Journey to freedom for puppy mill survivor
Welcome to the website for Saving Gracie: How one dog escaped the shadowy world of American puppy mills (Wiley; $21.95) It’s the compelling true story of one dog’s rescue from a Pennsylvania puppy mill and her transformation from a bedraggled animal, worn out from bearing puppies, into a loving, healthy member of her new family. The book also profiles the people who stepped forward to save her along the way.
BUY A COPY! Saving Gracie is also available in paperback. Look for it in bookstores or online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound, Borders or Books a Million.
Check out my blog in the yellow column on the right. Watch my video. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter. Scroll down this page to check out my appearance schedule.
CONTACT ME at carolbradley@bresnan.net I’d love to hear from you.
Publisher: Wiley & Sons
Carol Bradley is an award-winning former newspaper reporter who studied Animal Law as a 2004 Nieman Fellow at Harvard. She spent 26 years covering the U.S. Congress and state legislatures in Tennessee and New York, and writing features and investigative stories in Montana. She has written about many aspects of animal welfare, including horse slaughtering, animal hoarding, and animal cruelty. She grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee and lived in Nashville, Knoxville, New York and Washington D.C. before moving to Great Falls, Montana, where she now lives with her husband, Steve L’Heureux, and their two dogs, Chachi and Jillie. Saving Gracie is her first book.
Dear Carol,
I love your website and believe we have similar interests at heart. My company, Happy Tails Books, compiles breed-specific compilations about adopted dogs that raise awareness of, and funding for dog rescue efforts. Each month in our newsletter we also feature a like-minded writer or artist, and I’d be happy to feature your book. Is there any way you can help us to get the word out about our project? More information can be found at http://happytailsbooks.com.
Please email me when you get a chance.
Kind regards,
Kyla
From Dad: I am enjoying your book; I’m on Chapter 20 now and enjoying every word of it. I can’t wait to show it off!
From Mom: We always knew you could do it. We’re very proud of you!
Thanks, guys! Your support has meant a lot.
Dear Carol:
As one of the Humane Officers mentioned in your book, I can’t thank you enough for bringing the atrocities of puppy mills into the public eye. Most people in the general public do not uderstand how difficult our jobs are, what we see and have to deal with, our sorrow and frustration, and how we are haunted by those we cannot save. But we rejoice in those we can save and we are better people when the ones we save have happy endings. People often tell me they couldn’t do my job; sometimes I wonder how I do it but something keeps pushing me on. It’s because I know we are their voice and-without us-they have no voice. We will keep being their voice and-thanks to your book-you are their voice too.
Thank you for everything you have done for the ones who have no voice.
Mike
Great to hear from you, Mike! You’re right — most people have no idea how tough a job you face. I honestly don’t know how you do it.
Carol
Next to my children and Eric, Gracie is my greatest joy! She is a once in a lifetime pet. In spite of all her physcial challenges, she is the most loving, affectionate, grateful pet anyone could hope to have.
I am, and always will be, deeply indebted to everyone invoved with saving her life; especially the loving and dedicated staff at the Animal Rescue League.
I am so happy Carol found us and chose to tell our stroy. Hopefully, others will be touched and inspired by our fateful sojourn through the trials and great rewards of pet adoption and ultimately educated about the horrors of puppymills.
Carol, I wish you great success with this book. All of us here in central PA are anxiously awaiting the release!
Thanks, Linda. I’m glad we found each other too!
I just started your book last night and wanted to thank you very much for writing about this. I just hope more and more people will become aware of the horrors of puppy mills.
As a volunteer at an animal shelter in Jersey City, NJ I see quite a few sad stories.There are many great dogs sitting in shelters waiting for homes that may never come, while uninformed people shell out big money for puppies.
Hopefully your book will reach many people and educate them to the cruelty behind the cute little puppies in pet stores and for sale on internet sites.
Thank you again!
Ms. Bradley: I saw the review on your book “Saving Gracie” in People magazine and I am very excited to pick up the book today.
