Upon finding two pit bulls abandoned in a park near Philadelphia, many believed that the dogs had passed away. The first dog, named Gracie for our purposes, was found with a cold body and her companion, Layla, cuddled close to her as if shielding her. According to Russ “Wolf” Harper, one of the founders of Justice Rescue, Layla refused to leave Gracie’s side and tried to cover her up when anyone came near. It seemed as though Layla was willing to suffer any consequences in place of her friend.
With his tall frame, arm tattoos, beard, and shaved head, Officer Harper may look intimidating, but he possesses a unique talent when it comes to calming dogs. He calls it his “girly 10-year-old voice,” and he put it to use when he encountered some distressed dogs in a park. Despite their initial fear, one dog named Layla was drawn to Officer Harper’s high-pitched tone, although she still seemed apprehensive, anticipating a potential threat.
After some hesitation, she finally came over and allowed Harper to pet her on the nose and forehead. He then proceeded to cover both dogs with his police gear to keep them warm before rushing them to the vet, preparing himself for the worst-case scenario.
Harper was extremely fearful that Gracie may have to be put down due to her weakened and icy state. The two canines were severely malnourished and had visible cuts and blemishes all over their bodies. Based on their injuries, Harper realized that these young dogs had been used for fighting for a long time. “Some of the wounds seemed fairly recent while others appeared old,” stated Harper. “They’re both around two years of age and have only experienced mistreatment and combat.”
Harper shared how Gracie was extremely ill and close to passing away. However, the veterinarian provided her with fluids and began the process of bringing her body temperature back up. Harper has dedicated years of his life to dog rescue, going as far as becoming a police officer to be able to respond quickly to situations like these. He emphasized that there is a connection between animal abuse and other serious crimes such as domestic violence, child abuse, narcotics, and firearms.
Animal cruelty is not typically within the scope of police training. However, Harper and his partner founded Justice Rescue to address this gap in expertise. They completed law enforcement training and were appointed as special humane officers. Their certification as crime scene investigators now allows them to investigate animal abuse cases and submit evidence to prosecutors. Harper has succeeded in busting dogfighting rings thanks to this training, rather than waiting for abused dogs to be found.
Gracie’s strength saw a significant increase, while Harper noticed a change in her behavior during a visit to the vet. Harper was surprised when Gracie stood up and started feeding off her hand. It was evident that Gracie had recognized Harper and was interested in following her around. Harper was so thrilled that she sat down, and Gracie sat on her lap. However, the joy was short-lived when Layla fell and needed urgent medical attention. Although both dogs have now recovered, their health is still not in good shape.
Harper observed that the dogs appeared surprised to have been rescued and were enjoying the attention while being uncertain of how to react. Gracie and Layla will spend about a week at the veterinarian’s office before going to Harper, who will assist them in their rehabilitation, provide basic training, and teach them how to trust again. Once they are prepared, they will be placed in an appropriate home for adoption. According to Harper, dogs frequently form strong bonds because they lack other companionship. They are astounded by the number of people who are assisting them in their recovery and merely stare in disbelief, as if questioning whether it is real.