I do not think that many people will disagree with me when
I say that anyone who harms a child or a small animal is the
lowest of the low. Both are unable to defend themselves,
and if you have not heard the story of Susie, a shepherd
pit bull mix, you will cringe at how and why someone who
was the father of a baby could ever mistreat this poor
innocent dog in the manner he did.
Susie was an 8-week old puppy who was beaten in the face
until she almost passed out. She then was set on fire.
Lighter fluid was poured on her and a match was struck.
The fire lapped at her innocent little body.
What was Susie's crime? She licked his one-month old baby on
the face. Any jerk should know by now that dogs and especially
puppies who lick faces do so out of love and affection.
In August of 2009 Susie was found burned, severely beaten and
close to death in Greenfield Park in Greensboro, North Carolina.
For 10 days Susie had lain in this park suffering all alone with
second-and-third degree burns over 60 percent of her body. Her
jaw was broken and some of her teeth had been knocked out. Her
ears had been burned to nubs. Her open wounds from the burns
were now covered with maggots. This maggot-infested area ran all
the way from the top of her head down her back and across to her
stomach and butt area. If Susie had known about a place called
hell, she would have realized that she was there now. Death seemed
around the corner, and in her suffering state, I am sure it would
even have been welcomed.
But no, somehow Susie would survive. Despite those 10 hot miserable
days withough adequate food or water, Susie struggled to live and
subsisted on sticks and any food she could find left in garbage
cans. The only water she found was from a tiny mud-hole, but it
helped to quench her terrible thirst.
Finally found by a passerby, Susie was taken to the Guilford
Animal Shelter. There she was examined and treated by their
veterinarian. He later marveled that Susie's life was actually
saved by those maggots because they ate away most of the infection
in her wounds.
When people heard about her ordeal, many compassionate people
from all over the nation contributed to her healing and medical
expenses. A fund for this purpose was set up called -Susie's Miracle
Fund. Soon her story led to Susie's Law and the Susie's Hope
non-profit organization.
Complete recovery from her wounds took a couple of months. The
daily treatment for her burns required that Susie be anesthetzied
each time to survive the pain. Eventually, with the help of the
vet and all the wonderful volunteers involved in her recovery, Susie,
despite excruciating pain, eventually regained her strength and
once again became a healthy, playful puppy.
Later, Susie was adopted by Roy and Donna Lawrence. It was
ironic that 10 months before Susie's brutal attack, Donna had
survived a nearly fatal pit-bull attack. Yes, she was now afraid
of dogs, but somehow Susie won her heart. Now Donna and Susie
shared a special bond -both knew what it meant to be betrayed-
Donna, wrongfully attacked by a dog, and Susie wrongfully tortured
by a human.
Susie now has a new canine sister named Baby Girl who was also
rescued. And at this site, somebody felt that a happy personal
message from Susie was in order, so here it is:
"I have recuperated very well, and I spend most of my time along
side my mom in her hair salon, surrounded by people who love and
appreciate me. I am preparing to take on a new role as a therapy
dog and have been in training for the past year. I am certified
as a Canine Good Citizen dog, as I have passed the test, and
am looking forward to my certification as a therapy dog. I hope
to work with burn victims and to help teach them that anyone can
go from being a victim to living a victorious life, going from
tragedy to triumph.
Most of all, my mom and I will continue to inspire people to make
the most out of life through love, hope, and forgiveness. One
person or one animal can make a difference in this world."
Beautiful Susie! And equally beautiful are the pictures of Donna
and Susie at this internet site showing Susie planting a loving
lick on Donna's face, Susie's torture started with an innocent lick.
Now, her licks will be appreciated as they should have been in the
first place. In my opinion, too many religions, including my own,
place man on a pedastal where he thinks he is far superior to the
animal world. If he were superior, than we would not be so haughty
and arrogant.
The site closes with a picture of both of these two special
individuals - one human and one animal saying to Susie's abuser-
"You are forgiven."
----------------------------------------------------------------
At the very end of this post is a comment from Dr. Jacquelyn
Campbell on pet abuse as it affects families:
"Pet abuse was identified as one of the four significant predictors
for determining who was at the highest risk for becoming a batterer.
Many abused spouses delay leaving out of fear for their pets' safety
and because they have nowhere to go."
2
2
1
