A little over a year after rescuing Tucker in 2022, a puppy mill survivor, we decided it was time to welcome another puppy mill dog into our home. If you know me, I hate odd numbers! We had three dogs at the time. 😉
We were scheduled to transport dogs for Adopt A Pet, Inc. (the rescue we volunteer with) on June 8, 2023. We knew we were picking up older dogs that a commercial breeder in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, no longer needed and planned to kill.
Among the dogs was a seven-year-old female Bichon.
The Day We Met Rosie
As we arrived on the outskirts of Lancaster, we waited with the other transports for the dogs to arrive. When they pulled up, I saw three little dogs in one of the rescuers’ trucks and wondered which one was ours.
She said, “I know you are taking one. Do you want to choose?”
I said no. I felt like the dog who was meant to be with us would be the one.
She picked up the little Bichon, and tears instantly fell from my eyes. She was a scared little dog in terrible condition – urine-soaked, with long curled nails and a blank stare, not knowing what was happening.
As Mike took her into his arms, the smell was unbearable. But through my tears, I told her, “It’s okay. You’re safe now, and we are going to love you forever.”
Mike loaded the rest of the pups into the truck, and we trekked back to New Jersey. During the drive, we named our little Bichon Rosie – proper name, White Rose of Budderstown. (Budderstown is a special name for our home but a story for another time.)
Once we arrived at Adopt A Pet, all the dogs were immediately given baths, marking the start of their new lives.
When we were getting Rosie ready to be washed, we removed her collar. The word “GoldenRod” had been written on it by the Amish breeder. I’ll never forget it. Off in the garbage it went. I never wanted to hear that word again.
While Rosie was in the bath, the dirt, urine, and feces fell off, revealing her true, thick white coat. After drying her and trimming her nails, we headed home to begin her new life with us and her new fur-siblings.
Bringing Rosie Home
At home, we brought her inside in a crate. Our crew was so happy to see her. We set Rosie’s crate up in the living room, where we spend most of our time.
She was completely shut down and extremely scared of everything – except the other animals. She felt comfortable around the cats and dogs, but the sight of our hands put her into a panic.
Our hearts broke for her.
We kept her on a leash when taking her outside, which she HATED, but she would just sit there and refuse to move. We had never experienced a dog like this.
She had been abused, never properly handled, and used as a money-maker for breeding. She was extremely fearful, and we wondered what we had gotten ourselves into.
Tucker was different when we adopted him. He was still very scared, but he had been in a foster home for about a month before coming to us – the best foster home, might I add!
Rosie had gone straight from the puppy mill into our home. Everything was new and terrifying to her.
Learning How to Be a Dog
As the days went on, Rosie began watching the other dogs and slowly started opening up to them.
She went in for her spay and dental about three weeks after we got her. When I picked her up, she had done well, but we learned that she only had 16 teeth. After her dental, she was left with just three!
About a month after her spay, we took her for her first grooming appointment. Since she was so close to Tucker, we brought them in together and even bathed them together.
Our groomer took them after the last appointment of the day so it was just us. That made a HUGE difference.
After Rosie’s first real groom, I cried. She was beautiful! Shaving off all that thick fur made her feel so much better.
Since then, Rosie and Tucker have continued going to the groomer together every six to seven weeks. Rosie was never exactly quiet about grooming – especially around her face. She could be very, very feisty! But over time, she has gotten so much better.
Celebrating Every Little Victory
As the months passed, we watched Rosie slowly come out of her shell. We celebrated every little victory and cried over the setbacks.
In October 2023, we took the dogs on vacation to Maine. I was extremely nervous, but the trip went great!
Considering Rosie had only been with us for four months, she handled the ten-hour drive, staying in a new place, and spending her days in another unfamiliar location remarkably well. The other dogs played a HUGE role in helping her.
It wasn’t all easy. I still had to climb into the back of the truck to get her because she was afraid to be picked up. But once she was in my arms, everything was okay.
By Christmas, she was going outside with the other dogs, running around excitedly, and even chasing squirrels out of the yard, thanks to Evie.
She found her voice!
She started putting her front paws on our legs while we were in the kitchen making something to eat, looking up at us with those little brown eyes and hoping to get a snack.
