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Shih Tzu Prelude: Puppy Mill Life Aftereffects

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Puppy Mill Effects

My conversation with Delores at BFF Rescue was very eye-opening. She told me that the shih tzus I had seen online had all come from a puppy mill in Kansas early this year. Some would say they came from a “commercial kennel.” I had never given much thought to where those adorable puppies in store windows came from. Come to think of it, I realized I hadn’t seen any of those pet stores lately that I used to see in malls.

Delores told me the horrible conditions that many of these puppies’ mothers lived in, and how their entire purpose was breeding more puppies. Unlike the puppies that are sold, the puppy mill moms rarely receive love and often don’t get exercise. Sometimes, they are forced to eat, sleep and relieve themselves in the same small space. The deplorable conditions of many puppy mills caused both emotional and physical problems in many cases.

In the case of the shih tzus I was considering fostering/adopting, the owner of the Sheltie Shack Rescue, a Kansas-based rescue, had rescued six shih tzus when rescuing several shelties. She had got the word out to several animal rescues and two in Colorado had volunteered to each take three of the shih tzus. BFF Rescue was one of those organizations.

The shih tzus Delores took were three half-sisters, Dottie, 5; Flower, 2; and Candy, 2. The Sheltie Shack couldn’t give Delores much information. Someone had told the rescue that the commercial kennel using them for breeding no longer wanted them. When she had arrived to pick them up, the shih tzus were outside in a chicken coop type kennel.

Before turning the three shih tzus over to BFF Rescue, the original rescuer took them to a vet. The vet gave them needed vaccinations and checked them over for any problems. They noted that Candy had a small hernia.

The shih tzus came to Colorado in late February 2011. Once there, they made the trip to another vet, where they would all be sterilized. Before they could be adopted, they would need to be socialized. That meant they would need to be placed in foster homes.

Delores explained that many of the dogs that had come to BFF Rescue found homes within weeks. However, that wasn’t the case with these girls.

Shih Tzu Prelude: In Search of a Shih Tzu of My Own

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Candy, Flower and Dottie

Candy, a 2-year-old shih tzu

Off and on when I had looked at shih tzus online, I had looked at the Denver Dumb Friends League’s Quebec Street Shelter and Buddy Center, as well as local rescue centers. I recent read that the Dumb Friends League was charging only $50 for an adoption fee throughout the end of June. I looked at the site, but I didn’t see any shih tzus.

Another choice was the Colorado Shih Tzu Maltese & Lhasa Apso Rescue, but I cringed at the $300 adoption fee. Bella, the dog I had met at PetSmart, had been in the Evergreen Animal Protective League’s foster program, but they didn’t have any shih tzus on their site that were under 5. I had determined I wanted a dog at least that young.

I looked at Adoptapet.com and Petfinder.com. Each site showed a handful of shih tzus. Three shih tzus came up in Arvada, near me. They were listed by the BFF Rescue, a shelter that transfers homeless dogs from high kill shelters to foster homes until they can be adopted by a new “forever family.” Candy’s profile said she was born on 4/24/2009. That meant she was 2 years old. She was 11 pounds, which was average for a shih tzu. I read she was from a puppy mill. It also said that she had come to the BFF Rescue with her half sisters, Flower and Dottie. I read on that Candy was “still very shy and will need a lot of time and love in her new home.” Having a “shy” dog didn’t bother me. Joey had been shy. It said that Candy and Flower were very bonded and that the rescue was hoping to find them a home together.

Flower, a 2-year-old shih tzu from a puppy millDottie, 5 years old, is Candy and Flower's half sister.

With that in mind, I read Flower’s profile. Flower was  born on 4/13/2009 and was 14 pounds. Along with being shy, her profile said Flower was  “afraid of many things and would need a lot of love and understanding.” Her name made me think of Happy Flower, a dog I had seen on the Dumb Friends League’s site shortly after meeting Bella. this Flower, obviously, wasn’t yet “happy.” Maybe she could be, with the right person. But could that be me?

The adoption fee on either dog was $175, which wasn’t as good as the Dumb Friends League’s special, but was better than what I would spending going through the EAPL. I was definitely interested. I also stole a glance at the profile for Dottie. She was born on  9/17/2005, which made her 5 and a half years old. Although I had told myself I would look at dogs 5 years old and under, I still thought I wanted a younger one,  but she had a cute face. I read that she was also shy and afraid of many things, that she would need a lot of time and love and that she was good with other dogs and cats. It also said she would need another small dog in her new home.

I liked the fact that the dogs seemed to need each other. Our Yorkie was very possessive and never wanted other animals near us or her. I picked up the phone and called the number given for Delores at BFF Rescue, hoping to speak to her about Candy and Flower.