Hi. I am from India and have a female lab who is affectionately called as BELLA. She has been with us for the past 6 years. I have never owned a pet and this was our first experience. India doesnt have proper kennel rules and we were in for a shock when we announced our intention to buy a pup. We were offered one week old pups to one year old pups with various offers which confused us. During a drive we ran into a VET doctor who convinced us that a female lab was the best for a small family and showed us two pups who were around 40 days old. One was very weak and the other one was boisterous as she came running to me licked my feet and sat next to me. Thats how we got bella. We didnt know anything about pedigree; medical certicate etc and we did not find it necessary to ask for one as we thought we are taking the dog from the VET. Thats were we made the biggest mistake. We came to know later that he was running a puppy mill. Bella has been having some problem or the other from birth. She had walking difficulties; she was breathing heavily; she had skin rashes. My wife patiently took her to another VET and started the treatment with intense dosages. Things started improving and we had her spayed at 8months. The problem started then. She started putting weight resulting in her food being re designed. Inspite of whatever foods like Pedigree; Royal Canin; Scientific Plan etc her weight wouldnt drop. One day she collapsed and was dianosed with a liver issue complicated by heart ailment. She was prescribed intense which did not cure her but made her a very sad sight. Finally during a routine check one of the doctors found that her blood sugar level was > 580. We have started her on Human Mixtard Insulin shots from Nov 2014 onwards and as of now ( thanks to God) Bella is doing well. We test her twice everyday and give her the shots via an insulin injection which she takes it patiently. I hope that the international community of Labrador owners do something to regularise the pitiable plight of these great dogs. Thanks in advance.
Hello, and welcome to the forum. Thank you for sharing your story with Bella - the more people who know about these things, the better. I'm sorry that you have had such trouble, but Bella got lucky when she was picked by you and it sounds like you have done your very best to get her medical help and give her a good life, and she is well cared for and loved.
I'm so sorry Bella has been plagued by ill health as a result of the awful breeding practices in a puppy farm. It's a terrible thing I'm glad she found you to love and care for her though and I hope you have many happy times together.
Hello and a warm welcome from me and my dogs . Thank you for sharing the story of your Bella , poor girl had such a bad start but thank goodness she had you to care for her so admirably .
Bella is a very lucky girl to have been welcomed into your family. Puppy farming is a terrible business. Hope she remains healthy now to enjoy life with you.
Hi and welcome to the forum, Bella definitely was so lucky to find you. Puppy farms are indeed horrendous. Fingers crossed her health continues to improve. Best wishes.
Welcome to the forum. Thank you for sharing your story. It's only by spreading the word that we can educate people about how terrible puppy mills are. I hope Bella continues to enjoy better health, and many more happy years with you.
Hi and welcome to you and Bella. What a sad start in life for your precious girl, puppy farming is horrendous. So glad that you came by this puppy and welcomed her into your family. Keep spreading the word, it's the only way to get an end to puppy farming. What a shock for you too, to find out that you were lied to by a person (vet) that you should have been able to trust, despicable!
Hello and welcome from me and Lilly, we live in Scotland. How lovely that you have joined the forum. You have had such a lot of problems, but I agree that Bella is lucky to have picked you as her owner. So pleased that a proper Vet got to the bottom of her problems. I don't think we have had a dog with diabetes on the forum - I am not sure if it related to poor breeding or not, but I remember we had a neighbour a long time ago when I was a child who had a dog who needed insulin and lots of other medicines too. It is so difficult to believe that someone was trying to sell you a ONE WEEK OLD puppy!!! Were they offering to give you the puppy right then, or was it to stay with its mum for longer? jac
Hello from Molly and me. Thank you for sharing Bella's sad story. We are aware that animal care in India is not as it should be and is poorly, if at all regulated. By telling us Bella's story you have made it more personal. She is a very lucky girl to have you and I hope you both continue to prosper
Welcome to the forum Thanks for sharing your story. Irresponsible breeding is a terrible thing. It's great to hear that you've reached the stage where Bella's problem is diagnosed and treated. Bella did the right thing by choosing your family.
Bella is so lucky to have found you, I hope you have many happy times together. Sharing your story will go some way to helping put a stop to puppy mills, thank you so much.
Glad to know that Bella is doing better. I think puppy mills are not a country specific issue, Back yard breeders are everywhere even in countries with better canine rules. I think it is individual pet owners responsibility to be knowledgeable about where to get the puppies from . I think I agree with Pippa's article which speaks about helping people who got puppies before 8 weeks. Though we just want to help the dogs, we are ultimately encouraging the puppy mill business. It took me a year to research the breeders, interview them and then select the puppy, If not as detailed, basic reserach would have prevented this situation .
Hello All We had a cyclone in Chennai which is in the southern part of India. Bella had to be taken out for her ablution. The idea given by my son was to put his T Shirt on her and then put a small knot in the rear. The results were good. She did not get wet and completed all her activities and had a small walk. We just removed the T Shirt and put it for wash washed her feet and dried it with cloth. Thought of sharing this idea.
Ah I can tell you all love Bella very much,she is lucky she came to live with such a wonderful family. What a sorry start for puppies bred in such circumstances, real life personal stories make a big impact,thankyounformsharing yours and my Best wishes for Bella's ongoing good health x
