Why Dads Need Their Stories Heard

I’ve written recently about Merlin, a dog recently rescued from a puppy farming breeding facility. Merlin has many health problems and last week had his leg amputated due to a huge sarcoma which, if it had been treated sooner would undoubtedly have saved his leg. Around the same time that Merlin was awaiting treatment I received an update on another ex-breeding dog, Trevor who’s recently been adopted after rescue from a puppy farm. It’s made me think that I don’t write enough about the male victims of the modern puppy farming business. The dads who, like the female breeding dogs live awful lives often confined in grim facilities. Although the males in puppy farming don’t experience the physical and emotional demands of endless pregnancies, they are equally as neglected as the females. Their lives are spent largely in isolation and the damage to their wellbeing is just as nasty as to the mothers in these places, a look at poor Merlin’s physical needs demonstrates this well.

Merlin, recovering after surgery to remove his leg and sarcoma.

The sarcoma on Merlin’s leg was huge and weighed over 1kg.

Merlin is recovering well with the DBARC team and although there are a few more unknowns about his health, all due to puppy farming, there’s every hope he’ll soon be enjoying the life he should always have had.

This from Alison, Trevor’s new mum shows some of the challenges he’s experiencing adjusting to living as a normal dog, in a regular home. Like Merlin, his whole life prior to rescue had been spent in a puppy farming facility, neglect, isolation and poor welfare was all that he knew. He’s now living in the peace of the Hereford countryside, with brother Duke and Wilma (an ex-breeding girl adopted a little while ago). Alison’s words..

Trevor update! He’s proving to be more of a challenge than Wilma in that he’s been very scared and resistant to all attempts at penetrating his armour. Not with Duke & Wilma, he loved them from the start, but us!! However, in the past two days, I sense he’s cracking and allowing us to see a little of the real Trevor that’s locked inside for his own protection.
Both yesterday and the day before, Trev has shown real excitement when I’ve come downstairs for the first time in the morning. Like Wilma, he’s started jumping on the spot, tail wagging and coming forward for a stroke. He now loves rushing into the lounge after tea with the other two; he has finally started accepting treats from my hand (most of the time!). He’s getting better at coming in & out of doors and is keeping closer to us on walks with his trailing lead. A couple of times, he’s come back on recall with the other two and accepted a treat while out in the fields.

And today, EUREKA moment, while out on a 6.5 mile walk around Talybont Reservoir (near Brecon), he finally agreed to walk on an extending lead with me holding it, at least for part of the way. This is massive as he’s been ok to have the trailing lead, but as soon as I’ve touched it, he freezes & refuses to be tempted into moving. There’s a long way to go, but not being able to walk him on a lead is very restrictive, so I’m very happy with this break through. Very proud of my newest boy.

Trevor, content in his bed with Duke and Wilma

 Alison and husband Steve are experienced with dogs, having rescued many over the years and Trevor will have the greatest life with them. It’s maddening to think of all the Merlins and Trevors who will never know the simplest thing that all dogs deserve – human love and kindness.

We need to speak out for all the dogs in the breeding industry. Puppy farming wrecks their lives. Their stories must be heard, their lives must be made to matter beyond the puppies they are forced to produce.