Woman Slams On Brakes When She Sees Stray Dog With Heavy Chain Around Her Neck

[catbyte]

Last edited Sun Jan 27, 2019, 07:49 AM - Edit history (1)

“I don’t know how she would have held her head up, and I’m not exaggerating.”

By Elizabeth Claire Alberts

The German shepherd mix was standing on the shoulder of a four-lane highway bustling with cars. If she took just one step toward the road, she was going to get hit.

Ashli Garza noticed this stray dog as she drove to a work appointment in Mission, Texas, on Tuesday — and found herself slamming on the brakes.



“I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do because there’s so many strays around here, and not all of them are easily catchable because they’re so used to being shooed or treated poorly,” Garza, an independent rescuer in Texas, told The Dodo. “My initial thought was to get a picture before she ran away — we have a local Facebook page for lost and found dogs. So I pulled over and opened my door — but she came over, so I knew she was friendly.”

The dog was covered in mud, and Garza saw the huge rusty chain around her neck.

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“I’m like, ‘Oh lord, this dog is muddy. I have my friend’s wedding dress in the car. This could really go bad fast,’” Garza said.

But Garza pushed her worries aside and coaxed the dog into the back of her car. Then she tried to take off the dog’s chain, which weighed about 20 pounds — but it was impossible for Garza to get off on her own.



snip







Guzman volunteered to foster the dog, now named Penelope, until Garza was able to line up a rescue group to take care of her — and Penelope has been thriving.

“Obviously, just from that chain, I can imagine how she was treated,” Garza said. “So her being happy-go-lucky is pretty shocking. It happened pretty fast.”





https://www.thedodo.com/close-to-home/german-shepherd-heavy-chain-around-neck

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What sort of monster would chain a sweet pup like that? Unbelievable. Bless Ms. Garza & Ms. Guzman!

[leftieNanner]

1. I'm a GSD Mommy myself

Riley is my fourth shepherd and they are awesome dogs! Loving, playful, and wicked smart. They do turn your house into a fuzz factory, so you need a powerful vacuum.

The previous owner should have a rusty chain around his neck!

So happy that Penelope was rescued and will find a loving forever home.

[whathehell]

2. One can only give thanks for kind & loving folks like Ms. Garza & Mr. Guzmsn

What a beautiful dog she is....I'm sure she'll have no trouble finding a good, loving home.

[RainCaster]

3. I love that smile on her face

The last picture is priceless. I am owned by our 4th GSD, love that breed.

[tazkcmo]

47. Me too

The smile says so much. What a happy lady!

[kairos12]

4. That happy smile makes my day.

[catbyte]

26. The look in her eyes, too. Just look at the difference between the frightened face in the car, not

knowing what fate awaited her, to the happy, free, safe girl in the yard. Their capacity for forgiveness is nothing short of miraculous.

[liberalmuse]

5. Monsters have nothing on humans.

But neither do angels. I'm so glad this wonderful, compassionate human acted and saved this beautiful dog.

[Evolve Dammit]

6. Thank you for doing the right thing

We've had two shepherds and have rescued countless critters. Isn't that what we're supposed to do?
Best to you

[In_The_Wind]

7. Welcome to DU, Evolve Dammit.

I just gave a forever home to a puppy from a local rescue shelter.

Maybe someone will recognize the abused stray dog and bring charges against the former owner.

[lastlib]

8. REALLY LIKE your username!

welcome to DU!

[Laffy Kat]

24. Hey, welcome!

[Marie Marie]

9. Kudos to you.

[Evolve Dammit]

10. Thanks

It's people like Elizabeth that restore my faith in humanity and give me hope, and largely due to this website. I've been viewing for years and felt moved to join. I'm not big into social media with all the hacking and hassles of the electronic world, but this site is a treasure and feels like a giant cyber family, even for a viewer. Congrats to all who make it so. These days, that's worth a lot!

[pamdb]

11. poor dog

BLESS YOU!!! As the human mom of 3 rescue dogs (2 now that one died from cancer) I'm always on the lookout for loose dogs or pups, especially on 131 up north and 96 towards the Lake. What's scary is that I hope there weren't other dogs in the same "family". SO GLAD you never looked for the owner, unless it was to put a heavy chain on THEM for awhile. Good going.

[catbyte]

19. Michigan?

[NBachers]

12. Lock the chain around the prior owner's neck and see how he swims with it.

[Karadeniz]

13. Similar experience

I had a friend whose neighbors had dogs in their junkyard of a backyard. One, a pit, had a large concrete disc hanging from its neck to make it difficult for it to run off. (I reported it and animal control got them to remove it.) Shortly thereafter, one of the dogs had puppies who were living in one of the junk piles. We couldn't stand thinking about what their future would be like. One morning my friend, elderly with foot crippling bunions, called me. She'd climbed the fence during the night and, loaded with puppies, climbed back! Since the neighbors were well used to their backyard sounding like doggy bedlam, she was never caught. I picked them up and took them to a.no-kill sheltered which I'd dealt with for years. I'd forgotten all about that rescue; thanks for the memory!

[Duppers]

17. Bless you.

[shenmue]

14. Penny!

[red dog 1]

15. K&R, thanks for posting, catbyte

Thanks also to Ashli Garza for rescuing the dog, as well as Elizabeth Alberts for writing the article for "The Dodo"

What kind of sub-human would put a heavy chain around a poor, helpless dog?

