In 2007, a dark chapter in the world of animal cruelty came to light when authorities rescued 51 Pit Bulls from the Virginia home of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. These innocent animals had endured unimaginable abuse, subjected to beatings, electrocutions, hangings, drownings, and forced dogfights.
Out of this horrific ordeal, 48 resilient Pit Bulls emerged as survivors, thanks to the dedication of several rescue organizations and their forever families. One of these survivors, Frodo, recently passed away at the age of 15 on December 18th, 2021. Frodo’s journey serves as a testament to resilience, second chances, and the unwavering commitment of those who fight for justice and rehabilitation.
Frodo’s life was a stark contrast to the year he spent in hell at Michael Vick’s compound. Once rescued, he was embraced by a loving family and pampered like a prince for the next 14 years. His passing left a void in the hearts of those who knew and cared for him, particularly BAD RAP, an Oakland-based nonprofit animal protection group that played a pivotal role in advocating for and rehabilitating the Vick dogs.
In a touching Facebook post, BAD RAP bid farewell to Frodo: “To Frodo – We all adored him. He was one of the most valiant survivors we’d ever met.” His passing was peaceful, surrounded by the love of his family, who ensured his final moments were filled with comfort and care.
Frodo’s journey wasn’t just a personal triumph; it became a symbol of hope and resilience for Pit Bulls and dogs with difficult pasts everywhere. BAD RAP, with its extensive experience in working with dogs rescued from dogfighting rings, always believed in the potential for these dogs to be rehabilitated and reintegrated into loving homes.
Frodo’s story dispelled the negative stereotypes associated with Pit Bulls and underscored the transformative power of patience and kindness in a dog’s life. He exemplified the importance of early socialization for dogs rescued from cruelty incidents, showing that with the right environment and loving care, even the most timid and scarred animals can thrive.
Kim Ramirez, Frodo’s adoptive mother, shared insights into his journey, explaining how mechanical sounds and sudden movements used to terrify him. She described the challenges of helping Frodo overcome his past trauma, such as his fear of ceiling fans and microwave popcorn, which likely reminded him of the traumatic events he had witnessed.
Throughout his life, Frodo enjoyed the devoted care of the Ramirez family, who accommodated his needs, including transporting him in a stroller when his legs began to fail. His story was a testament to the healing power of love and the resilience of animals.
Frodo’s passing is a reminder of the enduring legacy of the 48 survivors of Michael Vick’s dogfighting ring. These brave dogs were given the opportunities they deserved, and despite their challenging backgrounds, they lived happy lives, proving that remarkable transformations are possible with compassion and commitment.
While Michael Vick’s actions were reprehensible, the high-profile case did raise awareness about dogfighting and its devastating consequences. It also shifted public perception of Pit Bulls, showcasing their potential for rehabilitation and adoption. Frodo and his fellow survivors are living proof that even in the darkest of circumstances, there is hope for a brighter future.
As we bid farewell to Frodo, we honor his memory and the countless animals who have found their second chance at life through the dedication of animal rights activists and the kindness of loving families. Frodo’s story will continue to inspire us to fight for justice, compassion, and a world where every animal can thrive.
This noseless, tailless dog with only three legs is one of the happiest dogs we’ve ever seen!
A dog with no nose who was almost put down because nobody wanted her has finally found a home.
Bonnie, a Border Collie cross, was rescued in Romania and was on the verge of being put down due to the extent of the injuries she sustained as a stray.
The pooch was found with her snout missing, leaving a large, open wound, and part of her front left leg missing as well.
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Bonnie, a Border Collie cross who is missing its nose and part of its leg, has finally found a home
The pooch was found with her snout missing, leaving a large, open wound, and part of her front left leg missing as well
Kate Comfort, 29, from Canterbury, spotted Bonnie on Facebook and adopted her months later
Bonnie was brought over to the UK by Beacon Animal Rescue Centre where Kate Comfort, 29, from Canterbury, spotted Bonnie on their Facebook page.
