Saving Gracie

by Bradley, Carol

  Smith’s puppy mill rescue dog, Shrimp, died in the spring of 2009, and Smith grieved the loss. Shrimp’s story had spread across the globe; a week before he died, the dog received a fan letter from a child in Sudan.

  Pam Bair pampered Jolie, her adopted Cavalier, for two years until Jolie developed heart problems and had to be euthanized on June 29, 2008. Pam became involved with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescue program, and a month later she took in Paulie, a 10-year-old Cavalier who was homeless after his previous owner died.

  In Chester County, Shaw continued her work nabbing suspected animal abusers. Assistant district attorney Lori Finnegan became the go-to prosecutor when it came to animal cruelty; she handled more than thirty cases before leaving the D.A.’s office in 2009 to practice law privately. She continues to prosecute animal abuse cases pro bono.

  Linda Jackson still tells Gracie’s story to anyone who will listen.

  Acknowledgments

  Saving Gracie is more than a book about a dog. It’s the story of a cast of characters who stepped up to help rescue a damaged dog—and of the people who rescue thousands of dogs like Gracie.

  Topping the list is Linda Jackson, a woman who had not sought publicity but who graciously allowed me into her life to chronicle Gracie’s transformation as well as her own change in attitude. She opened her home and her heart, and her children, Ryan, Erika, and Julia, cooperated, too. That was priceless.

  Humane society police officer Cheryl Shaw and the rest of the staff of the Chester County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were more than willing to dredge up the minute details necessary to describe the raid of Michael Wolf’s kennel and the aftermath. Susie Spackman, Chuck McDevitt, Jill Green Roxbury, Mike Beswick, Craig Baxter, and Becky Turnbull were enormously helpful.

  At the Berks County Animal Rescue League, CEO Harry Brown took time from his crowded schedule to talk about his work. Pam Bair was a delight to spend time with; her compassion for animals spilled over into every conversation we had.

  Chester County assistant District Attorneys Lori Finnegan and Kate Wright provided me a transcript of the court proceedings against Michael Wolf, which was hugely helpful, and patiently answered round after round of questions.

  Puppy mill experts Bob Baker and Libby Williams shared a wealth of historical background on large-volume dog breeding. Bob has more firsthand experience than anyone when it comes to investigating reckless breeders, and Libby is a one-woman clearinghouse of information. They provided much-needed perspective about the epidemic growth of the industry.

  I thank Laura and Mike Hewitt, Alycia Meldon, and Susan Krewatch for sharing the stories of their Cavalier King Charles Spaniels; they are consummate animal lovers, all. Gretchen Bernardi and Lisa Peterson helped me understand the American Kennel Club’s role in the debate over large-volume breeders. The Humane Society of the United States’ Stephanie Shain was most cooperative in sharing information and photos.

  None of this would have been necessary, of course, if my agent, Jeff Kleinman, hadn’t seen the potential in a book about a puppy mill rescue. His unbridled enthusiasm kept me stoked, and his unerring eye helped mold the framework of the book. I couldn’t have asked for a better guide through the byzantine world of book publishing.

  My editor at Howell Book House, Pam Mourouzis, had the foresight to recognize a story that needed to be told. She was a pleasure to work with. Development editor Beth Adelman brought a broad base of knowledge and a surgeon’s skill to bear with her questions, suggestions, and gentle carving of my words. Her bedside manner was superb. Wiley & Son’s Amy Sell, Malati Chavali, and Adrienne Fontaine worked behind the scenes to market and publicize the book.

  I counted on a stable of writer friends for commiseration and support as I struggled to make the transition from newspaper reporting to tackling an entire book. Rochelle Sharpe was there from the beginning; she helped me examine every tea leaf along the way. Deb Pines helped me resurrect the beat-notes system we’d used many moons ago at the Gannett Westchester Newspapers in New York. Roni Rabin edited the manuscript with care and expertise. My parents, George and Irene Bradley, were there for me, and my brother, Jeff, and sister, Brooke, cheered me on all the way.

