Truths: The beauty and reality of today

Today marks the beauty of two things: I am not getting divorced and two Shih Tzus are starting a new life. The “I am not getting a divorce thing” is because I didn’t have to be the one to rescue them. It was them or my husband as he put it…and that was a hard choice. Fortunately, a rescue group in Kenosha, WI came forward. (that made my decision a lot easier!)

More importantly, these two little dogs who have never known human affection, let alone beds and toys and adequate food and water – vet care – are making their way from northwestern WI to southeastern WI today – hundreds of miles and many volunteers later they will arrive at what undoubtedly will be the best place they have ever been.

The rescue group I am so proud to be affiliated with is truthfully a myriad of people who found themselves at a puppy mill auction years back. It seems like just yesterday – but it was years back – a random group of strangers who were all there with one mission: to save as many dogs as possible from their grim lives of mass breeding.

Our efforts came with mixed judgments – but we did what we thought was best.

The group has stayed together via a yahoo platform and the unending efforts of Shayla. She has always kept us on track and moving in the right direction – which has really evolved.

Now that the auctions are non-existent and WI passed legislation to regulate mills – meaning that between the laws and the lack of pet store sales – the millers are closing shop and moving on.

The very thing we all wanted – but be careful what you ask for… Now, each week Shayla announces to the group that there are X amount of dogs available (all free) because the miller is out of business and doesn’t want them anymore. This is X amount of dogs we need to find a place for…and that X amount is always growing and the places to put them is shrinking…

That is what happened with these Shi Tzus – the rest of the original group was spoken for but these two weren’t and each night before I would fall asleep, I would look at Penelope, my Shih Tzu, and gulp… those dogs deserved a second chance just like she did. But, based on my husband’s threat there was nothing I could do – and that broke my heart.

Friday is when Shayla shared the good news that these dogs were claimed and they would be transported this Sunday… It was reason enough to celebrate. My heart felt whole.

But the flip side of this is still a message that needs to be shouted from the rooftops – pet stores and internet sales of dogs are all to blame for all of these dogs misery and while we are making strides and changing it – places like Petland and hundreds of mass breeding facilities that represent as good breeders on-line are still out there.

There are millions of dogs – like these Shih Tzus who need homes and families to love them – and when it gets right down to it – these dogs ARE the ones people are buying at pet stores and on the internet. They just aren’t groomed and cared for because they have been committed to a life of breeding – but their pups are being sold for thousands of dollars to unknowing (or sometimes ignorant) consumers.

I put this on my blog because it is so important to me that people KNOW that this is reality. This isn’t some 20/20 special or tabloid rumor – this is real and I want people to know!

The only way that this will stop is when two things happen: laws go into effect making it illegal to breed dogs in mass quantities and people stop buying dogs from pet stores and on the internet. It has been said hundred times but I will say it again – Good breeders do not sell their dogs in stores or randomly sell their dogs on line – and 99% of the time good breeders do not sell mixed breeds or multiple breeds. And good breeders want to know who is buying their dogs because they will not place them in random homes without contracts and stipulations. And good breeders always agree to take their dogs back if something happens. There are no ifs about any of this.

I hate getting on this soapbox, I really do – but when I spend sleepless nights worrying about two little dogs, whom I have never met – I get mad and disappointed with this country. We should be better than this.

What is better is that today – these two little dogs will unknowingly travel to foster homes where they will be given love and affection for the very first time – where they will find toys and beds and endless amounts of food and water. They will be scared at first because unlike “regular” dogs – none of this will make sense to them – they will be confused and unsure. Things like stairs and doorbells and even grass will be unfamiliar and frightening to them. They will probably cower and shake for many days until they learn trust and find that not all people will just treat them like objects or throw them away when they are done with them.

It could takes days, weeks, even months for these little dogs to be “normal” again…But they will be and they will offer back love unconditionally like no other dog in the world. And, best of all, these little dogs will eventually be adopted by a family who knew better than to buy from a pet store or order a dog on-line and they will be rewarded with a dog who will be forever grateful.