It was love at first site for Kate and Bonnie was officially adopted her a few months later.
Kate, a civil servant, said: ‘We adopted Bonnie from Beacon Animal Rescue Centre which is run by my best friend Rebecca.
‘Rebecca put up a post of her with her beautiful big soulful eyes and huge ears and I just fell in love.
‘I had trouble trying to convince my husband at first – as we already had three dogs – but no one wanted Bonnie so I said that I would foster her until we could find her the perfect home.
Bonnie was rescued in Romania and was on the verge of being put down due to the extent of the injuries she sustained as a stray
Bonnie the sweet dog with no nose has finally found a forever home
‘The fact no one wanted her made me want her more, she was vulnerable and needed love.
‘It turned out that her perfect home was our home and we ended up adopting Bonnie ourselves!’
Kate admits she was alarmed by Bonnie’s appearance at first but grew used to it the more time she spent with the dog.
Kate and her husband, Ross, 31, wanted to gain experience of taking care of dogs with unique needs but ended up falling in love with Bonnie and couldn’t give her up.
Upon the decision to adopt her, they began fundraising for Bonnie to get a prosthetic leg, but the wound on her stump kept opening up.
They were advised to remove it and wished they had done it sooner; Bonnie is now completely pain-free and as agile as the couple’s other dogs.
Kate admits she was alarmed by Bonnie’s appearance at first but grew used to it the more time she spent with the dog
Kate and her husband, Ross, 31, wanted to gain experience of taking care of dogs with unique needs but ended up falling in love with Bonnie and couldn’t give her up
Kate said: ‘We thought about paying for Bonnie to have the surgery, but once we realised it would have been purely cosmetic and would have made no positive impact on her life then we decided against it.
‘We thought putting Bonnie through an operation to try to make her look more “normal” would have been cruel.
‘Our Bonnie is perfectly imperfect, we love her just how she is and if anyone is offended by how she looks, then that is their problem – not ours.’
Despite some negative comments towards Bonnie, she boasts 14,000 followers on Instagram where she goes by the name of Bonnie the Brave, with her pictures receiving thousands of likes.
Kate added: ‘I originally created an Instagram page for her when we were trying to raise money for her to have surgery but, even though the surgery never took place, her followers have grown and grown and we have been overcome by how much impact Bonnie’s life is having on people.
It’s not certain what happened to Bonnie’s face with all of her nose and front part of her mouth missing
Despite some negative comments towards Bonnie, she boasts 14,000 followers on Instagram
‘She is an advocate for unique dogs and we have had so much kindness and positivity, it’s just incredible.
‘In person, most people are amazed by her but again, we have had some negative responses.
‘There have been people who have actively shouted and screamed at Bonnie with one person even trying to kick her.
‘People have referred to her as “it” or a “thing” which hurts my feelings as she deserves the same amount of love as any other dog.
It’s not certain what happened to Bonnie’s face with all of her nose and front part of her mouth missing, but they suspect it was done by a human when she was living on the streets.
Kate said: ‘Bonnie is one of the best things to happen to us and I’m so glad we gave her the home and family she deserves’
Kate said: ‘We aren’t totally sure what happened to Bonnie, the girl and her mum who found Bonnie thought it was a train because they had seen her there previously.
‘The other suggestion is that an animal did it, perhaps a fox or a wolf or even a human but we simply do not know.
‘Despite this, Bonnie isn’t wary of people, so if it was a human, she is very forgiving.
‘But then again, animals are forgiving creatures – they never fail to amaze me with how tolerant and forgiving they are when subjected to cruelty and abuse.
‘I prefer animals to humans, I wish we were more like them, which is maybe why I surround myself with animals, rather than people.
‘Bonnie is one of the best things to happen to us and I’m so glad we gave her the home and family she deserves.’
To keep up with Bonnie’s adventures follow her at @bravebonbon on Instagram.
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