RedRover Responders Volunteers Help Rescue 250 Dogs and Puppies from Cruelty
March 27th, 2024
By Devon Krusko, Field Services and Community Programs Manager
When we received a deployment request from our colleagues at the Humane Society of the United States to assist with a large-scale puppy mill case, I knew I was in for a whopping dose of adorable pups. As expected, I arrived at the emergency sheltering location to find 250 dogs and puppies of just about every breed you could imagine settling into their new, clean, and safe enclosures. Cute, cute, cute – and babies of all shapes and sizes.
I’d be remiss to not write about puppy mills, also known as commercial breeding facilities, without adding the reasoning for why it’s so important to adopt or shop responsibly. While understandably cute, puppies sold in pet stores or online are likely sourced from a puppy mill. Though often advertised as being raised by loving families, these dogs may be repeatedly bred without consideration for their age, health, or temperament. Dogs raised in puppy mills lack human interaction, veterinary care, and their basic needs, such as exercise and enrichment, are not met.
Dogs are often housed in stacked cages that they never leave, living on wire floors on top of each other, or outside in unregulated temperatures. Some do not have enough room to stand up or turn around, and federal law only requires cages be six inches larger than the dog. Other issues include not having drainage for waste, a lack of food and water, and crowded conditions that lead to disease. Often, violations by these facilities continue year after year with no repercussions or improvements to the care of the animals. Still considering purchasing your next pup? Learn about shopping responsibly in this handy resource from our partners at the Humane Society of the United States. The only way to stop this is to increase demand for animal adoptions or responsibly sourced pets.
Six volunteers joined me in Oklahoma to provide daily care to these most deserving animals, providing cleaning each day, fresh bedding and water, breakfast and dinner (and lunch for some!), and plenty of cuddles.
Experiencing their first days of a new normal, the pups began to settle in and it was such a joy to see their sweet and playful personalities emerging! It was truly an honor to assist with their care, and I’m incredibly grateful that it’s only onwards and upwards for these adorable dogs and puppies from here.
