A rescue dog with a permanent scar on his face has left the internet in tears, but his new owner has nicknamed it his "love line" and sees him as nothing short of beautiful.
Charlie the golden retriever, thought to be 8 years old, was discovered as a stray and taken to Sean Casey Animal Rescue in Brooklyn, New York. The poor dog has a scar across his snout that's presumed to have been from a harness or muzzle that was "too tight" and he wore for too long. What's even worse is the thought that it could have been caused by something more harmful, which his owner Kate Sorg dreads the thought of.
When Sorg, 53, rescued Charlie in July, she didn't know if she was ready to adopt another pet, having lost her previous dog, Beauty, only a few weeks prior. But she told Newsweek that as soon as she saw his scar, her mind was made up as she wanted to ensure Charlie "only knew love and affection" for the rest of his life.
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It was difficult to think of what Charlie might have gone through, but after a few days, Sorg decided to reframe it in her mind. No longer would she view it as a painful reminder of his past, and she began calling it his "love line" instead.
Sorg said: "I wasn't told anything about his scar, just that the hair wouldn't grow back. We all took guesses as to what could have happened to him, but it seems that the scar has been there for a very long time.
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"I feel angry when I look at his scar, thinking that someone mistreated him. It makes me so sad wondering what he's been through. It hurts my heart, so now I tell him his love line is where all the love gets to him and his heart."
Since his adoption, Charlie has proved what a loving and friendly pup he is, and he's even learned several commands. He loves nothing more than to play with toys and then cuddle up on the sofa with Sorg, who says she "couldn't ask for a sweeter dog."
They just celebrated three months together, and Sorg continues to marvel at how much Charlie has come out of his shell in that time. His scar doesn't seem to physically affect him, but he gets spooked by sudden or loud noises and can be skittish.
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"Whatever happened seems to have some lingering trauma effects on him. He shows signs of stress if he thinks he's done something wrong or can't understand what I'm asking him to do. It's as if he associates that with punishment," Sorg continued.
"I've never used a gentle leader, muzzle, or harness on any of my previous dogs and never thought much about them. Now, when I see a dog with a harness around their snout, it sends a chill down my spine thinking of how it was misused with my sweet boy."
The Social Media Reaction
Since rescuing Charlie, Sorg has been documenting their life together on social media (@flowerminelle on TikTok and @Charley_Barley_RescueBoy on Instagram). Many followers asked about the scar on his face, which led her to post a video explaining the reason for his love line. The post went viral with more than 78,000 views and 10,300 likes on TikTok in a matter of days.
Sorg didn't anticipate that Charlie's story would touch so many hearts, but she's been astonished by the positive response.
She told Newsweek: "I never expected this response to the video, but I'm glad to see it. That scar represents the worst in humanity, but the response I've had online represents the best."
Sorg hopes that Charlie's story will inspire others not to overlook an animal because of their physical appearance. While rescue pets might have imperfections, they can still have a heart of gold.
"Please consider adopting from a rescue or shelter rather than buying from breeders because they deserve love too, just like the purebreds," Sorg said. "Give adopted dogs a chance to settle in and trust their new homes because none of us know what they've already been through at the hands of other humans."
Among the 900 comments on TikTok, internet users praised Sorg for transforming Charlie's life.
One TikTok user wrote: "He is loved now, that's what matters most!"
Another person commented: "Incomprehensible how someone could hurt a dog."
"Thank you for rescuing this beautiful boy," one comment reads.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
