Bella is a 12-year-old Border Collie in West Richland, WA, who needs $1,726 for thyroid cancer surgery.

Melinda K. was crushed when she found out her beloved dog, Bella, had thyroid cancer.

The beautiful Border Collie has been with Melinda since she was a puppy. Melinda was single back then, and they shared so many adventures. Now they've grown together, and their pack got even bigger. "Her favorite activities are to stalk my family and me or herd us around the house, bark at the laser light, snap at the water coming from the hose, and chase the squirrels in our backyard up a tree," Melinda tells Waggle.

Bella was diagnosed with a cancerous thyroid tumor in early October 2020. She was referred to Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, where a team of doctors, led by Dr. Fernanda Gimenez, is working on her case.

Melinda is struggling financially, like so many are these days, due to the pandemic. She can't afford Bella's life-saving surgery. "I'm a substitute teacher. I lost work when schools closed from COVID," Melinda says. "I've had no income or job since March. I just need help with the last portion of the vet bill. Bella is my baby. I'll do anything to make her healthy and happy again!"