A DOG'S BEST FRIENDS HUNDREDS ANSWER CALL, PLEDGE TO AID LAFD'S RESCUE CANINE.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer

WINNETKA - Touched by the plight of Bella, a city Fire Department search-and-rescue dog that recently underwent treatment for cancer, hundreds of supporters have pledged money to help pay the canine's medical bills.

The calls began pouring in Thursday, when the Daily News reported that city firefighters were trying to raise money to pay the $4,000 in medical bills for the 8-year-old border collie. Bella recently returned to work at Station 104 after undergoing 17 radiation treatments for spindle cell carcinoma in her right foreleg.

``The outpouring of support has been phenomenal,'' Brian Humphrey, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department, said Friday. ``We've heard from people from all walks of society. The calls have been in the hundreds.

``Some people, rather than buying doughnuts (Thursday) morning, decided to donate money to Bella.''

Nancy Smith, who owns the Malibu Animal Hospital, also offered free medical treatment for the canine, nicknamed Bella the ``Wonder Dog.''

``We were touched by the bravery of what this dog has been through,'' said veterinarian Lisa Newell, who works at the clinic.

Although Bella's handler, Deresa Teller, is a city firefighter, the department is prohibited from spending public money on the dog's medical care. Teller and other firefighters have been chipping away at the medical bills, but also have set up a bank account for tax-deductible donations.

Humphrey couldn't estimate how much money will be raised, saying checks pledged by callers will likely begin arriving within a day or two.

``If there's more money than needed, it will be put in a managed account to support future search dog efforts,'' Humphrey said.

Trained in cadaver, wilderness and disaster rescue, Bella helped search for victims of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 - just one of the five dozen or so assignments she's had during her six years of service.

``Any of us could be trapped in a building,'' Humphrey said. ``We could only hope and pray somebody like Bella would use her nose to dig through and find us.

``I heard from a retired firefighter who said he wished he had Bella as a resource back when he was called to the Sylmar Earthquake in 1971,'' Humphrey said. ``There were so many trapped victims but there was nothing like Bella at that time.

``The people at his senior center are collecting money,'' Humphrey added. ``It's very heartening.''

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Rescue dog Bella, an 8-year-old border collie, has racked up about $4,000 in medical bills for her cancer treatments.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News