Sweet Pea

Sweet Pea is the Official Face of Dog Fighting Awareness for the State of NJ and ASPCA 2019 Dog of the Year

• NJ Official Face of Dogfighting
• ASPCA 2019 Dog of the Year

Follow Sweet Pea’s Journey from a garbage dump in Camden, NJ to the red carpet in New York City.

Phase One – Her Rescue

It began on Friday, April 17, 2015, when the president of NJ Aid for Animals was visiting the local shelter to find a dog from Camden, NJ that had been reported to her as abused by local law enforcement. While walking through the shelter, she noticed a dog that looked severely abused and sent a photo of the dog to the person for whom she was looking.

The person said it was not the right dog however the dog we found was in severe need of vet care. When asked at the shelter when the dog had come in and what the outcome was to be, we were told she came in on Monday, April 13 as a stray from animal control from Camden, NJ, one of the most violent cities in America and would be euthanized when her seven day hold was up on April 20.

We asked if she would be sitting at the shelter with minimum vet care and were shocked to find out she would not be admitted to a hospital but remain at the shelter the way she was. We asked to take her to the nearest emergency hospital to get her the care she needed and would return her.

From the second we put her in the car and all during her treatments which included daily bandage changes, she never growled but was very sweet and named Sweet Pea.

We were told by the veterinarian that it would be a long road ahead and costly. Moreover, that her journey to recovery may not be positive. Before they started working on her we were asked if we were ready for the cost, the time it would take and the commitment of bringing her back to vet every day to change her bandages. WE SAID YES.

So, it started and Pea spent three days in hospital. The skin on her legs were torn and ripped as was the side of her head. There was no skin left to suture and she had to heal from the inside out. Gobs of a new medicine that was applied like a paste to the side of her head resulted in new skin that grew rapidly.

In the meantime, our president, Kathy McGuire, went to Camden and the neighborhood where Sweet Pea was picked up by animal control. Because Sweet Pea was picked up on a garbage dump reported by a good Samaritan it was hard to know who put her there.

Mrs. McGuire went door to door in the neighborhood where the garbage dump was and found the Good Samaritan that called animal control. The Good Sam told us she heard a dog crying and went to see what was happening. She said there was another deceased dog on the garbage pile and some deceased cats. She also said that Sweet Pea was trying to get up but could not. We gave the Good Sam all the money we had on us for her good deed of calling animal control and not allowing Sweet to die a long slow death in a garbage dump.

Phase Two – Her Recovery

As Sweet Pea began to heal her personality came out even more. She loved everyone and could not wait to go in the car. She also began to get curious about our built-in pool and taught herself to walk down the steps into the pool AND get herself out by coming up the ladder!!

She became the darling of all those that met her. She loves strangers, walking and swimming

Phase Three – Sweet Pea Gives Back

Since we had to fundraise for Sweet Pea’s medical bills in 2015, we used leftover funds from generous donors to create The Sweet Pea Fund. We raise money all year to help abused and abandoned animals like she was with no advocate.

Sweet Pea’s Fund, her face, faith, and journey are inspiring people to donate.

Phase Four – Sweet Pea Is Recognized By The State Of New Jersey

In 2018, Sweet Pea was recognized by the State of NJ as the Official Face of Dog Fighting Awareness. When members of the New Jersey Assembly met her, they could not believe she suffered the atrocities she did and could remain so friendly.

Phase Five – Sweet Pea Has Come Full Circle

On October 2, 2019, Sweet Pea was named by the ASPCA as Dog of the Year for 2019.

From a dump to a red carpet, this dog has suffered terrible atrocities at the hands of people with no regard for life. She has demonstrated to her followers, the New Jersey Senate and State Assembly, and now to the world that she is a survivor and will never let her abusers diminish what has become a wonderful life for her.