UNDERDOGS Information You Need To Know... Stories of Survival That Will Touch Your Heart is a dance of storytelling and informational pieces designed to describe how dogs really end up in rescues and how to prevent it from happening, even to a well-loved dog. It is also a celebration of the immeasurable value found between courageous and resilient dogs and their new families when adoption is done well. Sadly, millions of homeless pets euthanized each year just didn’t meet "their person," the one who would share a reciprocal bond with them transforming both lives in the process. UNDERDOGS will help people make better choices that will protect a beloved dog, a dog they might adopt, or those in the community.

Underdogs

Valuable Information and Stories of TransformationBy Caryn Casey

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2010 Caryn Casey
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4520-0414-3

Contents

Chapter One: Greed.................................................1Lily...............................................................2Heddie and Turi....................................................8More on Greed......................................................13Chapter Two: Disasters.............................................19Bruce..............................................................20Katie..............................................................27More on Disasters..................................................29Chapter Three: Mismatch............................................33Kona...............................................................34Ursula.............................................................40More on Mismatch...................................................46Chapter Four: Illness and Death....................................51Chloe..............................................................52More on Illness/Death..............................................54Chapter Five: Commitment...........................................57Mace...............................................................58Lucy...............................................................62More on Commitment.................................................67Chapter Six: Misconceptions........................................71Burley.............................................................72Hero...............................................................79More on Misconceptions.............................................85Chapter Seven: Abandonment.........................................89Maty...............................................................90Finnegan...........................................................96Walter.............................................................100Mia................................................................103More on Abandonment................................................106Chapter Eight: Missing.............................................109Kandi..............................................................110Pumpkin............................................................114More on Missing....................................................117Chapter Nine: Medical Maladies.....................................121Piper..............................................................122Eddie..............................................................126More on Medical Maladies...........................................132Chapter Ten: Neglect...............................................135Soldier............................................................136Elvira.............................................................141Angel..............................................................149More on Neglect....................................................152Chapter Eleven: Thieves............................................157Georgia............................................................158More on Thieves....................................................161Chapter Twelve: My Inspiration.....................................165Legacy.............................................................166Puppy Mill Warriors on Their Way to a New Life.....................177People and Organizations...........................................180A Way to Help!.....................................................183

Chapter One

Greed

Lily

When Teresa Strader was six years old, she walked the same route to kindergarten every day. Along her path were stones to kick, sticks to pick up, and perhaps even puddles to leap. Theresa also had to face an adorable Beagle mix chained to a tree, alone and looking to the youngster for help. Even at that young age, Theresa felt something was wrong. She wasn't content to leave the dog so in need of a friend. In the darkness and anonymity of night, the young animal lover went to free the dog and brought him home. He lived blissfully with her family for the next seventeen years.

Rescuing dogs became as essential to Theresa as breathing. This need chased after her into her adult life, and one February day, in the cold Colorado winter of 2007, she received a notice that brought all her previous efforts to a level she couldn't have imagined. A staunch lover of the Italian Greyhound breed of dogs, affectionately referred to as "Iggys" by the community who shares that passion, Theresa received an e-mail that fifty Italian Greyhounds were in desperate need of help. They were going up for auction, along with several hundred other dogs, at a puppy mill site in Missouri. Auctions are customary in several Midwest states; catalogues of breeding dogs who have only known a stark and abusive existence are sold to the highest bidder whose intention could be to only further the brutal cycle of breeding. Among those individuals are rescuers, people that want to free the dogs from the chains of their prisons and give them the love they innately need but have never received.

Theresa drove close to 800 miles, with her fourteen year old daughter in tow, to Missouri to save some dogs. She had packed up her vehicle with as many crates, blankets, and towels as possible and made the journey to the unknown. The auction was not an experience Theresa had ever had before, and to hear her tell it, the unspeakable smells that involuntarily made her eyes water, the gut wrenching sights of hundreds of dogs in various stages of ill health and terror, was a day that will be forever etched into the fiber of her being. Theresa had to walk among the smiling buyers who seemed to think this was no more unsettling than a bumpy ride on the merry-go-round at the park, and she pretended not to have every one of her senses assaulted. The entire puppy mill operation, including the farm itself, was for sale. Theresa's walk around the property, where dogs were scattered in wire cages in sheds, while officials were writing and signing "papers" to authenticate a pedigree, as though it were as easy as a toss of a coin, was much like a journey to the Outer Limits.

