Pics of Puppy Mills; upsetting
Don't scroll down and look at the pics if you don't have a strong stomach.
Most of you know I am a foster parent for bichons, through a bichon rescue. While the 2 fosters which I have are OTIs (Owner Turn Ins), the rescue also pulls many, many bichons from puppy mills to get them out of the cycle and into home settings. These dogs have never felt grass, don't know what to do when presented with stairs and very often, have never felt the touch of a human hand.
I've heard many descriptions of mill settings, but had not seen photos before this.
In the next few days, this rescue group is taking in 30 female bichons from a mill which is closing. All these are age 5 or under. We are in desperate need for foster homes! In order to take in a puppy mill rescue, you must already have a socialized dog in the home, and you must have a fenced in back yard. (There ARE other requirements). And you must have loads of patience, as these dogs are terrified of humans, are used to doing their "business" whereever they happen to be (even in their crate) and need to learn to trust. The rescue provides lots of guidance and support for people who foster a mill dog.
OK, I just wanted to give you time to adapt before you see the pics. The comments are from our exectuive director, copied from today's newsletter.
This is a sun-downer building. At least they can go in and out of the weather.
(This is an all bichon mill. - Sandie)
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...ichonsmill.jpg
Some of the dogs from mills like this one go blind due to a lack of light.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...llpicture1.jpg
This is a good depiction of the food shoot and rabbit water bottles that many of the kennels use. This way, they never have to touch or hold one of them.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...llpicture2.jpg
This is a "lean to" built on the side of a mobile home. The cages have no shelter from rain or sleet or snow or from the heat. The metal from the trailer acts like an oven in the summer. (This mill is all bichons. - Sandie)
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...ure3bichon.jpg
Though it is very dark, this is considered to be a very nice commercial kennel. It's clean. It's inside. But it's still a cage, forever and ever amen. Somehow I don't think this is quite what God had in mind.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...llpicture4.jpg
Here is a link to more info about puppy mills. It includes a few different articles, and these articles are quite graphic.
http://www.smallpawsrescue.org/pup3/puppymills.html
