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Missouri Puppy Mill Rescue - December 2005

Click here for the August 2006 update and photos

Click here for earlier updates and photos

In December of 2005, Cheryl Collins, one of our Midwest members was contacted by another rescue group who pulled sick and injured dogs from many of the Missouri puppy mills. 

She had recently acquired 3 fox terriers - 2 male, 1 female - each of which was missing a leg.  Because the dogs were aggressive with other dogs, she wanted to know if the Midwest Fox Terrier Rescue folks had room for them.  Cheryl agreed to take them in. 

She then told us of two more who had been turned over to her, a male and a female who were quite fond of each other.  She told us that the male had his upper lip ripped off from a fight. 

Again, Cheryl said yes.

Thinking we were prepared to do this hard work, to take these dogs on, we prepared for the transfer to take place the weekend of December 2.

Dana, a true angel and Fox Terrier Rescue volunteer, made the journey to meet Jim, another wonderful volunteer, to get the dogs.  What she encountered was truly worse than any of us imagined.  The dogs were in horrible condition, their coats simply matted, dirty rugs over their little bodies.  The damage to them physically appeared to be bad, but Dana loaded them up and took them to her home where she began the clean up process with them.

As Dana began cutting through the long, matted coats, the true damage became apparent.  She called Cheryl and told her she didn't know if she could go on.  The cruelty to, and resulting condition of the dogs, was almost more than she could bear.  With tears flowing and extreme bravery, Dana found the strength to finish cutting the mats from their little bodies, bathing them, and showing them what compassion is.  As she trimmed coats, she was horrified at the wounds and amputations the dogs suffered - wounds left to heal on their own, bones protruding.  It was worse than anything she could even imagine it would be.

Saturday dawned early for Cheryl, Cindy and Margaret.  Margaret picked up the dogs from Dana and met Cheryl and Cindy to bring this group of 5 on to Iowa and the vet care that was awaiting them.  They, too, thought they were prepared for what they were to see - and yet Cheryl has described the situation as surreal - like something from a very bad dream.

Cheryl and Cindy drove the dogs to Waverly where the staff of Dr. Phyllis Frost at Avenue of the Saints Animal Hospital were waiting for them.  The dogs are there now awaiting heart worm test so that we can move forward on the surgery they all require.  The three females will require additional amputation on their missing limbs because they were ripped or chewed off and need to be cleaned and surgically amputated for the health and comfort of the dog.

The male with the severely damaged face will require some reconstruction.  We are working with the University of Minnesota Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Dr. Frost to determine the best course of action for him.

All 5 of them need extensive medical treatment.  We are arranging foster homes, but none will be traveling any time soon.  We have people sending crates and supplies, but what we really need is money to help us pay for the care these dogs need.

For the direct care of these 5 mill dogs, please send a tax deductible donation to Fox Terrier Rescue at:

Fox Terrier Rescue
c/o Lee Eckholm
AFTR Treasurer
430 East Grant Street
Appleton, WI  54911

Please mark on your check or in a note that you want your money to go directly to the care of the Midwest Puppy Mill dogs, and Lee will send you a receipt for your donation.  We will be forever grateful.  Even the smallest of donations will help to begin healing these wonderful dogs.  We will post progress reports as they are available, and we thank you deeply for your help with these poor dogs.

For donations to the General AFTR fund to help these and other dogs in the care of Fox Terrier Rescue, you can donate via PayPal using your Credit Card.

Click on the link below to donate by credit card via PayPal.  Please send Lee Eckholm an email telling her if you want your donation earmarked for the Missouri Mill dogs. Be sure to include your home address so that she can send you a reciept for your tax deductible donation.  Email Lee at leckholm@sbcglobal.net

And please tell everyone you know NOT to support Pet Stores that sell puppies.  Buying from a Pet Store supports puppy mills where this kind of devastation occurs every day.

Warning!  Very graphic photos.  However, if you wish to view the photos of the devastating condition of these dogs, please click here.

  Thank you for your generous donation!!!

