When we bring a pet into our home, we accept the role of caregiver and friend. We promise to protect them and give them the affection they depend on.
It is devastating to imagine the many animals who never experience that safety and are instead treated with cruelty.
Violet’s story shows the harsh reality of abuse, yet it also reveals the strength that compassion can bring. Her path carries both sadness and hope.
Thrown Away But Not Forgotten
Violet, an English Mastiff, was violently tossed from a moving vehicle on Gallahan Road in Clinton, Maryland. Witnesses were horrified and immediately pulled over to rescue her.
She was taken straight to Prince George County Animal Control. That same day, she was moved to Mutts Matter Rescue, a non-profit that partners with shelters and takes on urgent cases.
Volunteer Debbie Gretz agreed to foster Violet. She had cared for many neglected dogs before and understood the serious condition Violet was in.
Debbie recalled their first meeting with heartbreaking clarity.
“She was barely alive. She was brought into my house, carried by two people, on a blanket. She did not stand for 3 days… As she stood, it was like watching a skeleton stand up. As she walked over to me with her little nubbin tail wagging, that moment gave me hope.”
Debbie was overwhelmed by her condition. Bloodwork revealed the toll of long-term starvation.
She committed herself to giving Violet the stability and compassion she had never known.
At her first embrace, every bone was visible beneath Violet’s skin. She weighed just 52 pounds, far below the normal weight range for a female Mastiff, which is typically between 130 and 220 pounds.
“She has a lot of pressure sores all over her body. There are two on her legs that went all the way down to her bones, so they’re treating those as well… She initially had to remain in the basement – unable to walk up the stairs on her own,“ Autumn Clayton, one of the volunteers with the rescue said.
Rescuers believed she had been kept chained and repeatedly bred, which likely caused the painful wounds on her body.
Healing Through Steady Care
Debbie soon discovered that the outdoors frightened Violet. “I can tell you, I wonder if she has ever been outside. She looks up at the skies and looks up at the trees like she has never seen them before.”
Her abuse was so severe that The Humane Society of the United States offered a $5000 reward for information, though no one responsible was ever found.
Even with her painful history, Violet slowly began trusting Debbie. She often rested her head in her lap as a way to show gratitude and connection.
As the months passed, Violet gained strength and reached 138 pounds. She learned to climb the stairs on her own and enjoyed long walks. Her wounds healed, and she loved spending time with other dogs.
Her recovery was a long process, but Debbie’s constant support helped her blossom. The fear faded from her eyes, replaced with happiness and confidence.
Violet was later adopted into a caring home where she is treasured every day.
Eventually, Violet and her new family traveled to Idaho Falls to visit Debbie. Their reunion was full of joy and affection.
We are thankful for Debbie, Violet’s adoptive family, and everyone whose compassion helped transform her life.