Standard Poodle for adoption from Hearts United for Animals - national no-kill animal shelter, sanctuary and animal welfare organization.

Angel

Angel's story from our Summer 2009 newsletter:

25-Cent Schnauzers & One Pregnant Poodle

That is the description of the puppy mill breeder dogs who were brought to the HUA shelter late in May.

When an animal rescuer attended a dog auction in Missouri, she found the dogs selling for almost nothing. The Missouri Department of Agriculture had ordered the sale because conditions in the puppy mill had deteriorated. Before the dogs could even be offered for sale, they had to be shaved and dipped in a poisonous chemical to kill all the vermin on their bodies. The rescuer bid on dogs selling for five dollars, one dollar, even a quarter. She did not know where she could take all the dogs that she brought back with her that day, but she also knew that the dogs that did not sell might be killed.

There is no better place than a dog auction to observe the total lack of compassion and respect for life that is the hallmark of the pet industry. Terrified dogs are pulled from their cages and muddy pens and paraded on the auction table while the auctioneer bawls out their breeding ability. “No bottom jaw, but that’s not whar she breeds.”

On a freezing cold day, dogs are set out in open wire crates to spend the day until they are hauled off in the back of open trucks to freeze on their way to another hellhole. In the humid heat of early fall in the southern states, dogs are taken from their sweat boxes and crammed into small travel kennels at the close of the auction. The treatment of dogs at dog auctions has always been incredibly horrible even when they brought good prices. Now they are worth almost no money, which is the only value known to the breeders. The dogs can suffer to death during the sale or while being transported, and it is of no consequence.

Julie Lavin, HUA director and the founder of Almost Home Canine Rescue, drove through the entire night to meet the transport on the interstate and bring dogs to her rescue or transfer to other rescues. The following day Janeal Dominico, founder of Little White Dog Rescue, drove to Iowa to take dogs for her rescue and bring the rest to HUA. She met HUA volunteers in Omaha with the dogs who had nowhere else to go.

The HUA volunteers drove directly to a television station where the dogs were welcomed and taken into the newsroom. There the doors of their travel kennels were opened. When the Schnauzers realized it was a safe place, they bounded happily around the studio enjoying their newfound freedom.

The lady Poodle stepped gracefully out of her kennel, walked around to every person in the room with a loving greeting as if to say thank you, and laid her head in the news reporter’s lap. This pathetic looking dog, only three years old, was a skeleton shaved to the skin with cuts and abrasions everywhere, and she was soon to give birth to puppies. She has been named Angel.

The story of the 25-cent Schnauzers and the pregnant Poodle made the ten o’clock news that evening. KMTV, Channel 3 in Omaha, has worked for months to bring the plight of the puppy mill dogs to the attention of the public. Every dog loving person owes a big debt of gratitude to these kind people.

The Schnauzers and the Poodle are enjoying the good life at HUA and learning what it means to live with people who know that they are priceless.

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Angel is a female Standard Poodle. She was born in 2006. Her puppies were born June 21st, 2009 at HUA. They can be viewed on the puppy page (4). Angel is one of the most wonderful dogs we've known. She bestows hugs and kisses on us every day for her new found freedom. She is a happy, grateful, loving girl.

Angel is so happy that she has Buddies!!

Her Buddy, Elizabeth Schutze, from Des Plaines, Illinois, sent her this message: "Angel, All I want to do is hug you and give you as many kisses as you can handle. I'm so glad that you have found people who are kind and love you. Now, you will never be cold and hungry again. Love you, Betty" Angel sends Betty many happy, grateful kisses and hugs.

Her Buddy, Carol Jewett-Baer, from American Canyon, California, sent her this message: "Angel, you are such a sweet girl. I am considering adopting you! Love, Carol" Angel sends Carol many happy, grateful hugs and kisses.

Hearts United for Animals is a national no-kill shelter, sanctuary and animal welfare organization. Hearts United for Animals does long distance adoptions if there are safe flights and we have volunteers in the area to do a home visit. We require an application, references and a home visit to adopt one of our dogs. Our dogs are all spayed or neutered and are current on health care. We can cat test a dog if requested. We can give you more information on each dog if you click on the adoption link below. If you are interested in adopting a dog, please click on the adoption link below. Buddies are people who help support the dog and send them love while they are waiting for their new home. The dog does not live with the Buddy.