“Best Friends through Thick and Thin” 

This is the story of Bear and Bella, two best friends that stuck together through the good times and the bad. Bear and Bella were both born in January, 2009, and were littermates as puppies. And like some stories that are told, there were hard times for our heroines. 

 

Bear

As the pair got older, they learned that comforts were few and far between. A meal was something rare. Baths and care cleanliness, even rarer. They grew thin, matted, and filthy. Fleas tormented both of our friends, driving them to bite and scratch at their skin. So much so that Bear began to lose her hair from the constant scratching.  

One day, Bear and Bella each had litters of their own. Bella had hers a few weeks earlier than Bear. She cleaned and cared for the puppies as best she could, but it was hard to keep up her strength, feed her pups, and clean them from the tormenting fleas. A few weeks later, Bear had her litter, five darling Labrador-Shepherd mix bundles of fur. She tried her best, too, but it was hard to feed so many when you’re emaciated and starving… 

Bella came to Helen Woodward Animal Center first, and we took her and her puppies in with mixed feelings: joy at the puppies, but sadness at seeing Bella’s state. Her ribs clearly shown through her jet black fur while she, and her puppies, were infested with fleas. She had taken enough care of her puppies, though, that they could almost be weaned. 

A couple of days later, we received Bear and her puppies, only three weeks of age by then. Bear’s state was much like Bella’s, she was malnourished, dirty, and infested with fleas. She tried so hard to continue to feed her puppies, but it was obvious she could not provide enough for them. 

We decided that Bella, after weaning her puppies, could provide the extra nourishment for Bear’s babies that Bear could not. So, the best friends bunked together with the babies, with our hopes that Bella would give Bear a little extra help. And it worked! While Bear cleaned up after her puppies and fed them as best she could, Bella picked up the extra slack with feeding time. They really are best friends through thick and thin. 

Bella

With Bella’s help, and full, healthy meals, Bear was able to gain the strength to care for her puppies alone now. She’s such a great mom! Her and her puppies are doing great and should be looking for their forever homes in a couple weeks. 

Now that Bear can care for her babies, it’s time for Bella to look for a new forever family. She is a sweet and active girl who has done a great job for her puppies, and also for her best friend. Could you be the new best friend she is waiting for?