On July 15, 2008, on my son Max's birthday, we bought a puppy named Maggie Moo from a breeder. While we were at the breeder's we noticed several dogs that looked like they could use medical attention. We also noticed puppies being held in rabbit hutches. This was a puppy mill. This breeder was recommended to me by a friend so I was very surprised at the condition of the family pets. We adopted Maggie because she was just so cute and we didn't want to leave her there. During the 24 hours we had Maggie, she became very sick. She lost her sight, started having seizures and was stumbling around. My veterinarian didn't think she'd live through the day. Max and I were devastated as we had fallen in love with the little girl. It was a very hard, but we made the decision to give Maggie back to the breeder as the vet didn't think she would ever be completely healthy again.
They believe that Maggie got into some kind of toxic chemical, possibly the medication the breeder used to worm her horses.
My friends, Ed Angelo, Liz Facenda and I all started trying to report the breeder to the authorities. It took us almost 2 weeks to get someone to even call us back.
I was online and found a site that's mission is to stop puppy mills and the cruelty that goes on there. On 7/24 a toll-free number was put into action. Ed Angelo and I both called and reported the breeder. On 7/25 Ed and I both received a call from the department of Dog Law Enforcement. I was asked to make a written statement, which I did immediately and faxed to them.
I just found out today that on 7/28, 17 dogs were surrendered by the owner to the Chester County SPCA, including Maggie Moo. At the last inquiry made by the Enforcement Agency, all of the dogs were doing great and were well on the road to recovery. The owner received citations for violations, vet care was ordered on the dogs that were not surrendered and the enforcement office has gained compliance for those violations as of this date. They will periodically check this property to ensure that this does not happen again in the future.
It is my prayer that Maggie Moo will find a loving home and get adopted right away. I sent a note of thanks to the woman at the agency and got this note in return:
Susan,
The puppy you had was doing just great last update I had. If not for your and Ed's efforts we would not be able to do our jobs. So many people don't want to get involved and make that crucial phone call. 17 dogs lives changed for the better due to your help and we thank you for that.
This story has a happy ending for Max as well. A friend found us another puppy to help heal Max's broken heart. His name is JJ and he is a love! Max still feels very sad about Maggie but is much relieved that she is no longer being kept at the puppy mill.
A lot of you have already seen pictures of JJ, but if you haven't, here he is:
Not a great picture as the little guy won't stay still for more than two seconds at a time!
The agency announced the launch Thursday of a 24-hour new hotline (1-877-DOG-TIP1) for the public to report problems in kennels.
If you live in the PA area, please plan to attend Puppymill Awareness Day.
Time: September 20, 2008 from 11am to 5pm
Location: Lancaster Community Park, Lancaster, PA.
Website or Map: http://www.awarenessday.org
Event Type: Awareness, Event
Susan C. Mangigian
1595 Paoli Pike, Suite 101,West Chester, PA 19380
610-719-1700 main office, 610-299-6237 cell
Did you realize you could search for homes? Or just keep an eye on your own neighborhood? Just click the link and sign up! It's free! Don't forget to include your email and you'll have all the latest listings emailed to you. ChesterCounty360.com. You will be asked to register. I will make a quick call to say hey. If you are not interested in having me call you or email you, you can tell me, I'll respect your wishes. I do want to help, and I won't be a pest. Sign in! It's a great site.
Please visit me on facebook: www.facebook.com/chestercounty360 
What cute pics. Thats crazy. Thankfully those dogs will be out of harms way!
Lee, thank you. I was very happy to hear that something was done. Those poor dogs needed good homes. The conditions were deplorable.
Susan, I am happy Maggie Moo has been rescued, as well as all of the others. Thank goodness they are doing better. Nice Job! Enjoy your evening. Love, C. :-)
Susan, thanks for giving us all the update on the 17 dogs. I hope Maggie Moo's journey in life will be a good one from here on out, and know that you, Max, Ed, and Liz played a role in that journey. It's nice that this apparent early on bad story has a happy ending.
Susan, I remember your story about Maggie Moo and how sad everyone was....I am so glad you persisted in getting these poor animals saved and shame on anyone who would treat them that way.
Good for you...if more people stood up for the 'behind the scenes' puppy mills and irresponsible breeders then we wouldn't have heartbroken people when they finally get a puppy...and something happens.
JJ is so sweet and looks like your son's love of his life right now :)
Way to go Susan.... I applaud you for calling to report those folks. Pets rely on us for everything... and it burns my buttons when people abuse that trust. I hope Maggie Moo and her brothers and sister find a very happy home!
PS... it looks like that non self-propelled vacuum is doing an ok job. I don't see any giant dust bunnies lurking around anywhere. :)
*&$()@... back to the doghouse I go...
Susan, what a cutie pie! I was so sad when I red your last posts and was hoping there was some way this story could have a happy ending. So are you all getting her back? She looks like she's in pretty good shape.
Sadly we already adopted JJ and my husband just couldn't cope with two dogs.
Great news Susan! It's nice to see that your efforts really did make a difference, and with this blog, who knows how many more dog's lives will be changed for the better!
