Bella

Dorval man loses house and beloved dog in Christmas fire

Local Journalism Initiative / The Suburban / August 4, 2025 / Bella, Dan Laxer, Dorval, Stephen Flood

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

Tragedy struck early last Christmas morning for Stephen Flood. The Dorval resident woke to find his house in flames. He managed to escape with his life, suffering second-degree burns to his legs, face, and head. But he lost everything in the fire, including his beloved dog, Bella.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Flood by his son, Matthew.

The fire broke out around 3 a.m. The house on O’Connell Avenue was completely destroyed and Flood lost everything, including a valuable collection of Montreal Expos baseball memorabilia, and Christmas gifts meant for family.

“Most tragic of all,” his son wrote on the GoFundMe page, “is that his poor little dog Bella, a two-year-old puppy he loved so dearly, didn’t make it out.”

Flood said he could hear her whimpering inside the burning house but could not get back inside to save her.

“To lose every single thing you own is unimaginable, but the loss of his little Bella hurts him most of all,” Flood’s son said. “We are trying to do what we can while his body heals from burns and his heart heals from the tragic loss of his angel.”

There has already been a show of support from the community in the way of donations, including clothes. Matthew Flood posted his gratitude on his Facebook page, adding that his father could use household items or gift cards for groceries and other supplies.

Just over $15,000 has been donated via the GoFundMe page, so far.

At the time of this writing investigators still don’t know what caused the fire. n

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Family desperate to find puppy after Fairview car theft

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

A desperate search continues for Bella, a four-month-old chihuahua-husky mix puppy, who vanished after thieves stole a car from the Fairview Shopping Centre parking lot in Pointe-Claire. While the stolen Toyota RAV4 has been recovered in Ahuntsic, the puppy named Bella remains missing, leaving her Ontario owners devastated.

The owners, Rocco and Naomi DiRago, who were visiting from Ontario for their grandson’s hockey tournament, say while they’re relieved to have their car back, their main concern is finding their beloved pet. “She’s near and dear to our heart,” Rocco DiRago said.

Police have suspended their active search, citing challenges in tracking the unchipped puppy. “We don’t have any trace or any information or videos that we could track or see where and when the dog was last seen,” SPVM spokesperson Jean-Pierre Brabant said.

The couple describes Bella as a small yellow mixed-breed with a distinctive tail that curls “like a question mark.” The puppy was wearing a warm coat and wrapped in her favorite blanket when the car was stolen. She was scheduled to receive her final shots and identification tag this Wednesday.

Naomi DiRago expressed concerns about the bitter cold weather, noting that Bella gets cold even indoors. The family has already checked the local SPCA and a Vaudreuil shelter, while also posting missing dog flyers throughout Pointe-Claire.

The DiRagos remain hopeful for Bella’s safe return and urge anyone with information to contact them at ready4itnoni@gmail.com. Their primary concern is ensuring their beloved puppy is somewhere safe and warm, even if they can’t bring her home. n