Does anyone have any advice for rescuing dogs from what was essentially a puppy mill (poor babies). You may have heard about the 33 chi's seized near Toronto? They have now all been spayed or nuetered and vet checked. We are going to go see the first 15 they have decided are ready for adoption this Saturday. I am an experienced dog owner, and my chi, Nacho, was also a rescue, but she was a surrender. So she was pee pad trained and semi-socialized. She had flourished with alot of love and structure. She is the best little girl. However I have never started from square one with a rescue only with a youing puppy. So any advice from anyone who has experience doing this would be helpful, especially since this will be our second chihuahua in the house. Do I let them work it out themselves within reasonable guidelines. The good thing is they are giving us 2 hours with the one we choose to be with Nacho. Wish me luck! I am excited, and refusing to be nervous. I know how important calm is.
Thanks so much
Chichi Fan

Mill survivors tend to be better with other dogs than with people. The most important things to remember is not to rush her (or him), assume that she is a flight risk (secure your yard and never, ever let her off the leash outside your secure area), and don't assume she knows what toys, stairs, carpet, grass, TV, etc. are. Also, take any leash training really slow - lots of these pups were handled with snares. Be prepared for poop eating, hoarding, and other survival behaviors. The good news is that these babies are rarely aggressive and have a tremendous capacity to forgive. The rescue I volunteer for does a lot of mill survivors, and our success rate has been terrific - I'm sure yours will be, too. Peace to you for giving one of these souls a second chance!

I rescued my chi from South Korea. She had never been socialized and is 5. I got her when I had a lot of time off coming up because it gave us time to bond. Be prepared that she might be a little timid in a new environment. LOTS of positive reinforcement. Routine helps a lot too. Good luck!

Thank you for the advice and reassurance. I feel like we are on the right track 2 days to go and we get to meet our new chi baby. He/she will get lots of love and patience. I am confident it will work.
Chichi fan

I have to let you know I could not do it on Saturday. The chi's were in such terrible shape, they needed someone who would becwith them 24/7. Unfortunately, I have to work. They had never been out of crate and would not even walk on the floor. They had never been outside, all had lp of course but the real concern for me was they were petrified. One that had been adopted the day before was returned while we were there. It broke my heart to leave them there. Of the 33 confiscated from this horrible person only 15 may be adopted. The other 18 are going to rescue organizations to be fostered. I think they all need to be. I promised myself when I retire and could do it properly I will foster chi's who need full time attention and that's what these poor babies needed. I will keep looking for another chi to adopt who needs a loving home. It took me a couple days to get over that experience.

I just adopted my Milo who was a mobile mill rescue 3 weeks ago, other than a little separation anxiety for the first week and being very shy and timid he is the most wonderful choice I have ever made. I take a lot of joy in showing him what being a dog is really like and giving him all the love and care that his little heart desires!

Awww so sad bless their little hearts

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Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lifes whole

I have a beautiful tiny 3#2oz chihuahua, Tinkerbell is a rescue from the Dallas area. She and her big dog brother Gandalf are the love of my life. The best thing I can sugest is "Have Patience" these poor baby's out of a mill may never be adoptable. and it is not their fault. It is the monsters who run these mills. But you can't always undue what has been done to them. They don't know love or a tender touch. Pshchologically this is what they know, and my heart goes out to them. As I said. be very patient. Go to a chihuahua rescue. If it is anything like the one I got my little Tinkerbell, they are amazing. She was already very social because of being fostered. Best of luck. Remember Chihuahua's are like potato chips you can't have just one.