Hey Susan, kudos to you and your friends Ed and Liz. These puppy mills are horrible. Best wishes to Max and JJ, I'm sure they'll be best friends for a long time.
Susan, It is so sad that there are still breeders without conscience. Those poor little darlins are so lucky you came their way. You're an angel!
I have been in your shoes, and then some! The puppy mill situation in eastern Pennsyvania is sad, unfortunately. Please visit www.awarenessday.org and plan to attend their annual puppy mill march against the millers! We attend every year, ever since my little guy was bought from a puppy mill. I reported him as well, and he's had numerous charges against him (most recently this past November) but has still not been shut down completely. I'm sure I've posted a blog or two about my experiences, just as you have. It's important to keep people educated about where puppies come from. Okay, off my soap box now. Enjoy your new little guy ~ he is a cutie!
Good for you Susan. It is appalling to see these mills. I am glad you were able to help in stopping one of them. Maggy Moo will find a good home and JJ is adorable. I see he has his leash in this pic, I am thinking of putting one leash by each door but I bet they will all end up together since no one comes in the same door that they went out of here.
Susan,
From one dog lover to another I say thank you for getting involved and making a difference. Thank you for the update on Maggie Moo too.
Don R.
Susan - any puppy (or baby) picture is a great puppy (or baby, or kitten) picture. Kudo's to you and your friend for getting this taken care of. Glad to hear Max's heart is healing.
Susan...
What a wonderful thing you did for those innocent animals. I went with a friend last week as she adopted a dog that was confiscated from another mass surrender of animals. Her Kaycee will have a great life now, thanks to someone else that also did the right thing!
Susan, that is great news, I am glad that you stepped up and did the right thing!
It seems like we cant go a couple months up here without someone getting raided for the dog mills they are running. Seems like people think they can fly under the radar...
When we adopted our Zoey I did a lot of research first, because I was worried about puppy mills and of course wanted to get a healthy puppy. I avoided all pet stores (who typically buy from puppy mills) and conducted extensive interviews of the breeders (as well as visiting the breeder in person and insisting on seeing where all the dogs were kept). Unfortunately, many people decide they want a puppy and they need it right now, and they will to to a pet store or go online and just pick the cutest puppy without doing any research first. This type of behavior unfortunately supports puppy mill activity.
I have many people to thank for your kind comments. Let me, just this once, say thank you to all of you at once. Your friendship and support during the time I have been on Active Rain is nothing short of a blessing to me. I am proud to call all of you friends.
Special thanks to Carol Araneo-Mayer, would was the person who answered my email to the website to stop puppy mills. Carol gave me the toll free number that enabled me to help Maggie and the other dogs.
Friends, thank you. xxoo
Susan, I've read and heard so much about the puppy mills and am blessed to have never seen one. I think any person that would mistreat a helpless animal ought to be punished much more severely than a fine or a warning.
Let's put that person in his own cage and make him stand in his excrement and let him drink a little poison, his choice of course, since he's starving to death! Ok you get my point.
I am sooooo proud of you for pursuing this! Yea Susan! You just saved many lives and hopefully will change the future for others!!!
Yea Susan, you are my hero today! Later in the rain~Deb
Susan...
Congratulations. This post has been selected as a feature in the group "Whacked!!!"
Deb, thank you. I'm not sure I am a hero, but I am so glad that I stood up and something got done. xxoo
Richard... you are wonderful! Thank you for the honor! xxoo
It is amazing how people who claim to love animals can treat them just to make a dollar. I'm glad you did something and I'm glad it worked and shut this place down and saved 17 pets from further cruelty.
When we got our dog soon to be 17...we did lots of research to make sure the breeder was reputable. We made sure the studding was done every other cycle. As you know we still have Roscoe but time will tell how much longer he will be with us....obviously health was not an issue but old age is not setting in. We checked puppy mills and they aren't the best place to get dogs.....we went right to a breeder in CT and drove 5 hours to get him.
Neal, I have been thinking a lot about you and Roscoe since I got JJ. I hope he lives another 17 years for you. xxoo
Todd, thank you. Cat and dogs, especially dogs, are so eager to please and only want to be loved. It's so sad to think that some go through their entire lives in such misery.
Susan, I am glad you did the right thing. If everyone stands up for what is right we all make this world a better place!
As a "dog person" and owner of pure bred dogs for over 35 years, I hope this story helps to send the message far and wide that NO ONE should ever buy a puppy from a breeder that has a "kennel" situation or from a pet store ( NEVER NEVER !!!! ).. If a breeder has lots and lots of dogs, chances are they are only in it for the $$$$,..These dogs are not pets,, they are livestock and are kept as such..
. Most of the top quality pets are bred by people who are experts in a particular breed and they breed few litters, often having waiting lists for their pups and raising them as members of the family.
As was said in a previous post,, DO YOUR RESEARCH and be prepared to wait for the right pet. When you bring that little baby home, you need to plan on taking care of that precious being for upwards of ten years... ( My oldest is now 15 !!! ).. The decision to add a dog to your household should never be done on a whim...