Crystal - Adopted!

Crystal is one of many of NMAF's adoption success stories over the past year. But she still stands out as one of the favorites because of the tremendous psychological damage she had. NMAF rescued her from a puppy mills; she was a breeder dog and treated solely as a producing machine. Female breeder dogs have the worst of it in the puppy mills. They are kept in the squallor conditions for many years, have their pups taken from them before weaning, and often bred again too soon, not allowing for recovery to their systems. They weaken and 'age' quickly.

When NMAF rescued her, she had an extremely dry and dull coat, she barely moved and the lack of zip in her step was heart-breaking to us. Of course she been unsocialized and unfamiliar with a kind human touch; she was beyond sad and on the brink of giving it all up. Crystal was in quick and desperate need for care and lots of attention--a complete unknown to her for her entire life. The living (or not really 'living') conditions she was in made it impossible for her to have experienced breathing fresh air, stretching out her legs for a run or even a full-body, relaxing nap, and soft grass to roll in, smell, or feel on her little pads was non-existent. She was empty inside and not aware of this thing called love or happiness. "Jailed" in a wire crate, not even able to stand, sit or lie down on anything but the hard-wire base of the crate.

NMAF foster families continue to amaze us with their generous and patient and loving hearts. Crystal slowing and wonderously became... a pet! If you've never met a puppy-mill dog--and only read about them--the first thing that will astound you is not the physical condition of these dogs, which is utterly horrendous. What will keep you in tears, is the psychological damage to a heart that was never allowed to "beat." Their extreme fear and the shock at their unfamiliarity of everyday items such as a phone ringing, a sneeze, a car passing by, a chair!

Please call NMAF's Foster Coordinator, Elaine Price @ 505-232-4719 if you would would like to open your heart and home to a troubled, unloved dog by fostering.