She has had 3 homes, one of them for 4 of her 5 years. Here Bella lived with 2 other dogs and 3 children. "She is great with other dogs and kids," says this guardian. Her favorite company was their other dog, Maddie. The reason they relinquished her was, "the dogs are kenneled all day together and get no attention. They can't be outside because the neighbors complain. She needs a good home with lots of attention!" And, of course, physical activity.

Bella was accustomed to staying home alone for five to six hours and was comfortable alone for seven to eight hours. She is housetrained, likes to run and play fetch and loved being with family, greeting family and strangers alike with loving jumps and kisses. 

According to another of her guardians, however, Bella will do best in a home without other animals, as she doesn't do well greeting other animals and gets nervous/fearful around other dogs, where she reacts with barking. This guardian feels that this sweetheart would be fine being placed in a home with children (she lived with a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old).

Bella has never bitten or snapped at anyone. She has had basic obedience training and knows sit, lay down, go potty and paw (shake). According to this owner, "Bella is a sweetheart, great with kids, strangers, men and women. She gets very active around other dogs so introduce them slowly in a controlled environment. Preferably don't house her with other dogs. She is very well-trained, does not pull and does not bark. Any home would be lucky to have her."

Sweet Bella

Bella's last adopter was going to be away on military service and wasn't aware of her medical issue when he adopted her. Bella is hypothyroid, which means her metabolic rate is slower than normal. It is not at all uncommon in dogs and is easily treated with thyroid supplementation, which Bella will likely take for the rest of her life. This adopter only had Bella for one day. He said she "is a sweetheart who just gets excited ... I would take her back in a heartbeat."

While in the shelter, Bella has exhibited reactivity towards other dogs for which she is receiving behavioral management with the training department to resolve this problem. She may need further training with this issue and a free session is offered through the Humane Society of Boulder Valley's training department. 

Are you looking for a loving companion dog for you and your family? Do you want to rescue a special pet from an animal shelter to adopt for your own? Are you wanting an emotional support dog and don't mind putting in a little extra time working with you new forever friend around other dogs with trainer assistance? And making sure she gets to run and play? If this is you, Bella is your girl! You can find her at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley.

Dawn Kairns is the author of Maggie the Dog Who Changed My Life

Maddie and the Little Pit Bull

Yesterday I played ball with Maddie on the beach. She is so very athletic and agile! It's a thing of beauty to watch her leap into the air with glee to grab the ball, so comfortable and confident with her body. A young man walked by with a young pit bull on a leash. We began talking. The pup was 6 months old, precious, and dying to play with Maddie, barely able to contain herself on a leash at the site of Maddie running. He let her loose and off she went to chase Maddie. Her name was Samin, and she could really care less about the ball. Samin was in for the chase.

The man, Steven, was delighted that his dog followed Maddie into the water. He'd tried to get her to go in on his own prior to today, but Samin wasn't that into getting into the ocean. Well, nothing like an older dog to show her the ropes! Samin followed Maddie out into the ocean like she'd been doing it all of her life. So Steven was delighted. As I was, since it's nearly impossible not to smile from ear to ear watching this dog joy exploding before our eyes!

Then I saw it. The woman walking by with a look of horror on her face... I could almost hear her screaming inside, "Oh my God, that's a pit bull!!!!! Running loose!!!" She took a little step behind her significant other as she looked at us in dismay before hurrying away.

"How could you let a pit bull run loose???!!!" her face seemed to say.

I felt for the woman, for her fear. But I must admit I felt even more for the breed. For how misunderstood they are. How mistreated they are in the wrong hands. For the breed bans. The countless euthanasias. It's true, some may have aggressive genes bred into them, thanks to humans. But can't we judge each dog as an individual rather than stereotype and ban a breed from cities?

I wondered if this woman couldn't read the dog's happy and totally non-aggressive nonverbal language? Did her fear stop her from seeing that this dog was a sweetheart, both playful and loving?

Soon Samin was dragging, unable to keep up with Maddie, who was still going strong. Samin looked at Steven, panting and tail drooping a little.

"I'm whipped, Dad," his face seemed to say. "Maybe we better go now." Steven hooked the leash on to this very obedient girl, and off they went.

Thanks, Steven and Samin. You made my day more joyful for stopping to play. And thanks, Steven, for adopting Samin. One more pitbull rescued from a shelter...one more with a chance to LIVE!

Maybe I'll have to post in the future about the 2 pit bulls my husband and I fostered after Maggie (the dog in MAGGIE the dog who changed my life A Story of Love) died. They sure shattered any stereotypes I may have had about pit bulls being vicious!

Photo: Maddie (front, profile) & buddie, Drake summer 2009 Wyoming camping trip

Posted By:

Dawn Kairns
Author of MAGGIE the dog who changed my life A Story of Love

Website: www.dawnkairns.com

Blog: Dawn Kairns and Maggie the Dog
Twitter: www.twitter.com/themaggiebook

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2009 Indie Book Awards Finalist
DWAA 2008 Merial Human-Animal Bond Award Finalist