At 16 Years Old, Bella Marie Deserves Comfort, Not Pain

At 16 years old, Bella Marie should be spending her golden years surrounded by comfort, love, and security.

Instead, she was found alone and brought to animal control as a stray.

When Cobie's Cottage was contacted about Bella Marie, shelter staff described a heartbreaking situation: a geriatric dog who was underweight, severely matted, suffering from advanced dental disease, significant cataracts, and possible difficulty defecating. Because of her condition, she was only eligible for rescue placement.

When Bella Marie arrived at Cobie's Cottage, the extent of her neglect became even more apparent. Although she had been partially shaved, severe matting remained between her toes, and her feet were soaked with urine. She was weak, shaky, and clearly in need of medical attention and compassionate care.

Despite everything she has endured, Bella Marie's gentle spirit continues to shine.

Over the past two weeks, she has begun settling into rescue life. She is receiving proper nutrition, gaining strength, and enjoying the simple comforts she may not have known for a very long time: leisurely strolls outside, a soft orthopedic bed of her own, and plenty of affection from the people caring for her.

But Bella Marie's journey is far from over.

She still needs a full medical workup, including bloodwork, treatment for a skin infection, prescription eye medication for dry eye, and a comprehensive dental procedure to address the severe dental disease that is likely causing pain and discomfort every day.

The estimated cost of Bella's medical care is $1,200.

Your donation will help provide the diagnostics, medications, and treatment Bella Marie needs to be comfortable, healthy, and pain-free during her senior years.

After everything she has been through, Bella Marie deserves the chance to spend the rest of her life surrounded by kindness and care.

Thank you for helping Cobie's Cottage give this sweet senior girl the second chance she deserves.

6/24/26 Update: Dental Surgery Ahead for Bella Marie

Bella Marie has reached an important milestone in her recovery journey. She recently completed the bloodwork needed to prepare for her dental surgery.

Unfortunately, her dental disease is quite severe. Her veterinary team expects that she will need multiple tooth extractions, and there is a possibility that all of her remaining teeth may need to be removed to relieve her pain and improve her quality of life.

Despite the challenges she has faced, Bella Marie continues to make progress. With proper nutrition, loving care, and a safe place to rest, she has been slowly regaining her strength. She even enjoyed a much-deserved bath this week and continues to show everyone what a sweet and gentle senior girl she is.

While Bella Marie is moving in the right direction, her medical journey is not over. Donations will help cover her dental procedure, ongoing veterinary care, medications, and the support she needs as she continues to heal.

Thank you for helping Cobie's Cottage give Bella Marie the comfort, care, and second chance she deserves.

7/8/26 Update: Sweet Senior Bella Marie Is Recovering After Surgery

At 16 years old, Bella Marie is a senior girl who is still very much worth fighting for. When she arrived at Cobie's Cottage, she needed the dental care and medical attention necessary to help her feel more comfortable and improve her quality of life.

Bella Marie did wonderfully after her dental surgery, and we are so grateful for her progress. Considering her age and the condition she was found in, her veterinary team was pleasantly surprised that they were able to save some of her teeth, wonderful news for this sweet girl.

Bella Marie is continuing to heal while receiving the love, attention, and care she needs from Cobie's Cottage.

Donations are still helping cover the costs of her dental surgery, diagnostics, and ongoing medical care, ensuring Bella Marie can continue receiving the support she deserves.

Thank you for supporting Bella Marie and helping this deserving senior girl on her journey toward a more comfortable and happy life.

7/15/26 Update: Bella Marie the Senior Queen

Bella Marie continues to make progress following her dental surgery.

This sweet senior girl is healing well, and her recent bloodwork looked great! She is enjoying regular meals and showing more comfort as she continues to adjust to the care and support she receives at Cobie's Cottage.

After everything Bella Marie has endured, seeing her become more comfortable is a meaningful step forward. Her medical care has helped address the painful dental disease she arrived with, giving her the opportunity to continue enjoying her senior years with the comfort and attention she deserves.

Thank you for continuing to support Bella Marie's journey. Your generosity is helping provide the veterinary care, treatment, and ongoing support needed as she continues healing.

Additional updates on Bella Marie's progress will be shared as she moves forward in her recovery.

7/27/26 Update: Bella Marie Has a Happy Ending!

Bella Marie has wonderful news to share, this sweet senior girl has a pending adoption!

Even as a super senior, Bella Marie has captured the hearts of a wonderful family who already shares their home with other Shih Tzus. Soon, she'll have a loving family of her very own and the comfort, companionship, and security she deserves.

When Bella Marie first arrived at Cobie's Cottage, she was underweight, matted, suffering from painful dental disease, and in need of extensive medical care. Thanks to the generosity of her supporters, her fundraiser was fully funded, ensuring she received the diagnostics, dental treatment, medications, and compassionate care she needed before finding her forever family.

Bella Marie's journey is a beautiful reminder that senior pets are always worth loving and always deserve a second chance.

Thank you for helping make Bella Marie's happy ending possible. Your kindness gave this deserving senior girl the opportunity to heal, find a loving home, and spend her golden years surrounded by the comfort and love she has always deserved.