The "Missouri Five" Dogs - Happy Ending
 Lucky "Before" (above and below) |
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 Nora "Before" |
 Skippy "Before" |
 Nora After Grooming, with Bonnie Guzman |
 Skippy In His New Home |
 Trey In His New Home |
In December, 2005, Cheryl Collins, of Iowa Fox Terrier Rescue, agreed to take five Wire Fox Terriers from a Missouri puppy mill. The dogs, purportedly, had some severe injuries and were in need of medical care. Jim Roggveen, a volunteer, offered to pick up the dogs. As a first gift of love, he bought them all new collars. Jim met Dana Flemming, from Kansas City, who kept these hapless creatures overnight and, in addition, struggled for hours trying to clean them up, cutting off filth and mats. Thanks to Dana’s first pictures, we are able to preserve the horrors that happened to these dogs.
Early that Saturday morning, Margaret Innes picked them up and drove them to Ankeney, Iowa, where she met Cindy Johnson and Cheryl, who had driven through a bad snow storm to meet her. Cheryl’s vet had already been notified and stayed open past normal business hours, just to meet them.
What we all know now as the “Missouri Five," these hapless creatures lived in squalor and anguish, until these guardian angels came along. Discarded as unusable “breeding stock”, Skippy, Trey, Lucky Sweets, Nora and Rebel started on a path to a new life.
Four of the dogs had substantial injuries. Lucky had a traumatic front leg amputation, as well as facial tears. Rebel had SEVERE facial trauma which required reconstructive surgery at the University of Minnesota Veterinary School by plastic surgeon, Dr. Roberto Novo. Both Skippy and Trey had rear leg traumatic amputations.
When I say traumatic, I do not mean “hit by a car.” These dogs suffered their injuries in the crates, in the puppy mill, by other dogs.
As a wonderful testimony to the Wire Fox Terrier spirit, these dogs not only survived but are thriving! Cheryl’s veterinarian, Dr. Phyllis Frost, veterinarian at Avenue of the Saints Animal Hospital of Waverly, Iowa, provided veterinary care for their every need. Kathy Lauer, Bonnie Guzman and Cheryl met in mid Nebraska to arrange transport of four of the dogs; Lucky, Skippy, Nora and Trey, to Colorado. Rebel stayed behind in Minnesota with Kathy.
The dogs did amazingly well in transport and had no idea of their new life ahead of them. Foster homes were lined up in advance and anticipation of their arrival. These homes were hand picked for their expertise and experience. What a wonderful job they did!
Trey was fostered by John Nesbeth and Craig Dyer. He learned to adjust to their other Fox Terriers and slowly but surely, started to come out of his shell. He now lives like a king with Charlotte Quincannon, in Grand Junction, CO and her two other dogs. He makes progress every day!
Skippy was fostered and ultimately adopted by Courtney Stoldt. Courtney also co owns Hazel, and Hazel and Skippy get along quite famously. Nora was fostered by me. She was the only dog without injury. She adapted very quickly and was the first to be placed with Jay Henderson, another Wire Fox aficionado.
Lucky Sweets was the most traumatized to come to Colorado. She was terrified of people as well as other animals, drooled constantly and tried to hide. Kathleen Orozco, owner of Tucker, the Wonder Wire Fox, fostered and has permanently adopted Lucky Sweets. I have been able to visit her on a few occasions and the improvement, albeit slow, is remarkable. Losing a front leg is very traumatic for a dog yet Lucky is now running and playing with Tucker in the yard. She continues to shy away from new situations and people but under Kathleen’s guidance, she has made remarkable strides.
Rebel now lives with Kathy Lauer. He is unrecognizable. His plastic surgery has made him a new fellow. It is a miracle.
These dogs came from two separate mills. Nora and Rebel’s mill owner voluntarily shut down. The other mill in Ava, Missouri is in litigation and the Dept. of Agriculture fully expects to shut them down, when the case is over.
NONE of this could be accomplished without the extraordinary donations that were received by you, the general public. The veterinary care on all five dogs was financed 100% by YOUR donations. We can never thank you enough for your generosity in saving these dogs’ lives. A huge thanks also goes to Cheryl Collins, who goes above and beyond in helping dogs who would normally be behind the scenes.
You can read more details and see pictures of the dogs, at the time of arrival, at www.foxterrierrescue.net/Millstory.htm.
Click here to see more "after" pictures of these dogs in their new homes.
Bonnie Guzman
Colorado Fox Terrier Rescue