"It’s
ok, I am getting you out of here, you are safe now.”
These are the words that the Golden Retriever volunteers whispered into
the ears of each of the 80 dogs that were rescued from an Arkansas
puppy mill auction in October 2004. 60 of these dogs were Golden
Retrievers. Rescues from across the country signed up to take these
dogs; to save them from the endless breeding and terrible neglect that
occurs in puppy mills throughout the United States. The dogs were
packed into wire kennels with no shelter from the cold rain that was
falling. The stench was unimaginable. Sorrowful eyes pleaded for
release; some were almost beyond caring. But they were saved; some
purchased for as low as $10 per dog.
GRRI-NJ accepted one of the 3-yr old female brood bitches. She was
placed in a GRRI-NJ foster home in Tennessee with a Golden Retriever
breeder that had formerly lived in NJ. She was named Dolly, after
Dolly Parton. Dolly was terribly frightened, timid and thin. She had
bilateral ear infections and tested positive for Ehrlichiosis Equii, a
tick-borne disease. Before treatment could begin, however, it was
discovered that Dolly was pregnant. Since she showed no signs of the
disease, we chose to let her safely deliver the puppies and then treat
her afterward. Once it was safe to do so, Dolly was spayed. She’ll
never have to deliver another litter of puppies.
On December 5, 2004 Dolly delivered eleven healthy Golden Retriever
puppies. She was a wonderful mom. She adored her puppies, and as they
grew, she spent a great deal of time playing with them. This was
probably something she was never allowed to do before. In puppy mills,
as soon as the puppies are weaned, they are immediately loaded into
trucks and sold to pet stores.
While Dolly was lovingly raising her puppies, GRRI-NJ volunteers were
carefully screening applicants to provide loving homes for the puppies
and for Dolly. On January 29, 2005, nine of Dolly’s puppies, and Dolly
herself, went to their forever homes. The remaining two pups were
placed in foster homes until forever homes were found for them. They
were adopted a couple of weeks later. Watching strangers take her
puppies away was very hard on Dolly. By the end of the day, she was
quite upset. But then it was her turn to go to her forever home. She
went with GRRI-NJ volunteers to Westchester County, NY and that’s when
Dolly met her family. It was love at first sight. She had two boys to
call her own; a kitty to play with, and three bunnies to nurture. Her
new mom has been sparing no expense to bring her up to optimal health,
and she is showered with love. GRRI-NJ volunteers have been keeping in
touch with all the adopting families. All are healthy and
thriving.
This was indeed a success story…not only for Dolly, but for all the
dogs that were rescued on that rainy day in Arkansas.
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