Sophias story
I 2000 we got Sophie , 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 to 7 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. Too young, usually between 6 and 8 weeks.
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.
A woman who visits the mill often to bargain for no longer profitable dogs happened to be there
just before Sophie was to be tossed into the fire. She scooped her up along with a few other
dogs. She was vetted and cleaned up and transported to a rescue across the country to
upstate NY.
I got a call from my rescue friend Arlene who said I have a girl who needs you....so off we went
a 12 hour trip to get this tiny , skinny, wide eyed, frightened little girl.... Sophia. She wouldn't
make eye contact, would only shake and slink along the floor board on her belly to any corner.
There she tried to scratch her way to safety in the wall. She soiled herself if we got too close,
was afraid to eat 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.
I 2000 we got Sophie , 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 to 7 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. Too young, usually between 6 and 8 weeks.
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.
A woman who visits the mill often to bargain for no longer profitable dogs happened to be there
just before Sophie was to be tossed into the fire. She scooped her up along with a few other
dogs. She was vetted and cleaned up and transported to a rescue across the country to
upstate NY.
I got a call from my rescue friend Arlene who said I have a girl who needs you....so off we went
a 12 hour trip to get this tiny , skinny, wide eyed, frightened little girl.... Sophia. She wouldn't
make eye contact, would only shake and slink along the floor board on her belly to any corner.
There she tried to scratch her way to safety in the wall. She soiled herself if we got too close,
was afraid to eat 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 |
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.
What ever breed you're looking for can be found in rescue or a shelter. You'll know about the dogs temperament and they will be
spayed or neutered and up to date on shots. So save a life save a life and check out your shelters and Rescue groups first.
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.
What ever breed you're looking for can be found in rescue or a shelter. You'll know about the dogs temperament and they will be
spayed or neutered and up to date on shots. So save a life save a life and check out your shelters and Rescue groups first.
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.
| 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. |
| Sophie after she was rescued and cleaned up. |
watch this video if you dare, see a puppy mill puppy mill |
| Sophie doesn't like the camera so sleeping or leaving are the pictures we usually get of her |
| Below Sophie with what she thinks are her babies |
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| Sophie when rescued from a puppy mill in MO. Was wearing a USDA tag |
LOOK ! New pictures of Sophie
...she doesn't know the phone is
really a camera too!!!
so unaware and happy......our sweet
little Sophie
...she doesn't know the phone is
really a camera too!!!
so unaware and happy......our sweet
little Sophie
I know what your
thinking......poor
dog such a mess.
Miss Sophia just
had a bath and
groom, but she
likes to roll and rub
her self on her bed,
on the rug, on my
leg....and this is
what you get...ta da
happy now she
takes a nap
thinking......poor
dog such a mess.
Miss Sophia just
had a bath and
groom, but she
likes to roll and rub
her self on her bed,
on the rug, on my
leg....and this is
what you get...ta da
happy now she
takes a nap
