National Mill Dog Rescue

TO RESCUE, REHABILITATE AND RE-HOME DISCARDED BREEDING DOGS AND TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE CRUEL REALITIES OF THE COMMERCIAL DOG BREEDING INDUSTRY.

OUR VETERINARY CARE PROGRAM INCURS OUR HIGHEST EXPENSE AND IS AN AREA OF PRIDE FOR THE ORGANIZATION. OUR OUTSTANDING IN-HOUSE TEAM GENERALLY CONSISTS OF A LEAD VETERINARIAN WHO WORKS 4 DAYS A WEEK, A SECOND VETERINARIAN WHO WORKS 1 DAY A WEEK, SEVERAL ADDITIONAL VETERINARIANS WHO WORK RELIEF SHIFTS ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS (USUALLY ONE SHIFT PER MONTH), THREE VETERINARY TECHNICIANS AND TWO VETERINARY ASSISTANTS. BECAUSE OF THE HORRIFIC CONDITIONS OFTEN SEEN IN THE DOGS WE RESCUE, OUR VETERINARY TEAM MEMBERS ARE EXPERT IN INTRICATE AND EXTENSIVE SURGICAL AND DENTAL PROCEDURES. THEY TAKE IMMACULATE CARE OF OUR DOGS WITH A FOCUS ON PAIN MANAGEMENT AND PREPARING DOGS FOR ADOPTION. EVERY DOG WE TAKE IN IS VACCINATED, HEARTWORM TESTED, SPAYED/NEUTERED, MICROCHIPPED AND DEWORMED. OTHER CONDITIONS DEALT WITH FREQUENTLY INCLUDE: PYOMETRA INJURED AND INFECTED EYES, EARS SCARRED FROM PROLONGED UNTREATED INFECTIONS, PARASITE INFESTATION, LEG AND FOOT DEFORMITIES, BLINDNESS, DEAFNESS, HERNIAS, MAMMARY TUMORS, OTHER CANCERS, DECAYED AND INFECTED TEETH AND SEVERE GUM DISEASE. WE ALSO WORK WITH SPECIALISTS FOR TREATMENT OF THE MOST SEVERELY ILL AND INJURE DOGS OR THOSE WITH CONDITIONS THAT REQUIRE SPECIALIZED DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND SURGICAL PROCEDURES. WE ALSO CALL REGULARLY ON PRIVATE-PRACTICE VETERINARIANS FOR TREATMENT OF THE MOST SEVERELY ILL AND INJURED AND/OR SURGICAL CARE. VOLUNTEERS INTERACT WITH AND SOCIALIZE SMALL GROUPS OF DOGS.

OUR SECOND HIGHEST EXPENSE COMES WITH DAILY CARE AND SHORT- AND LONG-TERM REHABILITATION. OUR RESCUED DOGS ARE EXERCISED, FED, BATHED AND GROOMED AND THE KENNEL IS KEPT EXTRAORDINARILY CLEAN ON A DAILY BASIS. OUR DOGS RECEIVE DAILY ATTENTION AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM DOZENS OF VOLUNTEERS. EVERY DOG'S PROGRESS IS DOCUMENTED, APPROXIMATELY 80 PERCENT ARE READY TO MOVE ON TO ADOPTIVE HOMES IN UNDER 8-12 WEEKS (IN SOME CASES OUR DOGS ARE ADOPTED AS QUICKLY AS 1-2 WEEKS AFTER THEY ARRIVE AT OUR FACILITY). ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF OUR DOGS SUFFER DEEPER PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL ISSUES FROM THEIR YEARS IN BREEDING FACILITIES. NURTURING THEM OFTEN TAKES MANY MONTHS. WE HAVE A STRUCTURED REHABILITATION PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES INITIAL EVALUATION, ASSIGNMENT OF REHABILITATION TEAM MEMBERS TO DOGS IN THE PROGRAM AND INDIVIDUALIZED CARE PLANS THAT INCLUDE REASONABLE GOALS AND DOCUMENTING PROGRESS ON A REGULAR BASIS. ONLY REHABILITATION TEAM MEMBERS HANDLE DOGS IN THE PROGRAM TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF CARE. SOME DOGS NEED WEEKS BEFORE THEY WILL APPROACH AN OUTSTRETCHED HAND OR PERMIT A GENTLE TOUCH. OUR TEAM PERSISTS, ALLOWING OUR DOGS THE TIME NEEDED TO BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH HUMAN INTERACTION. WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THESE DOGS AND OUR EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED ON SUCCESSFULLY REHABILITATING OUR DOGS UNTIL THEY ARE READY TO GO TO A LOVING HOME.

OUR THIRD HIGHEST EXPENSE IS OUR ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE PROGRAM. THESE PROGRAMS ARE MANAGED BY PAID STAFF, INCLUDING A MANAGER OF ADOPTION PROGRAMS, FOSTER CARE COORDINATOR AND ADOPTIONS COUNSELOR AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE HAD 15 FOSTER CAREGIVERS REGISTERED. EACH CAREGIVER IS THOROUGHLY TRAINED AND CONSTANTLY SUPPORTED. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY FOR A DOG IN FOSTER CARE IS 197 DAYS. THESE DOGS MAY BE HIGHLY FEARFUL AND REQUIRE TIME TO ADJUST TO NORMAL LIVES OR MAY NEED TIME FOR RECOVERY FROM SURGERY OR OTHER VETERINARY PROCEDURES BEFORE BEING MADE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION. NMDR PAYS ALL EXPENSES. POTENTIAL ADOPTERS OF OUR DOGS ARE CAREFULLY SCREENED THROUGH A THOROUGH ONLINE APPLICATION THAT INCLUDES QUESTIONS ABOUT LIFESTYLE, EXPECTATIONS, HOME ENVIRONMENT PETS PAST AND PRESENT, FAMILY MEMBERS AND MORE. THIS FIRST STEP HELPS US DETERMINE HOW LIKELY IT IS THAT AN APPLICANT COULD PROVID AN APPROPRIATE HOME FOR A PUPPY MILL SURVIVOR. POTENTIAL ADOPTERS ARE SENT A VIDEO THAT INCLUDES DESCRIPTIONS OF BEHAVIORS THAT ARE COMMON AND SOMETIMES DIFFICULT IN OUR POPULATION OF DOGS. APPLICANTS PARTICIPATE IN A PHONE INTERVIEW AND PHOTOS OF FENCED YARDS AND GATES ARE REQUESTED. IF DEEMED APPROPRIATE THEY ARE APPROVED TO ADOPT AND INVITED TO SCHEDULE A MEET AND GREET AT OUR RESCUE FACILITY. OVERCOMING THE BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES OF SOME PUPPY MILL SURVIVORS IS NOT FOR EVERYONE, WHICH IS WHY OUR INTENSIVE ADOPTION PROCESS IS NECESSARY. OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT THROUGH OUR VERY BEST EFFORTS, WE ARE SELECTING ONLY THE FINEST PERMANENT HOMES FOR OUR DOGS.