A Connecticut family celebrated their beloved husky after her quick instincts helped protect a young boy during a terrifying encounter with a black bear, an act that has now earned the loyal dog official recognition from state lawmakers.
Bella, an 11-year-old husky, was honored with a special legislative citation after security camera footage captured her rushing to defend six-year-old Colton Tazzara when a black bear charged across the family's driveway in Torrington, Connecticut. The dramatic video continues to go viral, turning Bella into an internet sensation.
© Jeffrey Tazzara via StoryfulThe footage shows Colton standing in the driveway with a toy when the bear suddenly runs toward him. Within seconds, Bella races across the yard, barking furiously before placing herself between the child and the animal.
The courageous dog then nipped the bear's rear end and chased it away, sending it scrambling beneath a boat parked in the driveway before it disappeared into the nearby woods. Remarkably, neither Colton nor Bella was injured.
© Jeffrey Tazzara via StoryfulColton's father, Jeffrey Tazzara, said he immediately realized something was wrong after hearing Bella make an unfamiliar bark. "A vicious bark, not like she barks and yips and howls and stuff ... this was a different kind of bark," he told ABC News.
He said Bella has always been protective of his children but admitted the frightening encounter proved just how fearless she truly is. "She always puts herself in between strangers and the kids, but you always wonder in the back of your head, 'What's gonna happen if she needs to protect us?' And now we know," Tazzara told WTNH.
Bella receives a hero's reward:
Following the viral rescue, Bella was rewarded with one of her favorite treats, a large T-bone steak, and received an even more memorable honor from Connecticut officials.
© WTNHState Sen. Stephen Harding and State Rep. Joe Canino presented Bella with an official legislative citation recognizing her bravery and loyalty, along with plenty of dog treats.
"Today I had the honor to join State Sen. Stephen Harding in presenting a legislative honor to Bella the Husky," Canino wrote on Facebook. "Bella was rewarded for her bravery with a legislative citation, and some treats."
Canino also noted that bear encounters have increased significantly across Connecticut in recent months and said lawmakers would continue promoting proper bear management to help keep residents safe.
What wildlife experts recommend:
Although Bella's intervention had a happy ending, wildlife officials stress that dogs confronting bears can be extremely dangerous and shouldn't be relied upon as a safety strategy.
Jason Hawley, a wildlife biologist with Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), told WTNH that Bella's actions created "the best-case scenario" by making the bear uncomfortable enough to leave.
© Todd Ryburn PhotographyHowever, he warned that such encounters do not always end safely and advised residents to keep pets contained or closely supervised around wildlife.
The National Park Service advises anyone who encounters a black bear to remain calm, avoid running, pick up small children immediately, slowly wave their arms above their head while speaking calmly so the bear recognizes them as human, and slowly back away if it is safe to do so. In remote areas where bears are common, officials also recommend carrying bear spray and knowing how to use it.
