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Dog found with zip tie around snout adopted by Indiana police officer who saved him

South Bend Police Ofc. Stephanie Northcutt found "Zeus" in an empty lot with a zip tie around his snout last week.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — A dog that was found with a zip tie around its snout in northern Indiana last week has found a forever home with the police officer who saved him.

South Bend Police Department Ofc. Stephanie Northcutt found the Doberman Friday, Feb. 2 on the south side of the city. She was able to coax the dog, which was wearing a leash and collar, to come to her. A bystander clipped the zip tie from his snout.

Northcutt took the dog to the South Bend Animal Resource Center, which checked the dog out and began investigating.

On Monday, the police department posted to Facebook that Northcutt had the dog, now named "Zeus," spend some time with her own dogs. Then, she officially adopted him. 

SBPD rescues zip-tied dog

Earlier today, South Bend Police responded to the report of a dog running in the area of Chippewa Bowl with a zip tie around his snout. Prior to our arrival, several good Samaritans stopped to try to catch the dog, but were unsuccessful. South Bend Police Officer Stephanie Northcutt was among our officers who responded and was able to build enough trust with the dog to safely catch him and take him out of harm's way. Officer Northcutt then held the dog as a bystander assisted in removing the zip tie from the dog's snout. Officer Northcutt ultimately transported the dog to South Bend Animal Resource Center - SBARC, where they will assist in investigating this matter. Kudos to Officer Northcutt for the quick apprehension!

Posted by South Bend Police Department on Friday, February 9, 2024

Zeus is not expected to experience long-term physical effects from the zip tie. 

The police department said he is the second dog Northcutt has rescued while on patrol.

"She joked that the dispatchers at St Joseph County 9-1-1 should stop sending her to animal calls because she will soon run out of room at her house!" the department wrote.

🎵 Started from the bottom... now we're here... 🎶 We hope you'll love this update as much as we do. The Doberman that...

Posted by South Bend Police Department on Monday, February 12, 2024

Northcutt also announced that she was sponsoring two adoptions at SBARC after reading the community's outpouring of support after the rescue. Details about those adoptions will be announced at a later date, the department said.

The investigation into how Zeus was abandoned is ongoing.

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