Rescued from the streets, Bonita’s bloated belly hid a life-threatening illness. Now, with love and care, she’s fighting for a second chance
The street was quiet that day, but not empty. Lying there on the cracked sidewalk was a dog whose eyes told a story of abandonment, fear, and pain. She wasn’t alone. Two cats lingered nearby, looking just as lost, just as unwanted.
It was clear they had just lost their home. Maybe their owner had moved away. Perhaps someone decided they were no longer “worth keeping.” Whatever the reason, they had been dumped like trash.
One of the cats was lucky; a local rescue scooped it up quickly. But the dog, a beautiful black Staffordshire mix, stayed behind, her swollen belly making her look pregnant to the untrained eye. But I knew better.
Years in animal rescue have taught me that this kind of swelling is rarely good news. Her belly wasn’t round with new life; the pregnancy made her belly swell painfully.
The First Look
When I crouched down to meet her eyes, something inside me broke. She looked up with sad, scared eyes that seemed to beg, “Please don’t leave me here.”
I knew I couldn’t walk away. If I did, she might end up in a shelter, alone and frightened. Or worse, she could die slowly on the streets, with no one even noticing.
She wanted to come with me so badly that she tried to jump into my car before I’d even opened the door all the way. That was it, I wasn’t going to be her rescuer. I was going to be her safe place.
I named her Bonita, beautiful in Spanish — because even in her fragile state, she truly was.
Day 2: The Diagnosis
The very next day, Bonita visited the vet. Her first exam was sobering:
- Anemia
- Ascites (abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen)
- Cachexia (severe weight and muscle loss)
Her bloodwork was sent off for further testing. Meanwhile, the vet drained six litres of fluid from her abdomen — fluid that made every movement slow and painful. The liquid would be analysed to check for cancer, but the vet warned me that the chances were high.
When I dropped her off, she waddled into the exam room looking uncomfortable and uncertain. But when I picked her up, it was like I had a different dog — 30 pounds lighter, breathing easier, her tail wagging for the first time since I met her.
The Waiting Game
Bonita was prescribed specialised food and medication, all covered by the rescue. I felt overwhelming gratitude — but also a deep fear of what the results might say.
For the next few days, I oversaw her. She slept soundly in her new bed, sometimes stretching out as if she couldn’t believe she had room to relax. She followed me around the house, always close, as though afraid I might disappear.
By Day 6, my heart was entirely hers. Bonita seemed brighter, but her belly had started to swell again. This time, the vet recommended an ultrasound to check for possible heart failure or hidden tumours.
The good news? She tested negative for heartworm. The bad news? The possibilities of heart failure or cancer still lingered over us like a shadow.
Day 15: Hard Truths
Two weeks later, we returned for an electrocardiogram and liver testing. While waiting in the clinic lobby, Bonita tried to greet a scruffy little dog nearby, her tail wagging in genuine friendliness. But the other dog’s owner pulled their pet away, looking at Bonita as if she were diseased.
It made my blood boil. Didn’t they see her gentle nature? Didn’t they know that she was already fighting for her life?
Day 22: The New Normal
Three weeks into her rescue, we’d developed a routine. Her belly continued to fill with fluid, but more slowly now. Every so often, we’d visit the vet to have it drained, and every time, Bonita would walk out feeling lighter and happier.
She had accepted her treatments with grace, always in good spirits. And even though her future was uncertain, I was determined to make every day count.
No matter what the tests showed, she would never be abandoned again.
Life After the Streets
Bonita adapted quickly to her new life. She loved her walks, though she tired easily. She had a growing list of favourite spots: the sunny patch near the sliding glass door, the cool tile floor in the kitchen, the corner of the couch she had claimed as her own.
And she loved people. Even after all she’d been through, she greeted strangers with gentle curiosity, as though she still believed there was kindness in the world.
The Power of Rescue
In rescue work, we learn that we can’t save them all. But sometimes, keeping one is enough. Bonita’s story reminded me why I do this, because every animal deserves to be safe, fed, and loved, no matter their condition.
Every vet visit, every bag of speciality food, every late-night medication, it was all worth it. The love in her eyes told me so.
The Prayer for Bonita
Today, Bonita’s health is still fragile. We’re waiting on some results, and she still needs her abdomen drained occasionally. But she’s no longer alone.
She’s not lying on the street wondering why no one cares. She’s curled up in a warm bed, belly full of food, surrounded by people who think she’s the most beautiful dog in the world.
She may have been dumped like trash, but she will be loved like treasure for the rest of her days.
So please keep Bonita in your thoughts. She’s a fighter, but she still needs a little extra hope, a little extra love from the world.
Because every rescue is more than just saving a life, it’s rewriting the ending of a story that almost ended in silence.
And Bonita’s ending? It’s going to be full of love.
