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Pic#1
Mr. Peepers |
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| Pic#2 Mr. Peepers' home
in the puppy mill. |
Mr. Peepers is my double dapple, blind
and deaf Dachshund. (Pic #1- right)
Until he was rescued in January 2001 he lived
the first two years of his life in a puppy mill in west Tennessee. The 55 gallon barrel you see in the picture is where he
lived. His only cover and shade from the heat, cold, rain and snow. (Pic #2 - right) He
was used as a breeder to produce dapple or spotted Dachshunds. He was just one of several
hundred dogs that existed in pens such as these with little or no human contact and never
any love or kindness.
The area these dogs were kept was about a
mile away from the owner's house, well hidden at the bottom of a long hill and near a
creek in a large grove of trees. The breeder had about 150 dogs in this area and we were
told she came once a week to feed, water and check on them. The place was terrible, slimy
water buckets, spoiled, wet food in dirty feeders. (pic# 3 - left)
The puppies born there lived in terrible
conditions such as the pens in the next pictures. (pic#4 & #5) Many never survived to
know the love and kindness that every puppy should. When we heard about this place, we
were told that the breeder was going to take the dogs she no longer used for breeding,
ones with health problems and the older ones that could no longer produce the big litters
to a dump box near Dixon, TN. When she got there it had been closed down. This is where
she had been taking her unwanted dogs. We were told if we did not take them the next day
she would dump them on a country road to fend for themselves! We agreed to take
several of the dogs that she wanted to "get rid of." When we got there we were
told about the "other dog." The one they didn't think anyone would ever want.
The one they had been hiding away.
The moment I saw him I knew he was mine and
would be going home with me. There was an instant bond between Mr. Peepers and me. He knew
nothing about how to be a real dog. He would run away and hide and was afraid of
everything and everyone -- except me. All he had ever known was that barrel and breeding
and waiting anxiously for someone to bring him food or water. I knew at that minute he
would never be hungry or thirsty again as long as we were together.
Mr. Peepers rode all the way home on may lap
and actually started to enjoy a little "snuggle time." He has been my
almost constant companion ever since that day. He has learned to come to me by smell. I
can blow my breath in his direction and he comes trotting to me. He walks well on a leash
and loves people. He knows where the back door is and goes to it to go out to potty -- he
even goes up and down the stairs.
When Mr. Peepers first came home with me he
was afraid of everything, he would try to run and hide. Now when he meets a new person he
will often give them a big kiss! He loves the children and enjoys licking fingers with all
the good stuff on them.
Mr. Peepers is a real ham for the camera.
Even though he's blind, he seems to know when you're taking his picture. (Pic#6 - left)
Today, he is a wonderful dog. He does most of the things that the other dogs do. He plays,
runs, feels the sunshine on his face, enjoys a big rib bone and most of all -- he
knows what it is to be loved. He even has my husband singing to him! He puts his face
against Peepers cheek and he can feel the vibrations from Bill's voice. He will sit an
'listen" while his Dad sings to him!
Is he spoiled? Yes Sir! And he deserves every
bit of it! Sometimes people feel sorry for him, but he does not miss his sight or hearing
because he never had it. He smells, feels and tastes and most of all he loves -- me -- his
Mom -- forever! (pic#7) Here he is peeking (by scent) out from under my computer desk,
just making sure I am near.
To my best buddy, Peeps... I love you.
Your mom, Jackie.
NOTE: Jackie Slayman
passed away on August 19, 2001.
Mr. Peepers has gone to live with Kim
Townsend, in Missouri. He and Georgia, another double dapple Dachshund, also blind.
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