I just lost my Gracie, a wonderful Westie, less than two weeks ago. She came from a puppy mill in Georgia. We got her in December 2004, and she had given birth to at least six litters of puppies in her life. She had just been diagosed with Westie Lung Disease, had several rotten teeth removed, been fixed, and had polyps surgically removed when we got her. They told us she would probably only live about 18 months after we got her because of the lung disease. Her spirit was broken and she was terrified.
She became my very best friend. She was the most wonderful dog I ever met. And I thank God every day that we have five wonderful years with that beautiful creature. She remains alive in my heart, always.
Thank you for writing this book and making people aware of what happens to dogs in puppy mills. Thankfully, the puppy mill my Gracie came from in Georgia has since been closed.
Kim Mayers
I cannot wait to read your book. We have a tricolor Cavalier from the Michael Wolfe confiscation. We named her Darbey, which is an Irish name meaning “free”. We could not love her more.
We are unsure of her age. The vets guessed her to be 7 or 8 when we adopted her. She has several health issues but with regular visits to her cardiologist, ophthalmologist and her regular vet, she is doing great!
She loves life! She has 2 Cavalier brothers and one Cavalier sister (another rescue). She can often be found cuddling right next to or on top of one of them!
Although we would like to think my husband and I are her favorite things, we think food, treats, her canine siblings and going on walks are tops on her list! She only has a few teeth left, thanks to Michael and his version of debarking her, but she manages just fine. Walks have to be short due to her heart issues, but that’s ok, when she tires we have her own “chariot”. She can be found snoozing on Nantucket for a few weeks every summer. We are so grateful this cutie pie chose us to adopt her!!!
I saw your book reviewed in People magazine. I have a a good friend that recently started rehabilitating some dogs rescued from puppy mills, including a Porkie (Pomeranian Yorkie designer cross breed) named Chester from Chester County, PA. Her birthday is next week so I bought your book to give her as a gift. I opened the book to check it out and read it from cover to cover non-stop. My heart went out to each and every dog in the book, for all the people working so hard to rescue the dogs and for the thousands of dogs that still live in deplorable conditions. You made it a very personal story but at the same time presented a lot of facts and documentation.
While recently passing through Adams County, OH I stopped at an Amish store know for it’s wonderful baked goods. While I was there I overheard a lady talking to an Amish man about puppies. I couldn’t hear her end of the conversation but she must have asked about their kennels because his response was, “Their kennels are nicer than a lot of people’s home”. If I had already read your book I might have asked to prove it to me. I feel confident this request would have been denied.
I can’t wait to give the book to my friend. It will be a gift she will cherish forever.
My thanks to you and all the wonderful people that are fighting so hard to eliminate puppy mills.
Beth Reisman
Cincinnati, OH
Thanks for writing, Beth. A Porkie, huh? That’s a new one. I appreciate your concern for puppy mill dogs.
Carol,
I am on my way to the bookstore to buy Saving Gracie. I look forward to it with both anticipation and dread, as I know what I will read will sadden and outrage me. I volunteer for North Texas Great Pyrenees Rescue (I adopted 2 of my own) and know what our front line volunteers face every day. Thank you for getting the word out about puppy mills, and I would add cruel, neglective owners to that list of evil people.
Jean
PS Which of your dogs is a Pyr…Chachi or Jillie?
Hi Jean,
Thanks for buying the book. Chachi looks like a Pyrenees from the pict, but we actually think he’s a husky-golden-collie mix. A quite talkative chap. He was found roaming Great Falls three years ago. We love him dearly!
Hi Carol,
I am soooo happy for you! The book is great. I am sorry I could not be at the book signing, but glad that Christi was able to get a copy for me. You are so deserving, Congratulations! Nicki
Thanks, Nicki!
Hi Carol,
My name is Jennifer Danby. I formally ran Applebrook Rescue and had helped the CCPCA alot with the Oxford case. I wanted to thank you for mentioning me and doing such a great job on this book! I will never forget what I saw that night when I helped Cheryl at Wolfes house.
I now work with Bill Smith at Main Line Rescue (I was one of the undercover volunteers that first went in for the 9 dogs at John Blanks Kennel)
Its so important that the word gets out about puppy mills. Even after the Oprah show I am surprised how many people are still living under a rock. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help spread the word!
