LINCOLN PARK — As president of Lincoln Park-based Trio Animal Foundation, Sue Naiden has seen numerous cases of horrendous dog abuse.
But the condition of Hazel Grace, a small, black-gray mix breed Naiden first met on Sept. 27, certainly stands out. (Warning: The photos have been posted on Facebook, but the foundation warns they are "very graphic and disturbing.")
The dog's belly had been burned, and, as Naiden described: "The smell coming off of her body was so bad that we needed to put Vicks VapoRub up our noses for the ride home."
Justin Breen says there are hundreds more dogs like Hazel:
Naiden adopted Hazel Grace, who lives with Naiden and her several other foster dogs that her foundation saved from abuse and neglect. Hazel Grace, who has survived months of treatment, a skin graft on her inner thighs and heartworm, has become an inspiration to fans following her updates on social media, Naiden said.
"Hazel Grace has thousands of fans around the world because she truly inspires people," Naiden said. "When people are having a rough day or think that things are too bad to go on, they think about a little dog that survived and found happiness through unimaginable pain and heartache. Hazel Grace’s will to live, and ultimately forgive, is nothing short of a miracle."
Naiden heard of Hazel Grace's condition from a rescue shelter in Missouri. Hazel Grace's previous owner, Sharon Johns of Malden, Mo., has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of animal abuse. She appeared in court on Jan. 29, and and is set to appear in court again on May 5 in Dunklin County, Mo.
Naiden hopes Hazel Grace can join the foundation''s dog rehabilitation team, a group of nine dogs that are trained to work with homeless dogs that come straight from the pound.
"We have already started to see that Hazel Grace would be a good candidate for TAF's dog rehab team, and we have started her training," Naiden said. "Pretty soon she will be able to pay it forward to another needy dog."
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