Dealing with the people

Did you ever have a bad day?  We all do. But some of my worst days are days we pull dogs from the mills.  You might think this odd. These should be happy days right?  Not so much . . . I'll tell you why.

It starts out great, a miller is willing to give up a dog or two and we are happy to take them. Then we arrive and if we are lucky we will get to take the dogs from their wire prisons ourselves. But most often we are met in the driveway while a man "carries" the dogs to us. Not in a gentle loving way, most of the time it is by the scruff of the neck as the dog dangles terrified.

Bite your tongue, bite your tongue. If you scream at him, no more dogs will ever find their freedom.

We can hear the others, the breeding stock barking at us, begging for help, but we can do nothing. Dogs are property and punching him in the face and taking all the dogs would only result in us going to jail and the dogs being returned to their rightful owner.  It would solve nothing, but the thought is there.

Bite your tongue, bite your tongue.

No matter the condition of the dogs, matted filthy fur, infected eyes, skin and bones. . .bite your tongue.  If we say something, the next dog that has been used up will receive a bullet instead of a chance at rescue.

It is a tightrope walk. We want more than anything to get as many out as possible. But by being aggressive and demanding, all we would get is thrown off the property, helping no dogs at all. Without seeing the inside of the "kennel" do we take a chance and turn them in?  They get an inspection and a slap on the wrist. Not being stupid, they figure out who has caused them grief and the next dog that doesn't produce gets a bullet.
Just bite your tongue.

The heart rate goes up and the anger builds but you cannot do or say anything. You take the dogs they are willing to give up and go on about your day. Frustration and helplessness are the feelings as we drive away with a few of the many that beg for freedom.

From the dog's point of view

 What does it take to get a mill dog ready for a forever home?

 First you have to get them out of the mill.  In most states dogs are property, so stealing them is a good way to end up in jail. Most commercial breeders in our area have ways of disposing of unwanted breeder dogs or dogs they cannot sell, none of which are pleasant.  But a few of them have found out that they can turn those dogs over to rescue and “save a bullet”.  It is those breeders that tell other breeders and the number of dogs given a second chance goes up.

Mary Kate on arrival

Ok, so now we have them, now what?  Many people think that these dogs should be so grateful to be out of their wire prisons that they will jump for joy, kiss your face and be happy go lucky pups.  This could not be further from the truth.  

Think about it.  If you were ripped from the only home you have ever known be it good or bad, you would not be too grateful to the people who are taking you away. You would have no idea what was in store for you, for all you know, this could be worse than what you had.  These people take you away to a place you don’t know, they give you a bath – probably the first one you have ever had, the trim your nails and cut your hair with noisy clippers, all of which is new to you.  You are terrified, and now they poke you with vaccinations, also probably your first. The smells, sights and sounds are different from what you know and now they want to touch you.

Ashley and Mary Kate cower in the back of their crate

You have been touched before. . .every time you were needed for breeding.  The mill owner tempted you within reach with some food, then grabbed whatever part of you he could get a hold of.  Your leg, the scruff of your neck, even your tail and dragged you to another cage to be bred.   Now someone that you don’t know is reaching for you. Will they hurt you too?  Where do they want to take you?  Your response?  To lash out, bite or bolt and get as far away from them as you can. 

Understanding what these dogs go though in the first few days of rescue may help you understand why it is so important to begin to work with them immediately.  Allowing them to sit in a kennel, terrified for weeks does nothing to help them move forward and can actually make it harder for them to accept human companionship. 

Some dogs learn to trust us quickly, taking only a few days to accept food and touching, others take months or even years, some never do.  It depends on the amount of time spent in the mill, the amount and type of human contact they received while in the mill, and most of all the dog’s personality. 

Mary Kate kisses!

If these dogs are so difficult to work with, then why choose mill rescue?  The rewards.  There is no feeling in the world like taking dogs that have lived in cages their entire lives and set them in the grass for the first time, let them feel the sunshine on their backs, or feel a breeze on their faces.  The feeling of accomplishment  when those dogs no longer run from you, but come to you for a gentle touch.  That first puppy kiss can bring tears to your eyes. That is why we choose mill rescue.