Middleburg citizens, the tall and the small, showed their true colors at "Dog Days" by reaching deep in their pockets to donate enough money to ensure that Bella, a five-month old German Shepherd under care at the University of Pennsylvania, would have life-saving liver surgery Friday, August 12.

Why would so many children, adults and foundation officers who attended the weekend "Dog Day" event be moved to help a puppy so many miles away? Because Kate Bland, a Loudoun County resident who insists that she "…simply needed to help…" is driven to help animals and, thereby, help everyone who helps her feel better about themselves.

When Kate, a successful marketing executive, and Simon, a re-knowned animal portrait artist, lost their two beloved Labradors to cancer almost two years ago, Kate was haunted by a need to focus her deep sadness on helping others animals in distress. When she learned about Shadow, a golden retriever who had lymphoma but no funds for treatment, she was determined to find a way to help.

Out of Kate's determination to help Shadow was born 'Wrapped in Kindness,' a local initiative that raises funds for the care of animals who are desperately ill but have no financial resources. Initially, Kate found animals in need on the World Wide Web. Today, Wrapped in Kindness's reputation precedes it, and veterinarians, families, shelters and friends come directly to the website, www.wrappedinkindness.com for help.

It was Bella's owner who contacted Kate with Bella's sad story. Her rare liver condition demanded complicated surgery to insert coils in her stunt that would dissipate ammonia. Without the surgery, Bella would die, but the surgery, even with kind consideration by the professionals and institution involved, was so expensive it was impossible for the owner to have it done.

Kate had been helping animals by knitting scarves and selling them for upwards of $100 each. She sold the first one to a gentleman who was seated beside her on a flight back to Dulles from Omaha, and the rest, as they say, is heart warming history.

"Although I'm far from what anyone would call a craft person," Kate explained, "I've found that helping these animals has motivated me to do almost anything to give them a chance. I derive as much pleasure and satisfaction from the process of helping as their families and the vets who refuse to let them die do from knowing they'll have a chance at a long and happy life."

As summer approached, Kate was searching for something to knit that would be appealing during warmer seasons, and it was Bella's owner, who was desperate to give her puppy a chance, who suggested Kate knit embellishment for flip flops.

The campaign for Bella's surgery was well underway by early August, but only half the funds needed had been raised when a friend suggested that Kate set up a small tent at Middleburg's 'Dog Days' event.

"I've been helped by so many people," Kate says. "Tara, Barbara and Mabel of Lou Lou's have been amazingly generous. Larry and Laura Clark at Wylie Wag have been wonderful; Dr. Janet McKim of Middleburg Animal Hospital is my best customer and has been amazingly supportive and I couldn't have done it without Bob Kelly of Hunt Country Yarns ."

But the response to Bella's desperate situation at 'Dog Days' illustrates clearly that deep within us all is a seldom-tripped mechanism that responds with sincere generosity when a helpless creature is in need of help.

"I needed to raise $600 to be able to pay for Bella's surgery," Kate said."….And the surgery was scheduled for the next Friday, the very latest she could have the operation and still have a chance for success"

Kate arrived on Madison Street and filled her tent with fabulous flip flops, her new "Designer Fabric Dog Beds" and lots of fliers describing Bella's condition and her need for help.

"It was slow in the morning," she said. "I was pretty sure we wouldn't make the goal. But something happened just before noon and almost everyone who stopped, young or old, made a donation. I was seeing children tug on their parents arms to go back to their car to find change, and older couples giving me money they probably needed to help this puppy they would never see. It was amazing."

As the afternoon began to wind down, Kate still needed $475. The spontaneous generosity of so many people had been wonderful, but Bella's operation was difficult and very expensive.

"I was pretty resigned that I wouldn't make it," Kate remembers.

At that moment, a woman walked up to the 'Wrapped in Kindness' table and asked if she could read about Bella's story. The woman was Carol Adams of The Mosby Foundation, an initiative that began by the family of a wonderful dog who was shot and killed in Staunton, Virginia.

"The Mosby Foundation would like to donate $400 to help Bella," said Carol.

"There was no way she could have known how close that total was to what we needed," Kate said. "And, when she asked how much we needed and I said $475, she made out the check for the larger amount. I could not believe our good fortune in having so many wonderful people care and give so much."

"Sometimes, it takes a small, helpless individual to bring out the very best in all of us," Kate concluded. "By helping one sad animal, we help their family, their vet and many in their community. It's an unbelievably powerful and positive feeling to help the helpless. We all benefit enormously when we share that feeling and combine with others to help."

Kate and Simon Bland are now the proud family of Hannah, yellow Lab, and Nikko, an Australian Cattle Dog mix adopted from the Middleburg Humane Society.

'Wrapped in Kindness' continues to provide funding to animals in need by selling items Kate makes.

"Other than the cost of materials, every cent we make goes to help animals in need," Kate emphasizes.

Although she does not feel she's a craft person, Kate knits and knits and knits to raise money.

Late Breaking Good News!!!

Thanks to Wrapped in Kindness and all the generous people and the Mosby foundation who made a contribution to Bella's Recovery Fund at dog Day in August Bella's surgery was a success. Bella is resting comfortably at home and receiving the attention she needs.