His fur was matted with clumps of dirt and debris that turned what was normally silky white hair into a dusty brown. As leaves hung from patches on his body, skin around his neck appeared torn and mangled, staining pieces of his fur red. Bare skin and pieces of metal wire could be seen beneath, and open wounds and scars marred his face and his feet. With every step, he limped.Â
Brody, a pit bull mix suffering from major trauma and abuse, was rescued by Streetdog Foundation in the summer of 2015. After a long road to recovery, Brody found his place with Streetdog volunteer Bailey Hart. Hart is the integration coordinator for the integration team, who is responsible for ensuring comfort for new and old rescues.
“He wasn’t only physically hurt — he was heartbroken,†Hart said. “Brody needed me just as much as I needed him. I’d never felt a dog’s love the way I feel his.â€Â
Bailey Hart plays with her pit bull Brody, who suffered major trauma and abuse before he was rescued by the Streetdog Foundation.
According to Memphis Animal Services, the city of Memphis saw over 8,000 stray animals in 2016 alone, and most of them were dogs. Thanks to organizations like Streetdog Foundation, over 3,000 of them were rescued instead of euthanized.
When Streetdog Foundation found Brody in 2015, he was one of their more difficult cases. He suffered from severe physical and emotional abuse and would not let anyone near him. His neck showed evidence of strangling and confinement by chain, and the scars on his face resembled those of cigarette burns.Â
The teams responsible for nursing him back to health could barely tell his fur was white because of the trash that clung to his body. His tail was broken in several places, and rocks and tiny pieces of metal were extracted from all four of his paws.
Despite the challenges Streetdog Foundation faced when first meeting Brody, they did not let this deter them from their mission — to transform him into an adoptable dog.Â
The training and integration teams knew this would not be easy after the severe trauma Brody went through. He did not want any human interaction and did not work well with other dogs. Evidence of his abuse was palpable—he flinched when someone would reach for him, and he had a permanent limp.
Though he faced many trials and tribulations, it was the dedication of Streetdog Foundation that brought him back to life. The organization aims to find the perfect family for the dogs they rescue.Â
On July 20, Hart had her first encounter with Brody, and it changed her life forever. She found him in his kennel, curled up and alone. He did not acknowledge her presence until she opened the door and took a seat beside him.
“I walked in and sat with him; he moved his head over to my lap and let out a big sigh,†she said.Â
Hart did not know this would be the beginning of a life-changing friendship. She visited him every day for weeks, bringing him treats and toys she thought would soothe his mind. Soon, she decided to foster Brody.
Hart knew Brody was hers on Sept. 17. She took him home for the weekend to meet her parents and two small dogs. She was cautious because of Brody’s past and resistance to other animals, but after two or three meetings, the three dogs got along like old pals, she said.Â
It only took two more times of Hart fostering Brody before her parents told her he could stay. On Dec. 8, Brody came home for good.
“He’s been through hell and back and should never trust humans after the things that were done to him,†Hart said. “But instead, he happily greets me every day and sleeps under the covers next to me.â€
Hart was only 17 when she first started fostering Brody. She was a typical teenager who worried more about partying and boys than helping her community, but after spending one night with Brody, she completely turned around.
“I not only rescued Brody from his depression—he rescued me,†Hart said. “I couldn’t imagine waking up without Brody lying next to me tapping my face with his paw because he’s ready to go play with his foster sister.â€Â
Hart said Streetdog Foundation is “a family that supports one another no matter what.â€
“Watching a dog that was abused, neglected and unloved turn into a loving, family dog is beautiful,†Hart said. Â
