Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/bella-karena/

“I didn’t think dogs could detect cancer, I thought it was a lot of hoo-ha really, but this proves that they can and how amazing they are.”

Karena Kirk-Drain is alive and healthy, thanks to her Yorkshire terrier Bella-Boo.

Bella warned Karena about the cancerous lump in her chest back in 2013. But it took a long while for Karena to realize that her dog’s strange behavior was a warning sign for her.

Bella wept and moped for weeks after Karena’s late mom’s birthday in October. Karena thought that Bella must be sick, and she took her to the vet. Surprisingly, the Yorkshire terrier was diagnosed as fit and healthy, with no apparent cause for her melancholic behavior.

Then, in the following days, Bella’s behavior grew aggressive. This time, instead of Bella resting on Karena’s legs like she used to, the dog would now choose to lie on Karena’s chest. And then Bella would jump over and over on the spot, to Karena’s discomfort and dismay. Karena would try to shove her aside, but Bella would cry with piercing anguish.

Karena no longer knew what else to do, since every vet clinic she went to claimed there was nothing wrong with her dog. She was shocked to find out later that the problem was inside her chest!

“Bella started bouncing on me, and at one point she caught me – and I actually thought she’d bruised me, as I was very sore there. And I was feeling around, and I actually felt a lump, and I was thinking, ‘Is that a lump inside?’”

She went to to a walk-in center, where a nurse advised her to seek help from a cancer specialist.

“The doctor said the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes – that’s probably why Bella was getting more determined, because it was spreading,” said Karena.

She immediately sought treatment. And when she started to feel well after the therapy, Karena went on vacations abroad to be thankful for her second lease on life. She also thinks that Bella was a gift from her late mom, with whom she shared a very loving relationship. Karena feels that Bella is looking after her the way her mom had faithfully done in the past.

Karena has been telling friends and other people that they should pay heed when their pets start to act strangely. They may be trying to warn them of certain dangers. “People underestimate dogs and cats and all animals. But they are amazing creatures. I’m just so lucky to be here. Little Bella-Boo saved my life.”

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog