Dog found taped up and left for dead on busy road gets foster mom

A dog found taped up and left alone on a busy North Fort Myers road is getting a chance at a new life with a foster mom.

Paco was found limping alone near a Race Trac gas station on Cleveland Avenue with his paws and mouth taped up. He had never known love.

His owner, Emerito Marquez, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty and the case caught the attention of Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno.

“This person has no blood in their veins, has no heart,” Marceno said. “This is the making of a serial killer. This is the making of someone who can go on to abuse humans far more worse.”

The sheriff’s office put Paco into its cell dog program which trains and rehabilitates dogs with the help of inmates. That’s when Paco’s luck began to change.

Ashley Miller is the president of Mutty Paws Rescue. She said, “Sadly, he is only 10 months old, which means probably all of his life was never good … He came out [of the program] with flying colors. He knows basic obedience. Sit down, stay wait. He walks amazingly on a leash now. He is just a totally different dog.”

Once labeled as “aggressive” and “dog reactive”, the pup who proved everyone wrong is now ready to find his forever home with the help of Mutty Paws Rescue.

His new foster mom, Amy Aronowitz, is the first to sing his praises. “He’s just happy. He’s such a happy dog. I’m so glad that the trauma that he lived through, did not leave seemingly a lasting impression on him because he’s just so loving. And he so playful, and he’s so smart … Those marks on his face… it’s actually bleached. Like, I guess the tape was on for so long, that it’s actually white fur. And, and so it’s kind of like a cool tribal tattoo. You know, he’s a survivor.”

If you’re interested in paco or learning more about Mutty Paws Rescue click here.