Theresa walked from daylight into the gloom of a dark barn where the terrified, confused eyes of mistreated dogs looked back at the gawkers, some who had good intentions, but many who were looking for cheap breeding dogs. Theresa spotted a tiny Iggy, white with brown spots on her head, tucked in the back of a cramped 3'x3' cage, encased in yet a larger cage she shared with a male and a few other females. The petite veteran of a horrific life was sitting on her haunches rubbing her stomach with her front paws, staring pointedly and purposefully at Theresa. The dog, that had been given no dental attention or anything to chew on over the course of years, not only had rotted teeth, part of her jaw had also worn away from rubbing against her cage. This is not uncommon for smaller breeding dogs, and this condition can unfortunately be a gateway to other life threatening illnesses. Difficult for her to describe in words, Theresa is certain she heard a plea for help come from the little dog she would later find out had given birth to at least thirteen litters. She instantly whispered a promise; she would take her from that place of suffering, and she would protect and shower her with love all the days of her life. The dog's USDA tags read #251, and Theresa would use this to guide her in securing the release of the one who had stolen her heart.

Despite the chaos of the auction, Theresa was able to find a bidder to tell of her wishes to purchase #251. The bidder, Julie, who Theresa would later learn was also there to rescue dogs, would do her best to purchase Theresa's chosen dog. Theresa watched as her forlorn little Iggy stared back at her while the bidding began. Theresa's heart dropped when her dog, the gentle soul whose eyes begged for help earlier in the day did not go to Julie. Afterward, Theresa was able to approach the new owner of #251 and begin a passionate advocacy not only for the sweetheart she would name Lily, but for Italian Greyhounds in need. Theresa paid $40.00 to bring home the sprite she says: "I would have paid 500 times more for."

Theresa decided that even if she'd come 800 miles for only one dog, it was worth it. Instead, she left the hellish auction that day with her prized Lily and twelve other Iggy's. Clearly her love for the breed was taking on a whole new meaning. She wasn't exactly sure how she and her husband would care for all of the dogs, but tenacity was no stranger to Theresa, and the lives of the dogs during the car ride back to Colorado, in a tangle of blankets and heat in the car, was already a considerable improvement to the quality of life they had endured. Theresa introduced the group to her husband, Rich, and the other children in the family. They could see that Lily had mammary tumors all down her left side, as well as the disability to her jaw, but they all embraced the dogs with a shared mission to care for them and to find them good homes. Soon this undertaking was shared with the local media; stories on Theresa and the dogs appeared on all of the news stations, but they were only telling part of the story. Theresa was emphatic that they know the essential truth of the story. Breeding facilities are motivated and blinded by greed. The pet stores that buy the puppies bred from these misused canine mothers perpetuate an industry that needs to be shut down. Soon after, a bold reporter told the viewers the facts. Purchasing dogs from pet stores supplied from puppy mills will insure that animals will be treated as nothing more than crops in order to turn a profit.

Lily had learned during her penned in existence to eat by carrying food over to the plywood on the bottom of her cage. She would roll her face on the floor and swallow the food. It was enough to keep her alive but a far cry from real nourishment. When she made the transition to Theresa and Rich's home, they tried many new ways to feed Lily, including a soft mush that would seem to be easier for her to eat. Unfortunately, the mush would end up in her sinuses so despite all the Straders' efforts, Lily gained sustenance by going back to her survival skills and she ate just as she had in her cage. Lily was a dog born in the mill and had never experienced life outside of her cage. Her opportunities to seize the wonders around her were just beginning. The lovable Lily, the dog who could not get enough of human touch or interaction, was about to be unleashed.

