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I had a new moon in your solar 6th house of pets last week and sure wasn’t expecting what developed.  Last Wednesday night I felt led to Craigslist.  I have only visited that site once before a couple of years ago.  I saw a couple of links on Google and one of them was the Pets link.  I’m an animal lover so that’s the first link that had my interest.  The first ad was a Rescue group looking for three people to help transport 3 Jack Russell terriers to their rescue home in Tennessee.  They were planning to break up the drive in three parts.   The ad stated these dogs were taken from a “Breeder that had learned the error of her ways.”   

Alley, age 3

The other ads were just as sad in other ways; people having to re-home animals, lost and found dogs needing a forever home and people asking for free dogs.  NEVER give your pet away unless it is a last resort!  Interview the person that would give your pet a home, go see where they will live if you can and if they can’t afford an adoption fee, then they probably can’t afford shots, health checks or food!  Animal abuse and neglect is nothing new, you can Google those words and what you see will break your heart.

I figured the ad was because of a Puppy Mill or someone breeding for profit with no concern for the animals living conditions or welfare.  I asked my husband if he wanted to make the drive with me, he agreed and I responded right away.  It just so happens that my grandmother doesn’t live far from where the dogs needed to go, but I would have taken them regardless.  Three dogs needing a ride to a Rescue home meant they would never live in confinement again! 

See, I know what it must be like to be born in a puppy mill because I was led to one the day I thought I was getting my own Jack Russell puppy from a reputable breeder.  Bonnie’s story will be coming soon.  She is every dog I have ever loved and lost and the love of my life for the last two years.  My apologies to friends and family, but I mean it!  And I’ve never owned a JRT in the past because I heard they were so high energy and not the dog for just anyone.  My Bonnie has proven every negative aspect of the breed wrong!  Unless digging is a negative, she does that well, but she is a dog!  So, no more backyard gardening for me, but I still have the front yard.   

Katrina, age 3

The Rescue Coordinator contacted me within 15 minutes and I was given the details about getting these dogs to their Rescue home.  The owner had to bring the dogs to me and we arranged a meeting place for Saturday, only I didn’t know she was actually the breeder until we spoke over the phone.  I told her that they were going to be safe and cared for.  She said, “Well that’s what they told me, but I could have sold them for $300 a piece.” 

I was told she had been breeding 35 dogs, which could be a small Puppy Mill by some standards.  Breeding dogs every time they go into heat for profit is not okay with me.  I have strong opinions about breeding, spaying and neutering, and the possibility of one life being used or neglected does not exist!  I will not go on because I could write a book and there is already a wealth of information on the internet about Puppy mills and Rescue animals of all types.  

JR, age 3

The owner sent her husband to deliver the dogs.  I knew as soon as I saw them that they were Rat Terries, not Jack Russell’s.  The breeds are similar; the Rat Terrier has pointed ears and the Jacks have cupped ears.  There were three dogs, 2 females and one male. They barked as I approached the car, I opened the car door and they stopped barking.  We moved them one at a time to our SUV.  They were so sweet I wished I could have taken them home.  I already have three dogs and have promised to take a Boston terrier if it ever comes down to it. 

Her husband handed me a piece of paper with their names on it, approximate ages and JR’s birthday.  He handed me JR and said he had never known anything except breeding.  Then he told me he lived nearby but the dogs were kept in a town an hour away!  The two females had unknown birthdays, but they are approximately 3 yrs. Old.  JR turned three in August. 

I saw JR’s birthday and knew that freedom was his destiny!  He just had an eclipse to his sun in August, a lunar eclipse, which suggested something was going to end and a relationship may be affected.  His lucky stars!!

The man also had three Pugs in a cage to drop off with someone; I suppose they were going to a Pug Rescue.  I shook his hand and thanked him for giving these dogs a new lease on life, although he had been ordered to.  We got in the car and I thanked God and welcomed these dogs to their first day of freedom with tears in my eyes and a knot in my throat.  I never heard another peep out of them for the rest of the day.  My husband reminded me that they had been living in cages so that’s probably why they didn’t bark or cry.  They didn’t really respond to my voice so I doubt they were ever called by name, or spoken to.  They were very sweet and gentle, just like in the pictures.

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 They were confused and probably frightened.  You can see it in the pictures with their ears down they were unsure about what was going on.  They smelled so bad, more like cow manure than anything although they looked clean.  Their nails were long, but they were of good body weight.  The male (JR) had to go potty as we were transferring vehicles in Tennessee, although I didn’t know it when I was taking his picture.    I could tell by his stool that he had not been eating a good quality pet food.  These dogs were fortunate little souls because some puppy mill dogs are in horrible shape when and IF they are rescued. 

Mary Ruth has taken them in at Russell Rescue in Columbia TN, not far from Franklin or Nashville.  Her farm currently provides shelter to 50 adoptable dogs needing homes.  Those dogs are not all puppy mill dogs, some were found, some needed to be re-homed.  While she is a Jack Russell terrier rescue, she has other breeds there as well.  You can find pictures of several of adoptable dogs at her site on Petfinder.com  http://www.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/shelterSearch.cgi?shelterid=TN270 .

Transportation may be arranged for an adopted pet through volunteers wanting these dogs to have a forever home and a better life.  All dogs going out of state will be altered first.  All dogs are altered after they have been rescued. 

This is Dory, a beautiful chocolate Cocker Spaniel.  She is 2-3 years old, 23 pounds, and very active.  She is not leashed trained and will jump on you so she will need some training.  Dory loves attention and to be petted.  She will roll on her belly for a rub.  She probably has always lived in a kennel.  This is the information I received from the woman providing rescue for her at this time.  She came from the same breeder as the Rat terriers earlier this week.  She needs a real home and family.  

I received an email last night about the Transportation Coordinator asking this Breeder for $100 to help with gas for the 13 dogs that are going to a Michigan Rescue this week.  Asking her to take some responsibility for these animals.  Apparently she said that she was already losing money by having to give them up.   I’m sure it was mentioned that of the Shitz Zu’s taken from her last week, one was half way to term with seven puppies when she went to be altered!  The Breeder didn’t tell the Rescue group, or didn’t even know.  

I am blessed and fortunate to help in some small way and I hope to help again.  Please do your part in putting Puppy Mills and pet stores out of business - never buy from one!  If you must have a dog with a pure bloodline and papers, there are many breeders that give their dogs real homes and want to preserve the integrity of the breed standards. 

If you or someone you know would like to give one of these little dogs a home, please contact me for more information, or check out the link at petfinder.  These dogs deserve to feel grass under their feet, the warmth of companship, and a soft place to sleep.