She slept on the bed with us at night and next to Tucker during the day. She became excited to see us when we came home.
Although she was still nervous about being picked up, she learned to go to her spot. That made it easier for us because she felt safer and knew what to expect.
Over those first few months, we watched her bloom into a happy little girl.
Rosie Three Years Later
Today is July 12, 2026, a little over three years since Rosie came home with us – and she has truly blossomed.
She is one of the cutest little brown-eyed pups I have ever seen, and she knows exactly how to work me to get what she wants!
She is fun & sassy, playful, and loves running around with the other dogs. She loves her treats and definitely knows when she is supposed to get them. She has gained so much confidence and is no longer afraid to tell us what she wants.
Rosie still gets nervous about being picked up. We tell her, “Go to your spot,” and she goes to one of the places where Rosie still gets nervous about being picked up. We tell her, “Go to your spot,” and she goes to one of the places where she feels safe. Then we pick her up from the side, which seems to be easier for many puppy mill dogs. Once she is in our arms, she settles right in.
Grooming has gotten so much better, too. She wasn’t necessarily afraid of being groomed. She was just very, very feisty, especially when anyone tried to groom around her face. She still has her opinions, of course, but she has come such a long way.
She sleeps on the bed with us every single night. When we get into bed, she goes over to Mike – my husband and her Poppy – to get her nightly “scoochies.”
Every morning, because I wake up first, she paws at my back to wake me up. Then I have to rub her belly.
Yes, she has us trained well.
I honestly cannot get enough of her.
Watching Rosie blossom into the dog she is today, knowing where she came from and how terrified she once was, has been truly amazing. Some days weren’t easy, but every single day was – and still is – worth it.
Would We Adopt Another Puppy Mill Dog?
There were times when we truly didn’t know what we had gotten ourselves into. But watching Rosie grow, gain confidence, and break out of her shell has been one of the best parts of adopting a puppy mill dog.
Was it hard? YES.
Would we adopt another puppy mill dog? ABSOLUTELY!
In fact, we did. 😉 Another story for another day! LOL
Puppy mill survivors are not turnkey dogs. They don’t arrive knowing how to live inside a home, walk on a leash, accept human touch, play with toys, or understand that hands can be kind.
But with LOVE, TIME, and PATIENCE, they can become your forever friend.
Having resident dogs in the house can also make a huge difference. Rosie learned so much by watching Tucker, Evie, Ty, and the rest of our crew. They showed her how to feel safe, enjoy life, and finally be a dog.
PATIENCE is key when bringing a puppy mill survivor into your family. You have to meet them where they are, celebrate the tiniest victories, and understand that progress happens on their timeline – not yours.
Please Think Before Buying a Puppy
One last thing.
For anyone who thinks buying a dog from a pet store, an online breeder, or the nice Amish family in the country isn’t bad – talk to us. We’ll tell you why it is bad and why purchasing those puppies keeps the cycle going.
Dogs like Rosie are used to produce puppies for profit. When they can no longer breed, they are discarded as if their lives mean nothing.
The puppies can suffer, too. If they don’t sell, become too old, or have something “wrong” with them – even something treatable like a hernia or cherry eye – their futures can be just as uncertain.
So please think twice before buying a dog from any of these places.
Remember Rosie’s story. Think about the dogs across the United States living inside cages, sometimes with little access to proper food, clean water, veterinary care, or even the feeling of grass beneath their feet.
They don’t know that love can be good. They don’t know that human touch can be gentle. They don’t know what it means to be part of a family.
How could anyone do this to them?
GREED. PURE GREED.
You don’t have to be a die-hard animal person to know this is wrong.
We are their voice. Please, always speak up for them. We need to shut these commercial puppy mills down. I pray every night that one day it will happen.
Thank you for reading Rosie’s story. Please feel free to share it and help us continue spreading awareness.
Peace, Love & Paws,
Kim
For more information about puppy mills, please visit:
If you are in the New Jersey or Pennsylvania area, please consider joining us for Puppy Mill Awareness Day in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, every September. If you can’t join us, you can still help by becoming a sponsor:
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