A home for Bella
Woman resuces dog from trash can

by Marlo Benning
marlo@inhnews.com

When Christine Butler of Wadena peeked into a brown trash can outside of Walmart on January 29, she was in search of what was whining from within.
She was shocked and surprised to find that the source of the noise was a tiny pup disposed of like a piece of garbage.
Upon discovering this small black and white baby, she immediately removed her sweatshirt and wrapped her within to keep her warm.
“It wouldn’t have mattered what it was—It was alive and I was saving it,” she said when asked what she thought she would find amongst the trash.
It didn’t appear that the pup, now lovingly named Bella, hadn’t been there long as she wasn’t really cold, Butler said. Besides appearing a bit thin, she was okay, but it was soon recognized that something was wrong with her back legs.
Butler, who is a member of the local P.A.W.S. group, knew that the organization couldn’t take a special needs animal such as this and that she would be the one to take her in. She said that she is glad to have been the one that found her.
“It’s fine with me, because I love her!” said Butler, who wholeheartedly plans on being Bella’s caregiver.
The pup is believed to be a Shitzu cross of some sort, and was about six to eight weeks old when found. Butler’s friend, who is a veterinarian, checked Bella over and felt that no bones appeared to be broken. She said that they believe it is either an injury or a neurological problem, but that she does have feeling in her legs.
At first she could only get up on her back legs, but couldn’t coordinate them to walk. She is coming along, though, and is beginning to walk on them.
Because of her condition, Butler has been using special pet diapers on her. She also gives her daily baths in the sink to keep her clean, which is also good therapy for her to use her legs.
Butler said she will do whatever it takes to make Bella’s life a good one while providing her a “forever” home.

Photos:

Top: Bella now has a safe, permanent home after being discovered amidst trash.

Bottom: Butler, an animal lover at heart, had no problem taking in Bella despite her special needs.

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