English Mastiff Starved And Thrown From Car Wags Her Tail Every Time She Sees Her Rescuer

An English Mastiff weighing only a third of what she should was thrown out of a car like a piece of garbage. For many dogs that would be their sad end. But thanks to a Good Samaritan, the dog named Violet is getting a new beginning.

Warning: a few images of Violet may be disturbing to some readers. Updates at the end of this story.

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Photo credit: Saving Violet

Authorities say someone saw the large dog being tossed out of a moving car in Clinton, Maryland. The Good Samaritan stopped to help the large dog and she was taken to Prince George’s County Animal Control. Violet was then rescued by Mutts Matter Rescue and placed with volunteer Debbie Gretz, who has experience with tending to severely emaciated dogs like Violet.

Sweet Violets evening update!
New purple bandages today for our Violet. The pressure sores, while serious, are looking…

Posted by Debbie Gretz on Friday, February 12, 2016




“Tears roll down my cheeks as I run my hand over her soft fur hugging every bone in her body,” Debbie wrote around on Facebook when she first met her. “She will stand up and walk to me…I am surprised she can even do this. I am at a loss for the words to describe her condition. So happy to have her here with me. Send all of your good thoughts, prayers, positive energy, whatever you can send her way.”

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Photo credit: Saving Violet

Violet weighed just over 60 pounds when she was first found. Debbie says she needs to gain 80 to 90 pounds to “be whole again”.

Violet also has a lot of pressure sores all over her body. Her rescuers believe she might have been chained up inside and used to breed.

Debbie is giving Violet several small, nutritious meals a day to slowly build up her health and weight. And every time Violet sees Debbie come downstairs, her tail wags. “When I sat on the sofa to talk to her, she walked over to me and put her head in my lap I thought I would just melt. She is just so sweet even after being treated so terribly.”

Although Violet is not out of the woods yet, she is getting spoiled with lots of attention and she loves it!

She’s learning how to get up the stairs, going for walks with friends and learning what it is to be part of a family.

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Photo credit: Saving Violet

A $5,000 reward is being offered by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of whomever is responsible for Violet’s abuse. Anyone with information can contact the Prince George’s County Animal Management Division at 301-780-7241.

Update: October 2016

Several months have passed since Violet was first rescued. She is thriving in the care of her mom, who has been making sure Violet gets the nutrition and exercise she so desperately needed. Violet now weights a wonderful 138 lbs. Way to go, Violet!

She’s enjoying days at the beach…

Her first “pup cup”…

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Saving Violet

And all the love and attention!

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Saving Violet

For more on Violet, visit her Facebook page and Mutts Matter Rescue website.

I’m so happy that Violet is on the mend, especially after years of maltreatment and neglect. Share her story with your friends if you think so too!

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