Turning Tragedy to Triumph
October 31, 2011
After surviving a severe dog attack, a woman overcomes her fears, rescues an abused pit bull and helps change animal abuse laws for the better
By Donna Lawrence
In October of 2008, my neighbor moved and was unable to take his dog with him. The dog was a pit bull, which meant that if he was surrendered to a shelter, he would most likely be put to sleep. I felt pity for this poor animal, who had spent most of its life tied to a tree unwanted by his human, so I agreed to take care of him myself until other arrangements could be made. This was a decision that would nearly cost me my life.
Every day I went over to the neighbor’s house, putting down bowls of dog food and fresh water, and then leaving. I did this for days without any trouble. Then, one morning during a routine visit to the neighbor’s house, the dog attacked me from behind. Because I did not know enough about dogs to read the warning signs, his life and mine were forever changed. I will never forget that day.
My life literally flashed before my eyes as I found myself on the ground in the jaws of this angry animal. He grabbed my ankle from behind and pulled me to the ground. Then he clenched my right leg between his teeth and would not let go. I knew he could easily overpower and kill me. I tried with all my might, but I could not loosen his grip. Panic set in, and I went into shock as I felt him ripping my leg apart. I was sure that I was going to die, or at least lose my leg. I knew it was going to take more strength than I had left to fight off the dog. So I cried out to God for help. I could feel the adrenalin pumping as I tried to kick him with my left leg. This just made him angrier, and he lunged for my throat. I caught him in midair by his collar, and he began to bite and chew my hand. Blood was pouring down my arm, but I knew that if I wrestled my hand out of his mouth, he would grab me by the throat and finish me off.
Again I cried out to God for help.
It was then that I heard a voice saying, “Throw him back with all your might and roll away.” I did exactly that. With strength I did not know I had, I threw the dog away from me and then rolled in the opposite direction and out of his reach. I jumped up, covered in blood and off ran to a neighbor’s house to get help.
Knowing I was in trouble, I prayed the whole way that I wouldn’t pass out, as I felt my body getting weaker and weaker. When my neighbor opened his door and saw me lying there, he rushed me to the emergency room where the doctor said to me, “You are lucky to be alive.”
When the shock of the attack began wear off, I realized how I had fought back and escaped the dogs’s grasp, somehow surviving the vicious attack in spite of the pain. It was truly a miracle.
Reflections
As I lay there in the hospital bed, with tears pouring down my cheek, my thoughts drifted to the dog that had injured me. I couldn’t help feeling sorry for him, knowing that he would pay the ultimate price. He would lose his life. I don’t blame the animal, instead, I blame the people who turned their dog into what he will remain in people’s memories: A dog that attacked a human being. Their neglect and isolation of the dog had resulted in his issues of fearfulness and territorial behavior. Chained to a tree, he had lived a very lonely life.
I said a prayer that day thanking God for saving my life. I had 45 stitches in my leg and drainage tubes running in every direction. The bite had gone completely through, penetrating both sides of my leg and leaving the bone exposed. It was nearly two months before I could walk again. Over time my injuries would heal, but the attack left me with deep emotional scars. My love for dogs had turned into fear instead.
Redemption
Less than a year after my attack I met Susie. Susie was a little pit bull mix puppy that had been found beaten, burned and left to die in a park. Her story was heartbreaking. For two weeks this tiny puppy lay hidden, suffering alone without food or water. She had second and third degree burns over 60 percent of her body. Her ears were burned to nubs, and scars ran all the way down her back. Her jaw was broken, and her teeth had been knocked out.
A passerby in the park found her and called animal control. The poor puppy’s open wounds were infested with over 300 maggots, and they had to be removed one by one from her tortured skin.
Susie was taken to the Guilford County Animal Shelter, and for weeks she endured daily treatments for her burns, initially needing to be anesthetized to survive the pain.
Susie was only 8 weeks old when her owner did this to her, all because she had licked his baby in the face. He said that he had gone into a rage, dragged her outside, beat her up and poured lighter fluid on her. Then he had set her on fire.
For Susie, death seemed to be just around the corner, as she was severely dehydrated and malnourished. Susie survived. Another miracle! A friend of mine who volunteered at the shelter fostered Susie, helping with her recovery and nursing her back to health. I decided that I had to meet this precious puppy! When I did, it was love at first sight!
As she was recovering, as often as I could I volunteered to watch Susie. Spending time with her was incredible. How could this little puppy trust and love people unconditionally after what people had done to her? If she could trust again, then so could I. My husband and I decided to adopt Susie. She would finally have the love for which she had so desperately longed.