Cheryl Collins and Crew	Dana Flemming	Dr. Phyllis Frost
Dr. Roberto Novo	Dr. Judi Funk	Cynthia & Kaci Johnson In Honor of Janice Nytrai, Charlie Daniel and Roz Barsch
Kathy Lauer, Tara, Haley, Spike,                     Lola and Reggie	Jim R., MJ & Heidi	Margaret I.
Lucie Groeger	Maribeth K., Honey Bear & Teddy	Anne Summers, Edwin Dyer, Homer & Sophie
Roz Barsch, Emmy & Bobby - In Memory of Sir Henry	Melissa N.	Don Clark, Tara, Haley, Spike,                    Lola and Reggie
Jean Whitham	Baxter Eckholm & his humans	Julie Covey
Wanda Tillman	Cris Swift.	Lawrence & Dawn B.
Helen, Gus, Aspen, Lola, Cinnamon	Rita Ferrer	Adrianne B. & Huckleberry
Trang Nguyen	Peg & Hannah R.	Catherine Owenby, Ira & Snickers
Donna T.	Janet Fabricant	Christine S., Jax, Digsby & Winston
Patty E.	Penny N.	Sheila Callaghan
Pat N.	Michele S.	Kristine P.
Jan H.	Lynda Dziedzic	Robin Arendts
Leslie Ward	Melinda B.	Daniella S.
Kristy S.	Kathleen L.	Joan M.
Norene J.	Valeria & Michael A.	Cheryl & Geoffrey M.
Nancy S.	Greg & Merrilee H.	Mary & Arnie M. - In Memory of Nielson Baxter
Doug, Coleen & Jax M.	Stephen S.	Alice D.
Debra A.	Diane N. and Chappy	Laddie & Sandi W.
Barbara C.	Alexandra D.	Barbara C.
Jane C.	Willard & Paulette E.	Colin & Wendy M. - In memory of Beth Hughes
Rebecca C.	Katherine S.	Ray & Carla H.
Thomas & Laurel H.	Tara, Tessie & Henry Cedarholm	Michael Scott
Cliff & Judy H. - In Memory of Stormy	Susan G. - Thanks to Chank & Heidi	James & Barbara K.
Ruthann R.	Roger C.	Matt, Valerie & Austin D.
Ms. Art B.	Jim & Linda R.	Barb N.
Darla S.	Snappy, Ojo, Otto, Ticker & Jesse M. - In Memory of Toto	Lisa J. - In Memory of Sheila LaGesse
Lil B.	Dr. Susan M. & Dr. Kenneth L.	Karyn L.B.
Doug & Mary Anita B.	Josephine I.	Cathie, Kay, Duncan & Maddie C. - In Memory of Oliver, the first dog we adopted from Cheryl
Luke R. & Jean M.	Pat D. In Honor of Robin Arendts	Justine N.
Daniel W.	Pat S.	Scott & Karla J.
James & Nancy Z. In Honor of Roz Barsch	George & Sandra F.- From Harvey	Maryann & Rory G.
Channing Greene in Honor of Lee Greene	Manuel & Mary J.	James & Lisa S.
Mark Z.	Jean L.	Sandy G. In Memory of Buster
Delores & Joe B.	Stuart & Marie L.	Maribeth & Scott K.
M. Kathryn G.	Janice, Bill, Winnie & Cooper H.	Laura S. In Memory of Stolie & Briscoe
Ann H.	Nancy B.	William & Deborah S.
Ken & Janet B.	Veronica G. and Juliana L. "Dear Shelter, will you please use this money that we have saved together for dogs.  We all love dogs and want to help them.  From Veronica and Juliana. "	Louis & Linda B.
Cheryl M.	Kevin O.	Jo C., Martin H., Bud & Sweetie in Honor of Debbie Morris
Laura H.	June F.	Nancy B.

For donations to the General AFTR fund to help these and other dogs in the care of Fox Terrier Rescue, you can donate via PayPal using your Credit Card or send a check to: 

Fox Terrier Rescue
c/o Lee Eckholm
AFTR Treasurer
430 East Grant Street
Appleton, WI  54911

and Lee will send you a receipt for your donation.  We will be forever grateful.  Even the smallest of donations will help to begin healing these wonderful dogs.  For the direct care of Puppy Mill dogs, please mark on your check or in a note that you want your money to go directly to the care of Puppy Mill dogs.

Click on the link below to donate by credit card via PayPal.  Please send Lee Eckholm an email giving her your address information so she can send you a  receipt for your tax deductible donation.  Email Lee at leckholm@sbcglobal.net