Ghetto Rescue took one last video of Valerie the pitbull before she died, and it is heartbreaking. A blue-grey pitbull with a beautiful lustrous coat, she’s lying on the ground being reassured by the humans around her, as the life is ebbing out of her.

Ghetto Rescue found Valerie in South Los Angeles after she was dumped out of a car. They claim she was sexually assaulted, although her death seems to have been the result of trauma to her chest. The LAPD are investigating the case for bestiality and animal cruelty, and treating the sexual assault just as if it was a human rape (testing for DNA). The difference is however, that the rape is considered “bestiality” and is a misdemeanor rather than felony.

It’s reassuring to hear reports of the police going about their business in a thorough way, just as if Valerie was a human. The police started the investigation based on the posts of Ghetto Rescue. Still, Valerie’s abuse will have to be treated within the capacity of the law, which might not be enough to hold her abusers accountable. The sad thing is that this beautiful pitbull lost her life even though she was a shelter animal. Her chance for a new life ended tragically. Animals like Valerie are vulnerable to abuse, and protecting them ends up being a band-aid once they are seriously injured or traumatized. Rather than comforting them when they are dying, we need to take steps to protect them in life.

https://www.ocregister.com/2018/08/09/lapd-investigating-alleged-trauma-sexual-assault-of-pit-bull-found-in-south-los-angeles-area/