This is my story- the reason I started this company. It may be long, but it changed my life, it gave me a dog. A dog that may be quiet, but is there to listen to me when I need to talk.
It all started on a normal August day at the Philadelphia SPCA. My mom, brother, uncle, and I were in search of a dog that would please everyone. Not only us but also my dad. We circled the dog area like lost kids. Rowdy dogs were kept in tall cages, locked away, while the rest of the dogs were kept in low caged boxes. We were just about to give up, that is, until we passed a small tan cocker. My mom and I fell in love, but we agreed to loop around one last time. Even after that, my mom still couldn't get over that dog. We asked a worker for her age and gender. He told us 3 and female - she was somewhat young. However, she had an old look to her- calm and content. After agreeing to give her a chance, we were brought back into a room. Here we got to know her and her past. They told us she was a puppy mill dog. She was recently rescued from that horrible place. The land of cages lined up one after the other, where they were overcrowded each holding at least 2 or 3 dogs; 88 dogs were lucky enough to be rescued, 24 of the dogs, however, were sick, very sick. The other 64 or so were pretty much considered healthy compared to the others. Maggie, during her 3 years at the puppy mill, was used for one thing and one thing only- breeding. The worker told us she probably had 4-5 litters a year. When they didn't need her, she spent her time locked up in a cage surrounded by 2, 3 maybe even 4 other dogs. We knew it was going to be a big jump going from pet-less to owning a puppy mill dog, but we were full of hope. Now, soon-to-be Maggie seemed like a normal dog with us, quiet but normal. Even without my dad there we were willing to take the chance. We snapped a few pictures, filled out endless forms, and were on our way. Dad was a little on edge about our choice since he wasn't there. About a week later we welcomed her into the family. We went through an endless amount of names - Chelsea, Molly, Annie, Goldie, Holly - who knows, probably even more than that. Here's what I know- they still think her name's Molly. I can imagine calling them with a question and they say, "So how is little Ms. Molly?". Awkward. When we brought her home, everything was fine until we noticed she didn't bark much- actually not at all. We had never once heard her bark. My mom was worried that she might have been debarked. I'll never forget those moments, "Aww, poor thing not being able to talk to her friends! Those puppy mills are horrible places!". Then, one night, I decided to have a friend sleep over. Not my best choice. Of course she was happy to see Maggie, but let's put it this way. The conversation went a little like this:
Friend: Aww she's so cute!
Me: Thanks!
Friend: When I got my dog he barked a lot.
Me: Ya, the thing is Maggie doesn't bark- I mean it - not at all.
Friend: Yeah right! All dogs bark.
Me: Not her! We think she might have been debarked.
Friend: Fine, fine whatever.
Now I was set on believing I was right. I was pretty sure I was too- until that night. Just as we were falling asleep... BAM... she decided to bark then! In the middle of the night and, of course, when my friend was over. Well, she doesn't bark much, but at least we know she can!
Now she may seem like she's normal, but she has one trait that makes her different from most dogs. She would not let my dad go anywhere near her. If he was in the kitchen, she was in her bed. If he was near her bed, she was in the living room- watching. She's come far in 2 years- now she let's him pet her, talk to her, give her treats, and so on, but she still hasn't completely adapted to him- yet. Every night- except for weekends- she sits in the living room staring through the opening into the kitchen, and to the door leading to the garage, just waiting for him to come home. It's like she likes him, but she doesn't want him to know. I mean, she spends all that time waiting and then as soon as he steps inside, she runs to her bed. Not to mention when he pets her, she acts like she doesn't like it, but when he walks away, she goes crazy sniffing where he was. I still believe, along with my parents, that the only reason she doesn't like him as much as us, is because maybe dad looks like the man who abused her. I mean she has to learn to trust men again, and it's not gonna be an easy process. However, like I said before, she's gone far in 2 years. Through those years we've been through ear infections, sores on her paws, paying for a teeth treatment (from the soft food they feed her), and endless vet visits. However, if we had to do it over, I'm sure my family and I would all agree, that we would. Thanks for reading.
Me: Thanks!
Friend: When I got my dog he barked a lot.
Me: Ya, the thing is Maggie doesn't bark- I mean it - not at all.
Friend: Yeah right! All dogs bark.
Me: Not her! We think she might have been debarked.
Friend: Fine, fine whatever.
Now I was set on believing I was right. I was pretty sure I was too- until that night. Just as we were falling asleep... BAM... she decided to bark then! In the middle of the night and, of course, when my friend was over. Well, she doesn't bark much, but at least we know she can!
Now she may seem like she's normal, but she has one trait that makes her different from most dogs. She would not let my dad go anywhere near her. If he was in the kitchen, she was in her bed. If he was near her bed, she was in the living room- watching. She's come far in 2 years- now she let's him pet her, talk to her, give her treats, and so on, but she still hasn't completely adapted to him- yet. Every night- except for weekends- she sits in the living room staring through the opening into the kitchen, and to the door leading to the garage, just waiting for him to come home. It's like she likes him, but she doesn't want him to know. I mean, she spends all that time waiting and then as soon as he steps inside, she runs to her bed. Not to mention when he pets her, she acts like she doesn't like it, but when he walks away, she goes crazy sniffing where he was. I still believe, along with my parents, that the only reason she doesn't like him as much as us, is because maybe dad looks like the man who abused her. I mean she has to learn to trust men again, and it's not gonna be an easy process. However, like I said before, she's gone far in 2 years. Through those years we've been through ear infections, sores on her paws, paying for a teeth treatment (from the soft food they feed her), and endless vet visits. However, if we had to do it over, I'm sure my family and I would all agree, that we would. Thanks for reading.
