Photo Credit: Puppy Mills, justblametv's Library, photobucket
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[Photo Credit: National Mill Dog Rescue Photostream, Flickr]
I am posting these images of Lily, a written tribute to her, a slideshow tribute, and a video about the National Mill Dog Rescue (NMDR) in the hope that doing so, may encourage many of you to consider getting your next pet from a rescue or shelter, rather than a pet store or commercial breeder.
The NMDR was established by Theresa and Rich Strader in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was founded in honor, and in memory of, their little Italian Greyhound, "Lily."
The Straders and their children gave Lily a home for a little more than a year before Lily succumbed to (facial) cancer.
When Ms Strader purchased Lily from Reedsgate Kennels (Missouri), she was already in deteriorating health, although she was still a relatively young dog. Her uterus had literally cankered from all the years of breeding. Lily was so emotionally scarred, that it took seven months before she would allow her new family to "hold her."
For Theresa Strader, Lily became "a symbol of hope, courage, forgiveness, and strength."
As Ms Strader herself so poignantly put it,
"Lily was a serious dog, stripped of her ability to be a typically silly Italian Greyhound because during her first seven years of life she had no opportunity to move or socialize with what came to be her favorite thing in life - people.
What she did find in herself in time though, was courage. When she found her courage, she let everyone know about it, climbing into the laps and arms of total strangers and sharing her very special love with everyone around her.
No one walked away from Lily the same person. Her tiny, disfigured little self moved grown men to tears, many times."
I thank the Straders for the "gift of Lily." I will never be the same, after having heard her story.
But most of all, "Thank you, Lily."
[Please take a moment to watch this powerful and touching slideshow tribute to Lily.]
Slideshow: Lily, A 'Hero' for Mill Dogs
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[This tribute to Lily comes from the National Mill Dog Rescue, NMDR, website. My editing is very minor--capitalization, the addition of the word "facial," and deletion of one sentence pertaining to an image, and update of the number of dogs saved.]
Lily's Story
By - Rich Strader
Lily is the love and the light of my life. If you've ever had a special dog like Lily, then you will understand right away what I'm talking about. If you haven't... read on.
Lily was born, raised and perhaps had 13 litters of puppies at the Reedgate Kennels, before we were able to buy her at auction. Her time there was spent in a wire cage with a board to sleep on and a rabbit waterer to drink from. While in the mill she received little or no vet care, and because of this she lost all her teeth and her lower jaw rotted off, which is not unusual for the smaller breeds in the puppy mills.
Everything that was precious to her was taken away (her puppies). The human hand brought only misery.
When she came to me, I took her to work everyday and she slept in the warmth of my Irish Wolfhound's stomach. She slowly learned to trust, and in seven months she would come to me to get on my lap! She now loves all humans, as no one will ever hurt her again.
Lily is my inspiration. She can teach anyone about love, courage and the ability to forgive. Unfortunately the (facial) cancer she acquired through years of neglect is now close to ending her life. I have promised her she will never be alone again, and I will be with her at the end.
Lily died in my arms May 13, 2008. She will be missed.
[To date she is responsible for saving over 6800 dogs as she is the inspiration and founder of MDRN.* Update: As of December 29, 2012, 7095 dogs saved from puppy mills.]
* Before we were NMDR we were MDRN (Mill Dog Rescue Network).
Below is a National Mill Dog Rescue video which describes the plight of these animals, and the NMDR mission--to save as many dogs as possible from the living hell that is the life of a 'mill dog.'
Here is a link to the National Mill Dog Rescue (NMDR) website, and their Mission Statement.