Being a puppy mill survivor comes with many issues outside the puppy mill. Adopting a puppy mill survivor is not for the faint of heart — however, these survivors will take you on a journey you cannot imagine.
Because puppy mill pups are raised in a tiny cage without human contact, these dogs do not display the “normal” behaviors of a dog. Here are just a few of the behavior issues puppy mill survivors can have after they have been rescued:
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Shyness
- Trembling
- Surface sensitivity or avoidance
- Difficult to potty train
- Food aggression or basic aggression
- Hoarding food
- Fear biting
- Flight risks
- Fear of going through doors
- Fear of eye contact
Puppy mill survivors also can end up with many health problems, including (but not limited to):
- Dental issues
- Blood disorders, such as an inability for blood to clot
- Hip dysplasia and/or luxating patellas
- Missing limbs, missing eyes, and/or missing teeth
- Endocrine disorders
- Heart worm
- The overgrowth of nails or nail growth into the paw
- Splayed feet
(Because of the health issues, puppy mill survivors can be expensive, and you might feel like you have moved into your veterinary clinic.)
If you have decided to bring a puppy mill survivor into your home, remember a few things. It’s extremely helpful to already have a dog in the home that has been raised in a conventional manner. Your puppy mill survivor will be more comfortable with other dogs than with humans, so your “conventional” dog will be your puppy mill dog’s greatest teacher in the beginning. (Our pug Blanche — pictured above — keeps a watchful eye over our girls!) He or she can follow that dog out to potty. The survivor will see that being a pet is a good thing. And there will be another dog to sleep near to feel safe, if needed.
Next, you will need the following: time, patience, love and understanding. Never take it personally when your puppy mill survivor doesn’t run to you with a thankful heart! Human hands have always brought that dog pain, and your hands will look the same in their eyes. Some respond quickly, some respond slowly, and some will possibly never respond the way we hope they will.
Always remember that what they are giving you at any particular moment in time, is ALL they have to give. A small nose boop on the hand might seem minor, but to them, it is everything! You will begin to celebrate the “small” things, and when they make a step forward, the joy you will have is immeasurable! These tortured souls can take flight, with time, patience, love and understanding.
Thank you!
Pam “Dat Mommy” Horton