Residents of rural North Dakota have witnessed the heart-wrenching plight of countless companion animals, yet their current circumstances have made it difficult to care for these once cherished creatures. As an example, November 2023, I found Bella, a young blue female cat, abandoned in rural North Dakota during an ice storm.

Bella was severely injured in her sinuses, emaciated, and suffered from mastitis. Despite her condition, her spirit and will to live remained strong, a testament to her desire to love and be loved.

I had taken Bella to the veterinary clinic several times over her time with me.  After much evaluation, we felt her was suffering to much and her pain to great; she would have to be humanely euthanized.  

I held her, rocked her, sang to Bella; as she didn’t want to eat or drink or take any food, Bella had the smell that we all know comes from a body that passes. The day I brought Bella to the vet clinic, Bella  had sprit, Bella had spunk.

Bella meowed and cried and put her long skinny arms out on my chest that showed me she wanted to live.  I cried too at that time, and so Bella came home with our family and we worked on another plan;  it worked for many weeks.  
 
Bella had two surgeries in her sinuses and a Veterinarian removed a large bone in her facial structure that was broke off from an un known injury.  The injury in her sinuses was severe and perplexing as the amount of force to break that bone in that spot of this cat is what left us with the worst feeling. 

The second  sinus surgery Bella past away from a heart attack at the end of January.  She had so much infection, dead tissues (the death smell) and inflammation in her sinuses.  

My heart broke for the life I wanted to give to Bella, the happy rescue story, where I had been sharing her progress on my Facebook page, and looking for a loving home for our dear Bella. 

Her brief time with our family changed how I feel and think about these crimes against our beloved little ones and those that commit the crimes.  

Unfortunately, Bella’s story is not isolated. Countless dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens across our state are treated cruelly, left to suffer, and sometimes die. North Dakota's limited local shelters and sparse resources simply cannot keep up with the number of animals left in distress. We need to hold these people that carry on these offenses to our loved animals accountable with laws to protect our animals. 

North Dakota dropped down to 50th State on the Animals Legal Defense Organization on the 2023 U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report.  https://aldf.org/project/us-state-rankings/

North Dakota citizens and lawmakers we can only go up, let work together, and let’s put the time and effort into protecting our animals from acts of cruelty.

We believe that every life matters, and our fur friends should be shown the same compassion that we humans enjoy. We call upon our local and state government bodies to increase funding, resources, and support for animal rescue endeavors, especially in rural regions.  This will help provide the necessary care for these animals and hopefully stop the cycle of animal abandonment and cruelty.

By signing this petition, you stand with us in solidarity for every cat like Bella, every animal who has suffered cruelty, neglect, and abandonment. Your voice is demand for change, for lawmakers to address and create laws and resources, our communities and rest of North Dakota desperately deserve. 

We have an obligation to protect those who cannot speak for themselves. Let’s make a difference today! Please sign and share this petition.

Please Contact your local North Dakota State Senator and House of Representatives Here.