This was a story sent to us recently by Jason Silver, providing first-hand experience of what happens at puppy mills. The story is a tribute to Cassie.

"Her name was (she has since passed away) Cassie and she was estimated to be 8 or 9 years old. She was a Pomeranian used for breeding in Pensylvania by a puppy mill. She was rescued by an organization in Niagara. We fell in love and adopted her, flying her to Newfoundland where she lived with us for a couple of years.

When we got her, her feet were damaged from walking on a chicken wire cage all day, living in feces and other deplorable conditions. Her back leg muscles were so poorly developed due to the cages that she could hardly stand on them. Yet, she was happy and a wonderful pet. Those who think that ‘they make wonderful pets, so what's the problem?’ should think about why. She was so glad to have a good home, warm bed and food to eat, that she was fantastic. But not like she should have been. She never barked, because of severe tracheal damage, was seriously undernourished, was so underfed that she frequently ate her own feces, which may have ultimately lead to her death.

While more should be encouraged to adopt rescues, nobody should purchase from these organizations. This particular organization had been shut down by the ASPCA and the owner was given a number of days to get rid of his animals. Those that weren't adopted or sold were to be shot. I have no idea what happened, other than Cassie and one other dog that was rescued by Niagara Pom and a small breed rescue posing as a family looking for pets".

Tyson is a senior female Boxer who had been abused early in her life. Her original owner in New Brunswick was forced to give up Tyson when a high travel employment opportunity popped up. The high amounts of traveling would have left her without her owner for a large per cent of the time, so it was felt that giving her to a good home would be the best option... or so it seemed.

Tyson found herself with a new family in Quebec. What was expected to be a good home for Tyson turned out to be a nightmare. Her new owners abused the young Boxer constantly. They beat her with brooms and cornered and sprayed her with a garden hose - leaving her continuously terrified of everything, especially her owners.

Luckily, Tyson was rescued by the Hanlon family right here in Newfoundland. She has been with them now for over 7 years and is cherished dearly. Although Tyson is still afraid of brooms and garden hoses, her post-abuse trauma has lessened over the years. She now spends her days chasing cats and lounging around in her quite home with her loving family in Maddox Cove.