  In Great Falls, I thank a host of other friends who knew when to ask how the book was going and when to change the subject. Their support meant more than they realize. I’m grateful to Ralph Beltrone and Brad Opheim for transforming the slope-ceilinged attic of our 1916 house into a cozy writer’s loft—the perfect place to hole up on a wintry Montana afternoon. (The pups like it, too.)

  The biggest shout-out goes to my husband, Steve L’Heureux, whose steadfast love and encouragement enabled me to keep my eye on the prize. He was there for me all the way, and I can’t thank him enough.

  Appendix: Finding the Right Dog

  You can avoid doing business with a puppy mill. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

  • Good breeders have nothing to hide. Don’t let one talk you into meeting at some halfway point to sell you a puppy. Breeders should be happy to show you their kennel, where both the adults and the puppies are kept. Ask to stand in the doorway if the kennel operator doesn’t want you inside the building. All of the dogs should be clean and healthy looking and protected from the elements.

  • Good breeders will test the parent dogs for hereditary diseases before breeding them. They will advise you on the health issues particular to the breed.

  • Good breeders will have a dog’s registration papers ready when you pick up the dog. Their records will be complete and well organized.

  • Good breeders will provide documents outlining the vaccinations and any deworming the puppy has been given and what further shots or medicine the puppy needs.

  • Make sure you understand the health guarantee and return policy. Breeders should offer a two- or three-week guarantee on contagious diseases, longer for congenital or other defects. Breeders whose guarantees expire after a few days are bad news. Be sure to have your puppy checked out by a veterinarian within forty-eight hours after you take the dog home.

  • Good breeders know a great deal about the breed, are willing to share that information, and encourage you to ask questions.

  • Good breeders will want to check you out before selling you a puppy. They will ask how long you’re home during the day, whether you have a fenced-in yard for the puppy to play in, and what if any experience you’ve had with dogs. They’ll insist that if for any reason you have to give up the dog, you’ll bring it back to them.

  • Good breeders don’t work with a multitude of different breeds, nor do they advertise puppies for Christmas or other holidays.

  • If you buy a puppy, charge the purchase to a credit card. If problems surface later, you can ask your credit card company to withhold payment.

  • Avoid buying dogs at pet stores that do business with large-

  volume breeders, where dogs are kept in crates and are given almost no socialization and sometimes very little veterinary care.

  • Beware of wonderful-looking websites filled with photos of adorable puppies. Some of the worst puppy mills have professional-looking sites full of false reassurances about their dogs. Breeders who sell animals on the Internet do not have to comply with the federal Animal Welfare Act and don’t have to be inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Check the breeder’s name on the Internet to see if any complaints pop up.

  • Consider adopting a dog from an animal shelter or a breed rescue group. One in four dogs in shelters is a purebred. Regardless of whether they are purebred or mixed, many dogs housed in shelters are healthy, loving animals just waiting for the right family to take them home.

  If You Do Buy a Dog on the Internet

  There are numerous websites that advertise dogs for sale. Before you buy:

  • As
k for references and follow up with them.

  • Find out if the puppy pictured on the website is the same puppy you are buying. If not, have the breeder e-mail you a photo of the puppy and photos of the facility where the dogs are kept.

  • Ask the person you’re dealing with if he or she is the breeder or is working for a commission. If other people are breeding the dogs, get their names and contact them.

  • Never buy a puppy until he or she is at least 8 weeks old.

  • If the puppy is being flown to you, ask the breeder if the puppy has been given supplements recommended by a veterinarian to better withstand the flight.

  • Find out whether the breeder is a member of an AKC-affiliated club and, if so, contact the club to make certain the breeder is in good standing.

  • Beware of breeders who register their pups with registries that offer no means of verifying parentage or weeding out bad apples.

  • Have an online escrow service withhold part of the fee until your puppy arrives and can be examined by a veterinarian.

