We will never understand how any one person has the capability of treating any animal in such a horrible manner, but the treatment of this gentle soul just breaks our hearts. Continue reading below to find out more about Lucy.
About Lucy
Age: approx. 3 years old
Breed: Rottweiler/Pit Bull mix
Condition: suffers from mental and emotional issues due to years of abuse from her previous male owner
The Call
Two days ago, in a matter of a few hours, the rescue received multiple phone calls from a group of concerned neighbors in regard to an owner yelling at and berating their dog. One of the callers, who said she lived right next door, sent us a video she took of the abuse. Between the yelling and subsequent thuds and yelps, the video is nothing short of hard to watch. All callers confirmed this behavior was nothing new, but after several, unsuccessful attempts to save the dog themselves, they were no longer sure of what to do and requested we step in.
The Rescue
No matter what the situation is, we can't forcefully take an animal from its owner. Therefore, farm owner, Madison, contacted and sent the video to local police and asked if they would assist in the rescue to make it as seamless as possible.
Upon arrival to the address, the concerned callers were huddled at the end of the block, and the disturbing sounds of curse words, thuds and yelps rang out through the otherwise quite atmosphere. The owner was arrested and our rescue team was given the go ahead to take the dog into our custody. Our head dog trainer, Kyle, went into the house first to assess the situation. He found the dog cowering in a dark corner in the otherwise clean house. She was very anxious, nervous and lashed out at us out of fear; her tail seemed to be permanently stuck between her legs.
Lucy (we decided to keep her original name), responded a little better to females, so for her safety and ours, Madison handled removing her from the house and settling her into the truck with Kyle's guidance. We immediately took Lucy to the vet to get a thorough check up and behavioral evaluation. Despite the abuse she endured, Lucy had no physical or internal injuries, however she has suffered mental fear and distress.
What Now?
Since being in our possession, we have been trying to slowly acclimate Lucy to her new surroundings. We are taking baby steps to keep her comfortable and moving forward in her rehabilitation. At the moment, Lucy is being kept in a quite kennel away from our other rescues, and what little interaction she allows is done by female staff and volunteers only. We hope that with time and TLC, we will be able to turn Lucy into a responsive, friendly and confident dog who enjoys interacting with any one or thing. We are not sure how long her treatment will take, so at this time, we don't expect Lucy to be eligible for the petting zoo or adoption for at least the next 6 months. For more information about Lucy, or check up on her progress, please call or visit the farm!
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