'A heart of gold.' Severely abused dog saved by Monticello police being trained to become a police K-9
The handler got the 2-year-old dog in June from Catskill Animal Sanctuary after she was rescued by Monticello police mid-attack from her abuser, Samuel Stanford, who is now facing criminal charges.
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A severely abused dog who was rescued by Monticello police mid-attack is now getting a second chance, possibly as a police K-9 for the same department that saved her.
“She’s a strong-willed dog with a heart of gold," says Christian Losiewski, a handler with Real World K-9 LLC.
The heart of gold landed the once badly beaten pit bull on a very different path from where she first started in Monticello.
“She did really good finding the ball when we hid it around the room, so we figured she would be a wonderful narcotics detection dog," said Losiewski.
Zola is now being trained in Michigan to become a police K-9 with Losiewski.
MORE: Monticello man charged in alleged brutal pit bull beating
The handler got the 2-year-old dog in June from Catskill Animal Rescue after she was rescued by Monticello police mid-attack from her abuser, Samuel Stanford, who is now facing criminal charges.
“She had a broken rib, fractured cheekbones,” said Losiewski. "Despite what she's been through, she came here like she lived here her whole life - running around the room, jumping up on us and giving us kisses. It was like the abuse never happened.”
Zola has six months of training ahead of her, but Losiewski says she’s already showing strong signs that she’s a good fit for the job.
His hope is to donate her back to the police department and community that rallied to saved her.
“We want to bring her back home and have her around her people, because as you know – it really took a village to get this dog where she is now.”
Catskill Animal Rescue Director Joanne Gerow says rescuers are so happy for Zola.
"We will only accept one ending for her story - a happy one for our beloved girl," said Gerow.
