Meet Bella. It was a sunny September day when a group of dedicated animal rescue workers in  Johannesburg, South Africa, spotted her and her…

Meet Bella. It was a sunny September day when a group of dedicated animal rescue workers in  Johannesburg, South Africa, saw her and her condition was nothing short of heartbreaking.

When you look at her, you will notice those small white bumps that cover her ears and eyes. This is not a mysterious skin condition, but rather a tick infestation. It’s almost impossible not to be moved by her plight, as she is practically covered in these blood-sucking parasites.

These ticks concentrate around the ears and eyelids, where the skin is delicate and blood vessels abundant. The incessant feeding of the ticks had left Belle so bloody that she was practically anemic and she could barely muster the strength to walk.

These images can be difficult to match, especially for those who have a deep affection for dogs. However, they serve an important purpose: shedding light on the harsh reality that dogs like Belle face when they are abandoned.

The organization that discovered Bella, known as CLAW, faced a daunting task. I was not able to remove most of the ticks immediately due to the risk of serious blood loss. So, she decided to give him treatment and wait for the ticks to eventually fall off.

Despite the distress of witnessing Belle’s suffering, the treatment plan was successful. Finally, all the ticks were gone and Belle began to heal.

Although she may have some scars, she doesn’t seem to mind in the slightest. Today, she is a stunning, cheerful pup with a luxurious coat. The  strands of hair she lost to ticks are growing back and, more importantly, she has felt content.

The best part of this heartwarming story is that Bella found her forever home with a wonderful human named Hannah.

According to a post on CLAW’s Facebook page: “Belle literally captured Hannah’s heart within seconds of meeting each other, and they have been a perfect match. Belle landed in the lap of luxury and hasn’t looked back, showing improvement every day!

She certainly looks like a delighted dog, doesn’t she?

Thanks to the incredible efforts of the compassionate people at CLAW and the generosity of Hannah, Belle’s story has become the quintessential animal rescue success story.