Thanks again
Jen
Carol,
Stumbled across your book while browsing at a Borders here in Saratoga Springs, NY. Congratulations on this fine effort. How can people treat these beautiful, intelligent creatures so uncaringly? We’ve owned two rescued Airedale terriers. The latest, Baxter, is a great pal. Hope the book sells in the jillions. Take care,
Tom Williams
(I was one of your co-workers at the old Knoxville Journal.)
Hi Jen,
)
Thanks for writing. Here’s a self-serving suggestion for you: spread the word about this book!
Hi Tom,
Of course I remember you! Glad to hear you’ve have a couple of rescued dogs. What in the world are you doing in upstate New York?
I read about your book thru People magazine and ordered it online. I can’t wait to get it. I have a dachshund whom I adore, but when the time comes to get another “baby”, I will definately adopt from a shelter. Thank you for writing about the horrors of puppy mills because so many people are unaware that they even exist. Hopefully, one day, they will ALL be shut down. The “people” who run them are uncaring, unfeeling and incompassionate. I would like to see THEM spend THEIR lives imprisoned in cages.
Hi Carol,
I just received your book in the mail today from my brother and sister-in-law, Dane and Marla. They knew I’d be more than interested as I am a huge animal lover and am very involved as a voluteer with the National Mill Dog Rescue located in Peyton, Colorado. I just wanted to tell you that I simply cannot put the book down. It is SO well-written. I also wanted to say “thank you” for writing a book about these horrific commericial breeding facilities. I have already begun to, and will continue to, spread the word about your amazing book. Thanks so much again.
Susie Lucero
Colorado Springs, CO
Hi Susie,
Thanks for writing. I’m pleased that you like the book. Marla told me what a dedicated dog lover you are. Keep up the good work!
Bought Saving Gracie after a friend, Becky Turnbull’s mother-in-law told me
about it. My daughter recused one of the Havanese from the mill. Becky
picked her out for us. Tricia was lucky in that Malleigh was only a couple of
months old when Mike-Mar was raided. She was about 7 or 8 when we saw her. Even then she hid under the chair I was sitting in and when we couldn’t find her, she was in my pocketbook. Being owned by two four legged members of the family, I suggest everyone that has a dog or pet they love to read your book. There isn’t enough out there about puppy mills and the work people like Becky do. Thanks for a great book.
My former college roommate and recent Facebook friend reconnection sent me a link to your book information. She said the cover reminded her of me because of the Cavalier on the front. I have currently have three Cavaliers. I ordered the book from Amazon and it has sat in my room for 3 weeks and I’ve wondered if I could handle the content because I am such an animal lover and the sad topic was one I hesitated to explore. For the first time last night I flipped some pages of the book and immediately the name Michael Wolf jumped out at me. I figured chapter two was a small section of Michael Wolf and right away I hoped for positive words about him. Michael Wolf was referred to me years ago as a breeder from a couple I met in Florida while on Spring Break. I already had a reputable breeder in Kentucky who I’ve gotten most of our Cavaliers from since I was married. When our first Cavalier passed away at 11 years old, I wanted a companion for our Ruby Cavalier, Abby. I contacted our breeder and she had no puppies at the time and I remembered the couple I met in Marco Island, FL who gave me their information for future reference. I called them and they told me about Michael. This would have been back in 2004. So I contacted him and had an extremely strange experience getting our Henry from him. I never received official documents. Always said our Henry’s birthday was approximately St. Patricks Day. He charged us $2000 for Henry. I picked him up at the Cincinnati airport. He was the scrawniest puppy I’d ever seen but I loved him immediately. My friend stopped by to see him and nicknamed him “chemo dog” because he hardly had any hair and looked malnutritioned. I remember her looking at me and telling me that she was almost certain I had just rescued a puppy from a horrible situation and that I didn’t even realize it. I had photos from Michael of his son holding two Cavaliers and he was trying to talk me into one of the two. The background in the photo matches the photo in the book. I don’t know what made me go through with getting a dog from him because it was such a bizarre experience and I was so used to a very loving, deeply committed breeder. I have only read the beginning of the book in bed last night and I just can’t believe how this came to be and how I am connected to it. I always knew there was more to the story of Henry. Henry was born approximately March of 2004 so he just turned 6 this month. I realize I will find out more and more as the book goes on and I have a feeling a lot of the book is about Michael Wolf and presumably where Gracie came from. I am so thankful for my Henry and that I got him out of an awful situation without truly knowing it but my heart goes out to all the others and I appreciate your book so much. Thank you.
