Theresa tried her best to make up for years of torture and neglect at the puppy mill during the brief time she had with Lily.
Have there ever been times when you wished you could address the individuals causing your dog's suffering?In honor of her Italian greyhound Lily, who acted as a symbol for the mistreatment and neglect that puppy mill dogs experience, Theresa Strader founded the National Mill Dog Rescue in 2007.
Over the course of her first seven years, Lily had been a breeding dog.
Here is her tale, as per the website:
"Lily spent her entire day locked inside a tiny, chilly wire cage in a dank, dark barn." She never ventured outside of her cage to socialize or exercise. Lily was forced to provide one Without a pause, garbage was scattered over her gloomy surroundings. She was a veritable breeding machine whose value was determined exclusively by her capacity to provide puppies, like all commercial breeding dogs.
Before being saved, Lily had endured a bombardment of mistreatment motivated by money. The picture comes from National Mill, Dog Rescue.
Seven years old was the end of the Lily. Her life had been filled with little to no veterinary care, which had been quite upsetting to her. The roof of Lily's mouth and mandible have been decayed as a result of years of abuse, poor nutrition, watering rabbits in bottles, and a lack of suitable chew toys. She or he was worried as her chest was covered in breast lumps many individuals.
Finally, she received the love and care she needed. The picture comes from National Mill, Dog Rescue.
In May 2008, Lily left the ghost reception and sought solace in the loving arms of her adoptive father and family. Exactly 15 months after being saved.
Thersea attempted to influence Lily's demise by writing the ensuing potent letter. We hope it will reach everyone involved in the breeding or selling of dogs in puppy mills, even if it is aimed at Lily's breeder.
You may find this letter here, which was published with permission from the National Mill Dog Rescue:Rescue: Good day, Martha.
Since our initial meeting, fifteen months have passed. I doubt you remember anything about me. In your universe, we first met, after all, on your property. Since then, huge portions of your reality have merged with mine. I and a great many others are glad for that.
I got an email with the subject "50 Italian Greyhounds in need" with a phone number in February 2007. I called the number because I've always had a soft spot for the breed and wanted to learn more about it and how I could help. You probably already know where this letter is heading.
Yes, after more than 40 years of business, your kennel would shut its doors on February 17, 2007. It's time to stop mistreating animals after forty years, and relax. On that day, there will be an auction for 561 dogs, including 49 the Italian greyhounds among them.Greyhounds. There was no question that I could help, but I must admit that I had no idea what I would learn in the process. Due of transportation limitations, I concluded that I might have to go bent Lamar myself in order to save those puppies. So, my daughter and I departed for Missouri on February 16.
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Please understand that I have dedicated my whole life to dog rescue, providing care for wounded or sick animals, funding overcrowded shelters, etc. Although I have always known about puppy mills and pups from pet stores, I have only ever had rescued animals in my home. I should be clear that I DO NOT ACTIVATE FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS. I am what I am someone who respects the need for compassion in all living things.
Martha, what I've seen on your land is in no way human or even compassionate. There were a lot of restless, sick faces confined in their wire enclosures, some eyeing me, but most were too terrified to look into my eyes since they didn't know how to understand human contact. Because of it, I have had numerous restless nights, and to this day I am haunted by the despair and consequent horror in their eyes.
I am fully aware that you are only following the rules set down by the United States Department of Agriculture, which is an abhorrent idea. I'm also aware that in your circles, dogs used for commercial breeding are viewed as livestock. Dogs are not cattle, Martha. Aeons ago, men began to domesticate dogs to be our guardians, friends, hunters, herders, and, most importantly, our protectors.Â
I took two Dachshunds, two Papillons, and nine Italian Greyhounds home with me. No dog I have taken care of in my more than 25 years of rescue work has ever experienced physical or emotional damage. Because it is related to protecting pets, the upcoming months will stand for my ongoing education.
But just one of these dogs is the subject of this letter. This dog will always feel at home here with my family. #251 - "Reedgate's Swift Motion" was registered with the AKC. An Italian greyhound by the name of Swift Motion was never physically prepared to run. Her legs lacked the power to embrace the freedom because she had lived her entire life in a cage benefits of running. An awful situation for a breed that was created to flee.
We took the chain off her neck, gave her a lovely collar, and gave her the name Lily. At the age of seven years and one month, Lily was allowed to go.
One of the uncommon canines without a mandible is Lily. How would you explain why such a large number of your pets had this illness? Whether you ever worried about their suffering or how they managed to eat enough to survive intrigues me. How many patients under your care passed away as a result of this illness? I wonder whether you even paid attention. I'm sure you noticed something else in addition to the decaying faces:their capacity to bear pups. Your business' primary goal is to breed pups at whatever cost.
Lily has grown to be a crucial part of our family. She gradually discovered her bravery with a lot of love and care, despite her multiple health concerns and significant fears. When she did this, no one was able to resist her affection. Everyone who met her, including men, women, and children, enjoyed hearing her tale and crying as they did so. Lily's existence was not focused on what she might do for you, but rather on how we may make up for it by providing her with a cozy and nurturing environment.
For our family, seeing her go through four operations to remove breast cancers, fix her deteriorating face, and She was spayed, having the papery, inky, pus-filled organ that served as her uterus removed. You're such a jerk; you'll never understand her suffering, only her money.
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Because of your carelessness, Lily struggles to eat every meal. To make it easier for her to eat, we tried a range of foods and techniques. But in the end, she had to try it her way, the way she had learned at your house, the way she had kept herself alive for you. She did this by using her feet to pick kibbles out of her bowl and spread them around the floor. Next, she rubbed her "good" side against the ground to catch one on her tongue. Finally, she stretched her neck upward and swallowed it whole. Martha, take it to heart. How about that to eat only one meal and in this way?
Do you remember sitting in my car following the auction? The men were gathering the canines I had "won." You mentioned to me, "I just love my Italian Greyhounds." Oh, the thoughts that flashed through my head as soon as you spoke those words. You don't like dogs, Martha. What you could do is use the forty years God gave you to make money by abusing animals. Only their capacity for reproduction is mentioned; neither their physical nor mental health is. You denied each and every one of the hundreds of canines that came into contact with you of the simple joys they so well deserved. an open-minded dinner, a comfortable bed , access to care, and, most importantly, a partner to complete their lives
Lily has picked up a lot about being loved, being a dog, and being a deserving member in our family. She never learned to run or play, and that will always worry me. However, she discovered how to love and be loved, a concept she had no words for. She changed our lives irrevocably.
Lilly endured for seven years in a puppy factory as a breeding dog. The picture comes from National Mill Dog Rescue. Lily passed away on May 13, 2008, at the age of eight, which is almost half the Italian Greyhound's estimated worth. Martha, she suffered neglect and as a direct result, she passed away for seven years, under your care. How many other people have had the same fate?
For far too long, this business has been kept a secret. The time is running short, and the news has spread. People like you will soon transition into fields of honest work, leaving people who genuinely care about God's animals to take care of them.
