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Lily: A Hero for Mill Dogs

December 09, 2008, 1:59PM MT
By Denise A LeBeau
Watch the Pupcast Video Series featuring National Mill Dog Rescue

Watch the Pupcast Video Series featuring National Mill Dog Rescue

Lily lived her life in a puppy mill. She could have been one of the many nameless animals to live and die in the cage of a commercial kennel. After her body began to give out she was one of the many dogs “for sale” at a dog auction in Missouri. Luckily, Theresa Strader was at that auction and soon these two soul-mates found themselves on a new journey of rescue and salvation.

This seemingly simple act of kindness launched National Mill Dog Rescue in February of 2007. Since that time NMDR has over a hundred volunteers and works tirelessly to get dogs out of breeding facilities and into homes. They also have an aggressive educational program to help educate the public about the evils of pet stores and their suppliers, the commercial breeding industry.

Lily’s appearance exemplified her life of struggle, but it belied a brave spirit that is the driving force behind NMDR. Clay Myers of the Best Friends Network has captured what she meant to the family that loved her and what she continues to mean to every dog still stuck in the pet trade.

This is the premier video from a three part series on the life and inspiration of Lily!



Click on the image to see the video of Lily: A Hero for Mill Dogs

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Join the Truth About the Pet Trade Community on the Best Friends Network. Learn the latest about the commercial breeding industry and what you can do to help the animals in need!

Click here to donate to National Mill Dog Rescue

Click here to volunteer with National Mill Dog Rescue

Check out some NMRD stories on the Network:
Rescue’s Role in The Fight Against Puppy Mills

Inside a Missouri Dog Auction

Meet the Dogs Rescued from the Missouri Auction, Part I

Meet the Dogs Rescued from Missouri Auction, Part II

posted by Denise LeBeau, Best Friends staff
images and video by Clay Myers, Best Friends photographer
Comments
Posted December 09, 2008, 5:8PM by JLM
Lily, you are our inspiration to put an end to puppymills. You'll forever be remembered as an angel.
Posted December 13, 2008, 10:30AM by ruthy92
summerlomba, what a great idea!!

Placing an ad in the Pets classifieds is something we can all do, giving websites to puppy mill info and adoption info
Posted December 10, 2008, 1:27PM by southerndogmom
I never met Lily but through dealing with Theresa and other members of MDRN, I feel honored to know she was the inspiration for so much good. The podcast was lovely, Clay. May we live to see the day when mills become a thing of the past.
Posted December 13, 2008, 11:32AM by macy
God Bless all of you!! and thanks
Posted December 10, 2008, 5:21PM by summerlomba
My local newspaper refused to stop selling ad space to backyard breeders so I bought a month long ad space right in the middle of the "purebreds for sale" ads. My ad directs people to an anti-puppy mill website so people can see the torture puppy mill dogs and ones from backyard breeders go through. I also included websites of purebred rescue websites in my area. The internet is full of ads for purebred dogs and cats for sale. So is the back of Cat Fancy and other magazines like it. What an uphill battle we face! My anger will never subside which will give me the strength to keep fighting this evil industry.

I'm going to a puppy store protest soon. We all have our signs ready that say "not in our community". Just like people who protest a child molester being released from prison and into their neighborhoods, we need to talk about puppy stores selling puppy mill dogs in the same way. What they are doing is criminal and they do NOT belong in our communities. Some of our signs have photos of rescued puppy mill dogs which don't need any words their broken jaws and pathetic faces say it all.
Posted December 16, 2008, 5:7PM by sophistikathryn
What an amazing legacy for Lily. Clay captured Lily and Theresa's story with such grace, dignity, and love...the video makes you feel like you know them both. I hope that this video increases Lily's impact on puppy mill awareness and helps to raise funds for NMDR's efforts. While no dog deserves to live as Lily did for so long, I know that she was blessed to find Theresa and her family. And from the video, you know that they were blessed to find Lily.
Posted December 11, 2008, 8:14PM by squeakie42
Teresa, your video moved me to tears. We never had a "pet store dog" when I grew up -- they were always rescues or shelter dogs, and they were the best. I hope that there will be legislation at some point that will shut these concentration camps down for good.
Posted December 11, 2008, 7:23AM by jonwsix
God Bless all the souls that help dogs like Lilly. And Thank You Teresa and Rich for giving her LOVE at the end of her life.
Have a very Merry Christmas
Jon W Six and Mr Happy

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