How Dez Defied the Odds: From Bait Dog in Romania to Beloved Family Dog
⚠️ Trigger Warning: Animal Abuse This story includes sensitive content and images related to animal cruelty and abuse. Please proceed with caution if you are sensitive to these topics.
The Day I Met Dez
A powerful survivor: Dez photographed in front of York Minster.
“Now then, what happened to your ears?” asked a lady sitting on a bench in Museum Gardens, York, when he had gently approached her looking for a fuss. It’s an oh-too-familiar question heard by Dez’s human. She explained, we all exchanged some dog stories, and then we went our separate ways.
“Do you get asked that a lot?” I already knew the answer.
Dez’s soulful face tells a thousand stories.
“Oh yeah,” she replied. “Some people think he’s dangerous or aggressive because of the way he looks. Others ask about his backstory. There are a lot of assumptions.”
I knew before I even met him and his human that Dez had had an absolutely heartbreaking start in life, one that shocked me to my core. When I saw images of Dez as a helpless puppy bearing such horrific injuries I sobbed and sobbed. I still cannot comprehend the level of cruelty he faced, and what made it even harder to process was knowing Dez got off lightly compared to so many other dogs.
His missing ears and patchwork of fur on his neck scruff are the result of severe mutilation and extensive cruelty he faced as a tiny puppy in Romania. His human was told that it’s likely he was going to be used as a ‘bait dog’ based on the severity of his injuries.
What is a Bait Dog?
A bait dog is typically a smaller, weaker dog used in illegal dog fighting rings to train fighting dogs. These dogs are often chosen for their docility or weakness (in Dez’s case, he was less than 8-weeks old, so extremely vulnerable), with the intention of provoking aggression in other dogs. The injuries sustained by bait dogs are typically gruesome and can include severe cuts, bruises, and mutilations, all meant to incite aggression in the attack dogs. Bait dogs suffer immense physical and emotional trauma, and sadly, many never survive.
All About Dez
Dez has had extensive successful skin grafts from his chest to cover his scruff injuries and ensure hair grew back around his neck, while ears have healed as a permanent reminder of the abuse he endured and the strength he displayed at such a young age. His appearance does certainly garner him second and third looks, but he truly is a beautiful dog both inside and out.
Having DNA tested him, his human tells me he’s a curious mix of many breeds, including greyhound (the behaviour of which she says comes out when he gets playful), german shepherd and collie to name a few. Either way, Dez is an absolutely beautiful dog with eyes full of soul and wisdom. Now he’s approaching 10 years old and he’s absolutely thriving.
Dez arrived at his then-foster now-permanent home 2 days before Christmas in 2015. There was talk of a more permanent home arranged for him after the busy Christmas period had passed, but the bond Dez struck up with his now human was instantaneous. She told me, “I wasn’t looking for a dog at the time but he was obviously looking for his human.” He attached himself to her like glue and ended up a permanent addition to the family.
I spent a little over an hour with Dez and his person in York in mid-March, and I can say with conviction that it was one of the most profound and emotional hours I’ve spent at work in my life. There’s a placidity about Dez, he’s exceptionally mellow and incredibly gentle, so that absolutely set the tone for our portrait session. There was no rushing, no stress, just a long dog walk in the sun, lots of deep discussions and the occasional pause for some photographs.
With every single dog I photograph, not only do I learn something new about them, but each one of them teaches me a lesson about myself, even a small one. Dez, however, took me to school in the short time I spent with him and his owner. I realised that even though his appearance does challenge you, taking the time to understand his story also does - which is the whole point. He’s a normal (albeit exceptional) dog, but his normality is all-the-more-remarkable when you consider his start in life.
You might think that a dog that went through so much abuse at such a young age might be harbouring some latent aggression or pose a threat to people on account of fear. However, I can say with certainty that the only thing Dez poses a threat to is an unattended sausage. He is the most loyal family dog, being nothing but loving and protective of his human’s two young boys. He’s even been extremely accepting of the two additional rescues his human has taken on since, showing that he can live a happy life alongside people and new four-legged additions to the family.
“How he can love people after what a person did to him as a pup is beyond me,”
Now living on a farm just outside of York, Dez has as much space and freedom as he wants to live a happy life. As we wrapped up our session, the city began to come to life around us, the sun becoming brighter by the minute, I couldn’t help but think back to that lady’s question, “What happened to your ears?”
Dez’s Living Legacy
His distinctive ears, and the pain they represent, help tell Dez’s story, but they are far from what defines him. He’s defined by his resilience, his ability to love despite everything he’s endured, and the bond he shares with his humans and his pack.
He is a powerful reminder of the incredible healing power of love and care, and how, with the right person, even a dog who has suffered the most unimaginable cruelty can find happiness, trust, and a place to call home.
Dez's story is a testament to the incredible resilience of dogs who have faced unimaginable abuse and come out the other side with a heart full of love. It's a reminder that no matter how broken a past may be, with the right care, patience, and kindness, healing is possible and a dog can learn to love and trust again. While Dez's life was turned around by an incredible human, countless other dogs still need a chance to rewrite their stories.
If you’re inspired by Dez’s journey, consider supporting the incredible work being done to help rescue dogs from situations like his, whether through local rescues, awareness campaigns, or by considering adoption. Every bit of help counts. Every voice raised in support makes a difference.
Dez came from Saving Romanian Strays and a link to their Facebook page can be found here, but there are so many incredible organisations that help the countless dogs in need.
Have you met a rescue dog with a backstory that needs to be heard? Feel free to share your thoughts or your own rescue stories in the comments below or reach out on social media. (You can find me on Facebook and Instagram).
Do you have a rescue dog with a story you’d like to share? If so, I’d love to hear from you too: sayhello@photographybyfrankie.com
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes I think the words are needed just as much. Let’s continue to share these stories and show the world just how amazing rescue dogs are.
If you are considering a portrait session with your own dog, browse my commission offerings and portfolio for inspiration: