When Bella first came to live in our home, she was 9 weeks old.  My wife Cheree, and son Ryan, and I went to a small ranch near Terrell, Texas one Saturday morning, because they had advertised border collie pups for sale.  We were on our way to Dallas and were just planning on stopping by and taking a look.  We were not planning on making a purchase just yet, but when we saw this adorable little pup,  we couldn't leave knowing that someone might come along and buy her.  We chose her from her siblings because she was just sitting there looking at us, and us at her, and we just felt like she was the one. We named her Bella.

After 3 days of trying to establish some rapport, she was intent on keeping her distance.  I wanted her to trust me, but I was starting to have some doubts that she ever would.  On the 4th day, I was sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace, and she was sitting about 10 feet from me, next to the couch where she had been silently huddling for some time. Suddenly she got this look of excitement on her face, and she ran over to me. Finally, a connection had been made.  She suddenly realized that she had found someone she could trust to love her and take care of her.