A 501(c)3 Non Profit Organization
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You don't have to look far to find information about the bad conditions and inhumane treatment of dogs who are in puppy mills. These mills provide the puppies that are sold in pet stores everywhere. This is why people looking to get a pet for their family should get it either from a breeder or a rescue group never from a pet store. As awful as the information is it can't compare with seeing this first hand. Recently, Long Island Golden Retriever Rescue and other rescue groups across the country were asked to help in a rescue mission for a group of dogs who were released from a puppy mill to a rescue group in Oklahoma. We agreed to take two female dogs from this rescue. They traveled by transport for two days until they reached their drop off spot. Spring Valley, NY. They were taken out of the truck and immediately dropped to the ground in fear. Neither of these girls had been out for a walk or had the opportunity to play in a yard or sleep on a bed. Peach Brandy is a 4 year old girl whose body shows the signs of multiple frequent liters. Peach Brandy, renamed Merry, was apprehensive but willing to try this new idea of walking on a leash. Minnie, a nine month old was not so eager. She fell to the ground and needed to be carried to the car for transport to their foster homes.
Once in the car the girls settled down for the ride to the beginning of their new lives. A life filled with hugs, kisses and love, a life far away from the torture that they had endured
The first stop was at Petco where the girls were given a bath. Although they were very frightened they felt better once the dirt and grim was off their bodies.
Minnie is afraid to walk and needs to be carried. Everything around her is new and scary.This nine month old girl has probably never been outside of a cage. She had no experiences with the world and has a long road ahead of her.
The girls and volunteers head off to the vets office to be checked by Dr. Gadino whose patience is so appreciated by all concerned. He finds that Merry has had bad ear infections for a long time and some scars on her face. Minnie seems not to be medically in bad shape but she tries to crawl under the counter to escape the world around her that is so scary.
Once they are finished they are headed to foster homes where they can begin to be happy normal dogs. They have a long road ahead of them but with love , patience and understanding we all can hope that as the dirt was washed from their bodies so may the painful memories of what they endured in the puppy mill be washed from their memories.
Merry
When we arrived home she was placed in a crate in our kitchen, where all the action happens. I have other LIGRR rescues in our home and of course they were very curious about the “newbie.” Merry was terrified but I allowed everyone to sniff her through the safety and security of her crate while I assured her. I was surprised that she was housebroken. Thankfully, I was able to spend 10 days with my pack and Merry during the Christmas holiday. After a few days, I decided it was time to “run with the pack”. That she did but would only go off the deck if I was there to watch. Now, showing some small signs of trust. She was also beginning to show signs of being a dog. She would watch my pack and she would learn from them. She had no idea what a treat was, much less how to take one from my hand. I would give her treats last to enable her to observe from her house mates how it was done. At first I had to open her mouth, place a treat in it and actually close it for her. Slowly but surely she is becoming a “regular”dog. She now pushes through to the front of the treat line and takes one like a pro. Merry even takes yogurt off the spoon, now. She runs with the pack all on her own. She can’t wait to go out and is now used to the feel of grass under her paws. She is learning the words, no and good girl. We give her hugs and kisses as often as possible. Merry is so easy to love and she is so eager to learn new things. She is still not fond of raindrops on her head but who is? She plays with Anabel, our resident welcoming committee and loves chew toys. It seems a lifetime ago that Merry came to stay but it’s only been a little over 2 weeks. She has come a very long way from the horrors of the puppy mill. The only major challenge that we are experiencing now, is the inability to climb the stairs to the bedrooms. We are working on that. She got up to the third step last night. That was a huge milestone. She still play bites in an attempt to get attention and is learning how to walk on a leash without walking in circles. She is improving each day. Merry is finally enjoying life as she was meant to. Free of bars and neglect and full of joy, love and respect. More photos and updates to follow. - Lois - (LIGRR) Minnie
Please watch this part of the website as we watch these girls hopefully to change before our eyes. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Merry came to us on December 22nd 2007. My husband thought the name Merry was
appropriate. The first time I laid eyes on her she was in Melanie’s (LIGRR
president) car, curled up in a corner, terrified and shaking. We know how awful
puppy mills are but as terrible as Merry’s life was prior to that day, it was
the only life she knew. Her life was about to change drastically, for the
better, a fact she was unaware of at the time. She immediately underwent a
physical exam and other than fleas and an ear infection, Merry received a clean
bill of heath. It was apparent that she had whelped several litters and was
still showing signs of a recent birth. When I put her in a crate in our truck
she looked so bewildered and frightened that even my soft, kind words did no
good. After all, she possessed no trust, love or devotion to humans. My biggest
challenge was to change that. 
