**$29.95 in pledges to any rescue that may pull!**
** New Video 2/21! **
Bela Vida ACCT-A-241458 is currently considered urgent and at risk of euthanasia due to length of stay and lack of space for incoming dogs. Bela Vida must have confirmed placement with a RESCUE PARTNER or ADOPTER by WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH at 10AM. Should Bela Vida's medical or behavioral status change, her urgency and timeline for placement may also change.
Bela Vida came to ACCT Philly on January 22nd after being surrendered alongside three other dogs when her family reported they were unable to afford their care. She was described as very active, fully housebroken, and high energy. Her former family shared that she could be protective of the home and reactive toward unfamiliar people and animals, including a past fight over territory with another dog in the home. Since arriving at the shelter, Bela Vida has shown staff and volunteers a much softer, affectionate side and has been working hard to show everyone who she really is.
Bela Vida is consistently described as sweet, affectionate, and eager for attention. She leans in for pets, asks for more when petting pauses, and happily shows off her "sit" for treats. She loves fetch and chasing toys, especially stuffies, and will proudly bring them back. While she can get excited and a little mouthy during play, she takes treats gently and is responsive to redirection. She has had multiple positive dog meets in the shelter, described as polite and interested. Overall, Bela Vida presents as a bright, affectionate, playful girl who would thrive with structure, continued positive training, and a family ready to channel her energy into fun and enrichment. Due to her length of stay, Bela Vida is urgently seeking placement with a rescue partner or adopter.
VIDEOS:
New 2/21! Bella Vida:
https/://youtube.com/shorts/zcmHDTlhaJk?si=sUWQdhscW59rQyTe
Scritches for Bela Vida: https://youtube.com/shorts/AeWeqC3H06M?si=1WSTFBIwC-jEcLOr
Bela Vida loves pets: https://youtube.com/shorts/2HohcCeTkcY?si=GGN_kIAClmXS5EH3
Fetch and pets with Bela Vida: https://youtube.com/shorts/Aqb899_8f2c?si=kN2y71dKUtF-k37p
Cookie Ann and Bela Vida meet: https://youtube.com/shorts/M8TsdMQfpik?si=XG2YPcI6pEpP07m3
Bela Vida and Millie Meet - Leashed: https://youtube.com/shorts/MM0TRH9khr8?feature=share
Bela Vida and Millie Meet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DirvG9XASw8
Cork and Bela Vida Meet Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/S1ihro15GIY
Cork and Bela Vida Meet Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3Wxv4D0QT_c
BEHAVIOR:
Per volunteer 2/12: Great dog.
Per staff 2/10: Good on walk and on leash.
Per staff 2/7: Medium energy. Sweet lady, snuggly + affectionate. Definitely housetrained.
Per volunteer 2/5: Low energy. Good dog.
Per volunteer 2/1: High energy. Very playful. Can try to nip a little when playing. Happy + sweet.
Per staff 2/1: High energy. Dog reactive thru fence. Pulls a bit. LOVES fetch. Took treats gently. Nipped hands + legs while playing.
Per volunteer 1/31: Medium energy. Excited to see dogs. So sweet. Easy to redirect with treats.
Per volunteer 1/29: Medium energy. Very interested in dogs + people. Can pull pretty strong on leash. Very sweet + happy girl.
Per foster 1/28: I fostered Bela Via during the snowstorm this weekend and wanted to provide a recap. This was my first time fostering and I didn't expect to fall in love with a dog so fast (naive, I know) but Bela Vida was seriously the sweetest dog. She was so cuddly & loving and just followed me around like my little shadow. She loves her chin rubs and chewing on her tennis ball. I even got to shower her and she did really good. She also did really good with her walks despite the snow and freezing cold. In terms of potty training, it definitely took her some time to adjust. Because I live in an apartment building, it was kind of challenging and it took her some time to realize that just because we left my apartment, doesn't mean we are outside yet, so there were a few accidents, but I could tell she was trying. She was also a bit reactive towards people, not in an aggressive way, but would bark at people we pass, so I think some good training and exposure would help her a lot.
Per volunteer 1/24: Medium energy. Met Cork, both were polite + interested. Very sweet pup. Nice with treats.
