According to The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), there may be as many as 10,000 puppy mills across the country. Public outcry has encouraged puppy mill raids, but even those dogs who are lucky enough to be rescued are just beginning their journey toward health and a happy home.
Rehabilitating the System by Telling the Tails
One canine concentration camp survivor has an inspiring story. She spent nine years imprisioned in a wire cage, continuously pumping out offspring, her vocal cords cut so she couldn't bark or whine. Her tale is told by psychologist Jana Kohl in “A Rare Breed of Love: The True Story of Baby and the Mission She Inspired to Help Dogs Everywhere." (http://ararebreedoflove.com/)
When she was too old to breed, and therefore deemed useless, “Breeder #94” was scheduled to be put down. She was rescued in the nick of time—although not soon enough to save her left front leg, which had to be amputated as a result of her mistreatment. In spite of everything, “Baby” is now a happy, perky, unofficial spokesdog for the HSUS. She romps around the country as an animal rights activist, accompanied by her human. Kohl’s book features photos of Baby with celebrity supporters, from sports icons and actors to Barack Obama.
I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being. ~Abraham Lincoln
Shelters and rescue organizations all around the country have stepped up to the plate to offer asylum to puppy mill rescues—which include the adult breeding dogs as well as puppies.
In early May, a Lancaster, California, puppy mill was exposed by undercover TV investigator, David Goldstein. When Animal Control moved in to remove hundreds of dogs,[8] a number of local shelters agreed to take some of the rescued animals, including the Glendale Humane Society (GHS), a private, “no kill” facility. [9] When a GHS volunteer went to pick up five Yorkshire Terrier rescues, they were so cute, she came back with six! (http://www.glendalehumane.org) The Yorkies, ranging in age from 4–7 years old, had been bred nonstop their entire lives.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
