Ten years ago, on 7/3/2014, I adopted Flora from the National
Mill Dog Rescue—a wonderful organization. Dog mills (or puppy mills) for
those who don’t know, are breeders who breed dogs irresponsibility, sacrificing
the health and happiness of the dogs to make a quick buck. If you want to learn
more about that corner of evil and get really, really angry, go ahead and
google more about dog mills.
In any case, I'd been looking for a dog for four months by
that point. I wanted a beautiful dog (and I prefer red dogs) and, more than
anything, one that would love me. I wasn't allowed a puppy at my apartment, I
so looked specifically for a dog between one and four years old. I knew nothing
about Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, but just before I went to the rescue to
look at a different dog, I spotted Flora's face on the rescue's website and did
some research on her breed. At 3-1/2 years old, she was just inside my age
specifications. When I got to the rescue, I looked first at the other dog and
then, uncertain, met Flora.
She pressed herself against my leg and stared up at my with
her giant, melting-chocolate, romance-heroine spaniel eyes. I told the rescue
that as long as she didn't have any health issues, I'd adopt her--and I took
her home a week later, after she'd been spayed.
She was pretty doped up at first, and to be honest, I had no
idea what I was getting in for. She did love me; she never barked at me or was
alarmed by me. She slept with her head on my shoulder and was always on my lap.
. . .
And she urinated on my bed when she was upset, barked
constantly at whoever came by, couldn't be left for even a short time due to
severe separation anxiety that led her to cry the whole time I was gone. . . .
She had never gone up stairs, never had her belly rubbed,
never seen her own reflection, never stepped on autumn leaves. . . .
Cavaliers are a breed who, beyond anything, love their
people, and Flora now had a person. And I had a dog. I had someone to take on
walks, someone to show off to my friends, someone to care for.
Flora and I have now lived together for 10 years, and our
lives have wrapped around each other. The job I have, the way I designed my
house, even the kitten I adopted -- all were because of Flora.
She's old now, of course, but still spry. She has the two
inevitable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel issues (stage 2 mitral valve heart
disease and syringomyelia), but both are controlled by medication; and other
than that and a tiny touch of arthritis in her back, according to the
bloodwork/ultrasounds/ x-rays she had half a year ago . . . "her values
look like she's a puppy."
She's always been incredibly healthy, especially considering
her background. We still walk about two miles a day. She still tears up and
eats tissues. She is calm now, and friendly, and hardly barks at all. She goes
up to strangers (including children) for pets. She follows my brother-in-law
around for treats and loves my young nieces. She is happy and she is loved.
On this our anniversary, I will be donating to the wonderful
National
Mill Dog Rescue, website https://nmdr.org/. I highly encourage any of you who are
looking for a place to do some good to do the same. And as for you who want to
adopt a mill dog -- they can be the most wonderful companions. But be prepared
also to be very patient. These dogs are horribly traumatized.
And thank you everyone who has helped them.
Day 1: 7/3/14
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