In the short time she had with Lily, Theresa did her best to make up for years of abuse and neglect she suffered in the puppy mill.

Ever wish you’ll confront the folks that were liable for causing the love of your life, your dog’s, misery?Theresa Strader founded the National Mill Dog Rescue in 2007 in honor of her Italian greyhound Lily – who was a billboard child for the abuse and neglect puppy mill dog’s go through.

Lily had spent the primary seven years of her life as a breeding dog.

Here is her story, according the website:

“Lily spent all of her days confined to a little , cold wire cage a dark, foul-smelling barn. Never was she far away from her cage for exercise or socialization. In her dreary confines, Lily was forced to supply one litter after another with no respite. Like all commercial breeding dogs, she was a veritable breeding machine whose worth was measured in just a method – her ability to supply puppies.

Lily had spent the primary seven years of her life as a breeding dog.

Here is her story, according the website:

“Lily spent all of her days confined to a little , cold wire cage a dark, foul-smelling barn. Never was she far away from her cage for exercise or socialization. In her dreary confines, Lily was forced to supply one litter after another with no respite. Like all commercial breeding dogs, she was a veritable breeding machine whose worth was measured in just a method – her ability to supply puppies.

Lily had endured tons of abuse in the name of profit before being rescued. Image source: National Mill, Dog Rescue

By the age of seven, Lily was wiped out. Commonplace within the industry, she had received little to no veterinary care throughout her life, the results of which, for her, was terribly disturbing. thanks to years of no care , poor quality food, rabbit bottle watering and no appropriate chew toys, the roof of Lily’s mouth and mandible , had rotted away. Her chest was riddled with mammary tumors and she or he was absolutely scared of people.”

She finally received the care and love she deserved. Image source: National Mill, Dog Rescue

In May 2008, Lily gave up the ghost reception and took refuge in the embrace of her loving adoptive father and family. Just fifteen months after her rescue.

Read this letter here, reprinted with permission from the National Mill Dog Rescue:Rescue: Dear Martha,

It’s been fifteen months since you and that I first met. Quite likely, you remember little or no about me. After all, we met in your world, on your property actually . Since that day, elements of your world became a really big a part of mine. For that, myself and lots of like-minded people are very thankful to you.

In February, I received an email – “50 Italian Greyhounds in need” and So, a phone number.number. Having had a lifetime affinity for the breed, I called the number to seek out out what the story was and the way i’d be ready to help. I’m certain you recognize where this letter goes now.

Yes, February 17, after 40+ years, your kennel would be going out of business. Time to retire and relax after four decades of mistreating dogs. There will be 561 dogs heading to the auction area that day, of which 49 are Italian greyhounds.Greyhounds. It had been without a doubt that i might help, though i need to admit, I had no idea what i might come to find out through the method . thanks to transportation issues, i noticed that if I were to be of any use to those dogs, i might need to drive bent Lamar myself. So, on the 16th of February, my daughter and that i headed to Missouri.

Understand, I’ve been involved in dog rescue my entire life – fostering and placing homeless dogs, caring for sick or injured dogs, assisting overpopulated shelters, etc. I have always known about puppy mills and pet store puppies but haven’t shared my home with anything besides rescued animals. For the record, I’m NOT AN ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. What i’m may be a one that believes within the right to humane treatment for all living things.

Martha, everything I have witnessed on your property is far from humanity.humane. Many terrified, ailing faces, imprisoned in their wire confines, some watching me, but most too fearful to seem into my eyes, so unsure of how to interpret human contact. that have has caused me countless sleepless nights and to the present very day, the sadness and therefore the fear in their eyes haunts my very being.

I am fully aware that you are only working well within the standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – what a despicable thought that’s . I’m also aware that in your circles, commercial breeding dogs are considered livestock. Dogs aren’t livestock, Martha. Thousands of years ago, men domesticated dogs to be our protectors, hunters, herders, guardians, but most of all, our companions.

I came home with thirteen of your dogs – nine Italian Greyhounds, two Dachshunds and two Papillons. In more than 25 years of rescue work, none of the dogs I have cared for is on the verge of physical and emotional damage to your dog.suffered. BecauseBecause it is related to saving dogs, the next few months will represent my lifelong education.

However, the whole purpose of this letter is only about one of these dogs. This dog will find her and my family’s home here forever… #251 – AKC registered “Reedgate’s Swift Motion.” Oh, the irony of her name – Swift Motion – an Italian greyhound who was never ready to run. She was kept in a cage all her life, so that her legs did not have enough strength to experience the fun of running. A cruel reality for a breed built to run.

In our house, we cut the chain from her neck, put on a soft collar, and named her Lily. Lily was released when she was seven years and one month old.

Lily is one of your few dogs that lack a mandible. I’m wondering how you would possibly explain why numerous of your dogs were affected by this condition. I’m wondering if you were ever concerned about their pain or perhaps about how they were ready to eat enough to remain alive. I’m wondering what percentage died in your care from the results of this condition. i‘m wondering if you even noticed. I’m very certain you probably did notice one thing beyond the rotting faces though – their ability to supply puppies. That’s what your business is all about – producing puppies, at any expense.

Lily has become an absolute treasure of our family. Despite her many health problems and extreme fears, over time, with a lot of love and care, she found her courage. When she did this, no one could resist her love. Men, women, and young people all listened to her story in tears and had endless fun to meet her. Lily’s life was not about what she could do for you but instead, how we could make it up to her during a warm and loving home.

It was agonizing for our family to see her suffer through four surgeries to get rid of mammary tumors, to aim to repair her decaying face and to spay her — removing the papery black, pus filled organ that was once her uterus. How selfish you are, never know her pain, just dollars.

Directly due to your negligence, every meal Lily eats is a struggle. We tried numerous foods then many various ways to form it easier for her to eat. But in the end, she had to try to do it her way, the way she learned at your home, the way she kept herself alive for you – picking kibbles out of her bowl, a couple of at a time together with her feet, spreading them round the floor, then rubbing the “good” side of her face along the ground to catch a kibble on her tongue, then extending her neck upwards and swallowing it whole. believe that, Martha. How would you wish to eat only one meal that way?

Do you remember sitting in my car when the auction was over? The blokes were gathering up the dogs that I had “won.” You said to me, “I just love my Italian Greyhounds.” Oh, the thoughts that went through my mind when those words came out of your mouth. You don’t love any dogs, Martha. What you might do is spend forty years with your god given life using dogs for your personal gain. No reference to their physical or mental well-being, just cashing in on their ability to breed . believe the thousands of dogs that skilled your hands – you robbed every single one among them of the straightforward joys they so deserve. an honest meal, a warm and cozy place to sleep, medical attention, and most of all, a person’s companion to form their lives whole

Lily has learned a lot in our family-about being a loved person, being a dog, being a worthy person. i will be able to always be bothered that she never learned the way to run or the way to play. But she learned the way to love and be loved, and for this, she didn’t have any words. She changed our lives forever.

Lilly suffered for seven years of her life at a puppy mill as a breeding dog. Image source: National Mill Dog Rescue Lily died on May 13, 2008, at the age of 8-about half the expected value of an Italian Greyhound. Martha, she died as an immediate result of the neglect she suffered for seven years in your care. What percentage others have suffered an equivalent fate? This industry has been hidden far too long. The word is out, the times are numbered. People such as you will soon venture out into fields of honest work and leave the care of God’s creatures to those folks who truly love them.

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