The Bella Foundation, SPCA fosters literacy and responsible pet ownership

by Lauren Dow
Journalism Intern

The pet-oriented Bella Foundation, in partnership with The Oklahoma Messages Project, a local organization providing support to children with one or both parents in prison, hosted a reading event for children served by the organization.

OK Messages got in contact with The Bella Foundation SPCA, and President Jeremy Busche said the event was a perfect fit. Both organizations focus on literacy; OK messages records incarcerated parents reading books so that children can learn to read with their parents, and the Bella Foundation promotes literacy with their pet therapy team.

The event allowed the kids to sit on an enormous bean bag (large enough to seat four people comfortably), hang out with dogs and have the opportunity to read with them along with pet therapy team members. OK messages provided the books and backpacks with five books inside for each child in attendance, while The Bella Foundation handed out 186 toys and brought pet therapy dogs.

The pet therapy team makes regular visits to the local VA hospital, The Daily Living Center and local elementary schools.

This program focuses on teaching the next generation about pet ownership and responsibility, along with promoting reading. The team is made entirely of volunteers who take two or three dogs out several times a week. With children, they read two books: one focusing on pet ownership and another that is about being loving and accepting of all people.

They then divide the kids into groups and show them how to pet the animals. Some children are frightened at first, but with the help of the pet therapy facilitators they learn to be less afraid. The take-away for the kids is a love and respect for not only animals, but also for reading.

The Bella Foundation is primarily a pet foster and adoption service that places unwanted or neglected animals in homes. The program is entirely foster-based, meaning they have no brick and mortar location to house their rescues. The foundation depends entirely on a network of foster families who will regularly accept two to three pets into their homes, but in the wake of disasters have accepted up to five dogs at a time.

Busche says, “Without our fosters and our volunteers we would not exist. They are essential to our cause.”

This program sets The Bella Foundation apart from other pet adoption options. Placing the dogs in foster care allows them to really get to know the animal before placing it with a family. The Bella Foundation does everything they can to be involved in the community; they are based entirely on donations and fundraising to continue their work. Their website reads, “Stray or abandoned animals are cared for with no stipulation attached,” and they truly embody that idea throughout their work.

The Bella Foundation SPCA plans to do further work with The Oklahoma Messages Project in the fall, but their next big event is their Dog Walk Fundraiser. The event will be held October 1 at Duffner park. Participants can create a page and collect donations to “sponsor” their dog walk. The Dog Walk will have food trucks and, of course, dogs!

The Bella Foundation SPCA is always accepting volunteers for their Saturdays at Petsmart, as well as foster families. More information can be found on their website at www.thebellafoundation.org.

Copyright The Gayly – August 17, 2016 @ 7:20 a.m.