Hi Stacey,
Your story made my hair stand on end. There is no telling how many people find themselves in your situation — with a compromised dog a la Michael Wolf. Henry is fortunate to have landed with you.
Dear Carol,
Just sat down to read your wonderful book. It is done much to quickly. What a superior journey. Thank you.
I ask if we need months for a human adoption why do we let these tender four legged creatures so easily be given away? Always continue to look around you and be blessed with our animals they are gods creatures and only know unconditional love.
Thank you,
Cindy Cameron
North Carolina
Cindy:
Your interview with our Gregory Berg, for the WGTD Morning Show, was stunning! And, your book is extraordinary. I am running for the Wisconsin State Assembly, and I am so pleased that our state legislature has laws on the books now against puppy mills. As the proud pack member with 4 Border Collies (Blue, Shadow, Maddy, and Blue Girl), I can’t tell you how much your book has moved me. As a writer (playwright, screenwriter, et al), I love your writing and your rich ability to tell Gracie’s story.
Best regards,
Steve Brown
Salem, WI
Carol:
My letter above should have been to CAROL….sorry. (I was so focused on what I was writing, I wrote Cindy instead of Carol!)
Regards,
Steve
Hi Steve,
Thanks for writing. I was glad to have a chance to praise the Wisconsin Humane Society for all the great work they do. And always glad to meet a fellow bordie collie aficionado!
Carol
I finished your book in 2 days. It was hard to read with tears in my eyes!
I work for a rescue group in Ohio and have attended the “auctions”. You learn to not look the dogs in the eyes.
To all the wonderful people in your book…God Bless you and keep going.
Carol-I just finished reading your book and I was brought to tears. Thank you so much for writing this story and trying to make the public aware of the atrocities that exist in the world or dog breeding. Being a responsible and loving owner of three of my own dogs, I can’t even imagine someone ever treating their animals the way these evil puppy mill owners do. I have made a donation to one of the charities mentioned in your book and I am going to look into the current dog laws in my home state to see what types of controls are in place to monitor the breeders (I live in NY and didn’t see it mentioned in your book). Thank you again for your love and obvious dedication to animals and animal rights.
Dear Carol,
Yesterday at Borders I was browsing around and came upon your book. I was drawn to it as I have two Cavaliers. When I opened it and saw the name “Michael Wolf,” I knew I had to buy it and then immediately run home and read it.
I got my Chloe from Michael Wolf back in June 2004. Much like those interviewed in your book, all it took was the puppies to cloud my judgement about the place that I was visiting. I went with my mom and my sister and we kept commenting on how Mike just kept bringing out dog after dog. He told us the story of the couple in the limo and lugged out his photo albums from his glory days as a champion show dog handler. I fell in love with Chloe- a 2 pound Blenheim- immediately. I put down a deposit and picked her up two weeks later.
On the drive home from Oxford, my sister and I commented on what a dump Mike’s property was. Again, though, I had stars in my eyes and was only focused on my new baby. Chloe had absolutely no anxiety about leaving Mike’s. We joked that she was ready to get out of there and start her new life with me.
Three weeks after I brought Chloe home, she started vomiting and wouldn’t stop. She wouldn’t eat or drink and was extremely lethargic. I rushed her to the vet and, since she was only 3 lbs., she was admitted. She was given a barium swallow and hooked up to IVs for fluids. The vet ran every test imaginable on her. She stayed for 7 days. None of the veterinarians could figure out what was wrong with her. After a week, the vet sat down with me and let me know that I could take Chloe home. She was so tiny and there was a significant chance that Chlo wouldn’t make it. I cried and cried and took Chloe to my parents’ house. Every 2 hours we fed her a homemade high-protein, high-calorie concoction with an eye dropper. We made her comfortable and supported her. About 5 days later, she started perking up. She started eating food again, gaining weight, and getting some of her spirit back.
