A shelter dog who had spent much of his young life being used in the cruelest way possible to train fighting dogs is now seeking a safe place to finally call home.
Alicia Bopp is the owner and founder of Champs Chance, a North Florida dog rescue that recently welcomed a dog by the name of Journey into its ranks.
In a video shared to the shelter's TikTok page, the young black dog can be seen moving around nervously while a caption lays out the poor pup's distressing backstory.
"Our sweet Journey boy was betrayed by those who were supposed to protect him," it reads. " He was used as a bait dog because of his sweet demeanor. They used him as a punching bag to train their dogs how to fight."
While dog fighting is illegal, sadly it is still being practiced in certain circles. Florida is no stranger to underground dog fighting rings either.
Last month, more than 100 badly treated dogs were rescued from a major dog fighting ring that was uncovered and dismantled in Florida.
Bopp, the shelter owner, told Newsweek of how Journey was rescued thanks to a chance encounter. "Journey wandered up to an elderly couple's home with a large chain and part of a lock still attached," Bopp said.
"He was emaciated, covered in fleas and ticks and covered in scratches, cuts and marks on him. They were determined to find someone to save him and contacted us."
Journey has already garnered lots of fans online. One viewer commenting on the TikTok video detailing his plight said: "That poor angel. I'm so glad he's loved now. Give him a kiss for me. The cruelty and depravity of this world never ceases to amaze me."
Another wrote: "Dogs are an absolute blessing and privilege. Really hope this sweetheart finds a good home," with a third adding: "He deserves all the love and happiness in the world."
Champs Chance is a small rural rescue run solely on donations, but Bopp estimates they have well over 150 dogs in their care.
"We are surrounded by several counties who do not even have animal control and try to help them as much as possible as well as other rural rescues," she said. "We take a lot of pups that are about to be euthanized."
Sadly, Bopp believes stories like Journey's are far from isolated. In fact, she said they have become a "daily occurrence" in the area, while the shelter system is close to breaking point.
"The south is horrible for animal welfare in general and every time we think we have seen it all, something happens even worse," she said. "The shelters and rescues are maxed out completely and totally and the animals just keep coming."
Despite his experience as a bait dog, Journey has retained a heart of gold and Bopp is confident his gentle personality will help him secure the forever home he rightly deserves.
"Journey is a great pup and would fit in really anywhere," she said.
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