OUR STORY

The Bella Foundation for Pit Bull Rescue and Awareness
In Loving Memory of Isabella "Bella" Angiulli Strickland

Throughout my life, I’ve always had a canine companion by my side. Growing up in a family that deeply cherished dogs, we welcomed a variety of breeds into our home—poodles, shepherds, huskies, dobermans, great danes, boxers, labradors, and more. However, despite my lifelong love for dogs, I harbored an unspoken fear of pit bulls, shaped by the many negative stories I had heard over the years.

In 2019, my perspective began to change. At the time, I was caring for my beloved 16-year-old Labrador, Rufus. He had been a loyal and cherished member of our family for many years. As he grew older and began to show signs of illness, we knew that the difficult decision to let him go was approaching. When the time finally came, the silence that filled our home was unbearable. The absence of Rufus left a void that was impossible to ignore.

In an effort to honor Rufus’s memory, I decided to adopt another dog in need. We visited a shelter in Palm Springs, California, where we met and adopted Walter, a brindle pit bull-boxer mix with a gentle soul. Though Rufus could never be replaced, Walter brought joy and life back into our home.

In November 2019, while staying in downtown Fort Lauderdale, my room mate at the time took Walter for a walk. Shortly after leaving, I received a frantic call asking me to meet them a few blocks away. Fearing the worst, I rushed to their location, only to find my friend cradling a severely emaciated and injured blue-nose staffy. She had been cruelly discarded from a moving vehicle, left to suffer and die on the street.

We immediately took her to the Broward Humane Society, where she received much-needed medical attention. Despite her dire condition, I knew from the moment I saw her that she was special. We named her Bella and assured the shelter that we would adopt her. Two days later, just before Thanksgiving, we brought Bella home. She now had a loving family, with two devoted dads and a big brother in Walter. 

Bella’s past had left her understandably wary, but she never showed aggression. She was affectionate and full of spirit, quickly becoming the heart of our household. Tragically, her early years of neglect took a toll on her health. In late May 2022, Bella began showing signs of illness. Despite our best efforts and swift medical intervention, she succumbed to liver failure on June 1st. The loss of Bella was a profound blow. Simply put, devastating.  Losing her has left an indelible mark on my life.

In her memory, I adopted a beautiful, very young,  feisty , little,  blue staffy from the Broward shelter. Lucy was just a baby and had been turned in twice in her short less than a year life. She was the light at the end of a dark tunnel.  While nothing can ever truly heal the pain of losing Bella, continuing to help dogs in need brings a sense of purpose and solace. 

To honor Bella’s legacy, I have established The Bella Foundation for Pit Bull Rescue and Awareness. Through this foundation, 10% of all sales from our stores, WalterBella.com and FrankAngiulliArt.com, will be donated to support pit bull rescue efforts, with a focus on shelters and individuals in need of assistance with sick pit bulls. As our foundation grows, we are committed to expanding our support to even more dogs and families in need. Baby steps. My goal is 20% by years end, 2025.

Thank you for joining me in celebrating Bella’s life and supporting a cause that is so deeply meaningful. This breed is so misunderstood. I hope to be part of the movement that finally shows the world what a special breed they truly are and not the monsters that they have been portrayed as.