All animals deserve to live a happy and healthy life.
Many animals are so beloved by their owners and, as pets, hold just as important a place in their lives as any other family member.
Unfortunately, not all animals experience the luxury of home life. Many of them have suffered horribly under negligent breeders, been abused by harsh owners, and were left alone to fend for themselves.
Bella the donkey was such an animal. Abandoned at two months old, she was found extremely malnourished. One of her legs was so deformed by frostbite that her new owners had to amputate it.
Luckily, she received the help of some of the best prosthetics facilities in the country, and, like this mini horse whose vitality was restored with a brand new leg, became happy and full of life once again.
Scroll down to learn Bella's heartwarming, inspiring story, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
[H/T: Metro UK]
Bella the miniature donkey was just two months old when she was separated from her mother.
The neglectful breeder responsible for her misery left her horribly underfed, isolated, and frostbitten.
Luckily, a compassionate couple from Minnesota came along two years ago and saved little Bella.
Vets adamantly advised them to have her put down, but the couple were determined to save the adorable little creature.
“Donkeys don’t have any value in society,” Ann, one of Bella’s rescuers, told the Huffington Post.
“I said, ‘Well, she’s still here, she’s still surviving. I don’t want to put her down if she’s still fighting.’”
They decided to keep Bella alive.
However, one of her legs sadly had to be amputated because it was left so horribly frostbitten.
After the operation, Ann and her partner fitted Bella with a temporary peg leg while they looked around for a functioning prosthetic.
It certainly wasn’t easy to find a prosthetic limb for Bella, as very few donkeys are fitted with prosthetics to begin with.
Thankfully, Bella’s owners finally sought out prosthetics from Wyoming’s Hanger Clinic, a leading facility in orthotic and prosthetic solutions.
Bella was soon fitted with her first prosthetic leg — but it would have to be replaced throughout her life, to accommodate her growth.
Her owners have looked to Arise Orthotics, a facility closer to home, to produce Bella’s future prosthetics.
Equine prosthetics are still relatively rare in the world today.
Because of this, Bella’s prosthetics cost more than $2,500, and her amputation alone cost a staggering $10,000.
Even though it was a struggle to restore Bella’s health, she is a happy little donkey, and continually lifts the spirits of all those around her.
“She’s so happy,” said Ann. “She literally does not know she doesn’t have a leg.”
Bella loves to roam around open spaces, eat, and play with her friends, two Nigerian dwarf goats, at Sunflower Farm in Cumberland, ME.
“She loves people, she loves affection,” said Ann. “She’s very used to having people ‘hands-on’ because she’s had that her whole life.”
Bella has even played with children with disabilities, and helped brighten their days and bring smiles to their faces.
“She has a story to tell,” continued Ann.
To her, Bella had always deserved a second chance at life and happiness, even from the very start.
“There are other options out there for animals, for disabled animals, they do very well, they thrive.”
Please SHARE if you were touched by Bella’s story, and if you believe that all animals deserve to live happy lives!
