A pit mix dog named Abigail almost lost her life to dogfighting. Now she is being recognized for her indomitable spirit and resilience.
She was found anemic and infested with ticks, with scars covering her body. Half of her face was missing and she was covered in mud. Her wounds strongly suggested that she had been a victim of dogfighting.
She was taken to an animal rescue facility, and staff completed multiple major surgeries to address her extensive skin damage. She needed several iterations of gauze and wrappings for her wounds to heal. So the staff fashioned the medical gauze Abigail needed for her recovery to look like a bonnet with a bow, and then snapped some photos to capture her look.
Abigail’s unique wound dressings have drawn considerable attention. A Facebook page created on her behalf has garnered more than 12,000 followers and Abigail was recently named the American Hero Dog of 2017 at the seventh annual American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards. She earned $5,000 and is going to help support Dogs on Deployment, a charity that assists military members with pet care and ownership.

American Humane
Dogfighting is a disturbing form of animal abuse. No animal should be forced into this brutal “sport,” which exists just for human entertainment and profit. At only one year old, Abigail was found on the verge of life after she was likely made to fight. But with help from a good Samaritan and LIFE Rescue in Florida, she has recovered and is now recognized as a hero and a living, loving symbol of healing and hope.
There were so many dogs to vote for but I picked her. I’m so glad she was picked to be the Hero Dog of the Year.
I was so happy to see that she won American Hero Dog of 2017!!!!! She was the one I voted for after reading her story. Abigail you rock!!!!!!!
It is wonderful that Abigail has been saved!
But what happened to that poor dog in Turkey whose ears were cut off by those slimly punks arrogantly posing in that hideous selfie? Was he or she ever found? I hope that they keep looking for that dog until they find out where he or she is now.
Those arrogant cowardly devils pathetically trying to look tough, as though harming a puppy would somehow make them men. They will NEVER be real men!
I hope that being so visible backfires on them. So that now they will fear that some animal lovers will attack them, when they least expect it. Maybe when they asleep. And mete out justice, but holding them down and cutting off parts of them that they value MORE than their ears. THAT would be justice!
If the Republic of Turkey does not get wise fast and give these sadistic degenerates the punish they deserve. Then Turkey may see such scum doing these heinous acts on humans, as well. If and when that happens, the government of Turkey has no one to blame but themselves.
Thank you for sharing positive sotories, gives us hope.
PLEASE BAN DOG FIGHTING….NOW….
God bless you baby girl.
Please let the acts of kindness from people who care help erase the memories of horror you’ve endured you the monsters who don’t
**we must never give erupted on abused animals- she is living proof!
God bless you baby girl!
Please let the acts of kindness from people who care help erase the memories of horror you’ve endured by monsters who don’t.
*we must never give up on abused animals-:she is living proof##
GOD BLESS those whom make a change for these unfortunate animals that are forced to become victims.
What a beautiful, sweet, FORGIVING soul. I love you, Abigail! You are SO BRAVE!!! XOXOXO
What a beautiful, sweet, forgiving girl. I love you, Abigail! You are SO BRAVE!!!!
All the best to Abigail! Thank you for her rescue! ❤️
What an horrific thing for her to go through. Thank God for the people at LIFE Rescue and that good samaritan who found her and brought her to them. Thank God they were able to save her. She looks so pretty. I hope they are able to successfully re home her and that she siffers from no psychological damage.
May she live a long and happy carefree life.
This is the 2nd pittie to win this award.. ELL was the 1st.. that i can remember.. I know i voted for her..
Thank you everyone that helped in her recovery. There are so many dogs used in this way even if one is saved that’s something.
Poor sweet baby. I’m so glad she was rescued. May all dog fighters burn in hell! They don’t deserve to live.
We love you, Abigail! Thank you for representing your breed and others that are being used as money-makers to the most despicable beings on earth.
