Dog Brutally Slashed in Attack Has Positive Outlook Despite Abuse

Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue got the call that a dog was injured in a yard. When Karen Good and the volunteers with her rescue arrived and found the Pit Bull they have named Jacob, they were horrified at what they found.

Karen is a Native American who lives on the Red Lake reservation in Minnesota. She founded Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue and runs an animal shelter on the reservation. She cares for an average of between 40 to 80 dogs and cats daily at her rescue and is called when there is a dog in need.

“When I first saw Jacob I was in shock and disbelief,” Karen told DogHeirs. “I could not believe that someone would disrespect this animal and hurt him so much.”

Jacob was leaning against an outside wall near a porch shaking, frightened and in shock. Blood was splattered all around and on the wall behind him. He had been slashed repeatedly, with deep wounds on his back and head.

“Jacob was curled up in a fetal position and made not a sound as we approached. He trembled and shook, perhaps thinking we were back to hurt him more. The backboard was blood spattered, which made it even harder to stomach. The violence that had happened here was unimaginable.”

But despite his terrible condition he wagged his tail. They picked Jacob up and rushed him to the vet. He was suffering from considerable blood loss and the vet believes Jacob had been cut with a very sharp blade, knife, box cutter or razor. Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue believes he was laying on the ground for around 12 hours before they saved him. His wounds were cleaned and sutured and he is now recovering with the rescue.

“Jacob is doing well considering what has happened to him,” said Karen. “He is happy to get his canned food treat and goes outdoors to do his business. Jacob actually seems happy. His body is still a mess, with stitches all over his bare back and patches of hair missing. He also has demodex mange so is itchy.”

When asked how Jacob interacts with people and what his personality is like, Karen said he’s a typical dog. “He likes other dogs and acts like he may be alpha male when he feels better,” she said. “He is a bit disconnected from people. He does show interest in the food and treats and the nice soft tone when we speak to him. Remarkably, he is quite positive to people, which is hard to understand.”

Karen added, “We have seen that dogs are very loyal many times in spite of the neglect and abuse they have experienced.”

Jacob will be staying with Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue while his wounds heal and he is treated for his mange. “This will also give us time to find out more about his temperament with other dogs, cats, and people as he begins to feel better,” explained Karen.

As for finding who hurt Jacob, an investigation was opened (along with a reward) to find out who is responsible for hurting Jacob.

Day by day, Jacob is getting stronger and healing. “The outlook for Jacob is good,” said Karen. “It is not difficult to heal the body, as dogs are so resilient. It is more difficult to deal with a mind that is damaged. So far it appears that Jacob has a positive take on everything past and present.”

Pupdate on Jacob

Jacob has fully healed and been adopted! “Fast forward to his life now….he has a loving family that clearly adores him and he is a testament to resilience. What is important now is that Jacob is alive and well, being cherished as he deserves! What happened in his past, is the past,” Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue wrote on Facebook a year after Jacob’s rescue. “For Christopher, Mary and the others that love Jacob, we honor you and what you are doing for this sweet boy!”

To donate directly to Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue online at their website here.

More About Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue

Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located on the Red Lake Reservation in northwestern Minnesota. Its mission is to decrease the overpopulation of companion animals and to educate the residents in the humane care and treatment of the animals. Karen Good founded Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue in 2006. She built an animal shelter on her property in an effort to help neglected and abused animals on the Red Lake Reservation, which is approximately the size of Rhode Island and has about 9500 residents. The rescue saves and transports hundreds of animals every year as well as spaying and neutering hundreds more.

Jacob’s story originally appeared on DogHeirs in March of 2014.