‘The Bear Wanted to Eat Me!’: How One Brave Dog Saved a 6-Year-Old Boy From an Attack
When a black bear charged toward 6-year-old Colton, Bella sprang into action—and saved the day.
Key Takeaways
- An 11-year-old Connecticut husky mix named Bella saved a 6-year-old boy from a bear.
- The brave dog tackled the black bear in the family’s driveway before it could reach the child.
- Security camera footage captured the heroic moment, leaving the boy’s family in complete awe.
Bella, a husky mix, always watched over her family, but no one imagined how far she would go to protect them — even risking her own life to keep them safe. Here, they share their story with Woman’s World.
Colton Tazzara, 6, scampered across the driveway clutching his Nerf gun while out playing. His mom, Tara, was inside getting ready while his dad, Jeff, and 2-year-old brother, Cason, were packing the car to head to a family cookout.
Watching from several yards away was Bella, the family’s 11-year-old husky mix. Neither Colton nor Cason ever left the house without Bella tagging along, keeping a protective eye on her boys, barking if they wandered too near the street and patrolling their Torrington, Connecticut, property.
“Go tell your mom we’re ready,” Jeff told Cason, lowering the trunk.
Just then, Bella started barking — and not her usual bark. This bark was furious, sharp and very urgent!
The moment Bella became a hero
A black bear had emerged from the woods, and it was lumbering straight toward Colton.
“Colton!” Jeff shouted.
Spotting the bear, the boy made a dash for the open garage. Jeff launched himself toward his boy…but Bella was faster.
In a flash, the husky rocketed across the yard. When the bear paused, Bella launched herself into the air with open jaws, clamping down with all her might on the dark creature’s haunch.
Jeff scooped Colton into his arms, his heart pounding. With his son safe, he shifted his attention to Bella. If the bear fights back, how am I going to save Bella? he worried.
But Bella’s fierce response left the bear confused. Instead of attacking, it backed away, bumping into Jeff’s boat before bolting back into the woods.
The security camera footage that proved everything
Bella gave a final bark as if to say, And don’t come back!
“I’m ready!” Tara announced, stepping into the garage, and when they told her what happened, she rolled her eyes.
“Surely you’re exaggerating,” she said.
“The bear wanted to eat me!” Colton insisted.
When Tara pulled up the security camera footage on her phone, her jaw dropped. “Dear God,” she murmured, contemplating what might have been.
“She is getting a lot of treats,” Jeff declared.
That night, Bella lay in her spot on Colton’s bed. Her family was safe. And so long as Bella was around, that’s how it was going to stay.
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