Bella is a 6 month old Maltese in Raytown, MO, who needs $8,000 for Surgery.

Bella was going to be surrendered by an elderly woman in Macon MO. I was made aware and arranged to pick her up and take her in. While we knew of the heart murmur we had no idea of the extent of the problem.

Before birth, puppies have a small blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus that allows blood to bypass the lungs because they aren't used until after birth. Normally, this vessel closes within the first few days of life. In puppies with PDA, it remains open (or "patent"), causing blood to flow abnormally through the heart. This forces the heart to work much harder than it should.

Our sweet 6-month-old Maltipoo has already brought so much joy, love, and laughter into our lives. She is playful, loving, and has become such an important part of our family. Recently, we received heartbreaking news that she has a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a congenital heart condition that requires surgery to save her life.

Asking for help is incredibly difficult for us. My husband is currently unemployed, and as a teacher, I do my best to provide for our family, but the cost of this lifesaving surgery is far beyond what we can afford on a teacher's salary alone.