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Sophias story
Almost seven years ago Sophie had no name, she had been breeding every heat in a mill in
Missouri. Missouri has over 1500 puppy mills, some of the worst in the Country she had
spent 5 years in a wire cage, with no shelter, little water and food and no love. Her
puppies taken from her as soon as they were ready to be shipped.
Sophia's last litter was small and the puppies died so she was no longer useful and was
yanked from her cage by her back leg and being carried that way to be thrown onto a
bonfire. Still wearing her USDA metal tag on her leg.
A woman who visits the mill often to bargain for no longer profitable dogs happened to be
there just before Sophie was to be killed. She scooped her up along with a few other
dogs. She was vetted and cleaned up and transported to a rescue across the country.
When I adopted Sophia she wouldn't make eye contact, would only shake and slink along
the floor board to any corner. There she tried to scratch her way to safety in the wall.
She soiled herself if we got too close and we thought she would never come around.
However Sophie is now the boss of the house and leader of our pack. She climbs into bed
to snuggle and give me kisses every single morning before the alarm goes off, she wags her
tail, plays with toys and barks when someone comes to the door. She also treats every
foster who stays with us as if they are a lost and frightened pup.
Animals with this kind of heart and forgiveness should not be treated as commodities.
Forced to live in deplorable conditions just to make a buck.
There are so many Sophia's out there suffering today,take a stand. Find out what you can
do to help them.
Almost seven years ago Sophie had no name, she had been breeding every heat in a mill in
Missouri. Missouri has over 1500 puppy mills, some of the worst in the Country she had
spent 5 years in a wire cage, with no shelter, little water and food and no love. Her
puppies taken from her as soon as they were ready to be shipped.
Sophia's last litter was small and the puppies died so she was no longer useful and was
yanked from her cage by her back leg and being carried that way to be thrown onto a
bonfire. Still wearing her USDA metal tag on her leg.
A woman who visits the mill often to bargain for no longer profitable dogs happened to be
there just before Sophie was to be killed. She scooped her up along with a few other
dogs. She was vetted and cleaned up and transported to a rescue across the country.
When I adopted Sophia she wouldn't make eye contact, would only shake and slink along
the floor board to any corner. There she tried to scratch her way to safety in the wall.
She soiled herself if we got too close and we thought she would never come around.
However Sophie is now the boss of the house and leader of our pack. She climbs into bed
to snuggle and give me kisses every single morning before the alarm goes off, she wags her
tail, plays with toys and barks when someone comes to the door. She also treats every
foster who stays with us as if they are a lost and frightened pup.
Animals with this kind of heart and forgiveness should not be treated as commodities.
Forced to live in deplorable conditions just to make a buck.
There are so many Sophia's out there suffering today,take a stand. Find out what you can
do to help them.
| USEFUL LINKS FOR INFORMATION ON WHAT A PUPPY MILL IS AND HOW TO STOP THEM www.awarenessday.org www.critterhaven.org www.puppymillfighters.com www.prisonersofgreed.org If you have a story about a mill or rescue happy ending or sad send it in and we will print it here. |
Puppy mill facts
Over five hundred thousand puppies are born in puppy mills each year. Under the worst conditions
Females are breed from their first heat and every heat after that until they either die or the puppies die. When they no longer
make money because their insides are used up or their organs have grown together they are shot in the head, clubbed, thrown in
fires or drowned.
Many puppies born in mills have health problems, genetic defects and behavior problems. Sometimes costing several thousand
dollars and sometimes the purchased puppies die anyway.
Dog live in small cages usually with wire floors, often with no water little food and no protection from the weather. Puppies
have been known to cook on the hot wires of the cages. Some die from exposure with no protection. Many are blind from the
urine that isn't cleaned up.
Often without supervision nails grow so long they grown into the pads of the feet, collars are outgrown and cut into the dogs
necks. They suffer sweltering in summer and freezing in winter.
Dogs that bark are silenced by shoving a metal pipe down their throats to rupture the vocal cords. If they brake the dogs jaw
when they do this then the dogs jaw just stays broken. Dogs have been rescued with their bottom jaw just hanging.
Dogs suffer from malnutrition and their hair falls out, their jaws and bones rot. Maggots invade their untreated wounds. The
teeth rot and their gums disease gets so bad their jaws rot as well.
These dogs never get out of the small, dirty, uncomfortable cages they are in. Their paws never touch the grown, feel the grass.
