Couple rescues German shepherd left as 'bear bait' and give him the happy ending he deserves
The couple found the dog chained up to one side of the house.
Thanks goodness they got to him in time.
On Sept 9th, 2023, Amanda Pidruchney and her husband Darren had arrived at a house to rescue six German shepherds from a seemingly responsible breeder who simply couldn’t continue her program after her husband passed away.
Amanda and Darren told “Newsweek” that their plans were to take the dogs and enter them into Schutzhund competitions, which are popular for the breed. Those plans however got quickly “derailed” when they arrived to find the dogs severely malnourished and in “horrific conditions.”
And it was the runt of the litter, named Dorel, that had the worst treatment of all.
"Dorel was chained up to one side of the house all by himself—no food, no water, filthy with an infected wound—completely unprotected from bears…in a bear-filled area…during bear season.
In essence, Dorel was “bear bait.”
Even after being rescued and taken to a vet, Dorel’s plight was dire, since he was dealing with a ton of inconclusive, yet serious symptoms, including a dilated colon and inflamed lymph nodes.
@mandy_and_mason Dorel ❤️ This little guy still has a long way to go but he’s a fighter. To think that this precious boy was chained up outside as bear bait breaks my heart. He’s the most loving, gentle, snuggle bug ever 🥰 #dog #dogsoftiktok #dogtok #doglover #puppy #germanshepherd #fyp #doglovers #doglife #gsd #ilovemydog#foryou #doglove #igp#dogtrainer #dogphotography #dogmom #ipo #dogtraining #mydog#workingdog #protectiondog #protection #protectiontraining #guarddog #schutzhund #yeg #germansheperdsoftiktok #dogoftheday #doglife #doglover #canada #workingdogs #lifeofadog #heeling #howto #competition #dogsport#rescue #rescuedog #humanesociety #help #sickpuppy #sickdog ♬ original sound - Kelsey Hennessey
But through Amanda and Darren’s tireless efforts, Dorel not only survived, but is now thriving.
Flash forward to a year later, and Amanda posts another video, where she writes a message in Dorel's POV to his former owner: "What you missed since leaving me chained up as bear bait."
In it we see the amazing dog life Dorel has now—one filled with Christmas light ride, frolicking through spacious backyards, enjoying “endless snuggles,” chomping on toys, going on walks—everything a dog wants and deserves.
@mandy_and_mason This trend was made for Dorel 😭 So grateful to call him mine ❤️ #dog #dogsoftiktok #dogtok #doglover #puppy #germanshepherd #fyp #doglovers #doglife #gsd #ilovemydog #foryou #doglove #igp #dogtrainer #dogphotography #dogmom #ipo #dogtraining #mydogworkingdog #protectiondog #protection #protectiontraining #guarddog #schutzhund #yeg #germansheperdsoftiktok #dogoftheday #doglife #doglover #canada #workingdogs #lifeofadog #heeling #howto #competition #dogsport#rescue #rescuedog #rescuegsd #humanesociety ♬ Possibility - Lykke Li
Unsurprisingly, the clip quickly racked up millions of views, with a ton of comments showing support.
“Bear bait! Omg my heart broke into a million pieces. Thank you momma for saving him. He deserves the world,” person wrote.
Another echoed, “Australian here: ummm as bear bait is wild! Evil! Thank you for reducing and giving the life this beauty deserves.”
Still another said, “My stomach is turning and my eyes are filled with tears. Love him extra for me. Precious boy.”
Indeed, there are few cruelties as unfathomable as mistreating animals. Thank goodness Amanda and Darren were willing and able to turn Dorel and the other doggos’ lives around.
Darren and Amanda have since reported the breeder, and were able to help rescue the other dogs that were kept there (yes, there were more). Many of course are in dire need of help, particularly vet care, which is why the couple set up a GoFundMe page, which you can check out here.
You can also follow along on their whole adventure on TikTok.