I continue sharing the abuses and neglect of puppy mills with the story of Sasha. During my recent trip, I brought home four dogs from a puppy mill that was closing down. In my last posting I shared Karma’s story. My younger son, Ryan, found the name most amusing. He pointed out the phrase, “Karma’s a bitch,” was now literally true. I hadn’t even thought of that when we named her, but he’s right.
In addition to Karma, I brought home two poodles, Ping and Sasha. Both are females, might be pregnant, but aren’t showing. Both had been shaved, so I have no way of knowing if they were as matted and nasty as Karma was. However, their haircuts were of the fast, mass-production quality, so they don’t look much like poodles. Ping was in pretty good shape, but Sasha has an enormous hernia, as you can see in the photo. Why was such an obvious injury never repaired for the six years Sasha has been alive? $$$$$$$$$. Sasha delivered pups. That was all that mattered. Her hernia was irrelevant. An operation would have cut into profits. Any risk to her health or pain she might suffer was not important. Puppy mills are about money. Dogs receive medical treatment only to keep diseases from spreading (that would cut into profit) and to keep the puppies coming. A hernia is not contagious, and it doesn’t prevent puppies, so it doesn’t get fixed. All hail the bottom line.
Here you can see the bulge of the hernia
Sasha doesn’t seem to be in pain, and she will get her hernia repaired before we adopt her out. She is full of love, very quiet and reserved, and wants nothing more than to be held and petted. Ping adores her, and wants to be with her at all times. Sasha feels the same way. They insist on sleeping together in the same crate. If I try to separate them, they howl as if I were torturing them. Keep them together, and they are quiet and peaceful. They are a few of the lucky ones. Most of the dogs at the site went to other puppy mills and breeders. This is truly an uphill battle, but instead of focusing on those I could not save, I must focus on those I could. They, at least, will have a better life.
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