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DOG’S AMAZING RECOVERY FROM ABUSE INSPIRES MOVIE - “Despite her mistreatment, Susie has gone on to be an inspiration to those around her, demonstrating forgiveness and enthusiasm.”

In 2009 Suzie, a Pit Bull/Shepherd mix, was discovered in a park severely beaten with burns over most of her body. Her ears were burned off and over 300 maggots were found on her body. Miraculously, Suzie survived, recovered, and was adopted. Suzie has inspired a new law in North Carolina which enhances penalties for dog abusers. In addition, she promotes animal welfare through her non-profit, Suzie’s Hope. Now, Suzie will be the subject of a feature film about her life, to be released in 2013. Here’s more from the Winston-Salem Journal:

Susie – a vibrant 3-year-old pit bull mix from Greensboro who survived a brutal attack as a puppy – is the focus of “Susie,” a movie with a cast and crew that was predominantly local. It was all to tell the story of how Susie bounced back from near-death, and inspired changes in laws about how animal cruelty is punished.

In August of 2009, Susie – then about 10 weeks old – was found badly injured and burned in a Greensboro park. She had been beaten and set on fire, suffering a broken jaw and second- and third-degree burns over 60 percent of her body, including her ears, which were burned off. Her wounds were covered in maggots, something that veterinarians say ultimately saved her life since they ate away at infected tissue.

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Susie plays herself as an adult dog in the movie, while a younger dog with bandages and a $70,000 animatronic puppy are used to depict scenes of her rescue and rehabilitation. Those scenes, depicting the terrible injuries and the intricate surgery needed to save Susie, were grueling to shoot, but “you got a sense of the power of her perseverance,” said Laura Hart McKinny, the film’s executive producer…

Hopefully Suzie’s story will inspire many others to promote dog welfare and animal abuse prevention. She is truly a beautiful and amazing dog. Click here for the full story, and here for Suzie’s Hope Facebook Page.