Her name is Sweet Pea. The pit bull is believed to be a former bait dog for a dog fighting ring. In April 2015, she was found in a Camden garbage dump severly injured. She had open wounds and infectected skin. She was taken to the Camden County Animal Shelter, and she was about to be euthanized, when Kathy McGuire, president and founder of NJ Aid for Animals, became aware of her.
She adopted the dog, who spent four days in the hospital, followed by a long recovery period.
"She was in a lot of pain, and we had to end up removing one ear completely."
Sweet pea is resiliant. She is the offical face for dog fighting awareness for the state of New Jersey. She even has a fund under NJ Aid for Animals to raise money for other dogs like her.
McGuire says we all must act together to end animal cruelty.
"Don't give up. If you see cruelty — we hear that a lot — people say, 'Well, I called the police, and now they are taking of it.' No, no, no, no, no. Don't just think soembody else is going to take care of something. You have to follow up. These animals have no advocate. You are their advocate."
Last month in New York, Sweet Pea was named the ASPCA's dog of the year.
"You know, I say in my acceptance speech, ASPCA, we don't label each other, so let's not label our animals," McGuire said.