Second chance: Bella the dog thriving a year after traveling from Pittsburgh area to Colorado
A year after being flown from Butler County to her new home in Colorado, Bella, a partially paralyzed dog, is bringing joy to many people in The Centennial State
NEW TONIGHT, NEARLY A YEAR AFTER A JOURNEY THAT STARTED RIGHT HERE IN THE PITTSBURGH AREA, WE’RE NOW GETTING AN UPDATE ON BELLA, A BEAGLE MIX WHO WAS RESCUED BY THE BUTLER COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY. SHE MAY NOT HAVE THE USE OF HER BACK LEGS, BUT HAS MUCH MORE THAN MADE UP FOR IT IN THE WAY SHE USES HER HEART. I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, THE WORLD RIGHT NOW NEEDS JOY AND THE WORLD RIGHT NOW NEEDS SOME HAPPINESS. THAT HAPPINESS BEGAN ALMOST EXACTLY A YEAR AGO, JULY 2025, WHEN BELLA, A PARTIALLY PARALYZED BEAGLE MIX, TOOK FLIGHT HEADING FROM BUTLER COUNTY TO HER NEW HOME IN COLORADO. OUR FAMILY HAS DEEP ROOTS IN PENNSYLVANIA AND ALLEGHENY COUNTY IN PITTSBURGH. SO TO FIND A DOG THAT IS AN HOUR AWAY FROM WHERE I GREW UP IS KIND OF IT’S IT’S KIND OF FASCINATING. BELLA’S NEW OWNER, KIKI MCGOUGH, A PITTSBURGH NATIVE WHO NOW LIVES IN THE CENTENNIAL STATE, SHARED THAT IT ALL BEGAN AFTER SHE LOST HER BELOVED DOG, WATSON, TO CANCER. AND EVERY WEEK I WOULD GET A EMAIL FROM PETFINDER BECAUSE I’M ON A LISTSERV FOR SPECIAL NEEDS PET AND I WOULD DELETE IT, DELETE IT, DELETE IT. AND LAST JUNE, FOR SOME REASON, I OPENED IT AND BELLA WAS THERE. AFTER MAKING HER WAY TO COLORADO, BELLA HAS SPENT THE PAST YEAR WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. SHE HAS PARTICIPATED IN BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS WITH OUR OPTIMIST CLUB, AND WE’VE GONE INTO PRESCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN TO READ TO KIDS. I HAVE A WHOLE SELECTION OF BOOKS ON OVERCOMING CHALLENGES. EVERYONE IS SPECIAL. SHE HAS A LITTLE SCOOTER, LIKE A SKATEBOARD THAT PUTS HER RIGHT DOWN ON THE GROUND FOR PRESCHOOL KIDS. SHE’S ALSO BECOME VERY POPULAR AT MILE HIGH CHURCH. SHE’S NEVER WORN THE SAME DRESS TO CHURCH TWICE, AND SHE HAS A GROUP OF SENIORS THAT WE GO OVER TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND HANG OUT WITH FOR AN HOUR. SHE HAS HER FAVORITE MEN THAT THEY LEAN DOWN AND SHE KISSES THEM. SHE’S VERY PARTICULAR ON WHO GOT TO KISS. AS FOR WHAT’S NEXT FOR BELLA, SHE’S WORKING TO BECOME CERTIFIED AS A THERAPY DOG, THOUGH SHE FIRST HAS TO PASS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST PARTS OF THE TEST. SHE’S A BEAGLE, AND SHE HAS A LOT TO SAY WHEN SHE’S UP IN HER STROLLER, AND OTHER DOGS ARE ON THE GROUND. SHE GREETS THEM WITH A BARK, AND DURING THE TEST, THEY WALK A DOG BY HER AND SHE HAS TO IGNORE IT. SHE’S ALSO GETTING READY FOR A MOMENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT. LIKE WATSON BEFORE HER. SHE WILL APPEAR ON THE COLORADO PET PANTRY CALENDAR. IT’S ALL PART OF THE LOVE SHE IS RECEIVING FROM THE COLORADO COMMUNITY. GOING AS HIGH AS THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, WHO SENT A LETTER TO BELLA AND HER OWNER WITH THIS MESSAGE. BELLA’S JOURNEY SPEAKS TO THE VERY BEST OF WHAT ANIMAL RESCUE AND SECOND CHANCES CAN LOOK LIKE. LOVE THAT SO MUCH AND LOVE THE FASHION. YOU CAN CONTINUE TO FOLLOW BELLA’S ADVENTURES ON THE BELLA’S JOYFU
Second chance: Bella the dog thriving a year after traveling from Pittsburgh area to Colorado
A year after being flown from Butler County to her new home in Colorado, Bella, a partially paralyzed dog, is bringing joy to many people in The Centennial State
Updated: 5:55 PM EDT Jun 30, 2026
Early July will mark one year since Bella, a partially paralyzed Beagle mix who cannot use her back legs, was flown from Butler County to her new home in Colorado.On Tuesday, Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke with Bella’s new owner, Kiki McGough, a Pittsburgh native and nationally recognized special needs pet handler, who lives in The Centennial State.”Our family has deep roots in Pennsylvania and Allegheny County and Pittsburgh,” said McGough. “So to find a dog that is an hour away from where I grew up is, is kind of fascinating.”McGough shares stories of Bella’s adventures in the past year.”She has participated in back-to-school events. And we’ve gone into preschool kindergarten to read to kids.”Bella has also become popular at Denver’s Mile Hi Church.”She’s never worn the same dress to church twice,” said McGough. “And she has a group of seniors that we go over to the community center and hang out with for an hour. She has her favorite men that they lean down and she kisses them. She’s very particular about who gets a kiss.”Bella will soon be featured on the Colorado Pet Pantry’s Calendar for 2027.And McGough also shared a letter she received from Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and the message it had about the dog’s adventures.”Bella’s journey speaks to the very best of what animal rescue and second chances can look like.”
PITTSBURGH —
Early July will mark one year since Bella, a partially paralyzed Beagle mix who cannot use her back legs, was flown from Butler County to her new home in Colorado.
On Tuesday, Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke with Bella’s new owner, Kiki McGough, a Pittsburgh native and nationally recognized special needs pet handler, who lives in The Centennial State.
“Our family has deep roots in Pennsylvania and Allegheny County and Pittsburgh,” said McGough. “So to find a dog that is an hour away from where I grew up is, is kind of fascinating.”
McGough shares stories of Bella’s adventures in the past year.
“She has participated in back-to-school events. And we’ve gone into preschool kindergarten to read to kids.”
Bella has also become popular at Denver’s Mile Hi Church.
“She’s never worn the same dress to church twice,” said McGough. “And she has a group of seniors that we go over to the community center and hang out with for an hour. She has her favorite men that they lean down and she kisses them. She’s very particular about who gets a kiss.”
Bella will soon be featured on the Colorado Pet Pantry’s Calendar for 2027.
And McGough also shared a letter she received from Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and the message it had about the dog’s adventures.
“Bella’s journey speaks to the very best of what animal rescue and second chances can look like.”