Huff Post: Bela The Dog, Sentenced To Death In Owner's Will, Gets A Great New Life At Sanctuary

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/29/bela-the-dog_n_6390792.html?cps=gravity_2426_9026203999912240828

The Huffington Post | By Arin Greenwood

Posted: 12/29/2014 3:15 pm EST Updated: 12/29/2014 3:59 pm EST



It's a very happy new year for Bela the dog and the many people who worried about the 9-year-old German shepherd's fate.

After an 1,800-mile trip to Utah from Indiana, Bela arrived at the Best Friends Animal Society's no-kill sanctuary Sunday where he was greeted with a great big party:


Photo credit: Best Friends Animal Society

“It's wonderful to be able to welcome Bela here,” Best Friends CEO Gregory Castle said in a statement. “It speaks to our principle of valuing all animal life. In this case, there was potential for something terrible to happen, but we are set up to give him a great life and all indications are that he is a beautiful and wonderful dog.”

That great life might have ended much sooner.

FULL story at link.



Photo credit: Best Friends Animal Society

[Skittles]

1. I think the owner would have been happy with this care

I think she was more misguided and feared her pet would not be cared for than the heartless person she has been made out to be

[brer cat]

3. I thought the same thing.

Evidence here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026030033

[Hassin Bin Sober]

11. You never know and should plan ahead. My friends adopted a 14 year old Treeing Walker Coon Hound.

The dog's owner died and the daughter had him shipped to the city pound.

My friends' dog groomer knew they had a Coon Hound so she asked if they could rescue him.

They took him in and nursed him back to health. He had glaucoma in one eye and was in a lot of pain.


In the daughter's defense, she apparently lived in an apartment and probably couldn't take care of him both physically and financially. My friends spent a small fortune on the dog but were in a position to do so.

Hulk had a pretty good run for about a year and a half. They had to put him down a couple months ago but he had a good run. Lots of love from his new owners, his G-uncles, and his new sister Daisy.


It was a happy sad ending.

[montanacowboy]

2. So Happy for Bella

She is a beautiful girl and it's good news that she will spend the rest of her life peacefully. I can understand the worry the owner had, that she might be put into hands that were not as loving. Good for everyone who helped!! oops, sorry, ddn't see that Bela is a male.

[jwirr]

4. Glad for Bella. I do have a question though. Our dog was born in Iowa and rescued by one of their

societies. When we got him he was in the shelter in Duluth MN. How does this work?

[dflprincess]

12. I believe there are groups that will move adoptable dogs from areas where there are too many needing

homes to areas that have a relative lack of dogs available.

One of my niece's dogs was adopted from a shelter in Buffalo, MN but he came from somewhere in the south.

[Kalidurga]

5. That is strange

This dog is supposed to be vicious and not socialized. Yet, when faced with dozens of people there is no indication of aggressive behavior.

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. good

[hollysmom]

7. I had someone who was supposed to take care of my dog if anything happened to me

unfortunately she died. Now what? I know no one else who will take care of her lso closely, she is very people oriened. but all my relatives cat or frufru dog people.

[virgdem]

8. Check out North Shore Animal League....

I'm registered in the Surviving Pet Care Program. You have to leave a bequest in your will to North Shore to be in the program, but they will take care of the dog until they can adopt it out to another loving home. Their website is: www.animalleague.org. Good luck!

[BrotherIvan]

10. Thank you so much for getting the information out there

That is such a worry for people as they are growing old or have health issues. So important!

[virgdem]

13. You're welcome...

Many people are not aware that there are organizations out there that will take care of their pets when they have no one else to turn to. I do not have kids, so when I pass, I have my will set up for my executor to deliver any cats living at the time of my passing to North Shore Animal League located in Port Washington, New York (on Long Island, about 30 miles east of New York City). There are other organizations out there as well that offer this service, so a Google search is the best way to find those other organizations.

[BrotherIvan]

17. I'm sure many people don't know

When my mother was terminally ill, it gave her so much stress to wonder where her dog was going. I spoke with my landlord and go the ok to take her beautiful dog. It gave her so much relief to know her beloved family member would be well taken care of.

Best Friends is a fantastic organization and I donate to them regularly. Sounds like the North Shore Animal League is a wonderful place as well.

[hollysmom]

18. thanks, now I just have to rewrite my will.

I am so bad, I keep putting it off.

[840high]

9. I'm so happy.

[shenmue]

14. Oh mah gorsh, teh Squee!

[catbyte]

15. WHEW! I am so relieved that compassion won out over selfishness.

It happens so rarely nowadays. I am sure that beautiful, belalissima Bella will have a wonderful life.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

16. That is really fucked up

My parents are extremely elderly and before they adopted their current dog they made sure I would care for her if she outlived them.