A pair of abandoned pit bulls have been given a new lease on life thanks to former WWE star Titus O’Neil.
The athlete, whose real name is Thaddeus Bullard, was volunteering at Sligh Middle School “donating backpacks and school supplies” when he found the two dogs.
O’Neil quickly contacted the Tampa Bay Humane Society, which agreed to pick up the puppies and take them to the shelter earlier this week.
“It was an incredibly hot day, so they were thirsty, hungry and confused, as most abandoned animals are. Since arriving at HSTB, they have been given the water and food they needed,” HSTB said. in a statement to People.
The spokesperson also noted that the couple had been given the sweet nicknames Biggie and Bertha.
A pair of abandoned pitbulls have a new lease on life thanks to former WWE star Titus O’Neil
The athlete was volunteering at a local high school when he discovered the puppies.
Sherry Silk, executive director of the Florida shelter, told Fox 13 News that the dogs may have been involved in a fight because their ears had been cropped.
Since dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states, ear cropping often occurs in a backyard setting with no pain relief for the canines.
“They give them whiskey or other alcohol to try and dull the pain, but it’s actually horrible, bloody and it’s animal cruelty,” Silk explained, before theorizing that the dogs had been abandoned because Bertha had recently given birth to her puppies.
“I’m guessing she had her puppies and sold them, and that’s probably why they were abandoned. We see that all the time and it’s horrible,” she said.
In a statement to the outlet, HSTB said the pair will soon be available for adoption.
“Bertha has a microchip, but when our team went to call the owners, they found that there was no solution, the microchip had never been registered. We will continue trying to find the owners, but if we don’t succeed, they will both be sterilized tomorrow,” they explained.
The shelter also stressed that animal abandonment is illegal in Florida and those found guilty face a fine of up to $5,000 and even imprisonment.
“Across Hillsborough County, we are seeing an increase in abandonment cases. While each case is different, we attribute this to a poor economy as shelters in our area are at capacity,” they added.
Bertha had apparently given birth to puppies shortly before she was abandoned.
The pair, who may have been involved in an illegal fighting ring, will soon be available for adoption.