Because the details are patchy. The prison program got her from a mill rescue program. I talked to the mill rescue program and they didn't have any records on her specifically, but told me that she was rescued from a mill in Missouri. I asked why she would be in a mill as a mixed breed and they said that mills often mate two different breeds and call it a "designer breed." I asked how they were able to rescue dogs from mills and she said they had informants who let them know when dogs were scheduled for destruction. That's all we know.
Last night Torsten and I were talking about how Montana is coming with us on our road trip, and how she has no idea that her first-ever vacation is coming up. And we were saying how for her, every day is like a vacation. And Torsten commented on what a lucky dog she is. And it's true, she is--now. But what about the mistreatment she suffered for the first three years of her life?
I look at this sweet dog all curled up in her dog bed, rolling on her back for a tummy scratch whenever one of us comes near. I watch her nuzzle her head against a guest's leg after knowing them for five minutes. I watch her wrestle with other dogs at the dog park, and waiting excitedly for them to get up if they end up on the ground. I watch her pounce on a tennis ball and carry it around with her in circles. I watch her sleep in her crate all cuddled with her mat. I watch her poke her head out the car window to check out what's going on around her. I watch her pick her way delicately around obstacles, and eat her dinner one kibble at a time. I watch her wag her tail any time either of us even comes near her.
How could anyone ever be cruel to this dog, or any dog? How could anyone betray the trust of this, the sweetest creature to exist? How is it possible that anyone could do anything but love her? How is it possible that after all the terrible things she suffered at the hands of cruel people who ultimately planned to destroy her, she is still so trusting and so loving?
On second thought, I'm not sure I would really want to know the details of her life before she came to us. I think it would be too painful.
I am so with you on the animal cruelty thing - you just have no idea. It breaks my heart when I hear stories about abuse or the puppy mills, etc. Oprah did a show on puppy mills last year I think. I knew a lot about them already, but it was just so horrifying and made me cry. That dang ASPCA commercial with Sarah McClachlan (sp?) makes me cry too. I can't watch it.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right - it's probably better you don't know exactly what happened to her. But all that matters now is that you guys treat her SO well. And the way she acts towards you guys and loves you guys means she KNOWS how much you love her and care about her. She is in a really great place right now where she is happy and safe.
I saw a dog at the park yesterday that looked just like Montana. I even said it to myself when he came running it. :)
I don't get it either. I adopted my dog from an animal shelter when she was 10months old- she had been rescued from some kind of abusive situation (details are sketchy) and when we brought her home, it was as if she came to life. She's been with us for 13 years and she's the best dog, ever. How someone could possibly hurt her is way beyond me.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame really, extremely sad, that people can somehow justify these things to themselves.
Just be proud that you're giving a good dog a great home- that you're impacting a life positively, and hopefully rewriting any of her past memories.
I am the same way. I get SO upset when I hear of animals being mistreated.
ReplyDeleteWe kind of want to know Shorty's backstory too. He was SO afraid of strangers when we first got him, and now he barks like an animal possessed when he meets men with deep voices. All we know is that he was found running around and sent to the pound. He was scheduled to be put down, but someone took a liking to him and keep him longer than the allotted time period. They finally called the rescue organization to pick him up when they couldn't hold him any longer.
Montana is so lucky to have you. Pretty soon, you'll be all she's known and whatever her past was will be a long-forgotten memory.
This post just about made me cry. She is so lucky to have found you guys!
ReplyDeleteAwesome post, Jess. Thanks for being a fellow animal lover and rescuer.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you feel this way, thank you for writing about this.
ReplyDeletexox
Very sweet post. She is lucky to have you. Hopefully she has forgotten her past.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean. Petey is literally the weirdest, happiest, most lovable dog I've ever had. I've gotten other pound dogs before, and each one has acted about the same. Petey, on the other hand, used to cower (sometimes still does) whenever we reach up to grab something out of a cabinet or when we accidentally drop something on the floor.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'd ever want to know what happened to Petey. I think that I'd be too angry to let that person/people get away.
It AMAZES me how someone could mistreat a dog like her (or Montana). They have some serious problems. All I can think about now is how we treat her and the way you treat Montana definitely makes up for (and more) the way she was treated in her past.
Petey was in the pound for about 8 months before a family fostered her because even the pound saw how special she was and wouldn't put her down. She stayed in foster care for about 4 months, gained 20 pounds and got worms. Great.
But yay for our doggy children being so awesome :) I love them.
I agree. I don't think that I would want to know what happened to her before she was rescued. All that matters is that she is happy where she is now. :-)
ReplyDeleteBoth of the two dogs we have owned were from the rescue, found as strays. Both such great dogs...Someone had to be missing them.
ReplyDeleteI cringed when I read she was rescued from Missouri. This state (which I oddly love & work hard for & I think is amazing and beautiful in many unrealized ways (mostly talking natural resources here)), is AWFUL when it comes to mills & dog fighting. AWFUL. And because I feel a connection to the state, I feel strangely responsible for it's faults too. This is coming across as a strange thing to say I'm afraid, but I'm sorry.
ReplyDeletePuppy mills are terrible!! From what I've read they are more notorious for neglect than abuse. Not that that's really any consolation, but I guess it's something. No matter what happened to her, at least she has you now!
ReplyDeleteThere is a special place in hell for people who abuse animals. I believe in a lot of ways that animal abuse is even worse than child abuse.
ReplyDeleteThank you for rescuing Montana! I'm so glad that she is now in such a loving, happy home. She's going to LOVE her vacation :-)
Animal cruelty makes me sick. Literally. I can watch a movie on tv and see 487 people get blowin to bits without blinking an eye. I can't even watch horse races for fear of seeing a horse fall down. I cannot watch any of those animal rescue shows on Animal Planet b/c they break my heart. I just do not, even the tiniest bit, how people can hurt animals.
ReplyDeleteMAN, I love that dog. She reminds me so much of my Olive in those pictures. I'm glad she has you and Torsten - she IS lucky.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same about all animals, not just dogs.
ReplyDeleteShe's a lucky pup to have found you both and it looks like she really is happy.
Very sweet post and a very sweet dog you have there. What a nice expression on her face! I'm glad you have such kindness in your heart for her..that can heal many of her wounds. Best of luck to you both!
ReplyDeleteMontana is such a sweet, sweet pup. I just love her. I am so glad she has you guys, because it was obvious when we were there that you guys adore her.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would want to know. I guarantee I would have vigilante revenge fantasies, and that can't be good for a person's psyche.
I agree that it's probably best not to know.
ReplyDeleteYou're giving him a great home, full of love, and it's likely washed any bad things away.
This post definitely resonates with me, Jess. The first year we had SoMi, I would think about her history. And I would often cry because I didn't have answers to many of the questions you raised. Since the close of that first year, I rarely think about her history. Because dogs live in the moment. And I know that ever since SoMi has come into our home, every moment she's had has been good. Comfortable. Safe. Even fun. I won't let her history get me down. I just use it as motivation to be the best dog mama I can be.
ReplyDeleteYes, exactly. I wonder what happened to Miri, but I'm pretty sure that I don't want to know.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I'm sure of, it was done by a person standing up, walking around. She's much friendlier when I'm sitting down: when I stand up, she never stops watching me. Just in case. Ugh. Poor thing. How could anyone?
i absolutely hate animal cruelty. i love my dog so much i cant imagine her being treated in such a way. we got her when she was 10 weeks old though so hopefully nothing happened to her before then.
ReplyDeletedogs are just such innocent, loving creatures- how could anyone do this to them? makes me so angry!
thanks for the post
Animal cruelty really gets me. I instantly well up thinking about it. I don't get it. Not one bit.
ReplyDeleteSomeone I know is actually prosecuting an animal cruelty case of a cat murder. It blows me away what people can do.
ReplyDeleteThe puppy mills make me feel ill. I can't bear to think about the pain and fear involved. I am so glad for you and Montana that you have found each other. She is a truly beautiful dog. The last photo says it all - she has a smiling face!
ReplyDeleteAgreed. We rescued our dog from a group that helps dogs in the South, and there are some signs that he was abused. It's so sad because he's the sweetest dog and he's adorable, so I can't imagine how anyone could look at him and be mean to him. It makes me sick.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I are considering paying for the test that tells you what breed/s your dog is. We were told he's a Shepherd mix, but we're convinced they meant German Shepherd. He seems to have a lot of Border Collie in him, so we're curious. We're not in any rush to do the test, but some day in the future we might.
Oops, I meant to type that we're *not* convinced they meant German Shepherd!
ReplyDeleteMy mom was using a fly swatter (on a fly, of course) one afternoon when I realized that her boy dog fled every time she raised the swatter. It just kills me to realize that someone must have hit him with something in a former life.
ReplyDeleteShelter dogs just know you've saved them, I swear it.
Have you ever read Dog Is My Co-Pilot?
Yeah. I think I might pay NOT to know.
ReplyDeleteI swear they really mistreat dogs there, it makes me wanna cry. There are lots of stories about dogs being put down to sleep here. Basically they're unwanted, considered dangerous and nobody would deal with them or something. I'm frustated a lot because I can't keep a dog at home to help.
ReplyDeleteMontana is lucky to have you and your husband. You guys are fantastic owners :)
The only thing I really know about my rescue cockapoo is that she must have had a doorbell at her house. Because when one rings on TV, she runs to the door and barks. we don't have a doorbell.
ReplyDeleteOh, and they must have hit her with a broom, because when we first got her, she shuddered and hid if we took one out of the closet.
Oh, and she wasn't high on guys, or diesel engines.
Luckily after two years, she's managed to get over all those things. And she's one of the best dogs I've ever had the joy of knowing.
I've written about her quite a bit. Dogs are the best. Talk about unconditional love.
I'm with Shelly. I can watch graphic movies, but as soon as an animal is involved I have to turn it off, even if it is fake. It haunts me. Animals are so innocent and trust us wholeheartedly and it makes me sick that anyone could bring harm to one.
ReplyDelete