2. Bella
Paschal and myself had been considering getting a dog for quite a while, but I was hesitant as I didn’t know if we had the capacity to look after one. At that time I was very busy, two jobs and a lot of life circumstance! I worked as a social worker two days a week and being a wedding videographer took up every other bit of my time, and more! Paschal was also busy starting his new business. Our spare time, in the past was spent cycling, we had started attempting to surf (me very badly), our easy day was a good hill walk! I just thought how we could possibly fit a dog into the middle of this and look after it well.
Although uncertain, I still perused the internet looking at little doggies who needed a home. There are so many dogs given up for adoption, the more I looked the more it became something I wanted to do, however the time didn’t seem right! Until…
In April 2023 I was checking Bright Eyes Animal Sanctuary Facebook page for dogs to be rehomed, and up popped a picture of Bella and she was molto bella! She was so beautiful I thought we wouldn’t have a chance of getting her. She got such a huge number of likes and comments and probably from people who had more experience than me, but there was something about her little face that I just felt she was the one for us. We decided to express our interest to Brighteyes. After sending the message I kept checking my phone that evening, all the while wondering would we have a chance to get her. I tried to remain positive but still I heard nothing by bedtime.
The first time I saw Bella and fell completely in love with her!
The next morning I received a phonecall from Brighteyes responding to my message and after a conversation I was asked when we would like to meet her. Holy moley things started to get real very quickly! It was arranged that we go to meet her the next evening.
On our way to meet Bella, I had such a mixed bag of emotions excitement, fear, anxiety, what if, what if, what if?! We arrived and were taken to a room to meet her. As we waited the anticipation was too much. She came into the room, one thing I’d been told was to let a dog come to you, don’t crowd them. She was beautiful, timid, uncertain. She went to Paschal and then to me. The person at Brighteyes suggested I sit on the sofa. Bella came and sat beside me, at a distance, she let me pet her, but she didn’t come close to me. I offered her a treat, she didn’t take it. We got to take her for a walk and as I’d never really walked a dog before, I was so nervous, but Bella was great.
When we returned to the sanctuary we were given the chance to be with Bella on our own and talk about whether we’d take her. We agreed there was never going to be the perfect time, we would just have to adapt and make changes to work around the dog and we would make it work around our work commitments and our outside interests. We decided Bella was our dog. We were told Bella wasn’t settling well in the Sanctuary, so we agreed to collect her on the Saturday, 3 days from our initial meeting. All so fast!
As we were leaving the person we were speaking to said they had been matching dogs for a long time and they had a good sense when a match was right. She said she believed that we were sent for Bella and Bella was sent for us. At the time I thought, yeah right we’ll see! But oh my word how true could that have been because at that time no-one knew what was about to happen next for us and how significant Bella would be during that time. I don’t say this lightly, but knowing what I know now, I believe she was sent for us, for me, however Bella might argue if we were sent for her! I thought we were doing a good thing giving Bella a home, but, true to cliché, I could never have imagined what I was going to gain from having her!
After our visit, we left and I felt excited, yet anxious. First things first, was to get the house Bella ready. So, the next day was spent clearing out to make space and shopping in what would become my new Harry and George Boutique, Pets at Home! Crate was bought, cushions bought, toys bought, shampoo bought, food bought. I was clear she was not getting up on the sofa, she couldn’t be in the bedroom either! All these very unrealistic rules that were very quickly thrown out the window! And just like that the house was Bella ready.
Bella’s first car journey with us after leaving Bright Eyes.
On 15 April 2023 we went to collect Bella, from Brighteyes, to bring her home with us. Our new life! Sounds beautiful doesn’t it?! The reality was I had a meltdown in the car on the way there! What if I can’t do this??!! Once I got over my mild panic attack and we arrived at the sanctuary Bella came excitedly bounding toward us. About 30 minutes later we were all getting into the car, so there was no turning back, I had to do this, we had to do this. I sat in the back and Bella, seeming quite happy, sat on my knee.
We arrived back to the house, I was like a fish out of water. Bella came in and sniffed around the house becoming familiar with her new surroundings. She had a toy elephant, which she annihilated within minutes, stuffing everywhere! She lay on her pillow and just watched. Poor wee thing was anxious and really had no clue where she was. We took her for a walk, wait a minute, no, we didn’t, she most definitely took us for a walk! She was strong and active! I thought she’ll keep us busy!
The next few weeks were spent getting used to Bella and her getting used to us. She was the best girl, well I would say that! When I was working from home initially, she lay on a pillow in the office. Or she would lie at the top of the stairs. We went out for our daily walk, played tug and she wanted a belly rub every time we walked passed her. She didn’t chew furniture, shoes, socks. There was just one day, and I guess it was out of boredom, she chewed the windowsill. Other than that she wasn’t a destructive dog.
Everything appeared to be new to Bella. She was so excited everywhere we went, her little backside wagging with all it’s might! Mornings were the most excitement! When the kitchen door opened out she would bolt, crouching down, tail flying and wanting all the pets we could possibly give her. As cute and adorable as this was, there were some mornings my energy just didn’t match hers! It was then flat out playing, she was very energetic!
We brought her everywhere with us. Our first outing in the car was very difficult. She resisted getting in with all her might. This happened for a short time, but the more times we did it the more she, I guess, realised we weren’t going to leave her anywhere, she would always, for better or for worse, come home with us.
These weeks were very busy, weddings were picking up, I had my two social work days, and I just kept wondering how I was going to manage to get to the end of the year? In the midst of the busyness, and everything else going on, Bella gave me a reason to take time out for myself. She needed to be walked every day, so out we went every day no matter what! This was the start of Bella taking care of me.
Link to Harry and George
Link to Bright Eyes Animal Sanctuary