Bella was surrendered to us last weekend. We’ve been quietly waiting for her microchip transfer to finalise before introducing her—because as we all know, you can never be completely sure the previous owner’s paperwork will be accepted.

Yesterday we finally received confirmation that Bella is officially ours. A brand-new SPDR girl… and she is thriving in foster care.

Almost everything we were told about Bella’s behaviour, likes and dislikes has turned out to be the complete opposite of the dog we’re seeing now.

In her previous home Bella lived under strict rules. She slept in a crate in the dining room, was walked, and then returned straight to her crate with no time to roam the house or simply be part of the family.

Her first 24 hours in foster care, this sweet girl stayed tucked in her bed in the corner of the room—watching everyone quietly. You could see she wasn’t sure yet, but she was so curious. She wanted to join in… to follow the others out to the garden, play inside, and pick a comfy bed (or couch!) when it was time to relax.

And then it happened. Bit by bit, Bella realised she had freedom. No pressure. No rules fuelling her anxiety. And here’s the beautiful part—we’ve seen none of that anxiety. Instead, we’ve met a happy, gentle girl who just needed space to be herself.

She visited a quiet park where she was allowed to take her time and sniff to her heart’s content—no rushing, no expectations—and she absolutely loved it. With our resident therapy dog! Jayda on hand (apparently Bella disliked large dogs!) to ease any fears, she was able to just be.

She’s enjoying her food (despite what her paperwork said), adores her foster siblings, and is utterly smitten with foster dad Bill.

Bella has already had her vet check and is booked in next week for a much-needed dental procedure. Until then, she’ll continue enjoying the kind of home every dog deserves—a place where she can wander outside when she feels like it, come back in when she’s ready, and choose whichever soft bed she wants as she settles in beside her foster family.

Welcome to Sweet Paws, Bella. You’re safe, you’re loved, and your new life starts now 💕