Letters from other puppy mill adopters

Hi everyone,
I have enjoyed reading all your stories so much. We are , from time to time, a “foster family” for Beebe Humane Society. This was an occasion where I was asked to help, and I immediately said yes. As these precious ones arrived at their “safe haven”, I helped Jaxie “sort out” and number the new arrivals. They were a terrified and pitiful bunch. I remain horrified and angry that anyone could allow this kind of mistreatment to occur, much less participate in it for profit. We removed each little one from its carrier, checked it for injury or serious problems and logged it in. Some had medical problems that needed attention, some were tiny and malnourished, and all were matted, flea infested and covered in nasty remnants of feces and urine from days past. And yet not one complained as we looked them over. Perhaps they knew they were going to get some help. I initially fostered 8, which didn’t really make a dent in the number that were rescued, but I hope it helped out a little. All those are now well, and have gone on to their forever homes, or are awaiting their new family at this time. To read your stories about choosing them, loving them, waiting for them to arrive and their success stories thrills me. It reminds me once again why I feel I must help, and continue to do all I can do to stop this abuse from continuing.

I adopted two yorkies from this group, and I would like to tell you about them. When I first saw my Camilla (now named after Great Britain’s Camilla Parker Bowles), she really didn’t look like a dog, much less a Yorkshire Terrier! She’s a “plus size” gal, and at that time her hair was long and severely matted. She had stuff all in her hair, and her eyes were kind of matted together with hair. About all I could see of her face was her mouth, and she has a terrible underbite so her teeth were showing out from under all that hair. Terrified, of course, she hunkered down in the back of her carrier. It didn’t take long to realize that she was going to have to have a complete makeover! The next day, we shaved her down completely to the skin, except for a little of her topknot. I was amazed that she sat absolutely still to be shaved and have her nails done. With no hair, she really was “all teeth”, and gave us our first “Camilla Smile” which we see often now. With no hair, I felt forced to put a sweater on her to keep away a chill. Surprisingly, she didn’t mind a bit, and to this day she is our fashion model and has a wardrobe fit for a princess, including a jeweled collar and topknot bow! She is with me constantly, usually in my lap or at my feet, and I wouldn’t trade her for anything.

Jaxie says my Charles (also now named after the Prince) was just found roaming around out in the yard at the puppy mill. He is old, probably 12 or so, and having used up his usefulness at that place was just fending for himself as best he could. He, too, had to be completely shaved. He is almost deaf, but I think he hears a little when he wants to. When I got him, we thought he was totally blind. He had a bad ulcer on one eye, and the other eye was completely sunken back in his head, and it was thought that eye ball would have to be removed. I am told that this is not uncommon due to the waste that falls into their eyes from the cages above them. His teeth were all rotten, and he couldn’t eat the dry food that he was scrounging from the yard there. He was pretty skinny and weak. After initial vet care, he came to me. He had to lose 7 teeth all at once due to massive infection. The decision was made to wait on eye surgery to allow him to gain strength. We treated his eyes several times a day, put him on special soft food, and began to give him the love and care he deserves at his age. I am happy to report that now the scared old guy that hid in the corner is the first to greet us at the door, tail wagging. His eyes are improved, and it looks as though no further surgery will be needed. He is now an important part of our family, and we love him dearly.

Thank you, Ann, for your interest in this rescue and in these stories. The public must be informed and educated about these puppy mills. This is one rescue out of many, and for every one that gets busted there are many that don’t. This is one subject where ignorance is NOT bliss!!

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HI everyone,
We were the ones who were waiting with the Shapiros in New Brunswick for our little man. His name was "Roy" but is now called Rocky. Rocky was all of 3 pounds when we got him and due to health issues we were forced to keep him away from his big golden retriever brother, Quincy and yorkie sister Lola. He was very happy from day one to be with us, it was as though he knew we were going to love him and take great care of him. He is 2 pounds heavier, and that tail (which we refuse to cut) is always wagging a mile a minute. He sleeps curled up next to his big brother every night.
Those illegal breeders need to be shut down and pay for their crimes against animals!

