12/27/2025
🩵🐾🙏 Sharing on behalf of our very good friend and Midtown Village Philadelphia Board Member J Bazzel. 🩵
After celebrating their first Christmas together, J Bazzel and Stella were walking to work in
Center City on Friday morning, when Stella was suddenly attacked by an off-leash dog. The dog is owned by a homeless woman who appeared to be under the influence of something at the time of the attack. Bazzel works in management for a Hospitality Company and Stella
accompanies him every day to work. “We were walking down Chestnut Street, and crossed
over Juniper in front of the Wanamaker Building when the attack happened,” described Bazzel. The other dog came out from under a blanket and got a firm lock on her front left leg, which caused extensive crushing of the bones. “Fortunately, a stranger came running to help, and grabbed the other dog. We were eventually able to get the jaw open and her leg free.”
At this point, Bazzel ran with Stella to Veterinary Emergency Group at 1213 Walnut St. “I’m so
thankful they were there. They took immediate care of Stella, and me.” After seeing the extent
of the damage to the leg, staff called around and found that Philadelphia Animal Specialty and Emergency Hospital on Washington Ave. had an orthopedic surgeon on duty. Dr. Nina Samuel, is a veterinary orthopedic surgeon who was able to get many of the fragments back together
during a few hours of surgery. “I’m not going to lie, I was not expecting to get hit with a $9,000 emergency surgical bill the day after Christmas,” said Bazzel. Bazzel reached out to Philadelphia Police and ACCT, but has not had any reply from either agency. “I just want people to be aware. It feels like there are several off-leash dogs in Center
City lately. I don’t want anyone else to go through this same thing. To me, unfortunately, this
particular dog is a danger to other dogs and possibly children,” Bazzel said. The dog is known to many in the area, with others now talking about similar frightening experiences with the
same dog. After surgery, and a night in the ER, Stella is back home and resting; something thats not terribly easy for an 11 month old sheltie. “Her favorite thing is running at the dog park, so she has some time before she’ll be back up to her normal speed,” said Bazzel.
A Go Fund Me account has been set up to cover Stella’s medical bills, which may continue to
grow for sometime into the future. Please support J and Stella!
Go Fund Me:
I'm J and this poor girl is Stella. Stella was attacked by an off-leash dog in … John Bazzel needs your support for Emergency Care for Stella After Dog Attack
