Heartbreak as a dog left to give birth riddled with worms in a filthy cage

Lolly, a sweet poodle mix, was rescued from a filthy puppy mill where she was found in a small cage, neglected and abused, together with her newborn puppies. She was trembling at the sight of people. Her care team had a challenge to not only nurse her back to health but to make her trust humans again.

Poorly and scared of humans

Lolly was one of the 500 dogs the ASPCA and the Animal Rescue League of Iowa rescued from a breeding facility in Seymour, Iowa last year. The charities found the pooch in a small, filthy cage alongside her newly born litter of puppies.

Her fur was matted and riddled with parasites, she had problems with her teeth, and was suffering from ear infections. She was also extremely traumatised, unsocialized, and scared of humans.

Overcoming trauma

Lolly was taken to the ASPCA's Behavioural Rehabilitation Centre,the first facility of its kind for canine victims of cruelty and neglect, to help her overcome her mental health problems.

Lolly, and plenty of other dogs from her puppy mill, showed ‘severe fear’ when they first arrived. They cowered in their kennels and tried their best to avoid humans. They also acted frantic and panicked in a room of people. Many pups were trembling and refraining from eating or playing with toys.

Specifically, Lolly was nervously pacing, so much so that her paw pads were sweating. The animal behaviourists working in the centre knew there was a lot of work to be done for the pooch to improve.

The centre’s team taught Lolly to associate positive things with people, places, and walking on a leash.

Eventually, she came out of her shell, becoming excited to work with the handlers each day and seeking out pets and laps. After six weeks, she was ready to graduate from the program.

And this is when she was spotted by Ashley Eisenback, the vet she was taken to due to some discharge from her eye. Eisenback was looking for a family dog and fell in love with Lolly.

Helping other traumatised dogs

Lolly settled down in her new home perfectly. She enjoys running around in her yard, playing with her canine sibling, and sleeping each night with Eisenback's youngest daughter. And she still accompanies Eisenback to the Behaviour Rehabilitation Centre, where she works as a helper dog with other pups who have experienced trauma.

She 'teaches' other dogs how to gain confidence around daily activities and people and increases their chance to start over and find a loving home.

Sources used:

- Daily Paws: 'After Being Rescued From a Filthy Puppy Mill, Lolly the Poodle Mix Is Helping Dogs Recover From Fear, Trauma'