An Indiana dog found abandoned with a zip tie wrapped around its nose has found a new home with the police officer who rescued him.
Zeus, a large black-and-brown Doberman, was found in South Bend Friday by concerned residents who found him loose on the loose, tied tightly with a plastic tie and unable to open his mouth.
The Samaritans were unable to get the dog, so they called South Bend police for help.
Officer Stephanie Northcutt arrived and managed to corral the frightened dog, then crouched down and approached with her hand out.
“You’re so beautiful, do you believe me?” she can be heard telling the dog in a video of the rescue dog released by police.
After a few nervous glances, Zeus finally leaned in to sniff Northcutt’s hand and allowed Northcutt to take the lead.
Zeus was then visibly relieved as the others on hand approached him with clippers and cut off his tie.
Later footage showed the dog, with obvious ligature marks around its nose, lovingly petting and petting Northcutt before being loaded into a car for transport to the South Bend Animal Shelter. It was shown that they were doing something like this.
“We’re friends? Friends? It’s okay. You’re so pretty,” Northcutt said.
On Monday, the police department released the news that an officer had decided to adopt the dog.
“Officer Northcutt stated that the moment he saw the puppy, he knew he would be the perfect addition to the family,” police said in a Facebook post.
“The dog, now named Zeus, had been bonding with the Northcutt family’s other dogs for some time before Officer Northcutt made the official announcement.”
Police said despite the condition Zeus was found in, no permanent physical damage is expected from the tie.
Zeus wasn’t even the first dog Officer Northcutt adopted after getting the call. She had previously adopted another dog that she had rescued from an abusive situation while she was on duty.
“She joked that the St. Joseph Parish 9-1-1 dispatcher should stop sending her on animal calls because she would soon run out of room in her home,” South Bend police said. said.
It remains unclear under what circumstances Zeus ended up in such a dangerous situation, but police said they were continuing to investigate.