Over time Lily had four surgeries in an attempt to restore her jaw. Since no healthy tissue remained in her mouth, no jaw operations were successful. Lily was brought to Dr. Stubbs, from Alameda East Veterinarian Hospital of Denver, a specialist who considered restoring Lily's jaw out of other material, but to no avail. Lily had her uterus removed and radical mastectomies to remove the mammary tumors; thankfully, she was made more comfortable by some of the medical intervention.

Italian Greyhounds are known for their athleticism and ability to jump and run so fast they almost fly. Lily didn't even know how to run, but once she got used to the feel of ground under her feet, she did her best to walk fast. Theresa could tell that the feeling of running, something that should have been second nature to Lily, never felt right to her. Many of Theresa's other rescued Iggy's had experienced broken legs, their limbs snapping like twigs when they first walked on the ground; for as brutal as this sounds it is not an uncommon occurrence for puppy mill veterans. Akin to her heat seeking breed, Lily embraced days to lounge on the family's vast deck with the sun beaming on her face. Lathered up in sunscreen to protect her fair coat and skin, Lily did know how to find happiness and relish in it when she found it. She loved to curl up in her special, cozy bed, enjoyed being around the other dog mates around the house, and she charmed even the most stoic among visitors to the Strader home with bright eyes that made up for the disfigurement she had no control over. She was an ambassador of sorts for others of her kind who must carry with them the burdens of an unfair world; she was never bitter, mean or reclusive. She welcomed the affection bestowed on her, but it took her about seven months before she had the courage or will to ask for it.

A fierce bond developed between Rich and Lily. Rich was retired and able to spend the bulk of his days with Lily; the attachment between this man and his dog became legendary. He was the first person Lily approached on her own for affection, and once Lily reached that milestone, there was no stopping her quest for kisses or coddling. Theresa, already a full-time nurse and mother of three, founded National Mill Dog Rescue after her experience at the auction, and out of her intense love for Lily. She had no use for the auction anymore herself, but her passion for rescuing "retiring" breeding dogs who would otherwise be killed, sold to another breeder, or brought to the awful auctions she had witnessed, helped her to establish contacts with rescue groups working directly with the commercial mills to find the best options for the dogs. The ultimate goal is to eradicate the abusive mills from operation, but offering the existing facilities a hopeful solution that could insure the dogs a possible future is a major step in the right direction. National Mill Dog Rescue has been a leader in educating the public about the truths inherent in the commercial mill industry and in saving over 1500 dogs to date.

While finding courage to try everyday experiences, Lily sadly developed cancer from the disease in her jaw. Her prior life had been about struggle and from the day Theresa fought for her, she overcame the past and welcomed a real Iggy's life. Despite all of her pain and medical complications as her jaw worsened, Lily maintained her enchanted eyes; Theresa says they stayed full of clarity, contentedness and the will to survive. It took a long time to be cherished, and Lily was in no hurry to give that up. Lily's health was failing about the time Theresa received a plea from a rescue organization in Chicago with eight Italian Greyhounds. The dogs arrived, and Theresa had hope that perhaps one of them might have some special needs like Lily; the pain of her impending loss would be excruciating. One tiny dog out of the bunch indeed shared Lily's coloring; white with tan spots, her right front leg bowed out in front of her after being broken and untreated more than once. Lily and Rich began bonding with the dog.

The day came for the diminutive Lily look-alike dog to be spayed. Theresa remembers when the veterinarian called her during the dog's surgery, and because she wanted so much for her to stay strong and have a home with them, she feared what he had to say. During the spaying procedure an initial diagnosis of pyometria, essentially an infected uterus common to mill dogs, was shockingly replaced by the discovery of two tiny puppies curled up in the mother's womb. One had died but the other still had a chance at life. A bleak outcome had transformed into a celebration; two dogs returned home to the Straders.

