Please Read This Article Before You Buy a Puppy

We've all seen the cute, furry little bundles of joy in the windows of fancy pet stores in the mall. They're darling! We feel sorry for them and almost feel as if we're rescuing that puppy by purchasing him/her and getting them out of the store. But please hold onto your credit card and keep reading...

Yesterday I adopted two toy poodles that were "retired" breeders from a puppy mill in the middle of Iowa. This particular mill generally disposed of their out-of-date "breeding stock" by taking the older dogs out behind the chicken coop (where they were confined to for their entire life) and shooting them. A kind-hearted couple, Chris and Angela decided years ago to bite their tongue and struck up an agreement with the woman who ran the mill. Instead of killing the dogs, she called the couple on a regular basis and relinquished the dogs to them for future adoption. It's worth noting that Chris and Angela fund all the vet bills (spay/neuter, vaccinations, tumor removal, oral surgery, etc.) and feed/shelter them entirely on their own dime.

Last winter the monster who ran this puppy mill died suddenly and her son agreed to relinquish all but two dogs (presumably so he could start up again later) to Chris and Angela. Chihuahua lovers at heart, the couple found themselves up to their elbows in chihuahuas and poodles. Two of the poodles they rescued that day were Thelma and Stanley.

Thelma is an 11 year-old black toy poodle weighing in at around 4 pounds. Thelma sports a wild, gray (wig-like) head of hair. The breeder's son actually thought she was a male because she had a large (benign) mammary tumor, which has since been removed. What teeth she had from years of calcium depletion due to over breeding were rotten to the core and she has only two teeth left in her head. She's a spry "young" lady and was the first of the group to approach me.

Stanley is an 8-year-old black toy poodle who weighs only 5 pounds. He was one of the few males used for frequent breeding. Stanley is also toothless because he had never been groomed. You see, his hair grew into his mouth and between his teeth, rotting every one them at the gum line. As the Chris and Angela's vet tried to remove this hair from his mouth, his teeth fell out and I'm told the stench was indescribable. His penis was so wrapped so tightly with matted hair that it was a wonder he could breed at all. Stanley is a very sweet little boy and has become my shadow in the last 12 hours.

Last night the two had their first taste of raw food, which they happily gummed. They curled up and slept all night long with me in my soft, warm bed. Today we all went on a road trip to purchase a pair of harnesses and their first leashes. It took several stops to find a pet supply store in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that didn't sell puppies. I refused to support any store that sold puppies by purchasing anything from them. They are now happily snuggling in my lap, worn out from the day's activities as I write this post and I'm already head-over-heels in love with them.

Two more poodles from this group are still available - Polly (a sweet black toy poodle) and Gertrude (a more outgoing black toy poodle/dachshund? mix). These gals are still slowly coming out of their shells and will require a quieter environment to rehabilitate in. Chris and Angela think that it would be helpful for another dog to be present in their forever home to aid in that recovery. They also have several chihuahuas available for adoption.

I found Chris and Angela through the rescue network, Baxter's Buddies, out of Iowa City, IA. Baxter's Buddies is run by an amazing young woman named Heather who deserves Sainthood. She spends countless hours transporting dogs, arranging for foster homes and scrutinizing adoption inquiries, yet has a full-time job as a vet-tech. She's passionate about rescuing from puppy mills - who produce stock for unsuspecting pet store customers. If you buy a puppy from a pet store, you are buying a puppy that was created in a puppy mill for profit. End of story.

If you're interested in donating to Baxter's Buddies or Chris and Angela's rescue group, you can do so through our store. I find myself in Iowa every 6-8 weeks and I am more than happy to transport food, supplies and monetary donations to them. I am also able to bring dogs back for Denver pet parents if you are interested in adopting from this rescue group. You'll be so amazed to see how much love one of these incredibly grateful dogs can give to your family.