SO ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WE TOLD YOU ABOUT A JOURNEY FOR ONE VERY SPECIAL GIRL FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO COLORADO. BELLA, A BEAGLE MIX. THERE SHE IS. WAS RESCUED BY THE BUTLER COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY. WELL, NOW WE’RE GETTING AN UPDATE FROM HER NEW OWNER, AS KELLY SASSO SHOWS US, BELLA MAY NOT HAVE THE USE OF HER BACK LEGS, BUT HAS 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. 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 GOT 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. AND WHO GETS A 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 VEHICLE, AND SHE HAS A LOT C1 THE GROUND, SHE GREETS THEM WITH A BARK. AND DURING THE TEST, THEY WALK A DOG BY C1 SHE WILL APPEAR ON C1 COMMUNITY. C1 VE
Pennsylvania rescue dog Bella brings joy and hope in Colorado
Updated: 6:09 PM EDT Jul 2, 2026
Bella, a partially paralyzed beagle mix rescued by the Butler County Humane Society in Pennsylvania, has found a new home and purpose in Colorado, bringing joy to her community and inspiring others.Finding BellaBella’s new owner, Kiki McGough, a Pittsburgh native now living in Colorado, shared how she discovered Bella after losing her previous dog, Watson, to cancer. “Every week I would get an email from Petfinder because I’m on a listserv for special needs pets, and I would delete it, delete it, delete it. And last June, for some reason, I opened it, and Bella was there,” McGough said. Serving children and adultsSince arriving in 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 and kindergarten to read tickets. 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,” McGough said.A beloved community companionBella has also become a beloved presence 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 about who gets a kiss,” McGough said. Working toward therapy dog certificationLooking ahead, Bella is working to become certified as a therapy dog, though she faces challenges in passing one of the test’s requirements. “She’s a beagle, and she has a lot to say. And 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,” McGough said. Recognition for Bella’s journeyBella is also preparing for a moment in the spotlight, as she will appear on the Colorado Pet Pantry’s calendar, following in the footsteps of Watson. Her story has even reached the office of the governor, who sent a letter to Bella and McGough. “Bella’s journey speaks to the very best of what animal rescue and second chances can look like,” the letter read.
, Colo. —
Bella, a partially paralyzed beagle mix rescued by the Butler County Humane Society in Pennsylvania, has found a new home and purpose in Colorado, bringing joy to her community and inspiring others.
Finding Bella
Bella’s new owner, Kiki McGough, a Pittsburgh native now living in Colorado, shared how she discovered Bella after losing her previous dog, Watson, to cancer.
“Every week I would get an email from Petfinder because I’m on a listserv for special needs pets, and I would delete it, delete it, delete it. And last June, for some reason, I opened it, and Bella was there,” McGough said.
Serving children and adults
Since arriving in 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 and kindergarten to read tickets. 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,” McGough said.
A beloved community companion
Bella has also become a beloved presence 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 about who gets a kiss,” McGough said.
Working toward therapy dog certification
Looking ahead, Bella is working to become certified as a therapy dog, though she faces challenges in passing one of the test’s requirements.
“She’s a beagle, and she has a lot to say. And 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,” McGough said.
Recognition for Bella’s journey
Bella is also preparing for a moment in the spotlight, as she will appear on the Colorado Pet Pantry’s calendar, following in the footsteps of Watson. Her story has even reached the office of the governor, who sent a letter to Bella and McGough.
“Bella’s journey speaks to the very best of what animal rescue and second chances can look like,” the letter read.