A family dog named Bella is credited with saving a 6-year-old boy from a black bear encounter outside their home in Torrington, Connecticut, on July 4. Home security footage captured the moment the bear cub approached the boy, Colton, as he played in the driveway.
The bear cub, described as roughly twice the size of Bella, charged towards the child. In response, Bella immediately confronted the bear, barking aggressively and chasing it off the property. The footage shows the bear colliding with a boat on the property as it fled.
Jeffrey Tazzara, the boy's father, told ABC News he was packing the car when he heard Bella's distinct, fierce bark. "A vicious bark, not like she barks and yips and howls and stuff ... this was a different kind of bark," he said.
He recounted how Bella caught up to the bear in the driveway and bit its rear end. The bear then crashed into their boat before disappearing into the woods behind the houses.
Bella's protective actions were recognized by state officials. State Rep. Joe Canino and State Sen. Stephen Harding presented the dog with a legislative citation and dog treats. Senator Harding shared on Facebook, "Some heroes wear capes. Others have four paws." He further praised Bella's "loyalty, courage and instinct to protect" as extraordinary, highlighting the bond between families and pets and acts of heroism within communities.
Black bears are the only bear species native to Connecticut, and their population is reportedly growing, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The agency advises residents to take precautions to prevent bears from being attracted to their homes. Recommendations include waiting until the morning of trash collection to put out bins, masking food odors with ammonia, securing pet food, and properly managing compost piles and grills.