An animal-lover from County Durham who saved a dog from a puppy mill has described how his beloved pooch was just hours from death after previous abuse had damaged her organs.
Darran Weston, 53, from Newton Aycliffe, rescued Bella the seven-year-old pug from horrible conditions in a puppy mill in Aylesbury and, as a result of the abuse she faced, she was left with a number of health issues. Despite this, Darran and his wife Lisa knew they had to rescue Bella and give her the loving home she deserved.
But tragically Bella fell seriously ill and she was rushed to the vets on Wednesday where Darran was told her ovaries were "about to burst" and that she would be dead in just four hours if she wasn't operated on.
The vet told Darran they believe Bella's health complications were caused by the abuse she suffered in the puppy mill. Darran said Bella is thought to have had 12 litters with five to seven puppies each and that they started breeding her at just one-year-old causing a huge strain on her reproductive organs.
The dad-of-two, who lost his beloved cat Elsa just before Bella's health scare, explained: "Bella was taken in and they operated on her immediately. They said her ovaries were about to burst and her womb was filled with puss and it was poisoning her. They said she would have been dead in just four hours.
"In the puppy mill, Bella was locked in a chicken coop on her own and she was just bred and bred. When we got her she was in a terrible state and because of all the breeding, her genitalia had dropped so every time she squatted down for a wee it would touch the ground and she would catch any infection going.
"She cost us a fortune but it didn't matter to us, we would pay whatever we needed. I was made redundant from my job and so I sold stuff we had just to make sure she was okay."
However, vet bills added up to a huge £817 and Darran had recently started a new job so wouldn't be paid until the end of the month. So in a bid to raise money, he set up a Go Fund Me page, and within just six hours the target had been hit leaving the family overwhelmed.
Darran, who is a self-confessed Dr Dolittle and regularly rescues animals, said: "It cost £817 and that is quite daunting, it's a significant amount of money. No one can predict a medical incident like this. I started a new job but I don't get paid until the end of the month so I started a Go Fund Me page and all of our friends just rushed to help.
"We had people put money through our door, one friend in Cumbria sent £50, another friend who used to be a police officer sent us £250 someone else sent £200, it's been absolutely amazing.
"Despite all the pain we've been through, we just felt so grateful. I can't find the words to thank these people that helped save our baby. Bella is our baby, our life, how do you even go about thanking people who have saved your baby? I'm lost for words."
After her reproductive organs were removed, Bella is doing a lot better and it's hoped she will no longer catch infections with Darran thanking Saw Paws Vets in Newton Aycliffe for everything they did. And after the scare, Darran has opened up on how much Bella means to him and the family saying she is "his comfort".
He said: "You would not believe how much she does support me. Pugs are known to attach themselves to one person and while she adores the family she just follows me everywhere, she's my little shadow. I suffer from depression and PTSD and though my family supports me, Bella is my comfort, she's my therapy dog.
"Bella is my child, I can't put into words how much she means to me. I would happily walk over broken glass for her, I'd do anything for her. My mum taught me a lot and I've always been an animal person from her.
"Bella deserves to have a long, happy life. The puppy mill was run by men and I want to show Bella that not all blokes are bad. We're supposed to be the ones looking after Bella but I think it's the other way around, she's the one looking after us."
Though the target has been hit, Darran said any extra money raised will go to other people who are struggling to pay vet fees. If you would like to donate to the Go Fund Me page, you can do so here.
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