While Chlo was going through her struggles, I called Mike Wolf. I demanded to know why my tiny baby was so sick. He suggested that she had eaten something while I wasn’t paying attention. He just told me over and over that “none of his dogs had EVER had any problems.”
When the news broke about the raid on Mike-Mar kennels, I knew that I had to get involved in some way. I called the SPCA every day for a while (I think they were pretty tired of me!) to inquire about the Cavaliers. I went to the first day of the trial in Oxford. I was interviewed by three news stations about my involvement and experience with Mike. I still can’t believe that this man was responsible for so much sadness and cruelty. He had his script and repeated it again and again for anyone that came around. I still feel so deceived by him, but I must tell you that Chloe is the best dog that I’ve ever been around, known or owned. She is a special little gift.
Although she was recently diagnosed with a heart murmur, today Chloe is a happy and healthy six year-old girl. She has truly changed my life for the better. In 2006, I got Emma (a black and tan Cavalier) from a very reputable breeder in Hatboro, PA so now I’ve got two babies!
I want to thank you for your book and thank all of the people who were instrumental in removing the 337 animals from Mike Wolf’s compound. It’s so important that people realize what they’re facing by getting a dog from a pet store or a puppy mill. I didn’t have enough information about the possibilities of puppy mills when I got Chlo, and although she is wonderful, I often think about her mother and father and all of her brothers and sisters who weren’t so lucky.
Thank you so much again,
Lynn Martin
Good to hear from you, Katie and Lynn. Lynn, the story of your Cavalier is heart-breaking — and all too common. What a lucky dog Chloe is to have such a devoted owner. My heart goes out to you!
Carol, I love your book, “Saving Gracie.” I am reading it right now and I applaud you for writing a book on the subject of puppy mills. All of my furry children are rescues and so many people are just so unaware of the horrific conditions behind the cute puppy in the pet store or window. Thank you for writing this book! Have a great day!
Sarah Morgan Whitfield
Thanks, Sarah. Glad to hear you’re saving a few animals yourself.
hey, i have almost finished your book and i think it is realy good and inspiring! We have two wonderful dogs a Kelpie x and Black Labrador x German Shepherd!
I ordered the book from Barnes & Noble last night and can’t wait to read it. Soon as I asked for it, the store clerk said, “Ah, the dog book!” so people must be asking about it and buying it off the shelves.”
I am in the midst of a puppy mill heartbreak. Our little Annie, a parti-pom, was rescued from an Amish puppy mill in central Pennsylvania and had such a huge hernia that the shelter people couldn’t tell if she was male or female. She had surgery and was nursed back to health, and we adopted her in April. She was terrified of everything, as expected, and we were working with her to get her to know love and safety. She was just starting to come out of herself and stop hiding, and she began to explore parts of the house, and moved around with less fear. She even began coming into my office (I am a freelance writer) and sleeping under my desk while I worked, which was an amazing accomplishment for her. She had just started taking food from our daughter’s hand. But she was still terrified of noises, movement and of being approached.
Annie was loving walks and seemed to happy to go out on walks with our other pom and Irish jack russel. Then 10 days ago, while she was on a walk with our daughter and friend, two kids approached, a big dog started barking, and Annie went berserk and slipped her collar, as tight as it was for walks.
It was heartbreaking because all of those if-onlies go through your mind. She had a harness for leash, but it wasn’t on. The kids should have been told to not approach, etc etc etc.
Annie has been on the run since then. I have kept track of her flight because people are so eager to respond to posters, fliers and the ad. I have a map of the area and note the sightings. She is about two miles away, having traversed woods, crossed a busy road, and is wandering in a rural area with patches of development neighborhoods nesteled in the woods/farm areas.
Last Wednesday, she was spotted several times on one cul de sac, and when we drove there, she was on the side of road. We got out of the van slowly and just stood there. Then she bolted and ran into the woods. The next morning, she was hanging around a nearby yard. We took our other pom on leash, and Josie and our daughter found Annie in the woods (who would ever think that an untrained pom would be a great tracking dog!) and trailed behind her. But she got away. We set two box traps at the ends of those wooded trails, but didn’t catch her.