Susie’s Law
While Susie was healing from her injuries, the man that had hurt her was arrested. He would eventually go to trial for his crimes. Due to the current animal cruelty law in North Carolina, all he got was eight months of probation. Under North Carolina’s structured sentencing guidelines, there was no jail time for first time offenders.
North Carolina citizens were outraged! I joined in with several friends to change this law. Something had to be done to protect the animals in our state. After months of rallying support, a stiffer new animal cruelty law was passed.
Reclassifying our current class I felony cruelty to animals statute, which carries no active jail time, to a class H felony allows the judges in North Carolina to impose an active sentence on people convicted of felony animal cruelty. This increases the penalties for animal cruelty to a maximum 10-month jail sentence. The current A-l misdemeanor charge for intentionally starving an animal in North Carolina was elevated as well to a class H felony. This law was named Susie’s Law!
When it goes into effect on Dec.1, 2011, Susie’s Law will give animals a voice – a voice they had not had before.
With the new law in place, Susie and I wanted to do something more to help animals as well as people. Susie is in training to become a therapy dog and hopes to visit with burn victims in hospitals, offering blessings to all those who have gone through what she has.
I have written several books and also started a nonprofit organization called Susie’s Hope. We travel everywhere visiting special needs communities, pet adoption fairs, fundraisers, schools, churches and other organizations to educate people about animal cruelty and welfare. I believe that education is the best prevention when it comes to animal abuse. Children need to be taught to love and respect all of God’s creatures.
You see, Susie and I shared something in common. She was wrongfully attacked by a human, and I was wrongfully attacked by a dog. We both were miracles. We overcame our fears and found each other. We turned a negative into a positive. Susie and I went from being victims to living a victorious life, and now we are inspiring others with the power of love, hope and forgiveness. Most important, we want everyone to know that one person or even one dog can make a difference in this world.
Photos by Erin Arsenault
BEAUTIFUL story! I can’t beleive that person who harmed Susie received a slap on the wrist; for two weeks she suffered alone and this person was able to live his life. What will do the person do when their child does something wrong what will he do to the child. Heavens Susie was only 8 weeks old, what are puppies suppose to do? Thank God for answering your prayers to rescue you from the dog that attacked you and thank GOD again for giving you compassion and forgiveness!
@theprettychic AND she was only an eight week old baby at the time!!! she shouldn’t even have been away from her mama at that time!!!
bless u, dear 1, for taking this baby into u’r life…..i’m so glad u put u’r fear 2 the side n rescued this wee girl……”who rescued whom”, eh?
dru
Way to go. Now I’m sitting here in my cubicle at work, a grown man, with tears in my eyes. Thank God Susie and Ms. Lawrence found each other. Like the magnet on my car asks, “Who rescued who?”
So true!
Wow amazing !!!! So awful and beautiful on so many levels, thank you for giving dogs another chance, a very deep story and one to think and reflect on.
This is just a beautiful, moving story. If only all people could step outside their own experience and work for the greater good of the animals, we’d all be so much further ahead in life.
@AnnColeman Very well put, thanks Ann!
Thank you for sharing your story and telling us the backstory of Susie’s Law. Through your efforts there is at least a chance of abusers being punished for their crimes.
thank you for sharing about your attack and about new life with Susie. I wish you two the very best in life and Susie is a beautiful dog. love her pearls. God Bless you and your family
Thank you for sharing your beautiful stoy – I will share this on Facebook . . . BRAVO you are part of the SOLUTION !!!!!
Thank u for being so brave, but most of all thank u for changing the laws in N.C., since that is where I now reside. Now we just need to get Ohio on the same page, which is the state in which I was born. To Susie a great big hug and kiss…what a strong little girl.
@PamelaFolden We need the laws to change in every state. Donna has shown us all that it can be done!
yep, Ohio sucks!
Found a story about a man in NC was tried under the Susie Law. He starved his three pit bulls to death and received the maximum sentence!. He will do a total of 5-6 years; each sentence is consecutive. Susie you’re making moves and calling out names wooohooo!!
@theprettychic Great to see Susie’s Law in effect! Now abused animals have a voice!
What an uplifting story! So happy you and Susie found each other.
You commend your love you show by caring so for this precious pup. I also admire your insight and intelligence in regards to what caused that poor chained dog to attack you. I admire your work to make a difference in the lives of animals. I hope there are angels watching out for the children of the man who did that to a poor puppy.
Wow… I’m so happy that you found each other… I admire your work and dedication… you made a difference in her life and so many others…
What a gift you were and continue to be to each other. There is nothing quite like the unconditional love of a dog. Your choice to see the truth of your attack was a brave thing, so often the true culprit ( the owner) goes blameless and poor dog pays the price with their life. Bravo to you for being such a sentitive and thoughtful person.
