More than a decade ago, a dog named Caitlyn captured the hearts of animal lovers around the world after shocking images of her suffering went viral.
Found wandering the streets of North Charleston, South Carolina, with her muzzle tightly wrapped in electrical tape — so tight it cut off circulation to part of her tongue — Caitlyn’s story became a powerful symbol of both cruelty and hope.
Caitlyn was just a year and a half old when rescuers found her in May 2015. When rescuers found her, her muzzle had been bound shut with electrical tape so tightly that they feared her tongue might not be salvageable. It was later estimated she had endured this agony for 36 to 48 hours before anyone found her. 💔
Caitlyn was in so much pain that she couldn’t eat or drink.
”This is the most serious case of animal abuse I’ve seen throughout my career,” Aldwin Roman, director at Charleston Animal Society, said when Caitlyn first arrived.
Veterinarians warned she would have starved to death if she hadn’t been found in time. Her recovery was long and difficult, requiring multiple surgeries, laser treatments, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy to heal the severe damage she had endured. Despite the odds, Caitlyn’s spirit remained unbroken.
Her case gained worldwide attention, sparking an outpouring of support through donations to the Charleston Animal Society’s “Toby’s Medical Fund,” named after another abused dog. Thanks to this generosity, Caitlyn received the care she desperately needed.
Caitlyn’s owner had sold her to a 41-year-old man for just USD $10. The man had only had Caitlyn for a few days when he injured her so badly that she nearly died.
In 2018, Caitlyn’s original owner was convicted of animal cruelty and sentenced to five years in prison. But for Caitlyn, a new life awaited — one filled with love and safety.
After time in foster homes, she was adopted by Ted Corvey III, the lead prosecutor in her case. Her new family described her as “a tremendous blessing and a gift” who brought joy every day.
Caitlyn dies
Tragically, Caitlyn passed away in January, 2025, after a brief battle with aggressive cancer. The Charleston Animal Society shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, quoting her family:
“She suddenly became ill in the last week and was diagnosed with an advanced and aggressive cancer. As was her nature, she fought until the end.”
Joe Elmore, President and CEO of the Charleston Animal Society, reflected on Caitlyn’s lasting impact: “Caitlyn’s legacy will continue to live on and inspire all of us to do better. When there is cruelty to any animal, each of us must do something to stop it.”
In honor of Caitlyn, the shelter has launched the Caitlyn’s Anti-Cruelty Fund, which will continue to support medical care for abused animals and help bring their abusers to justice.
It doesn’t matter how often we hear about dreadful animal cruelty. It never ceases to shock me and it never becomes any easier to take in.
A lot of it starts with perception and education, where people are still continuing to fail to recognize the very alive-ness of animals and treat them instead like lifeless objects that have no feelings or can’t feel pain.
But as we have known for many years now, this is far from the truth. We discover, again and again, just how smart, sensitive and kind animals can be.
Thankfully many humans do recognize this and are always ready to help out animals in distress.
Though Caitlyn is gone, her story — one of survival, resilience, and love — remains a beacon of hope and a call to action for animal lovers everywhere. Her paw print is forever imprinted on the hearts of millions who followed her journey.
