Raised and abused in a puppy mill, Phoenix is slowly learning how to live a normal and better life as a housebroken family pet.
Phoenix, the French Bulldog, had a hard life for at least three years before she learned that dogs can be loved and cared for. She grew up in a puppy mill in California and was used and abused for breeding. She never got to experience how to live like a dog.
But when Phoenix could no longer have babies, the puppy mill operators dumped her and another dog late in the night at a shelter in Wildomar. The breeders left the pups to suffer. Unfortunately, the other dog did not make it when the shelter workers found them in the morning.
In Pain and Distressed
Phoenix was immediately rushed to the veterinarian to get a much-needed assessment and treatment. She was a wreck with patches and scabs on her skin, welts on her toes, untrimmed nails, horrible smell and a sad look on her face. Obviously, the French Bulldog was in clear distress both from the physical pain ailing her and the uncertainty of her new environment.
The shelter turned over the dog to the Second Chance Dog Rescue and asked that Phoenix is fostered within 24 hours. Fortunately, the group had two willing foster parents who were ready to welcome Phoenix and help her recover and heal from her past traumatic life.
After a medical assessment, Phoenix tested negative for mange and scabies but the veterinarian figured out that she could be suffering from allergies. So, the French Bulldog was administered antihistamines, steroids, and antibiotics, aside from getting a medical bath and other treatments for her inflamed skin.
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A Shocking Discovery
Fortunately, Phoenix's healing has progressed and with better health, the veterinarians can go ahead and spay her. But when it was time to finally operate on her, the vets were shocked to find out that the puppy mill breeders also did not apply care and proper procedure when Phoenix had a Caesarean.
The last time Phoenix gave birth, her uterus was incorrectly stapled shut. It's a wonder how the dog survived this ordeal. She probably had to deal with an infection and complications of her botched surgery.
Now that the veterinarians have done their part to fix Phoenix, she was expected to fully recover at the foster home.
Patience and Love from her Foster Mom
Phoenix's foster mom patiently taught and train her to become an obedient family pet. She's been learning basic commands and has been finally discovering how to be a dog and not a puppy mill breeding machine, as Megan Knight of the Second Chance Dog Rescue said.
It's been close to four months since Phoenix was dumped at the shelter but she has adjusted to her new life as a housebroken pet. She lives and plays with an Italian greyhound in her foster home. She gets her daily walks and socializes with other people and dogs she meets.
Phoenix has blossomed into a sweet and friendly pup that her foster mom is sure she's ready for adoption. According to Megan, however, the French Bulldog is a delight to be around and loves to snuggle with her humans. Her foster family has fallen in love with her and will likely take her in permanently.
Puppy Mill Abuse
According to PETA and their representatives whom we've recently had on a podcast, female dogs in puppy mills are bred twice a year and if these animals can no longer bear a litter, they are either killed or abandoned. The dog moms are also not given a proper diet, exercise and veterinary care hence they end up malnourished and unexposed to the life around them.
The pups of these dog moms are also separated too early to be sold to brokers who also sell the animals to pet stores. This is why animal advocates are firm on their stand to never buy puppies in pet stores.
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