Stabbed in-between the eyes-Amazing!
This year, an extraordinary dog amazed people worldwide for her bravery. Bella, a 6 year old German Shepherd in South Africa, was stabbed IN BETWEEN THE EYES when she tried to protect her owner’s (Vernon Swart) home from intruders!
With an 8 inch knife plunged through her skull, Swart was alerted about the incident by his neighbours. He then quickly rushed Bella to the nearest veterinary clinic.
Fortunately, Swart said that although the would looked horrific, Bella appeared to be free of pain and was acting normally… In fact, she was running around the street as if nothing happened! Our heroic dog will have a full recovery as the knife missed her brain only by a few centimeters. Poor Bella.
Dogs always show such loyalty and devotion. It seems that serving and protecting their loved ones comes so naturally for our four-legged friends.
What about you? Would you have placed yourself at risk to save someone without a second thought? I love dogs. I have always loved dogs since a young child.
Tsem Rinpoche
Robbers stab dog in the head
2011-08-08 09:56
Jan Gerber, Die Burger
Cape Town – A well-known Stellenbosch artist and musician has told how he thought his neighbour was joking when he received a call on Saturday morning to say he should come quickly as his dog was “running about in the street with a knife in her head”.
Vernon Swart said it transpired that his 6-year-old German Shepherd and terrier cross, Bella, had foiled a robbery during which she was stabbed in the head.
Swart, known for his nude studies and landscapes as well as being the drummer for Valiant Swart, said he thought it was “absurd”.
He then went outside, to see the police “come charging, guns drawn”.
“Bella then attacked them,” he recounted on Sunday, while she lay quietly in front of the fireplace in their house in Dennesig Street, Stellenbosch.
The neighbours had called the police as they had trespassers on their property. The suspected robbers never got into Swart’s home, but must have been in the yard.
Missed the brain
Swart and his wife, Ingrid, who was at work at the time of the incident, then took Bella to a vet.
She was put under anaesthetic and the vet “literally had to push his knee against her head” to pull out the knife, said Swart, whose son Lucas is the drummer for the Stellenbosch rock group The Pretty Blue Guns.
To their surprise, Bella was fine, despite the stitches to the wound.
The knife penetrated about 12cm between her eyes, and appeared to have missed her brain.
Swart said he gave the knife to the detective and police would hopefully be able to dust it for fingerprints.
Stellenbosch police spokesperson Major René Matthee said they were investigating a case of malicious damage to property.
To reward Bella for her bravery, Ingrid cooked her a piece of fillet on Saturday evening.
“She was still under sedation and was a bit groggy when she ate it.”
Ingrid said Bella had always been a good guard dog and had in the past got rid of unwelcome visitors.
But they added that they thought Bella didn’t really do justice to her name – which means beauty. “She looks like an old, worn-out mattress.”
(Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Robbers-stab-dog-in-the-head-201108081)
What a loyal and brave Bella! She must have loved her owners very very much. Her owners must have treated her with much care and love as well. What are the chances of getting stabbed 12cm in the head and missing the brain/ major arteries?? Sheer force of good karma. I can’t imagine being caught in the same situation but would like to imagine I can do the same too
I am very glad the Swarts and Bella are all fine and this story has a good ending. What Bella did was out of instinct to protect the people she love. That is what is so wonderful about dogs and other animals – they don’t stop to weigh up the pros and cons before they act, which we humans so often do. We may credit it to being “smart” or “careful” which is not wrong by worldly standards but ultimately it is a measure-up of own self interest against other people’s interest. In Bella’s case, there is only one interest to protect ie that of the people she loves.
Loyalty is indeed a precious quality. I am sure we can learn from Bella and Swarts on this matter.
Anyway, it is good to hear that both of them are OK
I would have fainted if saw that happened to my dog… or any other dog. Great reaction from Vernon for attending to his dog immediately… and Bella, like many other dogs proved to the world once again on bravery and loyalty.
I love dogs from little also was lucky to have parents who allowed us to have pets but also to take responsibilty for them, caring for, feeding, washing, walking etc of our pets…great to instill caring values for kids for life and attitude in general for others in adult life. Priceless memories, Thank you Mum & Dad.
Dogs definitely provide so much more to us without question..
Looking at the picture make me feel so pitiful for Bella. Can’t imagine the pain that she has gone through. I am glad that Bella is OK. dogs have always been very loyal to their owners. They are great animals.
Dogs have always been called Man’s Best Friend, and in Bella’s example, we can clearly see why. Dogs, more than any other living being that I know, exemplify the qualities of loyalty and bravery best. We humans can learn such values from animals, which we normally consider as being beneath us. Perhaps we should start thinking of them as sentient beings who have an equal right to live, especially as many dogs make better and more loyal friends than our human friends!