That was the last we heard about sightiings, and I sadly thought that maybe our last chances to see her, that morning and the night before, were the chances to finally bid her Godspeed and pray for an angel to follow her to whatever her destiny.
Then we got another call at 9:30 last evening, and she was spotted again, crossing a country road. Another star and number on the map, and a frustrated and useless drive to the dark and desolate area.
Calling Annie will not bring her. Standing still and waiting for her to approach doesn’t work, as many have tried, including us. The traps didn’t work, either, and where do you set traps in an area that is several square miles? She’s here, she’s there, she’s gone, she’s somewhere else.
All I can pray for is that Annie is loving her freedom. As long as she is not hit by a car, or killed by a coyote or bear (yes, we have them in suburban Pennsylvania), she may survive and be very happy to be free. Or so, I keep telling myself, trying to find some peace. And if she does get killed, then I pray that it will be quick, and that she will have peace over the Rainbow Bridge.
Poor Annie suffered so much in the Amish puppy mill, and at the shelter, she knew safety and care and kindness. With us, she was just learning to trust and be loved. But at least I know that when she dies, it will not be at the cruel hands of a puppy miller. She will die in freedom, running through the fields and woods, with no one hurting her ever again.
Please pray for Annie, that there is a peaceful resolution to her story.
I can’t wait to read your book, to know that there are happy endings.
Maryann G. Eidemiller
It
Hi Carol,
I am almost through with your wonderful book. There are no words to describe how horrified I am to learn of the conditions of these puppy mills. I just had no idea! Always an animal lover–I’ve had dogs, horses, cats, and my daughter has even had a rabbit!
Also, my interest in your book was sparked by your Dad, George, telling me about it. I am the daughter of your Dad’s cousin. She is your Aunt Grace’s daughter. George has been to Greeneville, TN, several times to visit my Mom–she is presently in a nursing home here. Her entire life was spent in Kiingsport until 2007 when she decided she needed to be nearer me. So she moved to assisted lliving here until it was necessary to move her to a nursing home.
I just want to tell you what a wonderful thing you are doing to give a voice to these poor defenseless creatures. It haunts me and breaks my heart that there are dogs, cats, etc out there who are being so mistreated. I wish there were a way to give them all a happy home.
We have a poodle presently who we’ve had for 5 years this December. before her was another poodle, and before that, a basset hound. We are dog/animal lovers.
Again, thank you so much for your very moving book. I’m glad I was able to connect with you through email.
Kathy
Hi Maryann,
Thanks for ordering the book. Your story had me on the edge of my seat. I can only imagine the heartache you’re going through trying to catch little Annie. Please keep me posted on the outcome!
Kathy,
So glad to hear from you! My dad has mentioned you numerous times and I’m glad the two of you have had a chance to visit. I worked at the Greeneville Sun for a couple of years in the early 1980s and have very fond memories of Greeneville. If you get a chance, come to my book-signing at Books a Million in Kingsport — 7 p.m. Friday, July 29. I’ll be home for my 35th high school reunion and would love to meet you!
Carol
Hi Carol,
I just had to write and tell you how much I appreciate your book Saving Gracie. I have been an active member of an organization fighting Pa. puppymills for over 2 years. I recognized alot of the names of the offenders you listed in your book. I live in the Allentown area, so, I am very familiar with Skip Derbe Eckardt, as well as the man in Kutztown that shot the 80 dogs. Totally barbaric!!!! I learned about puppymills the hard way. In 2002 I purchased an English Bulldog from a local pet store. I had no idea where they got their dogs. The sign on the wall said that they didn’t deal with puppymills. Well, Chester started having seizures at 2 1/2 and then was diagnosed with lymphoma at 3 1/2., He only lived to be 5. I then started to research where he came from and surprise, he was from a mill in Missouri. Not only did it cost me thousands of dollars to purchase him, but his medical problems cost several thousand dollars also. The worst part of it was the heartbreak of losing him at 5 years of age. Sorry to go on and on, but, I really am glad that you have written such a detailed and special book on the subject of puppymills. The more awareness we bring to the problem the better chance that something will change. Thank you again.
Thanks for writing, Erin. I’m glad to hear you took the trouble to track down the mill that produced your dog. You’re right: the more aware people become of problem breeders, the greater the chances they’ll be run out of business.
