Editor:
I wanted to share the story of my dog Delta, and her mother, whom I called “Mama.” Mama had three litters before she was two years old. She was bred by a backyard breeder on her first heat. When I got her, she was covered in fleas, moving all around her body, she was weak, but she was proud, and she had such a spirit about her. She was my heart dog. After a month of getting her healthy, I thought it would be OK to have her spayed. It ended up killing her.
I didn’t know that she was so weak from having so many puppies back to back that her internal and external stitches would rupture while she was laying down whimpering quietly by herself dying with her intestines protruding. It is the most horrific thing I have ever gone through in my entire life. This was the middle of COVID. I had no shoes when I drove to the vet, frantic to save her life. We had her intestines wrapped in a towel. They tried to do everything they could, but she could not be saved.
That is the expense of a female dog from a backyard breeder. I paid $300 for her to get her out of that hellhole. We tried for her. I was so happy to have a life with her. She just couldn’t survive her past trauma to her body. Please support the backyard breeding ban for all of the Mamas out there.
Sabrina Connaughton
Edmonds
Stories like this are why I will never stop fighting for animal rights. Run free, Mama.
Why didn’t you have shoes?
There was no time to do anything other than rush her to the emergency vet. One minute I was doing dishes as Mama was resting quietly, and then the next came the most horrific experience I could have imagined. Mama and Delta’s breeder was ultimately convicted to 5 years in prison for crimes against animals, businesses, and theft.
Thank you both Sabrina and Jenna. What we do to animals for monetary gains and pleasure is unbelievable.
Sabrina is my hero, she rescued horses being exported for slaughter for over 15 years and has done significant animal advocacy work, as well as being one of our local animal rescuers. Sabrina is always the first person I call whenever I need advice about animal welfare or animal rescue.
We currently enjoy the love of a Boston that we rescued from a California puppy mill through PAWS in Lynnwood. It breaks my heart to think of what our sweet little Lola went through before we got her. I fully support a ban on backyard breeding programs. I’m so sorry that your poor little dog suffered and was so badly used.
Thank you for choosing to rescue a puppy mill survivor, and showing her that humans can be kind, Maggie. I appreciate your support for the backyard breeding ban.