Dave Bautista adopts horribly abused puppy Sage, offers $5K for tips on abuser
Actor and former professional wrestler Dave Bautista has decided to adopt a three-month-old dog who was horribly abused. On September 16, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay (HSTB) shared that a dog named Sage was brought in horrible condition.
The group’s Facebook post on the poor animal read, “Sage was just brought to us with a metal chain embedded... hanging from her neck. We are currently prepping her for surgery to remove the chain. A Good Samaritan was driving on the way home, and saw Sage eating garbage at ‘The Home Cemetery’. She stopped and Sage immediately ran up to her. She put Sage in the car and rushed over to HSTB.” Bautista aka Batista has decided to take home this dog after the puppy’s tragic story melted his heart.
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“Sage is only 3-months-old,” said the HSTB post about the dog. “She is very sweet and friendly. 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. In addition to the chain, we noticed that Sage has skin issues and overgrown nails. We can't imagine who would do this to her. Please send well wishes to Sage as she undergoes her surgery.”
Subsequently, Bautista shared about Sage as well on his social media. The actor known for his role as Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe wrote on Instagram, “ATTN Tampa Bay: I will personally hand $5000 cash to the person who gives information leading to the arrest and conviction of the sick piece of s**t responsible for this. In addition, @humanesocietytampabay is also offering $1500.If you know anything please contact @humanesocietytampabay or @safek9.” In the comments of his post, actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan, best known for ‘The Walking Dead’, ‘Supernatural’, and ‘Greys’s Anatomy’, said, “I’ll add another 500.”
According to reports, after going through surgery to remove the chain, the three-month-old pit bull has made an excellent recovery. Once Sage reached full health, the shelter put her up for adoption and received "extreme" interest from animal-loving families. On September 18, HSTB announced, “Update on Sage, the dog who came to us yesterday with a metal chain severely embedded into her neck. Sage spent the night with one of our staff members (who is fostering her for a few days) and wouldn’t leave her side.
Sage was even placing her head in the nape of her foster momma’s neck while she was sleeping. Sage is recovering better than we could have ever hoped.”
The post also said she had a wonderful time in the group’s play yards and “even made some new friends with some folks visiting the shelter. She loved playing with the kids and receiving ALL THE LOVE!”
"To me, there's nothing more innocent and pure than a puppy," Bautista told reporters. "For someone who can abuse a puppy has got to be the lowest form of human being, pure evil, for someone who can abuse an animal like that. It makes me sick to my stomach."
On September 23, Bautista shared an update on the story. "The good news is, the puppy you know as Sage actually became Penny Bautista. So I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of my family ... healing up, nice, and recovered," he said in an Instagram video featuring the newly named Penny.
"She is now a Bautista and she will never be abused again a day in her life. She is about to live her best puppy life ever… and she has her forever home," the former professional wrestler added, also thanking those who have already reached out to help the dog.