I typed a long comment and lost it. This really spoke to me as a cavalier owner and also someone learning the importance of responsible breeding. I will try to come to asheville, thank you
Anne and ella (a cavalier with syringomyelia)
Hi Carol,
I rescued one of Michael Wolf’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniels at the Chester County SPCA (god bless them!). Clara is her name (the name given to her by the SPCA…I couldn’t change it, she was so sweet and seemed to respond to it). I was 2nd in line that morning, after following the case, calling the SPCA countless times, etc. I was actually in the mindset of looking into rescuing a ‘retired’ racing greyhound, but was hooked to the Wolf case and decided to try and rescue one of “his” dogs – if available. So, I called off work the day of the adoption process, and got to the SPCA at 5:30 a.m… I was the 2nd to arrive (the 1st being a woman – I can’t remember her name – that slept in her car overnight to be there so soon.
I’ll never forget that day and how very, very lucky I was to adopt Clara – she was the 1st female ‘momma’ dog to be adopted out of the Chester cty SPCA that day. NBC10 even follwed me and the 1st woman through our process… Most of the dogs would not come to the front of their cages, but Clara did, slowly, and she put her little head in my hand when I reached through the cage wire. I knew it then… she picked me, not the other way around. I was single at the time, and she was (still is) one of the best things that ever happened to me. Her courage and strength to pull through and survive what she endured for over ~3 years (her teeth were so far gone, that the vet could not estimate her age) is amazing. She can not bark, thanks to what Michael did to them and she is still ’spooked’ even when I (not a stranger) puts my hand down to pat her head or pet her… That still gets to me.
Two years ago she was diagnosed with a heart murmer and on the preventative medication. Luckily, it has not worsened over the past year. My guess is that she is now 6 or 7 years old. Becasue of her, I met my boyfriend, Brad, walking in my neighborhood one day, and his chocolate lab and Clara are ‘best friends’ and roomies now. What a pair! Unlike the lab, Clara does not play or know how to play…which is sad, but she is just happy to follow him a round, and even naps on him at times…sharing the same sofa.
I have not read you book yet, as I just became aware of it today (believe it or not! and I am a book-reader!). I plan to pick it up on my way home from work today, and I’m sure that after many tears, I will enjoy it and want to thank you for making so many people aware of the horrible, horrific tragedies that go on at puppy mills and with irresponsible breeders…
Thanks, and I look forward to reading Saving Gracie…
Tracy
Good to hear from you, Tracy, and I’m glad to hear Clara is thriving as best she can.
My most sincere condolences to you and your family, Carol. Gracie was a loving representative of all mill dogs -past, present, and future. She was, as her name so aptly states, a graceful animal who, through you words, told the world about the atrocities of the puppy mill industry and opened countless eyes to it’s evils. Her legacy lives on and urges us all to become involved in rescue, in the fight to educate all about mills, and to work for good.
Carol,
I wrote to you on June 20 about my little pom, Annie, an Amish puppy mill rescue who was on the run.
Miraculously, Annie got back home on Aug. 4, exactly 8 weeks and 1 day later! She ended up six miles away, constantly sighted, and settled into an area where she had been seen numerous times: a wooded area on a hillside, where a lovely older couple had a log home. Annie was running the clearing of the utility pipeline through the woods, going from that isolated area to a suburban neighborhood. I can’t tell you how many times I set and reset, and moved the box traps, and responded to things like 6 a.m. sightings.
In late July, she seemed to be spending most of her time in that wooded area and the couple called to report that they were feeding her but that she wouldn’t come near. I took a trap to them, but Annie would not go in.
By then, having spent nearly two months of sightings and with no results (you could/cannot catch that dog!), I had already decided that I would find another puppy mill rescue because I felt like I had failed Annie. So I found an 8-year-old lhasa apso that an Ohio rescue group had purchased at an Amish auction and made arrangements to pick her up on Aug. 5. Then on the afternoon of Aug. 4, the couple called and said that Annie was in the trap!
