Indiana Yorkie raised money in national pet awards competition!

Bella's story is coming up soon on Pet Pals TV!

UPDATE FROM CAROLYN POPE:

"There aren't enough words or ways to express to you how thankful we are for all of the support you showed to Bella and our family! Bella went onto the National round and accumulated 34,800 total votes! You raised several thousand dollars for the Best Friends Animal Society. You made a difference. The contest brought in 54,000 contestants and Bella finished 24th!! We are so pleased with her finish!! She will carry the Miss Indiana title for a year and we have already received several invitations to share Bella at summer events."

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Can a tiny Yorkie rescue pup from small-town Indiana become the top dog in a national competition?

Carolyn Pope hopes so. Her 5-year-old Yorkshire terrier, Bella, is in the running. A resident of Red Key, Indiana, near Muncie, Pope entered Bella in the Pet Lovers Choice Awards, a fan-voted national awards show sponsored by USA Today to benefit the Best Friends Animal Society. Both cats and dogs were eligible, and a winner from each state was selected along with runners-up.

Bella is the choice from Indiana, and voting for Nation’s Best Pet will be held from July 14-22. The awards ceremony on Aug. 9 will be televised and also can be viewed on YouTube. Comedian/actor Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias will be host.

If Bella is voted Best Pet, Pope will get a large cash prize, a trophy and two tickets to the awards ceremony.

“We can walk the red carpet and go up on stage during the announcements! I’m very competitive, and I also want to help Best Friends Animal Society,” says Pope.

Pope adopted Bella from Grateful Rescue and Sanctuary in Muncie two years ago. The tiny pup will be 6 in August. She has another

Carolyn Pope and Bella

Yorkie who is 3 and two Chihuahuas. In 2024 she had lost a Chihuahua named Annie and wasn't quite ready for another pet. But Grateful Rescue founder Pamela Terhune helped to move that decision along.

“Pam showed me pictures of a Yorkie who just came to the rescue, and although I wasn’t looking yet, I knew Bella was the right one,” says Pope, who has been a volunteer at Grateful Rescue for six years.

Other than being cute, what’s so special about Bella?

“Her eyes,” says Pope. “When I first saw her eyes, they drew me to her. Others have said the same thing. She doesn’t walk, she prances. She insists on attention. Few things bother her, like she fell asleep during the July 4^th fireworks, so she’s low maintenance. Oh, and she does have a lot of clothes!”

About Best Friends Animal Society: Located in Kanab, Utah, is a leading animal welfare organization and no-kill shelter dedicated to saving the lives of dogs and cats. They partner with more than 6,000 shelters across the country including Grateful Rescue in Muncie, Indiana.

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