COMPASSION: VONN - It’s a Miracle He Survived!

8–9 month old puppy—used as a bait dog—
doused with lighter fluid—set on fire...and he lived!

By Chastity Rodgers (Vonn’s new mama)

Photos by Larry Wadsworth

This past August, two Pit Bulls, a day apart, wandered onto the property of a good Samaritan outside of College Station, Texas, looking for a drink of water from her leaky water hose. There had been a record 60+ days of over 100°F scorching temperatures. The female, believed to be Vonn’s mother, had burns on about 20% of her body, a broken pelvis, and multiple bites, scratches, and wounds. The nice lady took “Esparanza” to her local vet who agreed to care for her.

The following day, on her way home (in the country) she came across a second younger Pit Bull, about 8–9 months old, with burns covering 60% of his body. His ears had been cut to his head with a sharp object and then sewn with thread, and he had burns around his eyes and on the small parts of what were left of his ears. “Vonn” gladly got into her car, wagged his tail and went with her back to her local vet’s office. Because they were caring for the first Pit Bull, they called in the critical care team at The Teaching Hospital at Texas A&M University to assess whether they could provide the acute care this pup Vonn was going to need with a burn of this magnitude. Infections were a huge concern.

It was believed that both dogs were used as bait dogs with all the wounds on their bodies, and it was determined that Vonn had probably been doused with lighter fluid and set on fire. The burns to his head and eyes were likely due to his trying to bite at the flames.

After meeting the little guy and seeing his strength, enthusiasm, and will to live, the staff knew they had no choice but to try and save him. They looked to the Development Office to help raise funds for the expensive care Vonn was going to require. That’s where I came in as the fundraiser for the College of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences. I worked with our media relations people to develop a website to report on Vonn’s progress and also to collect donations from all the people who were rooting for his recovery. The community really came together, and we raised over $10,000 for his care and completely covered the vet bills.

Vonn was so grateful and appreciative of the care and love he was receiving, and he really inspired me! I started visiting him daily and talked to the lead doctor about the possibility of adopting him and making Vonn a part of my family. I knew there was going to be a lot of interest in adopting him as the story has made the local TV news and newspapers. But they chose me! I had worked for the HSUS previously, so I was very familiar with the atrocities Pit Bulls face in the dog fighting world, and it was apparent that little Vonn (a name, chosen by one of our doctors, which is Viking for “Warrior”) and Esperanza had fallen victim to such a fate.

At the time, I was going through a year-and-a-half-long divorce. I had just lost my last dog (Tahoe, a Great Dane) in March of 2010 suddenly to stomach bloat while I was dealing with the divorce and a job change. I was having a tough time, and here was this little guy who had barely been in this world for 9 months and he was happy—really happy—to be alive and to have people around him. After everything he had been dealt, he still believed in people. I thought about that almost daily as I was spreading the word about his story and pulling for him. He needed me, and frankly, I needed him.

While Vonn recovered, he was tested for aggression by one of the college’s experts, and he showed no aggression or fear to anything. He is fearless except for when a towel soaked in lighter fluid was placed in front of him, then he shied away and tried to hide. He is great with other dogs, including his new brother, a Great Dane rescue, Keightley! He likes small dogs and kids too.

A typical day for Vonn and Keightley consists of getting up in the mornings and playing in the backyard while I get ready for work, then they come in and have breakfast. They nap until lunch and wait for their walks in the evenings or to have play dates with some of my friends’ dogs. I recently started running, and I plan to take Vonn when he is feeling up to it. We are going to be running buddies, since that type of thing really doesn’t work for Great Danes! They love to ride in my 4-Runner and go almost everywhere with me on the weekends. Vonn stays by my side, and he has to wear clothes to protect his skin. He also joins me at work now and again and regularly visits all his buddies at the Teaching Hospital.

Vonn is an extraordinary example of the Pit Bull breed. He is loyal. He is happy. He wants to please. He is goofy. He is good. He is determined. He reminds me every day that my job is important and meaningful. He is as tough as nails. He is resilient—and I am in awe.