Every animal has a story. After our teams intervene in the lives of animals, whether it’s to help pull them from floodwaters or to rescue them from alleged neglect or cruelty situations, those acts of bravery and trust are only the beginning of change—only the beginning of the next parts of their lives, when they may show just how strong, resilient and forgiving they can be.
So today I want to tell you about Jocasta, who we first encountered on a property in Oklahoma.
Jocasta was just one of more than 200 dogs our Animal Rescue Team helped to save from two puppy mills in Milburn, Oklahoma, in March of this year. As our team arrived to assist the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office with an alleged animal cruelty situation, Jocasta may have been one of the dogs they heard barking in desperation. Or perhaps she was one of the quiet ones, too scared to make a sound. What we do know is that Jocasta was one of the mother dogs who was kept in a cage just to be bred over and over again, so that her puppies could be taken away and sold.
Jocasta was brought with most of the dogs to an undisclosed location for several months while the court process determined custody. Once cleared for further transfer so she could begin the rest of her life, Jocasta arrived at our Canadian care and rehabilitation center over the summer. A new video captures this part of her recovery:
It is common for dogs in puppy mills to show the psychological scars of neglect, timid at the offer of pats or head scratches, for example, or unfamiliar with, given their confinement in wire or concrete cages, even the feeling of walking on grass. That’s because nurturing young dogs to become loving companions is not a priority for these massive breeding operations. Jocasta had suffered from years of languishing in poor conditions and relentless breeding. She was extremely shy. Because of her lack of socialization, she tended to fear new people and surroundings. In new situations, she would freeze.
Our dedicated team of behaviorists worked with Jocasta to rebuild her trust in people, experience love and gain confidence. Then Jocasta was placed with one of our shelter and rescue partners, Mission Mayday, based in Montreal. And I’m happy to report that she has been adopted and is settling into life with a loving family.
HSI
Jocasta’s story is one of hope and compassion. But too many mother dogs in puppy mills never get the chance to live the lives they deserve.
We’ve seen it time and again: Puppy mills care only for profits, not the animals in their care. At the puppy mills in Millburn, the signs of neglect were everywhere: Bare enclosures were home to dogs of many different breeds, thrown thoughtlessly together, stepping in their own feces. The pups suffered from eye problems, skin infections, nasal discharge and dental disease. While our team worked on transferring the dogs to a safe location, several had to be rushed to a veterinary hospital for urgent, round-the-clock care. Puppy mills are known to also kill breeder dogs once they are no longer useful to them.
We are devoted to exposing puppy mills in states across the U.S. Each year, we publish our Horrible Hundred report to raise awareness about the cruelties of puppy mills. We also advocate for the passage of legislation that prohibits the sale of puppies in pet stores in state and local municipalities across the U.S., and push for higher welfare standards and their enforcement at these facilities.
The only way to end the puppy mill industry is to never buy a dog from stores or websites that source from these facilities, and to spread the word among your friends and family to take a stand against this kind of exploitation.
We can all be thankful that Jocasta is no longer seen as merely a puppy breeding machine and she has a better future ahead of her. I am heartened to know that Jocasta is just one of thousands we have helped to save from puppy mills. And with my colleagues, I remain determined to see our world become a more compassionate one, one in which animals like Jocasta are seen and valued for who they are, not the profits they can produce.
Sign our pledge to take a stand against the cruelty of puppy mills by never buying a puppy mill dog. You can also learn how to get a puppy from a humane source.
Follow Kitty Block @HSUSKittyBlock.
