Life didn’t deal Bella, a young shelter pup, the best hand. But instead of folding, she’s determined to play for the win.
At one Wisconsin shelter, she became the first dog they could recall arriving with such a condition.
It hasn’t stopped Bella from being amazing. If anything, it made her even more special. It gave her the courage to push forward and dream of the family who will one day love her completely.
Bella’s Rare Condition
The condition is called dimelia.
When Bella first came through the doors of the Wisconsin Humane Society, the staff were astonished. None of them could remember ever seeing another dog quite like her.
Dogs missing a leg or two isn’t unusual, whether from accidents or poor breeding practices. But a dog with five legs? That was something they had never encountered before.
Once veterinarians examined her, the X-rays confirmed it. Bella had dimelia, which caused extra bones to form, along with nine toes on one hind leg. She could officially be called the five-legged pup.
“We were all just as floored as you likely are when we saw the X-rays! This 6-month-old puppy has dimelia, an extremely rare congenital anomaly characterized by the duplication of bones. It’s basically like an extra leg inside her right hind leg. A normal canine hind leg would have one femur, one tibia, one fibula, and 4-5 toes,” the organization posted on Facebook.
“X-rays of the affected leg revealed that Bella appears to have an extra femur, two tibias, two fibulas, and nine toes on her rear paw. It is the first-ever case of dimelia we’ve seen in our organization’s history, and as far as we can tell, she’s one of the *very* few documented cases of dimelia in a dog – ever,” they added.
It’s unusual, no doubt. But what does Bella think about it?
For her, life carries on like normal. Fortunately, dimelia doesn’t limit her mobility. Experts say that unless the condition causes pain or restricts movement, no treatment is needed. In rare cases where it does, amputation might be recommended.
Bella shows no signs of slowing down. She loves her walks, bouncing around, and enjoying life like any other playful pup.
Hoping For Someone Special
At the Kenosha Campus, the staff are confident Bella will eventually find her forever family.
But a unique pup with a unique condition also requires a unique kind of adopter. It’s not enough to simply love dogs, you must be prepared for the extra care Bella might need in the future.
Her unusual hind leg isn’t causing issues now, but as she grows older, joint pain and mobility struggles could arise. And for a dog with dimelia, those challenges might be even more pronounced.
Too often, people adopt animals out of a savior complex, without realizing the lifetime commitment it involves. No single person can save every dog. But for one dog, like Bella, that one person makes all the difference.
There’s no question Bella is extraordinary. But adopting her means being ready for medical expenses, potential health concerns, and a lifelong promise. Owning a dog isn’t a hobby, it’s a responsibility.
If you’re not ready to face the realities of caring for a dog with special needs, then Bella isn’t the right fit. But if you are, she could change your life as much as you change hers.
The Wisconsin Humane Society has many dogs waiting for their chance.
Bella is waiting, too. Will you be the one she’s been hoping for?