FLEMING ISLAND - A social media post, an outpour of support, and just one hour was all it took to produce a miracle. 

On the morning of Sept. 20, Meghan and Zachary Janiszewski said it was a typical day. They had let their four-month-old puppy, Bella, out with their other dog. It was a quick morning routine that they were used to. Both dogs were supposed to come back. 

But Bella didn’t. 

At first, they weren’t aware of what had happened. Until their car turned off the street, and they saw her lying in the middle of the road, a stranger sitting with her. Bella had been struck by a vehicle, and the driver had fled the scene. 

Bella broke both her front right and back right legs. With the injuries that Bella sustained, veterinary costs would be through the roof. They were given just a week to decide on one of three choices, to amputate both of her legs, euthanize her or get a bone plating surgery to repair her legs.

“I was honestly preparing for the worst-case scenario, which was having to put her down,” Meghan said.”Because without the surgery, she wouldn’t be able to be a puppy at all.”

To garner some support, Zachary made a post on Facebook that caught the attention of Mary Hardin, the owner of Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming on Fleming Island. With three dogs of her own, she said what they were going through was unfathomable.

“I couldn't imagine being faced with something like financial euthanasia,” Hardin said. “It’s just not fair to the dog. Especially a fourth-month-old puppy. She’s got her whole life ahead of her.” 

 That is where the miracle kicked in. Hardin decided to rally the troops by posting to the bakery’s Facebook page. With more than 10,000 followers, the story was sure to make some noise. But it turned out to be much more than Hardin was anticipating. 

Asking for the community’s help in donating to Bella’s cause, the bakery vowed to match every dollar donated to Clay Humane until the goal was reached. 

The post spread on social media with many likes and shares. Hardin said the phones at Clay Humane were ringing nonstop. 

“They were telling me they were on hold trying to donate,” she said. “And I felt so terrible for the people working that day. They were so swamped.”

With donations ranging from $5 to more than $2,000, every bit mattered. In just one hour, the local community raised $6,000 to fully fund Bella’s surgery.

“It was quite impressive to see,” Hardin said. “And, it was really great to see how the community stepped up. It was a very simple effort on our part, but using social media was really a game changer.”

Meghan said that if it wasn’t for Hardin making that post, she doesn’t believe there would’ve been a solution that quickly. 

With so many extra donations left on her account, she said that, with the family’s permission, Clay Humane has used them to purchase extra plates for any future circumstances where another dog needs the same surgery. 

In the spirit of giving, Meghan and Zachary said that, in a way, their little Bella gave back, too.

They both said the experience was nonetheless traumatizing and exhausting, but they give a huge thanks to the bakery and the community for assisting them in a time of need. 

“We didn’t ask,” Zachary said. “We were planning just to try and figure out a way to cover it for ourselves because that’s the type of people we are.”

Bella, a black lab and shepherd mix, is currently recovering from her anticipated surgery. Her parents said she is still an active and happy puppy. Meghan said Bella hasn’t gotten used to her predicament yet, and since picking her up, she’s been trying to run around and play.

Bella is putting more pressure on her front leg and taking massive steps in her recovery. However, it will be two to three months before she is fully healed. 

The two said that their family is forever grateful.