Adopting a Puppy Mill Dog (Part 1 of 2)
Saturday, November 12, 2011
By: Nikki Harris

Tuna and Fergie's Story

I am the Director of Animal Behavior and Placement, for the Nebraska Humane Society.   I have either worked or volunteered here for over 10 years.  In those 10 years I have adopted 3 adult dogs who spent their lives in puppy mills.  My most recent addition is a Pug named Tuna.  Tuna was removed from a home of over 100 dogs in November of 2010.  She was held at the Nebraska Humane Society for over five months because of an impending court case before being allowed into my home under foster care.  While she was loved at the shelter, it is not the same as a home.  All of my puppy mill dogs have had the same struggles.   They cannot negotiate steps, they will eat at night only, and they are very head shy. 

Fergie was a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who came from a lifetime at a puppy mill. I adopted her after she was bought at an auction.  She overcame many of these issues, but she never enjoyed human attention.  She loved living with my other dogs, which is a great thing about rescuing a puppy mill dog--most of them love other dogs.  It is also very rewarding to see the progress they make!  The time she spent in a cage was something I could never undo.  She never did take much comfort from me; however, she did learn to walk on a leash, was crate trained, came to work with me everyday, and was happiest with my other dogs, lying in the sun.

This post is part one of two!  During the 5 p.m. hour we'll post Part 2: Thinking of adopting a puppy mill dog?