Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Actor Dave Bautista Offers $5k Reward To Bring 'Sick Piece Of Sh*t' Who Abused Puppy To Justice

Actor Dave Bautista Offers $5k Reward To Bring 'Sick Piece Of Sh*t' Who Abused Puppy To Justice
@safek9/Instagram

WARNING: disturbing images of animal abuse

Dave Bautista is seeking justice for an abused dog.


The pro-wrestler turned actor took to Instagram earlier this month, offering a cash reward for anyone who could help in finding the people who abused an adorable puppy, named Sage.

"I will personally hand $5000 cash to the person who gives information leading to the arrest and conviction of the sick piece of sh*t responsible for this."

Bautista's cash reward was on top of a $1500 reward from theTampa Bay Humane Society.

Maria Matlack, the director of marketing for the Tampa Bay Humane Society, told The Huffington Post the traumatizing ordeal Sage went through.

"Sage came to us after she was found by a good samaritan in a cemetery eating trash."
"She had an awful open wound on her neck with a chain embedded in her skin with a chain dangling, It was very disturbing."

Bautista's fans, as well as a few celebrity friends, expressed their horror at the ordeal Sage went through in the comments section.

They also commended the Guardian's of the Galaxy star in his quest to avenge the abused pup.

@davebautista/Instagram

@davebautista/Instagram

@davebautista/Instagram

@davebautista/Instagram

The Walking Dead's Jeffrey Dean Morgan even offered to up the ante in the reward money for finding the canine abusers.

@davebautista/Instagram

While the culprits of this cruel and heinous act still have yet to be caught, Bautista did offer some good news in an update on Instagram.

He has since adopted Sage.

Though the dog now goes by Penny.

Seated next to Luis Safe, founder of the Tampa based dog training service SafeK9, who has also been helping in the search for Penny's abusers,, Bautista once again reminded viewers of the cash reward.

At the end of the video, Bautista was handed the recovered puppy, whom he promised will remain happy and healthy from now on.

"She is now a Bautista, and she will never be abused again a day in her life, not a second in her life."
"She's about to live her best puppy life ever."

Fans and friends of the star of the forthcoming Dune were overcome with emotion in the comments section, both at Bautista's generosity, and at the sight of the recovered Penny.

@davebautista/Instagram

@davebautista/Instagram

@davebautista/Instagram

@davebautista/Instagram

@davebautista/Instagram

The proud dog Papa shared another heartwarming video on Instagram a few days later, showing the now thriving Penny and welcoming the brave puppy into his home.

Bautista also took the post as an opportunity to promote the adoption of rescue dogs.

"She survived a nightmare. Now she's living the puppy dream."
"Please don't make her story an exception. #AdoptDontShop."

Penny joins two other rescue dogs owned by Bautista—Maggie and Ollie—both of whom were adopted through the Pitbull Mafia of South Tampa.

Safe went on to tell The Huffington Post Penny and Bautista were a match made in doggy heaven, admiring what a resilient little dog Penny is.

"You wouldn't even be able to tell she's gone through so much if you don't look at her scars."

SafeK9 also gave a shoutout to Bautista on Instagram, featuring an adorable snapshot of the former WWE star and his new addition, and callng Bautista a "real life superhero".

Matlack also expressed his relief and gratitude over Penny's swift change in circumstance, grateful such a heartbreaking beginning came to such a happy ending.

"She went from eating trash out of a cemetery with a chain embedded in her neck to leaving our shelter in a Rolls-Royce in just a matter of days."

Any information regarding Penny's attackers should be sent to either the Humane Society of Tampa Bay or SafeK9.

More from Entertainment

dog and cat snuggling together
Krista Mangulsone on Unsplash

Times Pet Owners 'Severely Underestimated' Their Pets' Intelligence

I've lived with cats—because no one owns a feline—most of my life. Some have been very clever creatures while others were real dingbats.

Family members have owned dogs whose talents also ran the gamut.

Keep ReadingShow less
Scott Bessent
Meet the Press/NBC News

Scott Bessent Blasted Over His Bonkers Suggestion For How To Bring Your Own Inflation Rate Down

Continuing to follow the example of MAGA Republican President Donald Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appeared on Meet the Press Sunday to blame Democratic President Joe Biden for the financial downturn caused by Trump's tariff fiasco, then lied repeatedly about the state of the economy.

Meet the Press host Kristen Welker played a clip of MAGA Republican Vice President JD Vance telling a conservative audience at a Breitbart News event that Americans owe the Trump administration "a little bit of patience"—apparently while they figure out what tariffs are and how they work since they're rolling back more of them to lower consumer prices despite claiming Trump's tariffs don't affect consumer prices.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lindsay Lohan attends the men's final during day fifteen of the 2025 US Open Tennis Championships at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Elsa/Getty Images

Lindsay Lohan Is Now Sporting A New Accent—And Fans Aren't Sure What To Make Of It

In a twist freakier than a sequel to Freaky Friday, Lindsay Lohan has debuted yet another new accent—this time at the Fashion Trust Arabia Awards in Doha, Qatar.

Draped in a maroon, jewel-trimmed gown by The New Arrivals Ilkyaz Ozel and accompanied by her husband, Bader Shammas, and their 2-year-old son, Luai, the actress looked serene, elegant, and completely unbothered by the collective whiplash she was about to inflict on the internet.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jameela Jamil
Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty Images

Jameela Jamil Speaks Out Against The Rise Of The 'Aesthetic Of Emaciation' Among Women In Hollywood

Content Warning: eating disorders, thinness as an aesthetic, emaciation in Hollywood

There's no denying that we've been gifted with some incredible music, television shows, and films this year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; Screenshot of Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in "Rush Hour 2"
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images; New Line Cinema

Trump Is Now Using His Presidential Sway To Pressure Studio Into Making 'Rush Hour 4'—And, Huh?

President Trump has reportedly pressured Paramount head Larry Ellison to make another sequel to Rush Hour, his favorite buddy-cop movie, as the company looks to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.

The first Rush Hour film, starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, was released in 1998, received positive reviews, and made $245 million worldwide. Chan and Tucker returned for two sequels released in 2001 and 2007 respectively.

Keep ReadingShow less