Ileane Frank and Rocky

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To all of those wonderful people who waited for "Uncle Greg's Famous Puppy Transport" in East Brunswick, NJ and wherever else it left off puppies:
My little dog was named Betty when she came to me (of course that is after Jaxie's Mom and best friend) she is now Beebe ( and of course that is after Jaxie's Mom, Jaxie's best friend, Barbara (me) and Beebe Humane Society....what a legacy!
She was mine from the moment I picked her up and is even more mine now. She likes my husband now and is getting closer to him. But, she ADORES me!!! She sleeps next to me every night...she is at my feet from room to room and always looking for me if I disappear for a moment. She is protective of us and watches over the front door. She loves the back yard (grass) not to fond of the front (stones) The little bugger has gained 3 lbs since she has been here. She climbs like a mountain goat. I have shelves in my shop and she climbs up them shelf by shelf to get to the top. She sits on the top shelf and watches me do my work. She loves being held and a lot of her original fears have left. I can't even imagine what her first 3 years were like...She is about to get her first haircut since she has been home. She also has become the alpha dog in our house and when the guys don't do what she wants she bops them with her nose.

Jaxie, please know that I am so grateful to you for saying yes when I asked to adopt Beebe....
Ann, she has a blond face chest and legs and her back is a silver and black color and she has the most beautiful teeth......To all the people I was with in East Brunswick, I'm glad the bus was late so we got a chance to chat. Thanks for writing the article and you will have to let us know where we can get a copy of the magazine.

Little Egg Harbor New Jersey



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He's here!

And he's delightful and unusual: his legs are too long (and front ones are a little bowlegged), he almost never makes a sound, on the carpeting he makes sudden, insane dashes back and forth across the room and dives into some small, dark corner. He's trained like an angel, sweet and gentle, and the most curious little bugger I ever saw. Here are some photos of dear little Romeo.

And then...

Drove out to a stop on the New Jersey turnpike and we sat for an hour waiting--while the puppy bus was also waiting at a different part of the parking lot. Caught them in time, got this charming dog but a moment of worry entered my heart as I saw his very long legs and I was reminded of a similar-looking dog at a visit to an emergency room a number of years ago, whose owner said her boyfriend had bought him from a pet store and the dog was sick all the time, had two sets of teeth, and mis-formed internal organs. i was afraid to love the little doggie too much until the vet looked at him.

He was shy and scared but wanted to be held (no problem!) and cuddled all the way home. And then he distinguished himself by doing his business like a well-trained big dog!

Since that moment, he did everything to win our hearts, slowly getting more comfortable here, but never letting me out of his sight. And curious!! I never saw anything like it. (I've put some photos on my grandson' blog at this URL:

http://leosbababablog.blogspot.com/

You will see on that site I'm looking for a name for the little dog. He came with the name 'Romeo' but his personality is emerging and I want to help a name that will fit this gentle, playful Yorkie, so I'm still waiting a few days.

Today's the day! This afternoon a friend will drive me out to the pick up location and the Puppy Bus is due to show up at around 5 PM, and I'll take pictures. I've worked hard to get plenty of sleep for the last 3 or 4 days in preparation for getting none tonight or tomorrow night.

Busy sweeping up confetti from shredding job of old tax stuff. Don't want puppy to eat confetti. No, Puppy (said quietly, so I won't make him nervous).

I've used the coming of Romeo as an excuse to get rid of accumulated debris, opening an old closet I usually avoid. Carefully organized into plastic boxes were all my long lost cartoons and early unpublished novels and all my old journals. Maybe it's time to write my autobiography. :-)

But the halls still have some boxes of papers to go through, etc. so I gotta get me coffee down me gullet and get to work this morning. I haven't had a puppy in this house for many years. Smiling already.

a puppy?!

Don't remember how to do that! So I wrote to the father of a friend who is a Really Big Dog Guy (you know what I mean.)

Dear Really Big Dog Guy:

Help!

To my inestimable joy, I'll be getting a (one) little Yorkie Friday night and suddenly I don't remember how to 'train' a new, young dog.

I want
1) to let him run loose in the house, and
2) sleep in my arms all night, and
3) eat sauteed squab under glass and caviar unless he prefers pate of endangered species.

But...

1) He's only partly house-broken and I hear if males start marking indoors, it can create a problem.