Classic good vs evil and goodness prevailed in this case. The world is a better place because of people like you. Your commitment to turn what was a horrible situation on both sides into something positive is an inspiration to us all.
@hrintuitive It is truly inspirational!!!!
Awe inspiring story!! Let this serve as a reminder that when you keep an open heart and an open mind, victory always prevails over fear! Well done ladies!! Keep up the great message and positive changes!! God bless!
Wow…just wow. Im actually in tears reading this. It is so beautiful and wonderful that you found each other and even more so that you are actively advocating for animal rights and trying to change things. I applaud you. Bless you and bless Susie!!
Your open heart and mind speak volumes. Thank you for saving Susie and thank Susie for saving you. Most especially, thank you for working to make the laws in your state more appropriate for animal abusers.
p.s. The pearls pull the whole outfit together!! ;’-)
@millermorgan So true, not every dog can pull off pearls!
What a wonderful story. The fact that Donna didn’t blame the dog that attacked her, (as many usually do) and saw it was the fault of the owner for deliberately isolating the dog speaks volumes about her. I’m so glad Susie was helped and she has recovered. It sickens me that the laws for animal cruelty in some states are so lenient. But thankfully, I see many people and organizations fighting to change this.
@NuriaRodriguez It really does show the kind of woman Donna is. She saw the reasons for the attack and not only didn’t blame the dog, but moved forward to save Susie and change laws for the better!
What a beautiful story of the strength of love and forgiveness. It broke my heart to read the first part of this story especially as knowing that if that first dog had not been chained that horrible incident would have never happened. But a beautiful ending this story has and I think it speaks volumes to the power of love and forgiveness.
i am so glad you were ab;e to understand where your attacker was coming from well enough not to hate all pits. i’m thrilled that you’ve been able to make a difference in your state’s laws for susie and others like her. i thought my poor pit was bad off when we got him, but the suffering that you baby endured is deplorable! thank you so much for everything you’re doing on behalf of those who can’t speak for themselves! you and susie are true heros!
I had honestly expected to read an opinion the complete opposite of what was written, and can only respect the trials and triumphs you and Susie endured. Thank you for giving another pit the chance to experience a loving home – something every animal deserves !
That is a wonderful story! You are an amazing person for saving her life and not thinking that all pits are bad.
You are truly the example of turning the other cheek. Im so glad you are using a very emotional time for you to do good. I know the healing was terrible (Im a nurse) but you looked past that. I just cant say thank you enuogh!!!
This is one of the most touching stories I have ever read. Donna, you and Susie are truly inspirational and the bond you share is beyond amazing. Susie’s Hope, Susie’s Law, your therapy work – it is all just wonderful. My deepest wishes for many, many happy years together.
@suesmith We think it’s so touching too, it just grabs you and takes you on an incredible journey of redemption.
Donna and Suzie are an amazing pair that were destined to be together. What a great example they are setting for the breed and for dogs as a whole. This is a wonderful story that really made my day
That is truly an inspiring story. The fact that you able to forgive a dog and understand that he was a product of his environment, but did not hold that against him, or his breed, is amazing.
As for Susie… she is adorable and I truly don’t understand how someone could be so cruel to a tiny puppy. Or any animal! I have tears streaming down my face, it’s very heartbreaking and enraging all at the same time.
I am glad to hear that you both have recovered. (Or are recovering).
Thank you for sharing and finding forgiveness in your heart.
So inspiring! So beautiful, both of them! This story gave me chills and brought me nearly to tears multiple times. I was so happy to read the lines, “I don’t blame the animal, instead, I blame the people who turned their dog into what he will remain in people’s memories: A dog that attacked a human being. Their neglect and isolation of the dog had resulted in his issues of fearfulness and territorial behavior. Chained to a tree, he had lived a very lonely life.” This is the problem today, everyone blames the dog, when in fact it is the humans. Stories like this give me hope for our breed as well as humanity!
So inspiring! So beautiful, both of them! This story gave me chills and brought me nearly to tears multiple times. I was so happy to read the lines, “I don’t blame the animal, instead, I blame the people who turned their dog into what he will remain in people’s memories: A dog that attacked a human being. Their neglect and isolation of the dog had resulted in his issues of fearfulness and territorial behavior. Chained to a tree, he had lived a very lonely life.” This is the problem today, everyone blames the dog, when in fact it is the humans. Stories like this give me hope for our breed as well as humanity!
This is an amazing story, Susie is very beautiful.
THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR STORY. I CAN’T STOP TEARS BUT I’M VERY HAPPY FOR SUSIE AND YOU
Awesome story! Thanks for sharing!