Blind and Deaf Cat Learns to Trust Again
All thanks to YOUR support, Bella found a new life when it seemed hopeless for her
Blind and deaf, Bella was locked in a camper in the summer heat. She had no one to hear her yowls and cries for help. As the temperature rose, her hopes faded.
Fortunately, Bella was one of the over 1,400 animals that ARL helped rescue from a tenant farm in Westport, MA this past July. Though this horrific case displayed many examples of animal and human resiliency, Bella’s story is one of the most unique…
When she first came to ARL, Bella cowered from people. Brief moments of peace often ended abruptly in fits of confusion and fear. She had no reason to trust people, after all, and that is perhaps most heartbreaking of all.
After about a week, however, things started to look up. Volunteers and staff observed that when given a bit of freedom, Bella enjoyed exploring. However, if left unattended, she could be quickly overwhelmed by the size and lack of boundaries in her surroundings.
In foster care, efforts were made to make her world more manageable. She played with her toys in an open cardboard box—toys designed specifically to stimulate her remaining senses—so that she wouldn’t lose them. She also tested the limits of each room in the apartment, gradually progressing in comfort from room to room.
One of Bella’s favorite pastimes included laying on windowsills at her ARL foster home.
Over time, Bella learned to trust again. Though her steps were tender, she became more pet-able. She climbed into her foster mother’s lap more often.
Soon after returning to the ARL Bella was adopted into a new loving home! Her owner reports that she confidently explores their entire three-story home with reckless abandon.
Only because of your support, did Bella’s story have a happy ending.
You can help even more animals in 2017!
Bella is a striking reminder of why ARL continues its important work to fight for animals’ welfare in Massachusetts. With your help, we can get at the root causes of neglect and abuse to ensure that all animals have a chance at a safe and healthy home .
Your year-end gift before December 31, will not only help us prepare for helping even more animals in need in 2017, but also let you take your contribution into account on your 2016 tax return to the extent allowable under law.
We still need to raise over $317,000 by December 31 to meet our year-end goal and start the new year fully funded.
Thank you for being a champion for animals in need and for giving generously today! Click the red button below to…