"Each day I show my love in a new and wonderful way. I have shown my family more love and have taught them many important lessons over all the time I've been with them. They have discovered this "vicious Pitbull" has more love and compassion in his heart than most people." ~ Leo Z
Hello everyone. My name is Leo Z. I was "just a no named dog" in May 2016. I was located walking the streets over 6 years ago, scared, heartworm positive, and with scars on my body from abuse. I was a "bait dog." I was tied up around my hindquarters so tightly it scarred me from my underside all the way around, changing my hair to white on one strip of my back.
I'm a "Pitbull," a "dangerous breed." We're too dangerous to adopt out of some shelters around the US, including our local shelter here in Hot Springs, AR.
My Dad saw me and it was love at first site. No one "claimed me" as their own. No one loved me. I was broken, abused, and unloved. I was shy, not leash trained, not potty trained, not kennel trained, not used to being around anyone who gave me positive attention.
Dad talked Mom into "fostering" me. He knew it wouldn't take long for Mom to see how great I am. Even though I was abused badly before, I only gave love to everyone I met after I was rescued. I quickly learned all the rules and always was on my best behavior.
I soon became Leo Z., instead of "no name." I became part of a family.
All was well until February 13th, 2017. I have always been skittish, because of my past, but always trustworthy. I would stay in my yard. A leaf would float past me and I'd run to the front door, once, a chicken chased me in my own yard back to the door.
This day (Feb 13, 2017), Mom was cleaning the house and had the door open. She was vacuuming when a huge picture which had been hung behind the couch for years, randomly fell right behind where I was sitting. The picture shattered and I took off out the door in a SPRINT. It must have triggered traumatic past events because I ran until I couldn't run anymore. Mom was out the door 5 seconds behind me, and I was no where in sight. I always came when called, but this day, I was so panicked I blocked out all noise.
The parents searched for me for countless hours. They searched day and night. Sleep wasn't something they got a lot of. They did all the tricks, placing scents next to the door, driving, hiking, trespassing for hours at a time, and calling dog searching professionals. They had hundreds if not thousands of posters on every light pole, street sign, tree, and business for two counties. They couldn't understand why I wasn't coming home.
Over TWO WEEKS after I went missing, Dad received a message, someone had found me, in an deep embankment on the side of the lake. I had jumped in the lake and tried to swim out but had gotten trapped in a hole, possibly the entire time I was missing. I was just a few blocks from the parents house the entire time, but couldn't get to them when I heard them calling because I was trapped. The nice man that found me, was on a boat. He didn't know I was a missing dog, so he took me out of the hole and freed me, on the opposite side of the lake!! I was stuck. Fortunately, he told his wife about me when he got home.
For an additional WEEK and TWO DAYS the parents set traps, roamed around every property on the opposite side of the lake and prayed. So many sightings of me, yet I wasn't there when the parents would get there. I was starving to death, severely dehydrated, and scared of all the wild animals around me every night in the cold February and March nights.
Then, THREE WEEKS and TWO DAYS after I went missing, the parents received three calls in a 45 minute time period. Mom camped out in the area and another call came in. She rushed to the last sighting and heard a "jingle jingle" and suddenly she saw me, walking through a field of sage grass (which perfectly matches my hair color). Mom called my name and I came SPRINTING to her. My collar was hanging off my neck, as I had lost over a third of my body weight. I was a weak "bag of bones." I hadn't eaten anything and had been missing in pouring rain and freezing temperatures, as the weather only got progressively worse after the day I went missing.
Dad rushed me to Temperance Hill Animal Hospital and I was treated for my severe dehydration, tick bites, and given a nice warm bath. They said I was only a day or two from death. I had survived again.
EVERYTHING happens for a reason... Even if at first we don't know the reason. The parents felt purpose in everything which happened to our family even in the midst of despair there was always hope. They met new people during searches, they gained new friends, the community came together for a common goal; regardless of political affiliation or religious preference. We all worked together.
On March 8, 2017 Leo's Life (https://www.facebook.com/Leotherescuepitbull) was created so you all could follow my progress as I grew stronger. It was created to make people smile, to have a laugh, to see we're just one wacky family who want to make a difference.
The parents also began to work on other ways to help animals like me. One of the things we did (this was a tough one!) was to have the city ordinance repealed where dogs classified as "Pitbull breeds" cannot be adopted out of our local animal shelter. At the end of 2020/beginning of 2021 we succeeded! Now the ordinance allows "Pitbull breed dogs" to be adopted by rescue organizations only from the shelter. We also wanted to help other animals who are lost or need assistance. Lastly, after all of the horrific things done to animals the parents have seen through their work, they began "LeeAnn's Rescues."
Now, in 2022 Mom has completed all the legal stuff needed to become a 501(c)3 corporation, LeeAnn's Rescue Continuing Leo's Legacy. I'm so excited that Mom and her volunteers are going to be able to continue to help more animals get well and find loving homes like mine!
Please go to our Donation Page and if you can't financially donate, pray for the first responders who deal with tragic and horrific scenes involving adults, children, and animals. If any of my Facebook posts over the last few years, made you laugh, cry, smile, or be thankful, please take action and consider donating, even if it's only a few dollars.
We love and appreciate you all,
Leo Z. and family
Mar 2017 • KARK 4 Little Rock, AR
Friends were searching the woods two days prior to me being found, and they located a camera bag with a camera. The camera worked and powered up. It contained the last photos of a mans mother before she passed away. He was reunited with his camera and a day later, I was reunited with my parents. #itsaGodthing