(I especially love the photo that shows Penelope in the back seat)

[Ferrets are Cool]

16. I UNAPOLOGETICALLY hate some people. nt

[Duppers]

18. Same here!

I've heard people say to me: "but *i* don't hate anyone!"
Then open your eyes dumbasses, you don't know what's happening in the world.

[Bayard]

23. Yuppers

Why do people hoard animals just to mistreat them? Or is cruelty the motivation? I don't get it.

People probably didn't even notice she was gone. That's the kind of chain you put on a tractor to pull out tree stumps.

[leftieNanner]

28. It's a complex issue

People get puppies and kittens on a whim. Oh, how cute! And then they turn in to dogs and cats who need love, care, training, food, shelter, etc. The kids lose interest. The parents are busy. The animal ends up in the garbage. This case is worse - with that huge chain. Makes you wonder if she was a bait dog for a dog fighting operation - they chain their fighting dogs like that.

I work at an equine rescue and we have seen many terrible cases - and awful cruelty. Fortunately for us, the horses gain their weight back and mostly forgive us. We only take the worst of the worst situations and we never adopt them out. They have suffered enough.

You can see our work and stories (56 horses on the property as we speak) at our website:

www.equamore.org

[catbyte]

37. Wow, kudos to you. What wonderful, compassionate work.

It must be so heartbreaking yet so rewarding.Thank you for posting the link--little Poquito is beyond adorable.

[leftieNanner]

44. Yes, Poquito is adorable

and a little rascal! My special babies include Empress Steele, Arlo, Frida (who is currently dealing with some lameness issues), Jewel,.... OK, so my favorite horse is the one I'm with at any given time.

[Duppers]

20. We live in a world with cruel monsters.

Damn them and the circumstances that created them.

[Still In Wisconsin]

21. Who's a good girl???

What a beautiful animal and her human too!

[seta1950]

22. Thank you to the angels who helped her

What kind of monster does that to a dog , she’s beautiful

[SoCalDem]

25. I once delivered 4 muddy children to a birthday party

As we were approaching the bridge to cross the Rio Grande ( we lived in NM) I noticed an Irish setter dodging cars on the highway.. I pulled over, got out (in the rain) and somehow managed to stop the cars so I could rescue him..


Now what?

I had 4 nicely dressed 5 year olds and their gifts in the station wagon..

Jammed them up front with me and plopped the wet, muddy dog in the back..

He stayed there about 2 seconds before he started bouncing around..the kids loved loved it..

When we arrived at the party (about 5 minutes later). the hostess cleaned up the kids, re-dressed them ..(she had boys too ..)

the gifts were intact, and the doggie safe..

He stayed with us for 2 weeks.. His owner was on vacation and did not know his dog had escaped from the caretakers

My husband was pissed at the inside of his pristine car though

[leftieNanner]

27. What a lovely story!

And I bet those kids enjoyed that.

A good lesson you taught them that day.

[SoCalDem]

29. My youngest was onsite (construction work) in Arizona

I think he was about 23 or 24.. He called me in a panic one morning.. He had found 3 kittens and noticed that their mother had been hit by a car and killed.. He saw the body pf the cat as he drove to the jobsite.. He knew that I am the official "Mother of Cats", having successfully bottlefed back to back litters ( 9 total), so he needed advice ..fast..

Off he went to Petsmart to get kitten formula & bottles..

He and his two buddies bottle fed those kittens all day long..took them to the vet after work and handed over the food & bedding he bought to a nice lady who finished up the job Their eyes were not yet opened..

One of his buddies, ended up adopting one of them..

My son is allergic, so he could not ..

[leftieNanner]

30. You raised a good baby!

Who is now a good man.

And for the kitties.

[Lunabell]

31. The cruelty of some humans, I just can't fathom.

What a beautiful girl she is.

[calimary]

35. No kidding. I can't understand it either.

CANNOT understand it. Sweet dog. VERY glad she got a happy ending.

[paleotn]

32. Poor baby!

I grew up with German Shepherds. We were buds and I still miss them so many years later. Sweet and smart, but can be a bit nippy.

[ailsagirl]

33. I'm so sorry the dog had to go through all that abuse

but SO thankful there are people like Guzman and Garza!

People who harm animals have the same mentality of those who abuse kids, murder, rape, torture, etc.

Would that we could rid our world of all those monsters.

[Susan Calvin]

34. I hate any so-called humans

Who would do this to any feeling being.

[BigOleDummy]

36. We as Humans ..

.. don't deserve Dogs. What a cutie!

[Loubee]

38. Dogs are smart . . .

She knew her only hope was to stand by the side of the road.

[malaise]

39. Never forget that there were monsters who would put humans

in chains

[Demovictory9]

40. K&r

[TwistOneUp]

41. The photo of her looking over the seat of the car! So wonderful!

[hostalover]

42. Beautiful story. Thanks so much!

[SCVDem]

43. Thank you

For the happy ending!

[smirkymonkey]

45. Bless Ms. Garza & Ms. Guzman!

What a sweet, beautiful dog! How could anyone treat her so badly? I am so glad she will be well taken care of from now on thanks to her saviors!

[mysteryowl]

46. I carry a leash in my car for just this kind of happening.

I have rescued animals before as well. They need us.