I am half way through your book and having adopted a 4 year old Cavalier female, I can’t tell you how helpful it is in helping us understand what Sophie had been through.

Sophie’s story is not unique. A local Cavalier rescue organization secured her at a puppy mill auction in Missouri. The conditions the dogs were in at the auction were disgraceful. The dogs were stressed and filthy.

Sophie spent a few weeks at an animal hospital. She lost about a 3rd of her teeth and was shaved because the foul dirt and refuse was so caked onto her. The vet guessed she was 4 and had been having litters non -stop since her first heat.

Our plan was to provide her a foster home. This was our first attempt at fostering. She arrived on a Saturday afternoon and it was love at first site. We did not know what to expect. Based on reading a number of articles about others experiences, we were expecting a scared shy dog. Unlike the typical dog in this situation, she was open to contact and enjoyed being held and petted. Within the first day we introduced her to walking on a leash. We also found she was on the road to being house-trained, and finally she turned out to be a real ‘chow-hound’. She loves food.

She has been with us a month now. We have formally adopted her. She is the sweetest girl and follows us around, simply longing to be held and get attention. She also greets anyone she meets with her tail wagging and is doing well at the local dog park. She is clueless when it comes to playing, enjoying dog toys and interacting with other dogs, but we hope that will come with time. Considering what she has been through, and compared to others, we are very lucky and we know we have had it easy with her.

Anyway, I have an adorable ruby Cavalier King Charles that was rescued from a puppy mill 6 weeks ago. He was a 6-year old stud dog that the puppymillers were going to kill. I took him as a foster for the group that rescued him, but he has so many medical conditions that had to be cured before he could be adopted that we are keeping him. He is absolutely precious! My older dog has done most of the work in getting him rehabilitated.

Like most people, I do not understand why puppy mills are legal. Why, for instance, aren’t police and animal control officers present at puppy mill auctions, ready to arrest the sellers of those sick dogs? Why aren’t they simply shut dog for animal cruelty? Do the Amish has special laws? Puppy mills are a disgrace to any decent society.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for writing a book about puppy mills in the United States of America. The details in your book are spot on. Retired I provide puppy mill presentation using videos graciously provided by HSUS (Kathleen Summers) to any local organization that will listen. In future I will also recommend everyone attending purchase “Saving Gracie” for an in depth coverage of the puppy mills. I am also happy to report that after a long battle with Petland in our area they have finally closed their doors.

About 6 years ago The Kerry Blue Foundation decided to inhibit the miller newspaper ads for Kerries. (good breeders don’t need to place ads) This resulted in placing a counter ad next to every Kerry ad that was placed in Canada and the U.S. Around 500 Kerry Owners would scan their local papers for Kerry ads. I would place similar ads stating “Know before you buy” then a local phone number. I averaged about 200 ads per year. Today we see no more Kerry newspaper ads. Now the Foundation scans the internet in hopes of finding that Kerry in need or inhibiting a miller from selling.

The general philosophy to combat millers was to remove a millers Kerry Blue Terrier breeding stock. In some cases this meant going underground acting as a broker and other times it was out bidding them at auctions. We have made an impact.

I too have a little female mill Kerry who is still having emotional problems. She was in living in hell for three years and it took me two months to gain her trust. However, I was the emotional one when she discovered she could walk around and later learned to jump.
You know that feeling and only those that rescue these mill dogs can relate to the emotional high. Thank you for all you have done – God Bless

Tom Sawyer
Coppell, Texas

I am the PA coordinator for the national breed rescue group. http://www.cavalierrescueusa.org We get cavaliers turned in to rescue on an all too regular basis. Ones whose stories aren’t publicized like the ones of giant mill closings or raids that make the evening news. Many of these dogs are owner turn ins for various reasons, from an elderly owner going to a care facility and needing to place a beloved pet, to uncaring people who either no longer have time, to owners who can no longer deal with the financial burden of a dog with ongoing medical needs. The majority of cavaliers turned on to rescue are elderly and/or in need of medical care or have serious behavioral issues. Sadly the majority of people looking to adopt, want a healthy, well socialized dog under the age of 5 years. Currently in the NorthEast, we have several dogs who are over the age of 8. Some have ongoing medical needs. We also have a young cavalier who has SM and another who has an eye condition needing daily drops. These dogs have gotten very few applicants and most of those haven’t been an appropriate match or have changed their minds after some thought. Yes, we are very picky about potential adopters, but we feel that these dogs deserve the very best home after all they have gone through. The last thing we want is for the dog to be returned or abandoned yet again.

So please remember to consider that elderly dog or the one with special needs. You won’t be sorry that you opened up your heart and took a chance.