Wow…..even dogs can be so loyal.
Even though this is not my first time hearing how dogs save or protect their master but every time when i heard of the story as such, it always blow my mind.
If dogs can have such a high loyalty and devotion it make me feel ashamed that why human can’t?
Especially towards someone that has been so kind and always cares for us….
Really show a great example of gratefulness.
Something that human should learn from and contemplate.
The wonderful thing about dogs is that no matter how much pain they are in, they do not show it and some even tries to hide it. They are just happy to see their owners regardless what. It’s a teaching to us humans that we should follow these examples and take on suffering for others joyously.
Loyalty towards a person to a dog is so simple and straight forward. For a human to be loyal to some one require so many excuses, the person that i want to pay loyalty must be rich la, handsome la, kind to me lar, can’t scold or bit me etc etc. Worst, not every one will be loyal till they die. To be loyal to a person until he or she die become a “legend” in today’s world. Because most of the time, we, do not even loyal or truthful to our self.
From this story i begin to learn one thing. Learn to be loyal to my Root Guru and trust. Is essential to trust a Guru, from the trust i believe some day i will understand how to use Dharma knowledge in life, how to be more wisdom in understanding people.
Thank you, Guru for sharing this article.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this brave story of Bella. I must agree that dogs are more loyal than humans in many situations. it could probably be their instrinsic nature or they are just less complicated than human beings.
I like what Beng Qooi said, we can learn so much from animals whom we usually treat as beings less superior than us, but their courage, bravery and loyalty in many cases surpasses what we complicated human can perfrom. Their devotion to their masters is simple and pure and perhaps this is what we humans need to learn, to eliminate the self grasping mind in a world full fueled by individualism.
Bella, I wish you a quick and full recovery!
Dogs are always so loyal to their master, no matter how they are treated, they will still stay and be close with their master. Dogs are intelligent being, just like we human, but only in a four legged furry form, and could not speak, but some how, their quality certainly far exceed we human in terms of loyalty.
Amazing that Bella could sacrifice herself to protect her master from intruder, and being so brave to fight with her life to endure the safety of her master, being stabbed in the eyes and nearly died doesn’t deter her too, and still being friendly and loyal to her master, even the pain she had to endured. Amazing.
This also reminded me on The Nine Attitudes of Devotion to the Guru, where on the 8th prayer it stated:
8. That of a domestic dog. Like a loyal dog, even when the Guru ridicules, irritates or ignores one, one never responds with anger.
(extracted from http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/prayers-and-sadhanas/sadhana-prayers.html#0f)
This is the quality we should have,and this story serves as a reminder and teaching to us.
Thank you Rinpoche for this article. with folded Hands.
Love, Frederick Law
Bella was real brave. I imagine that what went on in her doggy head at the time of coming face to face with the intruder was just pure selfless but to protect the property of her master. It was sooo painful just to see the knife lodged between her eyes and what Bella and her master went through. Its a relieve to know she is well and recovering.
Dear Rinpoche, Thank you very much for sharing, I am very happy to know that Bella is fine and well now and Its very touching as Bella’s royalty, love and devotion towards the owner is selfless.
Sometimes is very sad that we human can’t even compare with these furry friends. We are always selfish and sometimes a cowards to just admit our mistakes, don’t even think of a sacrifices to our loved ones.
Bella its absolutely a brave and loving baby, perhaps, we can put down our ego and starts to love and care for others.
I rather die to not saving the life of my loved ones because the regret feeling will haunt me till my death. Thats not what i want.
they protected me and my family until the day they were dead.
Im happy for Bella so much! She’s a good girl. I love dogs also. I miss my dogs as well
This is amazing, what the owner provides to the dog are merely food, shelter and maybe some playtime. But the dog could sacrifice its life to repay the kindness.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for this very touching story. Yes, Bella’s loyalty and her courage are truly amazing. There must have been so much pain when she went around with the knife between her eyes before it was removed. Yes, the unquestioning loyalty of animals towards their masters does put us humans to shame.
Dogs is always known to be loyal. And it is especially true if they were treated well by their owners. They would do anything to protect their owner. For Bella, it is sheer karma that she is not killed. It is not her time to die yet. I bet she has collected lots of good merits in the act of hers. She may be reborn as a human being in her next life.
Incredible how loyal and faithful Bella is. It’s equally incredible that she could even run around with the knife in her head!
How many of us would take a knife for another person? How many of us would stay loyal and faithful to our friends when they are in need? If a dog can do it why can’t we? What’s in the way of us being caring and selfless? Something to think about.