  Adopting a Puppy Mill Dog

  All dogs deserve a good life, but dogs who have spent years in puppy mills come with special issues you may or may not be prepared to handle. Many of these dogs have never lived inside and are difficult, if not impossible, to housetrain. A lack of socialization may prevent them from bonding well with a new family, and they will need time to overcome their fear of ordinary noises and activities that normal dogs take for granted.

  A rescued puppy mill dog may suffer tremendous separation anxiety from his or her rescuer and become destructive when the owner leaves. Puppy mill dogs are also more apt to have medical problems that may not become apparent until they have settled in to their new lives. Before adopting a puppy mill dog, have a clear understanding of the challenges that may lie ahead.

  Reporting Bad Breeders

  Here’s what to do if you suspect or know for a fact that dogs in a particular kennel are being abused or neglected.

  • Write a first-person account of your findings and send them to:

  Your county dog warden or humane society

  Your state consumer affairs office or Better Business Bureau

  Your county’s department of health and your state department of agriculture

  • Check online to see whether the breeder is licensed with the federal government and, if so, get a report of the latest inspection. At www.aphis.usda.gov, click on “FOIA Reading Room,” “inspections reports,” “inspection reports” again, and finally “breeder” to find a state-by-state list of licensed kennel operators.

  • Contact the AKC’s Investigations and Inspections division at:

  AKC Compliance Department

  8051 Arco Corporate Drive

  Suite 100

  Raleigh, NC 27617-3390

  (919) 233-9767

  • Contact your state legislators and ask them to crack down on puppy mills in your state. The USDA website (www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome) can provide you with a list of federally licensed breeders in your state, but be aware that many breeders are not licensed.

  Notes

  The primary sources for this book were interviews and correspondence with the author.

  Several dozen on-the-record interviews and a number of off-the-record interviews and background conversations were conducted. Many of the on-the-record interviews were recorded, and most sources were interviewed more than once. Some of the principal characters were interviewed more than half a dozen times. Much of the book’s dialogue and direct quotes are the result of multiple interviews and recordings. Participants and witnesses to conversations were asked to provide their best recollection of what was said. Photographs were used to convey conditions and background scenery.

  The secondary sources for the book include articles, court records and transcripts, legal opinions and court decisions, press releases, and other reference materials. The Humane Society of the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the American Kennel Club were among the sources of information used. Biographical information on Michael Wolf came, in part, from The Pekingese by Anna Katherine Nicholas (TFH, 1990). Some of the advice on working with puppy mill survivors came from Kim Townsend (NoPuppyMills.com) and Michelle Bender’s (ANewStartOnLife.com) paper “Rehabilitation of a Puppy Mill Dog” (2009).

  Several news organizations covered the raid of Michael Wolf’s kennel as well as the court hearing, and many more covered various aspects of the campaign to overhaul Pennsylvania’s dog law. The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Allentown Morning Call deserve special mention for their comprehensive coverage of the puppy mill issue. Facts and events were verified where possible; otherwise, the author relied on the newspapers’ accuracy and on multiple accounts of events.

  About the Author

  Carol Bradley grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee. She spent twenty-six years as a newspaper reporter, covering state legislatures in Tennessee and New York and the U.S. Congress in Washington D.C., and writing features and investigative stories in Montana. She studied animal law as a 2004 Nieman Fellow at Harvard University and became interested in puppy mills after covering a case involving 180 Collies crammed inside a tractor trailer.

  She now lives in Great Falls, Montana, where she is married to an architect, Steve L’Heureux, and has three grown stepchildren. She is a member of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of McLaughin Research Institute in Great Falls, serves on the local Court-Appointed Special Advocate board, and sings in the Great Falls Symphonic Choir. When she’s not writing, she’s scoping out old houses, checking out the local blues scene, cheering on Pat Summitt and her University of Tennessee Lady Vols, and playing with her two dogs.