Quick Facts:
- Breed: Basset Hound mix
- Gender: Female, spayed
- Age: 6-8 years old
- Size: 40 pounds
- Good with…
- Dogs? Yes!
- Cats? Yes!
- Kids? Yes! 6+
Hi, I’m Bella, which means beautiful in Italian, and everyone says that is the perfect word to describe my soul!
History
I was adopted by a wonderful human mom many years ago. We and another older, smaller dog lived together so happily and with so much love until our mom passed away 5 months ago. Her passing was the saddest thing ever. We didn’t have any place to go, so mom’s vet clinic boarded us while they searched for new homes for us. After 5 months of patient waiting, we both found places to go! I got to enter the CDR foster program and am now living in a wonderful foster home which is so much fun, I cannot stop smiling! There is a really cool little toy poodle here, 3 incredibly nice adult humans, and a fenced yard that is THE BEST! They told me that my former brother dog is also in a great situation, now living with some folks who were friends of mom’s. I’m excited to find my next forever person or family, but in the meantime, I am having the greatest time in my foster home!
Personality
I loves me the peoples!!! That is my defining characteristic…I love love love love love people–hanging out with you, cuddling with you, snuggling, giving you little kisses, and being petted, talked to, and loved on!. And I am a very happy, sweet, laid back girl. You will usually find me with a big goofy smile on my adorable little face, because life just makes me very happy!
I am super chill and relaxed and easygoing in the house, yet I am excited for walks, I delight in running around in the fenced yard, and am over the moon to go on adventures with you. I love getting attention, love, and cuddles, and want very much to snuggle in right next to you (or on you!) on the sofa and in bed. Sometimes when my foster mom wants to take a nap and finds me in her spot in bed and not wanting to move, she lays right on top of me and says that I am an excellent pillow! It’s true, I just lay there being her pillow and feel so happy.
I love to sleep in bed with you and am hoping for a forever home where that will be an option. Apparently I am hard to resist! Though my foster parents have not allowed any of their previous foster dogs in bed with them, they took one look at my stretched out adorable body in their bed the first night I was there, smiled and shrugged, and that is where I have slept ever since! And I am surprisingly agile, despite my incredibly short legs. I have no problem getting up on couches and beds- I can either hop right up, or kind of slide my long body up where I want to go!
I am very well behaved in the house, I know all about good manners. I don’t have accidents; I don’t chew things; I don’t beg for food; and I don’t counter-surf (though if you leave really delicious smelling things like hot dogs right out on the counter, I will of course help myself, as I think would any self-respecting dog). I’m super easy to live with. I love it when you are home but am happy to take a long nap when you go out. I would much rather not be alone too much of the time though, so if you have another friendly dog at home (I like calm dogs best), or if you are around a lot or could even take me to work with you, that would be ideal.
I am one of those dogs who will quietly follow you around the house as you go about your business, not being a pest at all, just hanging with you. I also love exploring the world by going for leashed walks and I’m not shy to ask for a walk if need be. If dinnertime has come and gone and we still haven’t gone out for our walk, I will come to you, gently paw at you, gaze at you with my big soulful eyes, and if that doesn’t do the trick, I will start a (really cute) whimper that turns to a moan that turns to a soft yowl-yowl-yowling. That always does the trick! I am a well-mannered walker, but do pull quite excitedly when I see an outdoor cat, another dog, or anything with wheels (bikes, skateboards, etc.). Since when I pull I’m kinda strong, I wear a Sporn (no-pull) type harness for leashed walks and that works really well (a Sensation harness would work great too).
In general, I am not a big barker, though I do bark in a few situations. First, I believe it is my job to bark-alert for you when people are in, or near, our territory. So, when I am in the fenced yard and the neighbors come out into their yards, I bark (even if I know them). When I am on the front porch and anyone walks by the house, I bark until they have gone past. And when people come to the door, I bark until they are inside, at which point I stop barking and immediately want to become their friend! My bark is loud and strong, which would scare off intruders I think (that’s the point!) but it’s all pretend, as I am always, always, always friendly with people when we meet. The only other time I bark is when I see exciting critters like birds and other dogs! But again, same deal…it’s happy excitement type barking, nothing aggressive.
Cohabitation
I love all people!
I have lived really well with dogs and have interacted with loads and loads of dogs over the years that I lived with my former momma. She was a long-time TC SPCA volunteer, so made sure I was well socialized with dogs. I used to go to doggy playtime at the TC SPCA and I also did the TC SPCA March for Animals on many occasions.
I do seem nervous around big energetic dogs who I don’t know well, and don’t like it when they come running right at me, get too close in my face (or personal areas), surprise me (where did he come from?), or corner me. In those cases, I growl or air snap to get them to give me a bit more space. Not sure I would enjoy the big dog park, as there are often a lot of very energetic, rambunctious dogs there. But in general I really like other dogs, like being around them, and would be very happy to share a home with one. Though I would also be happy to be your only dog if I didn’t have to be home all by my self too much of the time!
I have lived well with cats and other than giving (friendly) chase every once in a while, am very chill with them (even sharing a dog bed, and snuggling alongside them). Remember though that I will try to chase outdoor cats, so hold onto that leash when we’re out walking!
Medical
I am in terrific health and have all of my records from my previous home. My former vet clinic was Colonial Vet Hospital, and while I am in foster care, it is Cornerstone Vet Clinic. I wear a Seresto collar and have monthly heartworm preventive of course!
Summary
I am an absolute gem. Sweet, adorable, silly, easygoing, and fun. Chill indoors, happy and energetic outdoors, and a champion cuddler. It was very sad for me to lose my momma, but she always told me that life would be great for me forevermore no matter what, and I believe her. I am having a terrific time in my foster home and can’t wait to find my forever person or family. Come and meet me!
If you are interested in adopting me, please fill out an online adoption application and live close to Ithaca , Syracuse, Binghamton, Rochester, or Elmira. We do home visits on every applicant, and can’t do home visits where we don’t have local volunteers.