There are no bad dogs in the world, but there are definitely some ignorant humans! As if everyday stories of abuse, neglect, and abandonment weren’t enough to show this, a shocking story from St. Louis should make everyone aware of why rescuers are so important in this cruel world.
For Randy Grim, the founder of Stray Rescue of St. Louis and Randy’s Rescue Ranch, it’s “a story about a stray dog that was abused and beaten so badly that he went into unconsciousness for several days.” Local residents had discovered an Akita dog in their yard and tried to keep him alive.
By the time Randy Grim arrived, the Akita was in a desperate condition, so weak he couldn’t move. The dog’s fur was matted with layers of mud and grime. His head was bleeding from savage kicking by his unidentified former “owner,” who had left him for dead on the street.
This seasoned professional knew exactly what was happening. “You know, he’s dying, so I’m going to go ahead and rush him to the emergency room.” While many people might be overwhelmed by the situation, Grim stayed calm and collected, steeled by a single objective: keep this dog alive.
Grim decided to call him Champ, “because I told him, ‘if you live, you’ll be my little champ.'” When Grim got to the hospital, he asked all the followers of Stray Rescue of St. Louis for their prayers. The doctors at Veterinary Specialty Services managed to stabilize Champ, but it became clear that while he had some bite marks from another dog, there was much more to account for.
When the attending vet told Grim that Champ had bruises and wounds around his head, Grim replied, “I was talking with the vet last night, in the middle of the night,” he said, his voice breaking, “and that’s normally done by humans.”
After seeing this wounded and dirty dog, Grim couldn’t believe how beautiful he was underneath the layers of neglect and abuse. Choosing Queen’s epic song “We Are the Champions” for the video was perfect, especially since the dog’s story echoes the words sung by Freddie Mercury, “I’ve had my share of sad kicks in my face, but I’ve come through.”
Not only did Champ make a miraculous recovery, but Grim found him an incredible forever home with good friends of his. As Stray Rescue of St. Louis posted in the comments, “Champ has made a full recovery! He lives on a lake and chases birds, sunbathes on a big deck, and even has cat brothers and sisters.”
Champ got so famous, he even ended up having his own Facebook page, with lots of great pictures of his new life and appeals to help other strays that have been rescued by the organization.
As for Randy Grim, he gets to see Champ often and has started a new rescue project for farm animals called Randy’s Rescue Ranch. This special place in the country offers a home for abused and neglected horses, donkeys, and any other animals that Grim can help save.
Grim wrote in a Facebook post about Champ: “when he woke up he evolved and fought to become the inspiration of a group of people from all over the world to raise money and awareness for other animals in need.” From an almost certain death to an incredible inspiring life—that’s the story of a true champion.
