Winterbelle

Winterbelle, 9 1/2-year-old Great Pyrenees, was taken to a shelter when her owners could no longer care for her. At the shelter, she had several strikes against her that severely limited her chances of adoption. In addition to her age and being an extra-large, senior dog, she had never been spayed and had several mammary tumors, and a large growth on her back. But the caring shelter staff saw the sweet and gentle giant’s personality shine through, and they knew Winterbelle needed help and a new life. She was cleaned up, spayed, had some of the larger tumors removed and then staff reached out to Old Dog Haven to help find this lovely senior girl a forever home.

Winterbelle was a delight from the moment she arrived. Her new canine brother and two feline brothers were instant friends, and her foster mom was putty in her paws. The sectional couch looked pretty good, and she fell asleep that night with her huge head in her new mom’s lap.

However, her medical journey was not over, as her vet discovered she had teeth only an orthodontist could love. Wildly crooked, her top canine tooth had rubbed against her bottom tooth all her life, eroding the enamel and exposing the dentin. This explained Winterbelle’s reluctance to eat, and the decision was made to remove some of her painful teeth. While the surgery went well, her recovery was complicated by gum issues that took a few months to heal fully. On top of that, she developed an unusual eye issue that will require daily drops for the rest of her life. She still has tumors, but spaying her has reduced her hormone levels, which will hopefully slow down their growth. (This is your friendly reminder of why spaying and neutering your pets is so important!)

None of this, however, has affected Winterbelle’s joy for life! A neighborhood favorite, she loves going for walks, and when she sees a friend, she breaks into an adorable trot to say hi. She thinks car rides are about the best thing ever, and visits to the vet are a great social event for her. She loves to get outside and roll around on her back in any weather and she wakes every morning happy to start the day. Thanks to Old Dog Haven and its generous donors and supporters, Winterbelle’s retirement will be full of love and the very best care for the rest of her days.

Winterbelle is sponsored by: