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7/2/06 -
Loki Meet AABR’s
latest rescue and victim of puppy mills. His date of birth is January 2,
2006. His story would have gone untold were it not for the flood of calls
and e-mails AABR received telling of his plight and the response of the AABR
volunteers. For those of you that believe that the horrors of
mass-producing dogs ends once the puppy leaves the mill, we hope this little
boy’s story will change your mind.
Loki was shipped to the pet store in the mall in
Nanuet, New York. He was put in a cage with a card on the front stating his
fine pedigree – purebred boxer. His price about $1900.00 And there he
sat. When questioned, the pet shop manager stated that he was allowed out
to play with the other caged puppies ‘for a while’ each day and then
it was back into the cage. Nature being what it is, Loki began to grow –
pet stores do not thrive when puppies start to look like dogs, so Loki went
on sale. That’s when AABR began to receive e-mails and phone calls – you
see while Loki was growing, his cage was not. At one point (we were told)
his cage was so small for his growing body that he was forced to hang his
head down when he sat up.
Little Boy’s discount price caught the eye of someone –
how can you resist a bargain? So he was sold. Unfortunately, he was
quickly returned. Loki had no manners, had no idea what to make of people
or other animals or the world itself – it’s hard to learn how to be a puppy
from behind bars in a pet shop cage.
The
volunteers of AABR had to make a terrible choice – fight for all the Loki’s
that are in all the pet shops or purchase this one puppy mill puppy and
become part of this disgraceful problem. With our collective hearts broken,
we knew we could not make this purchase. But we began a huge letter writing
and telephone campaign to every agency that has any say in the treatment of
pet shop animals, including NYS Agriculture and
Markets Division of Animal Industry.
In the meantime, Loki was now 6 months old and was
discounted again – he was now ONLY $699.00 and once again he was sold.
Unfortunately, his new home couldn’t keep him and they gave him to a third
home. The third home called a vet and told the vet that they didn’t want
him either. Fortunately, that vet gave them Jamie’s phone number.
Apparently, it was destiny that Loki and AABR would be brought together.
These are the realities of a puppy mill/pet shop
puppy. This is why AABR will continue to be in the fight to stop puppy
mills. AABR will find the right, forever home for this little boy –
that’s always been and always will be our promise to every dog that finds
itself safe in our care.
We’re also asking that you continue to support
AABR. As always, we continue to need volunteers, foster homes,
transporters, supplies and donations. Every penny of every donation goes
directly to the welfare of the dogs and we are proud of the number of loving
and safe homes we continue to give to each dog that is part of the AABR
organization. We’re also asking that you join us in our fight to put an end
to puppy mills, to stop the purchase of ‘That Doggie In The Window”.
Of course we will keep you informed about the
progress that we know Loki will make, so please continue to visit us often.
The July 4th Holiday has truly become a day of Freedom for one
little boxer boy.I |
