Rescued together from a horrible Mennonite puppy mill in Wellesley, Ontario. These siblings were only about 8 months old. We knew that if not rescued soon they would soon be added to the millers breeding stock. We had to act.
They were terrified. So frightened they urinated just being carried out of the horrible, filthy barn. Both were filthy, very smelly and covered in wood shavings. When placed on the grass, they both pancaked to the ground and started an “alligator roll” trying to get away. We lifted them into our car and immediately headed to Auntie Cheryle’s – our foster extraordinaire who runs Kiera’s Hope. Cheryle provides the softness and patience to allow the girls to decompress and start to heal from the trauma they have endured. These two creatures, had in their young lives been so terribly traumatized and would huddle together in the corner, refusing to make eye contact. It was truly heartbreaking. Can you even imagine what must have been done to them to make them this fearful and withdrawn?
Over the weeks and months, the girls slowly started to trust and their individual personalities started to come out. It was so beautiful to see the cheekiness of Thelma and the growing confidence of Louise blooming. We and they started to believe that they were going to be okay.
We made the hard decision that they needed to be adopted separately. If not, their self confidence would not grow and they would never bond with their people – they would only lean on one another. Looking back, it was definitely the correct decision.
The girls each found wonderful loving homes where they are cherished. They continue to grow into the dogs they were always meant to be. They are affectionate and playful and have really bonded to their new families.
