Chained, Mistreated Dog Was Starved For Months

A passerby was having a walk as the usual in Laurens, South Carolina. On August 7 he randomly spotted a dog chained up outside a house.

The poor dog was lying motionless on the ground. The dog’s skeletal frame made it hard to believe that the animal was alive. Defying the odds, the dog was still breathing.

The witness snapped a photo of the emaciated mastiff mix and rapidly reported him to animal control. Officers quickly arrived on the scene, freed the dog from the heavy chains and rushed him to a local vet.

The 16-month-old dog, named Champ, had dropped to a mere 50 pound. He normally should weigh at about 110 pounds. Though Champ seemed in the jaws of death, his caretakers would soon find out that he did not mind battling for life.

Rescue Dogs Rock team, heard of the dog’s shocking condition. The next morning, the rescue contacted animal control and had Champ transferred to a nearby clinic. While Champ’s future remained uncertain, his past quickly came into focus.

“He was in terrible shape and needed an immediate blood transfusion,” Jackie O’Sullivan, cofounder of Rescue Dogs Rock expressed. “He had no muscle mass, he couldn’t regenerate red blood cells on his own.”

An investigation by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office found that six months ago Champ was left in the care of his original owner’s ex-girlfriend, Elizabeth James. Allegedly left the dog with no food and water. James was arrested for animal cruelty a week later.

“She watched him deteriorate until he was almost dead,” O’Sullivan continued.

Though Champ suffered unimaginable cruelty, you would never know it from his delightful personality. After three weeks at the vet, Champ was finally deemed strong enough to continue his recovery at a medical foster home where he can feel himself as before being abused.

Since meeting his foster family for the first time on Saturday, Champ has made himself at home, rolling around in the backyard. It may take up to two months for Champ to get back to a healthy weight.

“I think he’s really nothing short of miraculous,” O’Sullivan said. “When we posted that first picture people were saying, ‘Come on, get out!’.”

Champ already has numerous adoption applications from all over the country, O’Sullivan noted. When he’s ready for a forever home, the rescue will make sure his adopters will love and care for him for the rest of his life.

Champ’s story should be an example to help other dogs and encourage people to speak out when they witness any abuse case in their area.