2) I remember somewhere he should be crate-trained at first, but:

a. I have a nice playpen (of the mesh type) that I got for my grandson's visit a few years ago (and brought up from storage when I planned to get the teeny-weeny females), and I was thinking of putting him in that at night. Good idea?

b. Conflict: I want him to be at eye-level at night and that thing is on the floor. Should I bring in a table, put him in a roomy Sherpa bag and only take him out when he cries to go pee (and put him on a wee wee pad in the bathtub)

c. He's paper-trained sort of, so I guess I should find a place for a wee wee pad that he can reach on his own? Or no?

3) He's presently on Science Diet so I'll continue that for a little while but would like to move him to something better, little by little (always remembering that Yorkies are notorious for getting very bad teeth, so crunching on hard stuff is probably good for him)


I know you only have very large creatures, but A. reminded me you got them when they were very small and young, so perhaps you can advise me?

Thanks, pal.

Barbara

Only Romeo

Turns out that a good home can be found for the little girls and I am getting only Romeo, which was my hope in the first place. Advised by the people who rescued the little girls, and my honored vet, it became clear that my days of love would turn into days of logistics, and I just want to sit down and cuddle with Romeo.

I did get some good suggestions for names, however, and had almost settled on Isabel and Coco.

But there are wonderful people who would like teeny tiny Yorkies, so I don't have to feel guilty. I didn't love them yet, just felt protective.

So it's countdown to Friday evening when the cuddling starts. I forgot how to treat a puppy and have to read up on that right now. Crate or my bed at night? Wander loose or into that playpen I had set up for the little girls? Stay on Science Diet or move to something else?

See ya.

Naming the little girls

I'm thinking of calling them 'Ab' and 'Fab'

What do you think?

(and how did I set up my other blogs to receive comments? Umm...)

Next Friday!

Look who's coming for dinner!

ROMEO IS 13 MONTHS OLD AND 5 LBS
He had a hard time and needs a lot of love and I'm the right person for the job. I intend for his feet to never touch the ground. I will give him non-stop therapy and ask him to get to his feelings until he is a cheerfully shallow and demanding Yorkie once again.





THE LITTLES WEREN'T GROOMED WHEN THEY FIRST CAME IN, AND LIKE MOST PUPPY-MILL RESCUES, THEY WERE DIRTY AND FRIGHTENED. I'M TOLD THEY'RE CUTER NOW AND ACT A LOT MORE LIKE PIT BULLS. THEY EACH WEIGH ABOUT 2.6 LBS AND ARE SISTERS. THEY'RE ABOUT 8 MONTHS OLD. After much thought, I took them too, because they're very expensive on the open market and I was afraid someone would split them up and sell them. They mostly live in a playpen, and sleep in a crate (oh sure, in my house.) but they know Romeo well, so they can run around the house in a mad frenzy as soon as I ascertain how paper-trained they are.







Oh boy. Well, with little Buddy gone I was able to go into restaurants and movies, bookstores with coffee shops etc. I could stay away from the house all day and night if I wanted to, or not go outside for days and days (and days). And what I realized is that freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose. And that I needed a weep break every day to stay sane, but sometimes it wouldn't stop. And that every dog I see has a look in his or her eyes that makes me feel like I'm looking at Buddy! (Is he in there? Are all dogs One Dog and they come back to you if you loved them enough? Is the word God really the word Dog? Naw, that's a little weird, actually.)

However, I am thinking that these little creatures will make me laugh and fuss and send blasts of kindness and silent messages of You're Safe Now (and Crap, are you really going to make me throw this damned beanie baby for you to fetch *again*!?)

A huge pit bull got on the elevator yesterday, a gentle animal who will, all the same, never set eyes on my miniscule new visitors, and I put both my hands on his warm head and around his face and immediately felt my blood pressure drop and my heart warm up. The shortest distance between any two points seems to be the body heat of a dog and my recently broken heart.

Not my imagination, either. It's nice to know that petting, cuddling, putting my face down on the bed to look at them, eye to eye so I can silently say, "Yes? You rang?" will release the hormone that makes both dogs and their owners feel like good parents -- no kidding! For my source of these scientific details, see first entry on my pal Buddy's blog, at
http://littleguybuddy.blogspot.com/ entitled "When you love a little dog")