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Introducing Persephonie

© Wendy Smith

As cold as it might sound to some, the very night after loosing my beloved Chelsea, I filled out an application to adopt a dog from Southern States Rottweiler Rescue. That was part of my way of grieving. There was never any question about getting another Rottweiler, and I felt that the sooner I could get one into that too quiet house, the better for me and everyone in the family. Dingo was an absolute Godsend to have around, but the house was way too empty without a Rottie.

Besides, with Christmas less than two weeks away, I wasn't expecting anything to actually happen until after the holidays. I just wanted to get the ball rolling. I had a vague idea about the kind of dog I wanted: a young female, preferably no older than a year and a half and on the easygoing side, which I could train for the obedience ring and therapy work. My mother was even pressuring me hold out longer for perhaps a young puppy, should one show up in the rescue.

However, the very next day, fate stepped in. A very special dog was in desperate need of a foster home, and the rescue asked me if I could take her in ASAP, even if only on a temporary basis.

"Momma Dog" had been rescued in mid-November when a puppy mill was raided in Ashville, NC. Her former "owner" has been charged with 60+ counts of animal neglect. The Rottwielers at the puppy mill were housed outdoors 24-7, in small, four foot by four foot cages. There were two to a cage. Malnourished and with no form of shelter, the dogs had to live in their own feces.

This young mother dog, weighing less than 50 lbs herself, was trying to care for a litter of four 5-week old puppies. The puppies were only about 2 lbs apiece. Realizing the mother could not care for them on her own, shelter workers placed the puppies in foster homes. Unfortunately, the poor babies were too weak to make it.

When the mother was spayed, it was obvious that this had not been her first litter... not by a long shot. Her age was estimated at between three and four years old. However, as people got to know her, especially those accustomed to Rotties, that estimate has been reduced to the lesser end of that scale, perhaps even the two-year range. The poor girl had probably been used as a breeding machine since her very first heat.