Community rallies to help paralyzed pup travel to new home
A beloved local pup will soon embark on the flight of a lifetime.
Bella, a beagle mix whose back legs are permanently paralyzed, will take a cross-country flight to her forever home in Colorado thanks to the generosity of the local community and pilot Hunter Timko.
A fundraiser organized by the Butler County Humane Society collected more than $5,200 as of Tuesday afternoon, June 24, to deliver Bella to her new owner, Kiki McGough, a Colorado woman with ties to Pittsburgh and years of experience caring for dogs with special needs.
McGough is no stranger to pups like Bella. She was the owner of Watson the Super Puggle, who went viral on social media before appearing on the Animal Planet series “Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet” in 2019.
When Bella first arrived at the facility, it was clear she needed extra assistance after a veterinary exam confirmed she was permanently paralyzed and would require a special wheelchair to move around. Fortunately, the nonprofit organization Joey’s PAW stepped in and donated a custom wheelchair to help Bella regain some of her mobility and playfulness.
Once the adoption process was finalized, Bella needed a safe way to travel. Enter Timko, a local pilot who volunteered to fly Bella in a small aircraft to her forever home 1,400 miles across the country.
When she arrives, Bella will do more than just enjoy rocky mountain views. She’ll become a certified emotional support animal for kids and adults with special needs once she settles in.
The humane society has already met its goal of $5,000, but additional donations for Bella’s journey can be made directly through the organization’s website.
