I'm an unrepentant dog person. I love dogs of all shapes and sizes. Though admittedly due to a pit bull getting into our house I am afraid of most of them. Though I've met some sweet ones.

On February 27th of this year I lost my dog, Audrey. She was 16 years old. Old for a dog but to me still my baby, despite her blindness, deafness, arthritis, and alhezmiers. I miss her viciously. I still cry all these months later.

However, I could not live dogless. This time around I decided I wanted to adopt a dog from a shelter. My first dog, Bitty, was one of those "free to a good home" you might see in a Normal Rockwell painting - a box full of puppies sitting outside a general store. Audrey was a gift from my cousin Eddie. I never adopted a dog before.

Well, last Monday I found myself at Save-A-Pet in Palm Springs, CA. After spending time looking around we were let into a back room where dogs whom needed surgery or were on medicines were. Most were skiddish, but one came to the front of her cage and wouldn't stop staring. Even when I put my hand up there. She just licked my fingers and watched.

 That's how I ended up adopting Minnie.

Minnie is miniture malte-poo. She was used as a breeder in a puppy mill in Lancaster, CA. Until two months ago she never had human contact except when she was tossed in a cage with a stud dog.

Because of the lack of care Minnie had to have all except five of her teeth pulled. One ear is very chewed up from flystrikes. She was kept outside in a kennel with a bunch of other dogs.

Minnie is the sweetest little thing. She loves to cuddle up to me and follows me everywhere. I can't even go to the bathroom without her waiting outside the door. The few times I've been away from her since Monday (voice lessons, work) she apparently stood by the door and howled.

I have her walking in straight lines instead of circles now. Potty training is proving hard. She LOVES chicken, can't get enough. She cowers when you go to pet her and will jump back from her food or water if you get near as if she expects you to take it from her.

It kills me how she was treated. Looking at her sweet little face I can't imagine someone being so cruel.

Puppy mills are just plain evil. I pray someday they'll all be gone. Breeding should be handled only by people whom trully love these little gifts from God. Not money hungry abusive losers.