CAPS vs. Bauck (Video)

This video tells the story of how CAPS, the Companion Animal Protection Society, brought down a large-scale puppy mill in Minnesota. While graphic at times, it tells the story of the all too common practices taking place all over the country. When looking for a pet, please consider adoption from a local animal shelter, animal rescue or Humane Society.

A Whole New World

To me, there’s nothing quite as heartbreaking as a dog rescued from a puppy mill. Some are paralyzed by fear, others are eager to socialize but completely unaware of how to go about it. Many are sickly, undernourished, dirty and scared. Their exposure to humans is so limited that their first few days after rescue find them frozen with fear, reclusive and running at the sight of a human being.

Right now at the rescue, there is a Yorkshire Terrier and two Bichon Frise pups that were given up by a commercial breeding facility. When I went into their room, they immediately fled to the corner and eyed me up. The Yorkie seemed fearful and the Bichons were curious but unsure. I turned my back to them and waited. Slowly, the two Bichons came forward and sniffed at me. They even licked my hands. As soon as I moved or made eye contact, they ran. They barked, but not fearfully, and bounced playfully, but they wouldn’t approach unless I had my back turned. I could tell that they were friendly and eager to interact, they were just uncertain.

The little Yorkie kept his distance, circling me and sniffing the air. With each circle he came a little closer, but never close enough to touch me. He seemed a little more fearful than the others, but not aggressive in any way.

They had come from a stark, loveless environment and were now in a place where they will experience human interaction, a kind touch, good food and clean place to eat and sleep. They are in a new world and their rehabilitation will be a challenge. The rewards, however, will be extraordinary. Their caretakers at the rescue and their future forever family will need plenty of patience and understanding in helping these amazing animals transition to a life that, at first, can be very overwhelming.

In the beginning, reassurance is necessary. Things like using the outdoors to go to the bathroom, walking on a leash, meeting new people, as well as experiencing a world outside of a cage, filled with new sights, smells and sounds, can be terrifying to a dog who spent its formative years in a puppy mill. It will take time and it will be critical to go at the dog’s pace in order to build its confidence so that it can begin to overcome its fear.

Meeting these dogs for the first time brought a rush of feeling about my dog, Toby. He, too, was rescued from a puppy mill. Fortunately, he was rescued very early on and was adopted by us at about 12 weeks of age. While he was standoffish in the beginning, he quickly grew to trust us and easily accepted the love we had to give.  I can’t imagine him having to live in a mill environment, petrified, dirty and unloved.

I hope I can participate in the rehabilitation of the cute little pups at the rescue. They deserve a second chance at a new life where they can experience all the love that a forever family has to offer.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has a great article on their website about adopting a puppy mill dog. Click here to check it out.

Oogy – An Unforgettable Read

Just finished the book Oogy. The Dog Only a Family Could Love. What an inspirational true story. Oogy, a puppy used as bait in a vicious dog fighting ring, is maimed and disfigured when he is rescued by the police. Hospital staff, after one look at his bloodied body, decide to go above and beyond the call of duty to save the dog with the stunningly sweet demeanor. Fate steps in and Oogy is soon adopted by Larry Levin and his family. What follows is a beautiful story of forgiveness, the power of redemption, and the animal/human connection. Once tossed aside, Oogy and his human family prove that love can overcome the seemingly impossible.

This story will stay with you long after you finish the last chapter and you’ll have a hard time forgetting Oogy’s face. This is one book I will read over and over again.

A Lesson in Forgiveness

They come from some of the most reprehensible and unbelievable circumstances – neglected and used up in puppy mills, dirty and anxious in the homes of hoarders, hungry and wandering the streets as strays, given up on and denied by individuals with unrealistic expectations. Young and old alike, they have been mistreated, victimized and unloved. Would any human being survive?

I am consistently amazed at the resilience of the rescued dogs I meet at the shelter, on the street, at the dog park and in the homes of my friends. Some of their stories are shocking, some are just sad. But all have a happy ending. They have found forever homes. And mostly, they have forgiven – forgiven the species that caused them pain and gone on to show them unconditional love and loyalty. Their hearts are clear and their motivations are innocent.

These rescued pets have gone on to rescue their new human companions. They have brightened and enriched lives and brought smiles to countless faces. These dogs have healed their own hearts and opened them to us – eagerly. They are the personification of forgiveness. They have a lesson to teach us if we are willing to learn.

A Great Read!

Well, I finished Saving Gracie by Carol Bradley. What an amazing book! It really opened up my eyes to the severity of neglect and abuse that occurs at puppy mills all throughout the United States. There are so many courageous advocates, animal welfare organizations and volunteers that work tirelessly to end puppy mills all together. In addition, there are so many kind-hearted and gentle people in the world willing to give puppy mill survivors a chance at a life free from neglect, sickness and sadness.

This was a thought-provoking, information and heart-tugging read. I highly recommend it.

Saving Gracie – Have you read it?

I’m about half way through the book Saving Gracie: How One Dog Escaped the Shadowy World of American Puppy Mills by Carol Bradley. It’s the amazing true story of one dog’s rescue from a Pennsylvania puppy mill and how this Cavalier King Charles Spaniel went from being a sad, sickly and forlorn animal, worn out from bearing litter after litter, into a loving, healthy member of her new family.

The book details the rescue itself, the stories of the dogs‘ journeys from the mill to their forever homes, and the heroic tales of the people who stepped forward to save more than 300 dogs from deplorable and life threatening conditions.

I’m half way through the book and I’m riveted. The scary and reprehensible world of puppy mills is blown wide open in this true story and my heart is breaking as I read the stories of the brave and committed people who worked tirelessly to bring the puppy mill operators to justice, and spent countless hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars to care for and rehabilitate the small, voiceless survivors of the raid.

If you get the chance, please check it out. It’s worth it, even if only to understand the dark world of unethical breeding, animal neglect and cruelty that needs to be eliminated, and that all of God’s creatures, big and small, deserve a life of compassion, peace and love.

Can you spot an abused pet?

There are millions of kind and loving pet owners in the world. But sadly, there are still many who mistreat or neglect the animals in their lives. Could you spot an abused pet? Here are a few things to look for:

• animals tied up for long lengths of time without food or water, or kept outside in bad weather without access to appropriate shelter
• unclean shelter or living space that includes garbage, excrement or dangerous materials
• untreated wounds, signs of multiple healed wounds or an ongoing injury or illness that has gone untreated, including untreated skin conditions like scaly skin, rashes, bumps or severe hair loss
• broken bones, cuts or lacerations
• emaciation or extreme thinness
• severe infestations of fleas, ticks or other parasites
• extremely tight collars that are either embedded in the skin or causing wounds
• severe weakness, the inability to walk or stand normally
• harsh treatment by the owner or little to no social interaction with humans or other animals
• sudden and severe changes in behavior including fear, aggression or unusual submissiveness

To learn more about animal abuse, as well as ways to spot and stop it, visit the ASPCA at  http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/how-to-recognize-cruelty.html.