Hearts Break for 'Absolutely Terrified' Rescued Puppy Mill Dog

Pictures of a dog who had been used to breed at a puppy mill have revealed the heart-wrenching reality of such places.

Two-year-old golden retriever Pumba was rescued from a puppy mill in the Netherlands by new owners Tom and Lieke.

Since bringing the dog home, they have struggled to get her to come out of her shell as the reality of her experiences becomes heartbreakingly clear.

In two pictures taken almost three days after she arrived at her new home, it's clear that Pumba is terrified.

"She's absolutely terrified," Tom told Newsweek. "She never really had social interaction with humans. They fed her and that was it. No petting, no love, no hugging. She was a product, not an animal."

Turning three in a couple of weeks, Pumba gave birth to one litter during her time at the puppy mill, which is now being shut down.

"Ever since COVID is sort of dying off, puppy mill closures have been absolutely rampant around these parts," Tom said. "People are going back to work and no longer want a puppy. We decided we'd rescue a dog in need instead of getting a pup."

A puppy mill refers to a commercial dog breeding facility where dogs are bred for profit with little regard for their welfare. They are legal in most states, but many operate without proper licensing or regulation. It's estimated that there are more than 10,000 puppy mills across the U.S., with up to 4.3 million puppies born in mills every year.

Meanwhile, each year 6.3 million pets are surrendered to U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet 'Shelter Watch Report' found. Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.

Terrified Pumba is "scared witless," according to her new owners, barely moving, eating or drinking.

With one of her new owners sleeping in the room with her, she is making slow progress, but the heartbreaking pictures show just how frightened she is.

"In the last 36 hours [she has] slowly been improving, but not by choice," said Tom. "She knows she has to eat a bit, and does so mostly at night."

The owners even turned to the internet for advice, asking users of Reddit's r/rescuedogs community if they had any tips for helping Pumba feel better.

"I read a comment on the post that said one day the dog just licked her hand, and if we can get that far... that she somehow trusts us enough to see us as family, or people she likes... then I consider that a massive win," Tom said, determined that they will support Pumba until she is comfortable in her new home.

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