Update 09/30/2009

From Mom:
It's hard to believe that Bella Notte, who is named for her gorgeous black
mask and  means "beautiful night" in Italian (LIN Rescue) has been part of
our lives for a year.  Last year at this time, she was still fighting for
her life when she had her canine whole blood transfusion and started on the
road to recovery.  It was October 4th when she got to come home to her
forever home.  I am still enormously grateful for all the prayers and good
wishes from so many of you on The List, and to my vet and his staff for
never giving up on the little Leo who wanted to live.  What a difference a
year makes.

Bella was so incredibly sick that she only weighed in at about 24 pounds
last year (at about 5 months old), and being so sick so early in her life
kept her from reaching big Leo size.  She is doing incredibly well now and
is happy and healthy.  She just had her one year check up with my vet who
remarked that he "never would have known last year that she would have
turned out so beautiful!"  (She looked like a sick rat for quite a while,
but she kept wagging her tail even when she couldn't lift her head)  She's
weighing in at 76 pounds now, which is perfect for her.  Although she's
smaller than my other two Leo girls, she doesn't know that she's not as big
as they are.  (Sisters Midnight Blue and Sunset Sky will be 2 in December
and weigh in at 135 and 167 respectively.  Yes, Sunset is a Tank-a-saurus
Rex Leo.  She's not fat but she is a BIG girl with attitude to match!)  She
has become the alpha in the dog pack, since the passing of my English
Mastiff, Cessna in June

Bella has made great strides this year and has been learning to swim in the
pool this summer. (She has a lovely orange life vest!)  She has quite a
sense of humor and has appointed herself my guardian and protector.  (She
loves to guard the bathroom door for me!) 

I just wanted to thank everyone again for their support and to give an
update on our wonderful Bella Bear.  And to remind any of you out there
thinking about rescuing a Leo what a rewarding endeavor it is.  Bella is so
grateful for her life every day and we are so grateful for Bella in ours!