The people involved in this barbaric cruelty should suffer a similar fate. Fight to the death maybe!,,
The laws for fighting dogs MUST BE MADE STRONGER!!! Harass your congressmen until a MANDATORY sentence of 25-50 years is enacted . Even then, the bastards will be out of jail in 8 years!
i agree it makes me violently sick to my stomach the laws need to be harsher for these sick bastards all these animals just wanted to be loved and cherished not this cruelty ! justice for this sweet baby
SHE IS BEAUTIFUL AND ALSO SMILING IN THIS PIC.
I wish each stroke of my keyboard could be a whip lashing those who organize and profit from dog fighting. They deserve no mercy. Abigail, on the other hand, is now a beauty queen and deserves respect and lots of petting.
Are there any details about where and when this happened? How can one validate what you are writing without significant details?
This is horrible. We hear of so many heinous things people do. And it doesn’t get any better. These creeps that put on these “events” are some of the lowest type people that exist. Those that go to these “events” are just as bad.
What does it take to rid the world of these worthless scumbags???
I wish thry would stop tjis sport for dogs to fight no animal should have to go through that I’m glad thid dog gets another chance st life so yrs yoo are a American hero
I’m so sorry you were tortured by such scum bags, Abigail, but also so happy that you survived and are now healthy and able to trust again. We need tougher laws to protect these helpless animals who are used so that others can profit from such a sick sport!
Hey Allison, we need a law to be written that the citizens can ban together, look for these dufus morons, and be allowed to enact our own punishment on these fools no questions asked. If ever there was a reason for vigilanties, this is the time. When you know for sure that a person has committed this terrible act, we should be allowed to punish that individual. For starters, I say put them in a ring of vicious dogs and let nature take its course. The law needs to start doing unto them what they are constantly doing unto the innocent animals. Personally I would love to boil them in oil.
God Bless and Keep Abigail safe from any more harm. May The Lord heal her wounds so she can function normally. Thank God Abigail is young enough to recover from her wounds. She is a beautiful girl ????
Is anything being done to stop this dog fighting ring in FL? (I’m assuming FL..but I could be wrong). I really hope so. The thought of this going on day after day literally makes me sick. These people need to be caught. Hoping to see something??
It is everywhere. Not only Florida. But it needs to be fought and abolished every where it is found and severe penalties need to be enacted against these horrible devils who do these things. I just read last night that some stupid idiot thought it would be cool to let 40 intact rabbits loose on the grounds of this mental hospital in Las Vegas. Now there are hundreds of domestic rabbits and the girl who is trying to catch and rescue all these rabbits caught a guy who was catching them to use for his dog fighting. She called the police and they are looking for this person but see how widespread it is and how hideous it is for someone to sic a dog on innocent rabbits to train them to fight other dogs.
How is she doing emotionally and behavioral? I hope she can learn to trust again and know she matters, she is loved, cared for and should never ever ever have to worry about anyone so rotten doing this to her or any other dog again. I also hope that the jerks were prosecuted.
I went to visit her on one of her promotional gigs and this girl, though been through so much, only has love she gives back. No judgements.
God Bless you, John, for visiting beautiful Abigail and sharing your love with her.
Just goes to show you john how beautiful and compassionate these animals are. With all the wrong that is done to them, they still show love and affection. I would rather be around an animal any day than most people.
That’s the absolute truth Debra. Animals are more human than the majority of so called humans.
Your choice is excellent! Thank you!
Why would you want to see two dogs fight and fight to death? Why? It is such a horrible thing to see or watch. How do people do it? It sickens me at my stomach to think animals are made to do this and they have no idea of what is about to happen until it does. How, how sad. These people who do this, need punished to the full extent of the law; the ones who organize it and the ones who watch it. There is no difference. This is a sick addiction to say the least. Both are going to hell when judgement day comes.
It is the same monsters who go to these bull fights and greyhound racing and horse fighting in the Philippine islands. Can you imagine filthy evil people fighting horses? THese kind of people are disgusting monsters and should be killed. They should not have the right to breathe the same air we do. THe police and sheriff departments need to really crack down on these hideous creeps.
My heart just sinks EVERY TIME I read articles like this – I hate all those bastards and hope they go to hell!!
Thank you LIFE Rescue and that very special someone who helped Abigail!! Good job, she looks so pretty :))