Per volunteer 1/24: Medium energy. Good dog meet w/ Millie. Screamed at a little dog in small pen. Easy in + out, wiggly pawsy.
Per volunteer 1/24: Love this sweet girl! She's wiggly and snuggly and loves showing off her toys. She can get a bit excited about treats, but knows sit and will show it off! She was easy to leash and handle, walked nicely, and seems to be trying to stay housetrained. Absolute love bug!
Per volunteer 1/24:
Kennel Presentation: Soft eyes, still body, face right against the door. Took a treat gently though the door. Body loosened slightly when she saw the leash.
Leash Skills: Stood still to be leashed, hopped out of kennel cautiously. Minimal to moderate pulling to get outside. Slightly nervy going through loud gates.
Sociability: Lots of sniffing outside at first. When I called her over, she became wiggly and social. Leaned into me and hopped up for snuggles and pets. Knows sit, takes treats nicely. Did some consent petting and she asked for more.
Play: No interest in toys outside, very interested inside the grooming room. Chased stuffies and brought them back, allowed me to try to grab them. One time I was petting her back while she had a toy and she whipped her head around with an open mouth - may have been more related to touching a spot she didn't like? No vocalization or movement toward my hand and she otherwise did not show resourcing guarding.
Return to Kennel: hopped in with light leash pressure. Easy to unleash via clip method
Color Level: Gold
Recommendations and considerations: Gold out of abundance of caution due to OS notes stating history of resource guarding and one small head whip while holding a toy
Per staff 1/22: Ears back + panting throughout physical exam, but allowed all handling + rubs, likes hot dogs.
Per owner surrender notes 1/22: Bella had lived with multiple adults and several large dogs. Bella was described as very active with high energy and lived primarily outdoors. She was fully housebroken, knew commands, and walked on leash but tended to pull. She was not crate trained. Behaviorally, they noted "they are very aggressive with people they don't know" and barks at strangers, children, and cats. She had been involved in a territorial fight with another dog and was noted to bark or fight with other dogs. She enjoyed bones and cookies and ate both dry and wet dog food. They indicated she was "good for protecting the home from the outside."
MEDICAL:
On 1/28, Bela Vida was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection (URI) or "doggy cold" and started on antibiotics. She tested positive for pneumovirus. On 2/10, her URI signs were worsening, so she was prescribed different antibiotics. She tested negative for pneumovirus on 2/12.
On 1/27, Bela Vida weighed 43.8 pounds and was in lean body condition. She appeared healthy overall.
On 1/23, Bela Vida was spayed and received a vet exam while she was still sedated. Her ears were dry, but did not require any treatment. She was noted to be postpartum.
During her intake exam on 1/22, Bela Vida weighed 42 pounds and was in thin body condition. She had some redness in both eyes, clean but dry ears, and light staining on her teeth with very little tartar on her top canines. She also had mild skin flaking with hair thinning on the right hind leg and inner thigh. Her nipples were enlarged, but she was not lactating.
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Due to being significantly overcapacity with animals and higher than usual intake, extensions are unlikely to be granted. If you are interested in an animal please contact ACCT Philly immediately.
Due to limited space, timestamps may also be proceeded with early so it is imperative to let us know if you are considering adopting or tagging an animal.
ACCT Philly is located at 111 West Hunting Park Ave in Philadelphia. We are open for adoptions 7 days a week. Please visit www.acctphilly.org/adopt for details.
If you are a rescue interested in pulling this animal, please email our lifesaving team, or visit here if you are not currently a rescue partner: https://acctphilly.org/acct-philly-love-local-partnership-program/
Confirmed placement is considered a confirmation of an actual rescue pull. Possible placement, interested parties, and other "TBD" statuses are not considered confirmed and do not indicate an animal is no longer urgent.
All animals at ACCT Philly are from Philadelphia, as the only open-intake animal shelter in Philadelphia, we are not able to accept animals from outside of Philadelphia. ACCT Philly's Pennsylvania kennel license number is 08313.
MIDNIGHT MAC
Husky
🇺🇸
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
male, medium, senior, not mixed
Husky
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
