When animal control officers found sweet pup Stewart, he was in rough shape. The poor dog had a thick leather belt around his neck, and was tied to a tree using a heavy logging chain.
Stewart was dirty and alone — and he was absolutely terrified.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10213728827287953&set=a.1903241033760.105255.1623767869&type=3
The officers brought the scared dog to the Whitfield County Animal Shelter in Georgia. Even though he was in a safe place, Stewart was still too scared to let anyone get near him.
Although shelter volunteers were able to take the chain off of Stewart, he would growl and get defensive anytime they came near the belt. Understandably, the neglected dog didn’t trust people. He wouldn’t even let them comfort him!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10213659997607254&set=a.1463107510697.58067.1623767869&type=3
Stewart spent days huddled in the back of his kennel, hiding against the wall. One of the shelter volunteers, Rebecca Rood, snapped some pictures of Stewart and shared them online, seeking help for the dog.
When Courtney Bellew, the director of Special Needs Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation (SNARR), saw the photos, she knew just what to do.
https://www.facebook.com/SNARRNE/videos/1613399105408613/
Courtney picked up Stewart from the shelter and transferred him to a veterinary clinic. While Stewart was sedated for tests, vets removed the heavy belt from his neck.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10213728827567960&set=a.1903241033760.105255.1623767869&type=3
When Stewart woke up, he was a completely different dog. He wasn’t afraid of people anymore, and he was actually playful!
https://www.facebook.com/SNARRNE/videos/1613399065408617/
Apparently, the belt was the only thing holding Stewart back from being the sweet, happy dog that he is now. Stewart will probably always remember the horrors he went through, but he’s already starting to move on and open up.
https://www.facebook.com/SNARRNE/videos/1613399105408613/
