Photos: Tracey Hedge
Story: Jon Lewis
Inspiration
the farm of
kisses & cookies
the sanctuary of bella vista farms
“She’s the real deal when it comes to animal rescue. I have always considered her a modern-day St. Francis of Assisi,“ ~CARLA JACKSON
Mauled by a pit bull from head to hoof (a span all of 27 inches), Isabella the miniature horse didn’t stand a chance. The victim of a drug bust gone bad, she was at death’s door when her luck changed: she was delivered into the welcoming arms of Bob and Chic Miller’s Bella Vista Farms. Chic, a retired nurse and the granddaughter of a selftaught veterinarian, gave Isabella round-the-clock care, even sleeping next to her for two weeks in the horse trailer. Today, Isabella enjoys a happy and healthy life while easily dealing with the fame of being the cover girl for a fund-raising calendar. And then there was Buddy, a one-eyed border collie suffering from congestive heart failure that was literally steps away from the euthanasia table. Chic stepped in, grabbed Buddy’s leash and made a friend for life who’s always at her side. Chip, a mixed-breed dog, was little more than skin and bones and so infested with ticks that he had lost his hearing. It took Chic more than 90 minutes to corral him after she spotted the pitiful pup wandering on Clear Creek Road. Several hundred dollars in vet bills later, Chip is the very picture of a loving pet, his nightmarish past long forgotten. continued on page 46 April 2012 Enjoy 45