In March this year, our Animal Rescue Team arrived at two properties in Milburn, Oklahoma, to assist the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office with an alleged animal cruelty situation. As they arrived, they could hear dogs in outdoor enclosures across the properties yelping and barking. They were about to save more than 200 dogs from the puppy mills where they were languishing.
Puppy mills exist to rake in profits. These massive scale breeders do not prioritize the living conditions of the dogs, nor about nurturing them to be companions. And the signs of this indifference were everywhere our team looked: They discovered dogs of many different breeds in bare enclosures, often stepping in their own feces, many with access to only dirty water. Veterinarians noted dogs with skin infections, eye issues, nasal discharge and dental disease. Several required hospitalization for critical, round-the-clock care.
Our rescue team, volunteers and veterinarians provided care and enrichment for the dogs, and when they were ready, we placed the pups with our invaluable shelter and rescue partners across the country. That’s how a mother dog our team named Padme ended up at Green Dogs Unleashed in Troy, Virginia, in the summer, after a stay at our care and rehabilitation center in Maryland.
Meanwhile, Traci and David, who live in nearby Faber, were not even thinking about getting another dog. They were still grieving the loss of their beloved Doberman, who passed away in January. But when Traci heard about the dogs arriving at Green Dogs Unleashed from the Oklahoma puppy mills, her ears perked up.
A week later, Traci and David were on their way over to meet some of the dogs who were being fostered by a friend. “Neither of us knew if we were ready for another Dobie,” Traci remembered. “Our emotions were really high.”
Traci and David may not have known if they were ready, but then Padme went straight to David and pressed herself into his leg. “It was all over with,” Traci said. So, Padme became renamed—now she’s Brynn—and a part of Traci and David’s family, which includes two other dogs, both beagles.
Traci P.
As is typical with puppy mill dogs, Brynn had some initial struggles. Even though she loves people and attention, Brynn still shows the marks of her rough past. “New situations make her nervous,” Traci said. “She is always brave, but you can tell when she's unsure.” Brynn is afraid of riding in the car and is even scared of her collar and harness: While the family’s other dogs get excited when they see their harnesses come out and the walk or ride it signals, Brynn still runs into her crate to hide.
“She knew nothing about how to be a dog,” Traci said. “We just kept working with her and she kept trying her best to figure things out, and eventually everything just got better.”
Traci P.
The thousands upon thousands of animals our Animal Rescue Team helps have contended with some of the most dire circumstances, from the aftermath of disasters to cruelty cases. But whenever possible, it’s heartening to take a closer look at how the life of an animal has been changed by the work we do. We wish Brynn all the best as she settles into the new life she always deserved.
Follow Kitty Block @HSUSKittyBlock.
