Iowa dog living outside for three years even in snowy conditions gets first house

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Bella, a Labrador mix, received her custom-built dog house along with care package filled with treats and toys on Thanksgiving
Local animal rescue set up house after residents asked sheriff's office to investigate her living conditions
An image had surfaced online showing her tied on a leash in a backyard in snowy conditions

By Myriah Towner For Dailymail.com

Published: 20:49 EST, 6 December 2015 | Updated: 23:33 EST, 6 December 2015

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An Iowa dog who spent nearly three years living outside even in snowy conditions has received her first dog house.

Bella, a Labrador mix, received the new custom-built dog house along with a care package filled with treats and toys this Thanksgiving from a local animal rescue, according to ABC.

Residents had asked the Hardin County Sheriff's office to investigate the dog's living conditions before the Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) recently set up her 'better insulated home.'

Bella, a Labrador mix, who spent nearly three years living outside even in snowy conditions has been gifted a a new dog house (Bella pictured inside her new dog house above)

Bella pictured tied on a leash outside in snowy conditions. Neighbors of Bella's owners had reportedly asked the Hardin County Sheriff's office several times to investigate the dog's living conditions

An image of Bella attached to a chain living outdoors in the elements had surfaced online after Amy Haas-Gray of HEART Hardin Eldora Animal Rescue Team shared it on Facebook and The Dodo published it last month.

That photo of Bella led to an online petition and a flood of calls demanding that her living conditions be assessed, the New York Times reported.

In Iowa, it is legal to keep an animal outside as long as food, water and shelter are provided, according to the newspaper.

'The Sheriff's Office has visited the property several times to check on the condition of Bella and have found her condition to be good,' Sheriff Dave McDaniel said in a statement.

'With the cooperation of the owners of Bella, and the Animal Rescue League of Iowa a more suitable shelter was provided.

'The Hardin County Sheriff's Office also made arrangements for a veterinarian to check the well-being of Bella. The report indicated that Bella is healthy dog.'

When she received her new dog house (pictured), the Bella seemed really happy and kept running in and out

According to ARL, Josh Colvin, the league's Animal Control Services Manager, had received calls from concerned residents about Belling being tied up, living in her owners' backyard.

He said McDaniel reached out to Bella's owners after her situation was brought to his attention, according to ABC.

The owners eventually allowed Colvin to bring over the dog house and treats.

'Bella's owners were out of town for Thanksgiving, but the Sheriff was able to convince them to accept our offer of a better insulated house,' ARL wrote in a post on Facebook.

'So accompanied by the Sheriff and the neighbors who were caring for her while they were gone, we set up the dog house, straw and gave Bella her new treats and toys.'

The Harrin County Sheriff's office said with the cooperation of Bella's owners the Animal Rescue League of Iowa was able to provide her with a more suitable shelter (Bella pictured before and after)

Prior to her new dog house, Bella had apparently had a small metal shed to use for shelter, according to Colvin.

'I heard from a neighbor that they [the owners] had kids and that the dog preferred to be outside, according to them,' Colvin told ABC.

'We learned that it's been about three years' since the dog has lived outside.'

When she received her new dog house, the Bella seemed really happy, according to ARL.

'She was so happy she kept running in and out of her new house, licking Josh's hand each time as she ran out,' the animal rescue wrote.