Hermiston Dog and Puppies Saved; Rescue Several Years in the Making

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By Molly Kelleher

Story Published: Feb 8, 2010 at 9:03 PM PDT

HERMISTON - It's a rescue several years in the making. A momma dog and her eight puppies are now safe after living along a road. The Tri-Cities had "Chocolate" the lab. Now Hermiston has Bella.

It was quite an operation, to save nine dogs out from under this bridge by Highway 395 in Hermiston. But rescuing the puppies was the easy part, then it was time to catch their mom.

"We set a trap with the puppies inside, then five minutes later she was inside the trap to see about her puppies," said Beau Putnam of the Hermiston Humane Society.

"We were so excited hugging each other, I was crying," said Robin Barker.

This group has been down this road before with this dog now known as Bella. For years people have driven by and seen her here, trying to coax her and catch her just to move her away from this busy highway. She's even lived with a broken leg for years. And even with a bum leg, she was too quick to be caught.

"She has broken a lot of hearts sitting out there. We all tried to bring her home but she wouldn't come to anybody," said Barker.

After years of trying, Bella and her puppies are now safe.

For a dog who lived in the wild for so long, you wouldn't expect her good nature. She's sweet and trustworthy. Maybe because of all the good she's seen in people over the years. People have left food, stuffed animals at Christmas, hay bales for shelter.

Robin Barker helped rescue Bella, now she's letting Bella stay for good at home with her.

"This is her forever home. I'm sure the puppies will go to good homes with the Humane Society when they are ready but she's home," said Barker.

All nine dogs just got back from a veterinarian on Monday and checked out OK. Bella's broken leg has to be amputated but we're told she'll be fine.

The Hermiston Humane Society is looking for donations for the puppies, but they're not ready for adoption just yet.

They've set up an account called "The Bella Fund" through pet rescue.

You can make donations at any Columbia State Bank in Oregon or Columbia Bank in Washington. Locally, those are the banks that used to be called Columbia River.

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