An experienced animal rescuer has shared footage of the devastating moment she found a dog fighting victim, covered in painful wounds, and she told Newsweek how his appalling condition broke her heart.
Lauren Dawson, founder and president of Sunshine Animal Rescue in Miami, Florida, spotted the black dog wandering the streets on October 19. At first, she thought it was another stray she'd been trying to rescue in the area, but once she got a closer look, she was horrified to see all the bite marks and cuts on his body.
It's thought that the dog, who has since been named Trooper, was used as bait to train fighting dogs. Dawson was devastated to think of what he's been through, and it broke her heart that he was waiting on the side of the road for somebody to help him, telling Newsweek that he started "crying as soon as soon as [she] stopped the car."
The pit bull mix, thought to be around a year old, is currently in isolation in hospital where he's receiving antibiotics, fluids, supplements, and supportive care to boost his health.
"When I found Trooper, he had scars and recent bite marks all over his face, chest, legs, and stomach," Dawson said. "He was in rough shape, showing signs of past and recent injuries, and he was very hungry. Despite everything, he was just thrilled that someone stopped for him.
"He tested positive for heartworm, which we'll need to address, along with hookworm, tapeworm, roundworm, and whipworm. The most concerning issue is his positive test for leptospirosis."
Leptospirosis is an infection transmitted through direct contact with urine or reproductive fluids of infected animals, contact with contaminated water or soil, or by consuming contaminated food or water.
It can be transmitted between animals and humans, with symptoms in people including a fever, headache, chills, or a rash. Severe leptospirosis, also known as Weil's Syndrome, can cause chest pain, blood in urine, and difficulty breathing.
The Cleveland Clinic estimates that, of the 1 million people who contract the infection worldwide every year, there's almost 60,000 deaths.
Dawson is hopeful they caught the diagnosis early and started treating it straight away. They are still concerned about possible kidney or liver damage, but they're "taking things day by day."
While Trooper had some fresh wounds when he was found, he also had others which were fully healed, which could indicate that he was used as a bait dog for quite some time, leaving him "looking lost and broken."
Dawson told Newsweek: "Thinking about what he's been through makes my chest drop. I've lost a lot of sleep imagining what stories he could tell us. He is the sweetest dog ever, and the moment we stopped to help him, he melted into my lap. Trooper is incredibly loving and craves attention. He's just happy to be involved."
Bait dogs are used to train fighting dogs, meaning they're subjected to physical abuse and often left with severe injuries, even fatal in some cases. Bone Voyage Dog Rescue explains that they're selected for their passive nature and inability to defend themselves, which tests out the fighting instincts of other dogs.
Trooper will remain in hospital for a couple of weeks, potentially longer depending on how his recovery plays out. But his future looks bright, as Dawson plans to put him up for adoption once he's ready. He's got a gentle temperament and there aren't any concerns about his behavior, so he "deserves a loving family of his own."
The Social Media Reaction
Dawson shared footage of the moment she found Trooper on TikTok (@sunshineanimalrescue) and it left the internet in tears. In just a few days, the post went viral with over 10.6 million views and more than 2.3 million likes.
The story touched so many hearts and Dawson has been amazed by the overwhelming support. She has continued sharing videos of this sweet pup to show social media users how his recovery is going.
She continued: "People have been sharing their own stories, getting educated about the situation in South Florida, and helping us fund his extensive care. We've even received a few adoption applications for him.
"I'd like to remind anyone considering rehoming a pet to be cautious. We understand that sometimes situations arise, but Trooper is living proof of how severe the consequences can be. Unfortunately, it's often the pet who pays the price."
The viral video has amassed over 22,400 comments on TikTok already, as many people praised Dawson and her colleagues for saving Trooper's life.
One comment reads: "Broke my heart. We don't deserve dogs."
Another TikTok user wrote: "The fact after all this he still trusted you. Dogs have the biggest hearts."
While another person added: "Seeing him still so full of love after being used as a bait dog breaks my heart completely, how he can be treated so horribly but still show love."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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