Puppy mill dogs are kept in solitary, dire, and inhumane conditions, all for the purpose of breeding more puppies for the owner's profit. A puppy mill dog's future is a grim one, and in the case of Maria, a Chihuahua, things looked especially dark.
After being forcibly bred while paralyzed, a heavily pregnant Maria was then abandoned by her owners. Like many puppy mill dogs, Maria was bred too many times. Her paralysis meant that for her puppies to survive, she would need a C-section surgery that would cost $3,000.
Her owners refused to pay for the surgery, and instead, dumped her.
Thankfully, Friends of Emma, a rescue located in Fort Worth, Texas, stepped up to give Maria and her unborn puppies a chance. The rescue took Maria in and immediately got her veterinary care. Maria was suffering from a flea infestation that caused her to become anemic. She was also malnourished and psychologically traumatized.
Despite her health challenges and her fear of people --- she had little to no interaction with individuals in the puppy mill --- Maria showed a strength of will that inspired her rescuers. With Friends of Emma's help, Maria had a successful C-section and gave birth to seven healthy puppies, fondly nicknamed "The Von Dapp Family," with each puppy named for one of the Von Trapp children from The Sound of Music.
The good news doesn't stop there. After five months of daily physical therapy and medical treatments, Maria learned to trust people, and she was able to walk again! There is still a long road ahead for Maria as she regains full use of her back legs, but she can run and feel and love. Maria's video below shows her smiling, bounding happily through a grassy yard with her puppies, and rolling over to have her belly rubbed.
Maria and all her puppies have all been adopted into permanent, loving homes, thanks to the love and dedication of the Friends of Emma rescue organization! Watch Maria's heartbreaking yet inspiring video below, and share her happiness with your dog-loving friends and family on Facebook.