Abused Puppy Found With Metal Chain Embedded In Neck Goes Home With Actor Dave Bautista

TAMPA, FL — He may resemble an immovable force of nature in the wrestling ring but those who know WWE star and actor Dave Bautista will tell you he's a total pushover where animals are concerned.

He admits to a soft spot where animals are concerned. It's that soft spot that led Bautista, who lives in the Port Tampa area, to adopt two abandoned pit bull siblings he named Maggie and Ollie from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay in 2019 and, earlier this year, offer a $20,000 reward to find the person who had written the name "Trump" across the back of a manatee.

Now the actor who plays Drax the Destroyer in "Guardians of the Galaxy" is offering a $5,000 reward to find the person responsible for abusing a 3-month-old puppy found in Tampa Sept. 16 with a metal chain embedded in her neck.

Bautista saw the puppy's story posted on the Humane Society of Tampa Bay's Facebook page, and said it tugged at his heartstrings.

According to Humane Society of Tampa Bay Executive Director Sherry Silk, a good Samaritan was driving home when she spotted the puppy eating garbage at the Home Cemetery at 3700 N. 37th St. in Tampa.

The woman pulled over and got out of her car. To her surprise, the puppy ran to greet her.

She put the injured puppy in her car and promptly drove her to the Humane Society at 3607 N. Armenia Ave.

Silk said the puppy was in a great deal of pain. The chain was embedded in her neck so deeply, it had to be surgically removed. The puppy also had a painful skin infection and suffered from other issues related to neglect.

However, the puppy named Sage by Humane Society staff hadn't allowed her abuse to destroy her affectionate nature.

"She is very sweet and friendly," Silk said. "Even though she is in immense pain, Sage was wagging her tail on the exam table while our veterinarian and vet techs were examining her."

The puppy's story is a familiar one to the staff and volunteers at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Each week the society takes in pets that have been abused, abandoned and neglected.

But, for some reason, Sage's story in particular struck a chord with Bautista.

“I just came across her story, and it crushed me,” Bautista said in an interview. “To me, there’s nothing more innocent and pure than a puppy. And for someone who can abuse a puppy has got to be the lowest form of human being. It’s pure evil for someone who can abuse an animal like that, you know. It makes me sick to my stomach."

He posted his intention to offer a $5,000 reward to anyone who can identify the puppy's abuser.

"ATTN Tampa Bay: I will personally hand $5,000 cash to the person who gives information leading to the arrest and conviction of the sick piece of sh-t responsible for this,” wrote Bautista on his Instagram page.

Bautista's offer attracted national attention. "Walking Dead" actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan added $500 to the reward and actor Mickey Rourke threw in $1,000. Additionally, the Tampa law firm, Alvarez Injury Law, pledged to match Bautista's $5,000 reward and the Humane Society is providing another $1,500 for a total reward of $10,300.

On Saturday, Bautista posted a followup video on his Instagram page with his dog trainer, Luis Safe, owner of Safe K9 of Tampa, at his side.

"The bad news is, we don't have any solid leads," Bautista announced. "We haven't found the person responsible.

"The good news today is the puppy you know as Sage has become Penny Bautista. I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of my family. She is now a Bautista, and she will never be abused another day, not a second in her life. She's about to live her best puppy life."

Silk said it was rewarding to see the abandoned puppy leave the Humane Society, riding in style in Bautista's Rolls Royce.

"Dave Bautista is nothing short of amazing," she said. "Thank you for all that you are doing for Penny. She went from eating trash in a cemetery with a chain embedded around her neck to starting an amazing new life with Dave and two new pitty siblings."

Anyone with information about Penny's abusers can contact Silk at sherrys@humanesocietytampa.org or call 813-774-4309.