Saving Violet: Starved Mastiff Heals With Love, Food

CLINTON, MD — From a starving, fearful bag of bones to a dog on the mend that now enjoys people and counter-surfing for unguarded tidbits, Violet the mastiff is on the road to recovery.

After the abused dog was found Feb. 8 wandering along a Clinton road, she was given the hopeful name Violet by rescuers. The 7-year-old dog was picked up by Prince George’s Animal Control officers, treated by a veterinarian, and is now staying with a foster owner to regain weight and strength.

And recently her caretakers reported a milestone on social media: Violet has reached 104 pounds.

“She is beauty and grace. This is happiness, and love. Hard to believe this is the same dog we rescued back in February,” the group Mutts Matters Rescue of Rockville said.

Violet weighed 56 pounds when she was found by authorities; the ideal weight for the giant breed is 150 pounds minimum. A reward is being offered to help find whoever mistreated the pooch.

Violet is a Boerboel mastiff; females of the breed usually weigh between 150 and 200 pounds.

Besides recovering from starvation, Violet underwent surgery to be spayed, and dental surgery for several broken teeth.

And then there are the not-so-visible wounds: shy around people, nervous being outdoors after likely being confined most of the time.

In the care of foster mom Debbie Gertz, who specializes in caring for dogs in extreme cases, the gentle giant is making great strides there, too.

“Violet is slowly opening up and revealing more of her personality,” photographer Shelley Castle wrote in a blog as she documents Violet’s journey. “While still cautious and unsure at times, she is venturing upstairs and being social with the other dogs in Debbie’s family. … Violet is learning to be in good company and is working her way into the social hierarchy.”

Chief Rodney Taylor of the county’s Animal Services division told Patch that Violet’s owner – still unknown – neglected her and then likely dumped her.

“Certainly she’s been mistreated, she looks to be a starvation case,” Taylor said.

See the Saving Violet Facebook page for photos and video of the healing dog

The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person responsible for ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­starving Violet.

Donations toward Violet’s care and recovery can be made at the Mutts Matter Rescue website and regular updates on Violet can be found on the Saving Violet Facebook page.

Criminal charges of felony animal cruelty may be filed against the dog’s owner when found, he said, which carries a $3,000 fine and five years in prison.

Prince George’s County’s Animal Management Division is investigating the case. Anyone with information about Violet’s owner is asked to call 301-780-7241.

FEEDING VIOLET FUND: Doggie Delights in Haymarket, VA, has set up a fund for Violet’s supporters to contribute to her food supply. She is on a special diet of high calorie and highly nutritious foods and supplements. Doggie Delights will give a 10 percent discount on all purchases toward Violet’s care. The store number is 703-753-5255 if you want to call and donate by credit card.

»Photo of Violet in February courtesy of Prince George’s Animal Control; updated photos of Violet used with permission from Shelley Castle Photography