Husky Videos · Rescue stories

Faithful Husky Saves 6-Year-Old Boy From Charging Black Bear

By Ann Premazon, founder of Local Husky

Video by Inside Edition on YouTube · Watch on YouTube. Local Husky isn't affiliated with this channel.

The video

A six-year-old is playing in the driveway when a black bear comes running out of the woods toward him. Before anyone can react, the family husky, Bella, sprints across the driveway and chases the bear away. The home security camera caught all of it, and it's over in seconds.

Meet the dog and the channel

This happened on July 4, 2026, at a home in Torrington, Connecticut, according to USA TODAY. Bella is an 11-year-old husky, and the boy is Colton. Inside Edition's description says he was playing with a Nerf toy. Bella's owner, Jeffrey Tazzara, told USA TODAY his first thought was "to find both kids and get them in the house, followed by getting into the woods to make sure Bella was not fighting for her life back there." Neither the boy nor the dog was hurt. Tazzara said it was Bella's first time face to face with a bear, because "usually, they come through at night while we're sleeping." Her reward was a steak of her own. Inside Edition, the syndicated news show that posted this segment, had about 13.8 million YouTube subscribers when we checked in November 2026.

How it blew up

The footage was in national news within four days. USA TODAY ran it on July 8, ABC's Good Morning America covered it, and Connecticut station WTNH did too. Inside Edition's segment went up on July 8, 2026, and had about 644,000 views when we checked in November 2026.

The husky science behind it

Huskies are known as friendly with people and not great guard dogs. They're more likely to greet a burglar than bite one. But they're still dogs with a strong chase instinct and a strong bond with their family, and a large animal running at a child gets a response. Black bears usually back down from a charging dog. That doesn't make it safe, though. Dogs do get hurt in bear encounters.

A practical tip

If you live in bear country, don't leave pet food, trash or bird feeders where bears can get them. Keep a light on and make noise before letting dogs out at dusk. Teach a solid "come," so you can call your dog off a chase instead of hoping it wins.

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