They never run after a ball or cuddle in someones lap. They go crazy confined to their cages and some circle endlessly. Often
they develop repetitive behaviors like chewing, licking their fur or the wire. Some dogs are trapped in cages with aggressive
dogs with no escape. They are brutalized constantly with no escape.
There is no excuse and no reason for this horrible treatment except the need to put money in the millers pocket. The less they
spend on food and Veterinary care the more profit they stand to make.
Don't turn away, the only way to stop this is to get a dog from a rescue, shelter or reputable breeder. A good breeder will
never sell you a puppy via the Internet, pet store or any other way that doesn't include you meeting the parent dogs and them
checking you out completely. Good breeders want to know the puppies will have a good, loving and safe home. Do not be fooled!
They often call your vet and visit your home. You will know your getting a healthy , well adjusted dog who carries on the breed
standard.
DO NOT BUY IN PET STORES.
ADOPT FROM SHELTER OR HUMANE SOCIETY RESCUE OR QUALITY BREEDER.
PUT UP A FLIERS ABOUT PUPPY MILLS.
TALK TO PEOPLE YOU KNOW ABOUT MILLS
WRITE A LETTER, MAKE A CALL. ASK FOR BETTER LAWS, HARSHER PENALTIES.
GET INVOLVED, JOIN A GROUP. DO SOME RESEARCH...MAKE A DIFFERENCE.....IT FEELS GOOD.
Over five hundred thousand puppies are born in puppy mills each year. Under the worst conditions
Females are breed from their first heat and every heat after that until they either die or the puppies die. When they no longer
make money because their insides are used up or their organs have grown together they are shot in the head, clubbed, thrown in
fires or drowned.
Many puppies born in mills have health problems, genetic defects and behavior problems. Sometimes costing several thousand
dollars and sometimes the purchased puppies die anyway.
Dog live in small cages usually with wire floors, often with no water little food and no protection from the weather. Puppies
have been known to cook on the hot wires of the cages. Some die from exposure with no protection. Many are blind from the
urine that isn't cleaned up.
Often without supervision nails grow so long they grown into the pads of the feet, collars are outgrown and cut into the dogs
necks. They suffer sweltering in summer and freezing in winter.
Dogs that bark are silenced by shoving a metal pipe down their throats to rupture the vocal cords. If they brake the dogs jaw
when they do this then the dogs jaw just stays broken. Dogs have been rescued with their bottom jaw just hanging.
Dogs suffer from malnutrition and their hair falls out, their jaws and bones rot. Maggots invade their untreated wounds. The
teeth rot and their gums disease gets so bad their jaws rot as well.
These dogs never get out of the small, dirty, uncomfortable cages they are in. Their paws never touch the grown, feel the grass.
They never run after a ball or cuddle in someones lap. They go crazy confined to their cages and some circle endlessly. Often
they develop repetitive behaviors like chewing, licking their fur or the wire. Some dogs are trapped in cages with aggressive
dogs with no escape. They are brutalized constantly with no escape.
There is no excuse and no reason for this horrible treatment except the need to put money in the millers pocket. The less they
spend on food and Veterinary care the more profit they stand to make.
Don't turn away, the only way to stop this is to get a dog from a rescue, shelter or reputable breeder. A good breeder will
never sell you a puppy via the Internet, pet store or any other way that doesn't include you meeting the parent dogs and them
checking you out completely. Good breeders want to know the puppies will have a good, loving and safe home. Do not be fooled!
They often call your vet and visit your home. You will know your getting a healthy , well adjusted dog who carries on the breed
standard.
DO NOT BUY IN PET STORES.
ADOPT FROM SHELTER OR HUMANE SOCIETY RESCUE OR QUALITY BREEDER.
PUT UP A FLIERS ABOUT PUPPY MILLS.
TALK TO PEOPLE YOU KNOW ABOUT MILLS
WRITE A LETTER, MAKE A CALL. ASK FOR BETTER LAWS, HARSHER PENALTIES.
GET INVOLVED, JOIN A GROUP. DO SOME RESEARCH...MAKE A DIFFERENCE.....IT FEELS GOOD.
| links for more info at bottom |
| Sophie when rescued from a puppy mill in MO. Was wearing a USDA tag |
Sophie now
Sophia is not a big fan of having her
picture taken. So I only get a shot of her
from time to time.
picture taken. So I only get a shot of her
from time to time.
| Sophie after she was rescued and cleaned up. |
watch this video if you dare, see a puppy mill puppy mill |
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