On the muggy Massachusetts morning of August 31, 2013, a driver discovered a motionless dog lying in the middle of a road in Quincy, Massachusetts. When he stepped out of his vehicle and walked closer, he realized a small female Pit Bull Terrier mix. Barely alive, she wore fresh spots of blood on her head and was unable to stand or walk. The driver and his friend sought immediate help for the dog whose fate was uncertain.

The discovery sparked a series of investigations and court proceedings which would cover a near five-year span and shatter the hearts of millions. While state laws relating to animal cruelty would improve, For many individuals, the emotional scars caused by the events would last a lifetime.