January 31, 2020 3.16 pm This story is over 50 months old

Bella the dog recovering after River Trent ordeal

She was thrown into the river with a heavy stone tied to her neck

Bella during her recovery. | Photo: Newark Police

A dog who was thrown into the River Trent with a heavy stone tied to its neck is now responding well in RSPCA care while the animal welfare charity continues its investigation.

Bella was rescued from the river near Long Lane, Farndon when a passer by saw her struggling during the morning of Monday, January 6. After the dog was rescued, Newark Police condemned the people responsible for trying to kill her in an “evil and nasty” way.

The dog’s rescuer Jane Harper had been walking her dog with a friend, Joanne Bellamy, when they spotted the dog in the River Trent. Jane managed to free the 10-year-old German Shepherd-type dog whose lead was attached to a carrier bag tied to a large rock under the water.

Bella’s name was recovered from her microchip registered in 2010 and she was immediately taken for emergency treatment at a local vets. She was taken into RSPCA care after a few days and since then has been looked after by staff at Radcliffe Animal Centre in Nottingham.

She is now responding well in RSPCA care, but has some medical issues and is still in need of regular veterinary treatment. She will be placed in an appropriate foster home at a later date, but is not currently available for re-homing.

Pictures of the woman who saved the dog went viral on social media.

Ella Carpenter, centre manager at Radcliffe, said: “Bella continues to do well in our care. She does have some medical issues which we are carefully monitoring.

“She will remain in RSPCA care until we are happy her condition is stable, while at Radcliffe she can be monitored daily by our vets.

“She is enjoying plenty of fuss and attention from staff who have really taken to her. Once we are happy with her progress we will place her in an appropriate foster home.

“We have been inundated with good wishes and offers to re-home her. She is currently unavailable for re-homing but we would encourage people interested in adopting a dog to visit our Find A Pet page where there are hundreds of dogs looking for homes.

“We have also had offers of donations to support the work we do with all animals at the centre and if anyone wants to offer help they can email the animal centre at [email protected]”

This was the stone.

In the wake of the attempted dog drowning near Lincoln, over 100,000 people called for tougher sentences and justice for Bella.

Nottinghamshire Police arrested a 31-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man on suspicion of animal cruelty offences hours after Bella was rescued from the river. They were later released while the RSPCA continues its investigation.