We picked her up and she was a mess, all matted and coverd with burrs and jaggers, and there was a big patch of very short fur on her back, as if she had been stuck somewhere, pulled out her fur to escape and it grew back. Amazingly, there was not one flea on her and only one tick. She was hardly starving at all, having been well fed by people who cared and who were part of her adventure.
She was also a mental mess, totally wild and crazy.
We bathed her, cut her fur as best we could, and the next day, yes, we did go to Ohio anyway to pick up the other dog, who is the sweetest, quietest little thing, not at all wild like Annie. We named her Mindy, but most of the time, we call her Muppy.
So now we have four dogs. The other two were shelter dogs, too.
Annie is on generic prozac to calm her down, and it has helped. She has made progress, but still needs a lot of work. We had a groomer come to the house because I could not risk taking her anywhere except in a crate to the vet’s. Her days of leash walking are over, and she goes no farther than the fenced back yard. I don’t know if she will ever improve enough to be trusted on leash.
There are many small milestones for Annie. She is housebroken and will sometimes come looking for me to go out. She sometimes voluntarily comes into rooms to be with people, but she keeps her distance. Once when our daughter was home from college for the weekend, Annie jumped on her bed and slept with her. She plays with the other dogs and will play with toys on her own, but only if she doesn’t realize that someone is watching. She started barking at noises a couple of weeks ago, which I think shows that she is now considering our house her territory–a good sign.
Annie will not come when called but she can be picked up from her corner alongside the sofa, where she spends most of her time. and she can be held endlessly, but she doesn’t respond affectionately. Sometimes she will take food from our hands, and she will come running into the kitchen when she hears the biscuit can rattling, but she runs in and then runs out.
At night, she sleeps on the sofa, and sometimes I have sneaked in and found her sleeping next to the other dogs. When she sees me looking, she runs away and hides alongside the sofa or runs into my office and hides under my desk.
These are little milestones, but for Annie, they are steps towards what I hope will someday be a normal life. I am looking forward to the day when she will actually step forward to be petted, or come when she’s called. I will cherish the day that she ever wags her tail.
I recommended your book to many board members at Action for Animals in Latrobe, PA., where Annie is from (and I am friends with some of the people there) and urged them to get in touch with you. And they did! So you are going to be at the annual Love is in The Air event. I write a lot about AFA events, both previews and live coverage for some local dailies, so I will be calling you in January to do a preview. Saving Gracie is a wonderful book!
Regards,
Maryann Eidemiller
Thanks for the update, Maryann. I’m so glad for you that Annie is back home again. Only 15 percent of lost dogs are found, or so I’m told. I look forward to meeting you in February!
Carol,
I’m writing a peiview on the Feb. 11 Love Is In The Air, for The Bulletin, the daily paper in Latrobe, PA. I’m aiming for having it in the paper early next week, if I can get all the interviews done.
Would you please get in touch with me asap, via my email, not this website, so that we can arrange a phone interview?
I’m looking forward to talking to you!
Maryann G. Eidemiller
Hi Carol – I read your book and I loved it and have passed it on to so many friends. I wanted to get in touch with you regarding a cocker spaniel named “Maxine” that is an absolutely amazing story of survival. I know you must get about 100 of these a day, but I am asking that you at least take a look at her. She recently passed away but her story and antics are the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed. If you have a minute please e-mail me I would love to elaborate on this for you.
Thank you, Kerri
I’m from the same area Breann Davis is from and I could tell you some other stories about the puppy mill. She once sold a dog with parvo, to an unsuspecting buyer. They also currently have a 7 month old Labrador mix, and the daughter named it Zombador, because her mom hit it with her car and left it there to die, but to her surprise when she came home it had gotten out of the box she left it in. Then onetime she had a minature Australian Shepherd, who was pregnant when she bought it, when the mom gave birth she only had one puppy, which she killed. Instead of putting the puppy down so it wasn’t in pain she let it sit there with no legs. The sad part is that she not only breeds dogs, but also cats.
Well, Thanks for your time,
Alli
Thanks for writing, Alli. I hope someone can blow the whistle on this awful operator!
A puppy mill ordinance which would ban the sale of puppy mill puppies in pet stores goes in front of our city council in Burbank, CA on August 28,2012…keep us in your thoughts!