忠诚与勇气应该生在骨子里的？还是训练出来的？只有一直一直训练，或者本来就在骨子里，才会没有一分迟疑就冲出去救人。希望自己也能培养更多的勇气，站起来指正、表明立场、承认自己不够好的勇气。
Brave Bella, guarded her master all the way. Dogs are loyal and they are the greatest guardian for us. They always make sure that their masters are safe. Because they have a heart which has great love and care without agenda. They are grateful to the people who took care of them and always ready to serve and repy their kindness. What about us?
OMG. I thought he is dead. Very brave for a dog to protect his owner without knowing and worrying the weapon hold by the robber. Is the blade razor sharp? It has gone in so deep. Thank goodness the dog is still alive.
Dogs are the most amazing creatures. They give unconditional love to their masters. No matter how the dogs were treated by their masters, they hold no grudges and they will remain loyal, always ready for their masters. Dogs does not think twice to protect their loved ones with their own life.
Wow! Bella is so brave! Shows how much loyalty she has for her owners and their property. I am glad that she is ok. This is one of the example for dogs being called ‘man’s best friend’. Whether it is a dog or any other beings, we should love and treat them well… Not only when they are hurt…
Unlike animals who never fail to show utmost loyalty and bravery, if anyone of us were placed in Bella’s shoes, we would have rushed out of the house in an instance! Goes to show how selfish the human mind can be.
Animals, especially dogs, always have a tendecy to loyally stick with their owners through thick and thin, even at the cost of their lives. This story yet again portrays two extremes:
1. The cruelty of mankind, and their domination portrayed by hurting animals without a second thought. If they can stab a dog between the eyes, the very same action can be translated to doing it to another human being. How sickening this is.
2. No matter what pain and suffering the dogs undergo, they still have 100% trust in the very species that contributed to their pain. We should take heed from their immense loyalty, sincerity and kindness.
Who is really man’s best friend?
Wow, this is pretty amazing… It’s true how animals demonstrate so much more compassion and kindness to each other and to humans than humans do. Someone pointed out to me recently that humans are the only beings who will kill each other and other animals for means other than survival. No other animal in the world does that; they kill only out of an instinct to survive but not for selfish or greedy reasons. And like Bella, there are so many incredible examples out there of animals who have demonstrated greater loyalty, care and strength towards each other and humans, than many, many humans would be capable of.
Loyalty comes from devotion, devotion comes from faith, faith comes from a simple mind
Apart from bravery and undisputed loyalty, dogs are smarter than most animals – easy to train and be educated as a watch-dog. In the face of a threat, well-trained dogs put their lives at risk and in fearless jeopardy to save their owners, as can be seen in police or military trained dogs. Dogs have many capabilities better than human beings too in respect of:- Eyesight – where dogs can see better in darkness than humans; Hearing – Dogs can hear voices at frequencies beyond humans’threshold of hearing, and can notice noisesfrom distances 4 times farther away than we humans do. Smell – Its centre of smell in it brain is 40 times more than humans. These are some efficient capabilities that dogs can have over we humans do, therefore can be relied upon as good protector-dogs for our needs at anytime!
animal cannot talk like what we used to do, they can’t tell us how loyal, brave they are, but in fact, they use action to tell us what they are capable of, they have shown a very good example to human about loyalty, bravery, gratitude, etc… they have done so many things that we can’t do, and yet, we continuously hurt them, torture them, kill them for our selfish desire… compare to them, I wonder who are the real animal now…
I’m so glad that Bella is safe, she is really great…
This is another amazing dog’s story with good ending!Dogs are highly intelligent and loyal animals.They can be very good companions,they can be trained to be rescued dogs to save lives in times of disaster,guard the herds,help fight and solve crimes such as drugs smuggling very useful and helpful to us.We must treat them well may it be pet dogs or stray dogs.
It is an amazing story, thank you, Rinpoche. Two lessons I learn from this post:
1) Animals are behaving more “humanly” than humans as they will stand up for someone they care for and who has been kind to them. In the modern world, i have witnessed situations where people not only do not stand up and protect the people they claim to love but, in some cases, they even turn around and “bite the hands that feed them”. Bella is a shinig example for many of us.
2) The human species has gone against the law of nature through various criminal acts such as stealing. In the natural environment of the animal kingdom, animals do not engage in crimes that we hear so much about in the human world: rape, murder for the “fun of it” etc. This is really something to reflect on before we become too beastly a speicies.
The solution: to learn up and practice Dharma in our daily lives.
It is really unnerving to see Bella with a knife lodged in her head. But it is inspiring to see animals who is so loyal to their owners. Hope Bella inspires more people to take care of their animals.