Justice for Bella the Bully

Hello everyone. My name is Tal Reid, and I am trying to raise money for Bella’s food, vet visits, medications, vaccinations, surgery, and behavioural training. These are reoccurring costs which means money is always needed. This all comes out of our pockets.

Who is Bella?

Bella is a female American Staffordshire Terrier that is 1 year and 3 months old and 60lbs. She was placed in a rescue that did not vet her and then abandoned her completely. She has some trauma that we are working with but she is anxious and on medication three times daily. She is very trainable and this is something we can overcome with time and patience. Please help us.

Timeline:

Original owner surrenders Bella to Foster One when she was still a small puppy in July 2024. She stayed with this family (who had children, so she has that exposure) for a few months until they surrendered her to Steph’s rescue organization — DOGS FOR ADOPTION OTTAWA RESCUE — in November 2024. In Steph’s own words, Bella was under her direct care for two weeks until she found another foster for her. However, the math doesn’t really add up. It seems like Bella was with Steph for longer than that. Steph starts making posts on her Facebook group on December 11, 2024. She then posts again on December 16 and December 30, 2024. This would essentially mean that Steph had her all of December, no? She must find Foster Two during this time. However, it doesn’t last long as she begins posts again on both January 29 and January 30. Steph finds Foster Three and within a few days on February 4 bounces her along to Foster Four. This is not including Steph being a foster, or the fact that I make Foster Five.

During all this time, Steph failed to give her any medical attention and did not give her any vaccinations or spay/neuter. It was not until Foster Four that she got vaccinations and anxiety medication. Can you just imagine how terrifying life must have been — house to house — without that medication?

I reached out to Steph for help on February 22, after she ghosted Foster Four, letting her know the dog was in my care but she needed medical attention. I said, word for word, “Would you be able to help with cost?” — I was willing to contribute. She dodged the question and then stopped replying completely. She never once asked for Bella back. This is after Foster Four clearly expressed she couldn’t handle Bella and needed her gone as soon as possible.

What now:

We have to do an emergency surgery tomorrow (February 27, 2025). The expenses are nonstop and it won’t end anytime soon. Steph makes claims here and there but refuses to take back the dog no matter who contacts her. She also refuses to pay for any of the medical attention she so desperately needed but was neglected in her care.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Who is "Steph" and what is her involvement in this aside from abandoning Bella?

- Steph is not the original owner who surrendered Bella. Steph owns the “rescue” that took Bella in, however, did not vet her. Now we have things to catch up on before Bella is able to be adopted.

Who is caring for Bella now?

- Raven (Foster Four) and Tal (me) are currently co-parenting right now.

Who are you?

- My name is Tal Reid. I am an immigrant from Jamaica that has lived in Canada for 10 years. I came to Ottawa about 4 years ago with my partner. We have experience with the breed which is why we are so invested with Bella.

Are you involved in a rescue group?

- I do not own a rescue, however Vulnerable Paws Project is a rescue that has recently reached out and been helping us.

What is the plan going forward?

- We currently have Bella up to date on vaccinations. She just got her spay/neuter. She takes medications three times daily for anxiety. She needs to eat. She has her first behavioural assessment on Sunday (March 16, 2025) and then will need classes after that. All this will help her rehabilitate so she will not be returned/bounced around again between either fosters or homes.

What is Bella like?

- Bella has had a hard life, but she is very sweet and calm when it’s just you and her. She doesn’t love cats or small dogs but I’m hoping to work on it. If we can’t overcome, then she will do best in a home without small animals. Otherwise, she does like bigger dogs. The bigger dogs she has been around were male so maybe that preference is there too. She is happiest on a walk. She likes peaceful suburban areas without too many cars so she can really calm down and enjoy her time. She is playful and happy. Loves her naps. Loves her food. I always cook her rice and eggs and she absolutely loves it. Hates the muzzle but sometimes needs it when on walks or around busy areas. Previous owner said she destroyed furniture but I haven’t experienced that. She honestly is just a co-pilot who wants to be under your skin.

Whats Bella’s backstory?

- The second family to have Bella, who eventually surrendered her to Steph, said this.

“Current family meet Bella formerly named Mawi in July 2024 at there campground. Her then owner (Eric) explained that he was living in his camper full time because his house burn down. He would bring Bella with him daily to work and she would stay in his car while he was working. (Travel time from the campground to his workplace 45 to 60 minutes).

Eric was a single dad who had his two kids every other weekend (12 and 16 years old).

Current family agreed to integrate mawi within their family of 5: mom dad and three girls 15,9&8years old as well as there male pitbull of 2 years old because they spend their time, full time either at the campground or in the family home of 200sqaure feet and together both parties agreed that this was a much better fit for mawi the time Eric was able to get back on his feet.

Eric did not pass over any vet records nor disclose any medical issues.

The change between mawi and Bella was made in an inclusive way. New family would always praise her by saying “La Belle féfé” and calling her mawi just disappeared.

Bella is spoken to in both French and English by the new family.

(Eric spoke french only)

She was born in November 2023 however the date exact is unknown. The breed of her parents is also unknown.

At the campground Bella and Walker (2year old male) were kept on a leash at all times when outside the camper and walked/slept/stayed freely inside with and without supervision.

At home Bella was introduced to the cage. She sleeps and stays in her cage when alone with Walker to prevent mating. Both dog run freely when in the fenced back yard. Bella had a menstrual cycle in September 2024.

Bella has been eating a mix and puppy and adult 1st choice fish nibblets.

Bella has shown signs of not liking visitors in the house (barking, showing her teeth and growling) however with lots of attention and compassion she will calm down and allow herself to be approached by the visitor.

She tends to chew on anything and everything when no attention is given and she is free in the house alone. When under supervision she will not chew anything and will just lay down with a family member.

If food is left unattended on countertops she will jump on to take either what is on the plate of the whole container of something/anything chew through the container and lick it clean.

Bed time differs for week day to week end between 9 and 11pm and wake up time for her is always 6am. She wakes up eager to go outside then comes in for breakfast.

It has happened multiple times that she eliminates in her cage if not let out when she asked to get out.”