I left things as they were with the owner... Sometimes you see these people arrive with their dogs --- other times, remorse sets in and you don't see them... You might get a phone call saying they have changed their minds, many times you don't... So I guess I was a little surprised when the owner walked into adoptions carrying this red and white Chi in a crate, carrying a folder of paperwork under his arm...
I won't like to you - my first thought was, "And this is an AKC purebred Chihuahua? I'm pulling better looking Chihuahuas out of the shelters off of death row, for Pete's sakes!!"...
As I am talking to the owner, I reading her body language and she is scared out of her mind... Granted, adoptions is full of sounds and smells that can upset even the most balanced of dogs... But there is a look of fear in her eyes that tells me I'm in for a rehabilitation ride if nothing else...
Pulling her out of the crate, I asked the owner if she always shakes when held... I handed the pup over to one of our volunteers, started looking through the paperwork and saw a breeder's name in Kansas I recognized from my puppymill efforts... Sigh...
Set down in an Xpen with our most calm and balanced dogs up for adoption, she immediately barred her teeth as they approached her... Slinking off to a corner and prostrating herself on the ground, she immediately sent mixed messages to the other dogs --- I'm dominant, leave me alone --- No, I'm submissive but don't want to be friendly with you either...
I turned to the owner and he had become emotional... I asked was he OK and he mumbled something to me... Knowing what I know, I felt I had to let him off the hook intellectually about this dog... No matter HOW much time he and his family were able to give this dog, they bought a puppymill puppy at the petshop... With that purchase comes a whole host of problems and issues Joe Q. Citizen does not know about, and usually is ill-equipped to deal with.... It's not just a matter of a "little bit of training" - it is usually months of active rehabilitation to get these dogs turned around...
And sometimes?... They never do turn around at all... (sigh)...
I truly don't know who is the greater victim in this multi-billion dollar business --- the puppies themselves, the parents left behind in the mills or the general public who buy these puppies expecting to actually get a great pup and value for the increased prices they are paying at the petshops for a so-called "purebred" dog...
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