You may have noticed that many of the dogs that have come through the rescue recently have been listed as “Puppy Mill Rescues”. We have provided information on puppy mills in past newsletters but during the last year we have rescued many of these poor creatures from lives of misery and we have seen their suffering first hand. I can tell you this is the stuff of nightmares. If we are ever going to stop the horrors these dogs endure, ALL people, everywhere, need to become aware about the evil of puppy mills. It is now time for all of us to remove our blinders and stop waiting for someone else to fix it. We must do whatever we can, no matter how small, to increase awareness about this issue.

All of the dogs that we have pulled from puppy mills have either had their lives saved by our actions or have been spared living in this puppy mill hell until they die. Puppy mills do not humanely euthanized their dogs so each and every dog we rescue is saved from a certain, painful death. Upon arriving in rescue, each dog has long standing, untreated, often painful medical issues including rotten teeth, infected uteruses, mange, knee problems, missing eyes; the list goes on and on. Thinking of the dogs left behind and their suffering is what drives us to continue our work.
I know it is very hard to face the fact that humans can be so cruel and could actually care so little about our companion animals

I cringe every time I see something that reminds me of this, but I force myself to look, and often, so that I won’t be complacent, no matter how painful it is to see. I want to stay angry and indignant so that I can also stay energized and involved. I know that part of my purpose is to heal the hurts, but even more, I feel I am here to educate, because knowledge truly is power. If I tell just one person, and they tell one, and on and on, eventually people will stop buying puppies from pet stores and off the internet , we together will have the power to to make change.
Please read Ester’s story below. Ester was truly saved from a life of misery!
- Julie Lavin

which Almost Home arranged seamlessly. During the process another dog on the website caught my husband’s eye. A one year old papilon named Sparky who looked like ( and is ) the epitome of charm and mischief.

I think my husband thought if we were driving all the way to Sioux Falls (from Mpls.) for a dog we better have a choice….. of course….. there was to be no choice.

We knew instantly we would take them both.
How could someone have given Sparky up? We’ve been pleased to find he had basic sit/stay training and was housebroken. He was pronounced fully healthy on his vet check-up. He also has perfect hearing. We didn’t realize how little our dogs heard –

until Sparky started hearing everything – and letting us know he heard it! He’s the outgoing little Mr. Popular of the dog park. His only problem is.. he seems to have something against pillow fringe…… J

Chelsea is now “Chelly.” It is sad to wonder is she missing hearing the name she had before she was lost/tossed from her home. How frightened she must have been wandering the streets.

She has responded to love and care beyond any hopes. A vitamin rich diet and luxurious baths have brought back her pretty coat. An eye infection was cleared up, improving her vision tremendously.

She loves walks, sleeping in the sun, wearing her fancy outfits, eating and trying to keep Sparky from eating. (All the food and soft places to sleep… are hers.)

nothing like seeing the love in her eyes when she looks at us.

We appreciate that Almost Home was honest about the what shape Chelly was in.

Thank you for making the extra effort to transport them so we could meet them both at once. Thank you for giving them a chance, especially Chelly. Realistically one less dog in the world wouldn’t matter…. But it would matter to that one.

-Dave and Sue, Hopkins, MN

Thunder in his new home!

From the first time moment I saw Thunder’s little face on Almost Home’s web site, I knew it was all over for me!

There was this connection-I wondered if I was making the wrong decision adopting a dog that I had not personally met, but once I held him those fears totally went away and were replaced by pure love!

Rescuing is the best, best way to go because it is giving an unwanted animal a second chance at a wonderful life and it is giving yourself a chance to try to make this world a better place.

Thunder has been such a joy! If all dogs were like him, I would have 20 of them running around! When he first came to live with me, I didn’t quite know what to do because he was the first dog who ever actually listened and obeyed me!

With Thunder, he is extra special because he is a “senior”; for me there is no other way to go! He has fit into the family beautifully;

sometimes, however, I think he feels as though he is a cat! Because of him, I am so tempted to adopt another dog from Almost Home Rescue but I hold myself back—-For the moment! ~Barbara from IL

We adopted Queeter in September after losing our beloved cat.  We were so lonely

for a pet so we started looking for a small dog we could love. We went through the adoption process and took him home.

 He has been a positve addition to our family.  He is just like one of us.  Queeter likes to go camping and fishing.  He likes  to ride in the wagon behind a pedal tractor. 

Queeter almost always goes with us and doesn't like to be alone.  He has become very spoiled. He likes to play outdoors with the kids and soak up the sun.

He has also been given a nickname.  We call him soupie because he slurps his water.  He takes turns sleeping with Jen and Rodney

each night.  Almost Home did a great job of placing Queeter with us. We don't know what we would do with out him!!!

Terry, Amy, Jen, Rodney, and Queeter