
A malnourished German shepherd who was tied to a tree during a hurricane is finally learning what it means to be loved after finding his forever home.
Having spent the last five years rescuing animals for her foster-based rescue, Aviary Creature Rescue, Alyssa Muse has witnessed some devastating sights. But perhaps one of the worst experiences was finding Grant, who was tied to a tree outside a home in Louisiana.
Grant was found the day after Hurricane Francine struck in September 2024, and he’d been outside the entire time. Muse, 33, told Newsweek that she hated seeing the poor German shepherd without food, water, or proper shelter, as she said “the defeat in his eyes was devastating.”
There was no telling how long he’d been tied to the tree for, but given how severe the neglect was, Muse estimates that it was a while.
She said: “We discovered him the day after the hurricane, and he clearly hadn’t had any care, love or shelter for quite some time. The only shelter he had was a small wooden structure next to the tree he was tied to. There was no food or water, so we immediately fed him.”

@aviary.creature.rescue / TikTok
Muse couldn’t take Grant immediately as she had to await permission from the authorities. The next day, she returned with law enforcement and was able to seize the dog because he was “in deplorable condition.”
While he was understandably timid, Muse could tell that he was so grateful to be rescued and very trusting of her.
“Grant was nothing but incredibly sweet—he never once snapped, growled, or showed his teeth,” she continued. “He was severely malnourished, riddled with intestinal parasites, and neglected from fleas and the elements to the point of missing most of his fur.”
Upon his rescue, Grant had to be vaccinated, treated for parasites, neutered, and received medical baths to help his skin. A supplemented diet also helped him gain weight healthily.
He stayed in the veterinary hospital for several weeks receiving treatment. During that time, Muse set to work finding a foster family to show him the love and care he deserves.
A local family with children and another dog were drawn to him, and when Grant met them, it seemed like the perfect match.
“It was an immediate fit. Grant was polite and warm, albeit confused about having an indoor life and this influx of love and care. He loved to sunbathe with the other pup and play with the little boys,” Muse told Newsweek.
Indeed, it was so perfect that Grant actually found his forever home with his foster family. Although the family couldn’t cover his adoption fee, they loved the idea of keeping Grant permanently. Well, Muse wasn’t about to let that get in the way.
She generously waived Grant’s adoption fee as she knew that Grant was going to be loved so dearly if he stayed there forever. She told the family to think of it as an early Christmas present, and it brought them to tears. “He’s doing wonderfully and is so very loved,” Muse said.
Grant’s story was shared on social media (@aviary.creature.rescue on TikTok), leaving people stunned and horrified. The clip has amassed more than 61,500 views and 7,000 likes at the time of writing, as so many were relieved to see him find a forever home.
Muse told Newsweek: “I’m aware that what we post is hard to watch, but our goal is to be their voice. The more people know, the more they can do to spread the word and demand better. Most of the dogs we take in are bully breeds due to their bad reputation. One of my biggest goals is to change that through education.”
The Animal Welfare Crisis
Sadly, Grant’s story is not unique, as Muse sees an inordinate amount of animal neglect every day. While her rescue does everything they can to give them better lives, she thinks animal cruelty isn’t taken seriously enough in Louisiana.
She explained that there’s a general “feeling of hopelessness” because it’s too easy to find holes in the animal protection laws.
Not to mention, shelters across the country don’t have the means to keep taking animals in. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates that 6.3 million animals go into shelters each year, and they’re already at capacity.
“There aren’t strong animal laws in our state, which leave tons of room for neglect and cruelty. It’s hard to get officials to agree that any specific laws are being broken. You would think it’s a matter of right versus wrong and of morality, but that’s not the reality,” Muse said.
She continued: “The abandonment is largely due to lack of consequences. The larger problem behind the insane numbers of dumped animals is the lack of spay neuter control. As a rescuer, I know that euthanasia at the shelter is sadly better than the dog being dumped, starving, hit by a vehicle, or attacked by other animals. People simply don’t care about the lives they hurt.”
She knows it’s an uphill battle, but Muse hopes that by sharing stories like Grant’s, she can show the reality of animal cruelty and encourage them to help. Whether it’s through fostering, adopting, or simply donating time, it makes a huge difference to an animal’s life.
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