Lily had been resting frequently in her cozy dog bed by the fireplace, the disease taking its toll on her fragile body. When the new mom and puppy the Straders named Addie came home, Addie made a small squeak, and Lily was out of her bed like a shot. With every bit of strength she could muster the maternal Lily ran to do what she had done so many times before with all of the puppies ultimately taken away from her. She licked the baby clean, then stayed close for the next two weeks and it was as if her life force was being transferred to the fledgling who had barely survived to take a breath. The expanse of Lily's displays of love never ceased to amaze Theresa and Rich. They would often ask, why would a dog that had so much taken from her know only how to give? After a lifetime of loss, Lily was surrounded by all she held dear in her final days. Lily's understanding of the mysteries of love and forgiveness were lessons she would leave long after she took her last breath.

Heddie and Turi

A tiny Pomeranian, named Marco, experienced joy for the first time in his fourteen years when he was brought to Hearts United for Animals in Auburn, Nebraska. Previously confined to a cage his entire life, he was able to walk on grass, bask in the sunshine, and though he was ravaged by heart worms, treatment was initiated despite his fragile state. Marco was brought to the home of Mary Striggow, a devoted volunteer, where he died weeks later in the comfort of her loving arms.

Puppy mill dogs, like Marco, live haunted lives. With no adequate medical treatment, dental care, proper hygiene, stifling conditions in the summer and frigid temperatures in the winter, these animals are breeding machines used purely for profit without any regard for their physical well-being. The inhumane practice of debarking, thrusting a large metal rod down a vulnerable dog's throat to handicap or completely stifle sound, is commonplace. No skill or anesthesia is used. Some reputable breeders will argue that this procedure, when done in the care of a veterinarian, is often a necessary means to soften a bark, or lower its volume, but thousands of dogs in the puppy mill warehouses don't have that experience. For as horrifying as the circumstances are for these dogs physically, it is the psychological impact on them that endures the most.

Laurie Collingham, a volunteer with HUA since 2002, understands this reality more than most. She has been drawn to helping the puppy mill survivors who have been mildly to severely affected by the inhumane conditions for the majority if not all of their lives. Since most puppy mills dogs have never experienced a loving human touch, it became Laurie's mission to be sure that once the dogs were rescued from the mills and brought to HUA, they would be given the opportunity to begin their lives among nurturing hands no matter how long it took them to adjust. She founded a volunteer program called The Gage Project, named for the first puppy mill dog she ever worked with. Every Saturday, several volunteers come from miles around to interact with the small dogs that often run at the mere sight of a human being. The efforts made to play and interact with the demanding dogs yield a variety of results, but they most assuredly increase the odds of adoption. The Red Cross awarded Laurie The Animal Rescue Award in 2005 for founding The Gage Project. Some dogs are so damaged that they will never achieve the goal of adoption, but they stay at HUA, as "Sanctuary Sweethearts," where they'll never have to worry about mistreatment again.

Laurie became aware of Heddie, an innocent Pomeranian she felt was one of the most emotionally damaged dogs she had ever seen. Rescued by HUA, Heddie, at age eight, had experienced the worst that puppy mills stood for, abuses that ripped the life and spirit out of the dogs. Terror was written on the face of this petite reddish-gold and white face whenever anyone approached her. Laurie's work with Heddie was painstaking. After a year of focused efforts on her, Laurie could pet Heddie once in a while, if she could catch her. After year two, Heddie would relax in Laurie's arms, a tranquil look on her face as her ears were gently rubbed. HUA stands on 65 country acres, and during the time that Heddie was bonding with Laurie, the small dog facility was moved from a building in town to the spacious property where the dogs could play in a comfortable fenced area peppered with trees. Laurie thought this environment would make the perfect environment for a game of hide and seek. She would run and hide behind one of the enormous trees where she called out to Heddie. Engaged and excited, Heddie would try her best to find Laurie, and when she came close, Laurie would excitedly jump out to Heddie's obvious delight. This game would go on until Heddie became tired. If dogs could laugh, Heddie would have been giggling; it was momentous to Laurie to witness this dog playing for the first time in her life.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Underdogsby Caryn Casey Copyright © 2010 by Caryn Casey. Excerpted by permission.
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