Customer Reviews

Saving Gracie: How One Dog Escaped the Shadowy World of American Puppy Mills

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This is more an expose and the story of one court case than it is the story of one dog. Bradley, an experienced reporter, goes into depth about the background of a raid against a puppy mill in southeastern Pennsylvania, the raid itself, and the aftermath of the raid. She also focuses on legislative changes in that state to crack down on dog abusers -- changes that owe a great deal to the energy and support of Gov. Ed Rendell and his wife, Marjorie.

Puppy mills are a serious problem, and their victims carry the scars throughout their lives, in many cases. I help care for a Westie that is a rescue dog, and I see these effects daily. Bradley is better at explaining the social causes, the lobbying battles, and the legal defenses than she is at telling the story of a single dog. But this is still a must-read for anyone who cares for animals.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." - Mohandas K. Gandhi

Saving Gracie tells three stories. It begins with a raid on the puppy mill operation run by the ironically named Michael Wolf. Once famous in the world of show dogs, Wolf became notorious when, in 2004, 337 dogs were seized from his Mike-Mar "kennel" in 2004. Both the puppies and their parents lived in squalid conditions that would turn the stomach of any right-thinking person: 24/7 confinement in small wire cages, which were stacked 4-high - the feces from the dogs in the higher cages literally dropping on other dogs and getting caught in the mesh flooring; no ventilation in the room, leading to unbearable odors; dogs forced to breed non-stop until they were spent. Some 2.5 million dogs are pumped out of puppy mills every year, and 4 million shelter dogs are euthanized each year. Do the math.


The book also details the ongoing problem of puppy mills, most obvious in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a location with a high number of Amish and Menonite breeders who regard the dogs as nothing more than a crop, comparable to an ear of corn. The standard Amish practice of shooting a dog which has reached the end of its pup-bearing life blows the lid off their bucolic image. While Pennsylvania, where reform legislation has been enacted, is the focus of this book, other states with similar issues - Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and I'm ashamed to say Ohio - are also discussed. The American Kennel Club, which lobbied against reform until the publicity damaged its public image, is also briefly mentioned. If there is one weakness in the book, it is the lack of writing on the way the AKC exploits the "snob factor" in pet ownership to the detriment of both canines and their owners - all for the sake of profit. Ultimately, pet owners have to confront their own priorities when acquiring a companion animal (a genetically "pure" breed which may have defects from inbreeding, diseases stemming from unsanitary conditions and lack of socialization versus a healthy mixed breed pup who may have been a "happy accident"). I would have liked to have seen the book discuss this issue in more detail.

Of course, the book is also about Gracie, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the 132nd dog rescued from Wolf's operation. Gracie's story runs from tragic, to heartwarming, but is ultimately cautionary.

The author, Carol Bradley, is a former newspaper reporter, which shows in her organized and highly readable prose style. This is a must read for all who care about dogs or are contemplating getting one.

Well, I'm pretty sure she is.

I live in Central PA, surrounded by many of the puppy mills discussed in this book. I've passed the billboards showing the inside of a dishwasher, telling us that a dog is allowed to live in a crate this size for their entire life. Linda Jackson, Gracie's owner, and I have been friends for many years.

But I have to admit, I've turned a blind eye to the horrific problem of puppy mills.

Like many of you, I read the stories, heard the news reports and could not believe that this horrible treatment of animals was going on so prolifically in my state. I just didn't know what to do about it. Like many things, it feels like an overwhelming task for one person to delve into.

But there is hope, as is evident by many of the heroes in Carol Bradley's book.

Bradley writes in an easy to read methodical way, giving facts to illustrate the problem balanced with the personal stories of specific dogs, like Gracie. Let's be clear though, Gracie's story is not the focus of the book but the thread that weaves its way through the big picture of the abundance of puppy mills and the greediness of their business owners.

Many of the stories are so sickening that it is hard to believe people can treat animals with such callousness. But if you've ever watched Animal Cops, you know that many people don't have a conscience and treat their animals worse than dirt. As an avid animal lover, a regular contributor to WWF and other animal welfare groups, it is hard to think of the thousands of animals suffering every day.

Which brings me to Izzy - who by the way is my profile picture. Our 14 year old standard poodle had been gone for about two years. Our son was 8 and our daughter was 3. We don't live in a "neighborhood" so it was important to me that my children had some other companionship. We needed a non-shedding dog for allergy reasons. I had been calling our local humane society for a while asking about poodle type dogs and there was nothing for months. I looked at some other animal shelters in nearby counties and many of them had regulations for only adopting to local residents.

Nearby was a locally owned small pet store run by two very nice sisters. Personal pets often roamed the store, there was usually only one or two dogs at the store and a few rabbits and guinea pigs. They were friendly, cared about animals, sold good products and their small store was always immaculate.

Driving by one day their sign read, "standard poodle". I stopped in and found a beautiful ball of cream colored fuzz and sloppy kisses. This three month old standard poodle was such a sweetheart and bounced around the store going "shopping". The owners would let her walk around and pick out a treat or toy. She was just what we wanted and had been at the store for a month already. After talking it over with the family, Izzy came home with a guarantee, vet papers certifying shots and deworming and a registration showing her parent's names (and her favorite toys free of charge). We were thrilled and so were the kids. And, since she had been there for awhile, she came at a price that was not much more than what we would have paid at an animal shelter.

I never asked about where she came from. I never asked about her papers.

Everything about her was wonderful. Izzy had a great disposition, was easily house trained, and had no health issues. But she was slow to grow. She is still below the lowest weight standard for her breed -- we call her our sub-standard poodle.

So I pulled out my pet-store papers and realized that her registration was not through the AKC (her lineage was not important to me) and discovered that the papers were from some unknown organization like the ACA mentioned by Bradley in the book. I went back to the pet store and found out that she came from a Mennonite farm. I told them that her papers were not AKC. I was offered a refund (not in a million years would I give my dog back). I don't think the store owners were trying to deceive me or knowingly sold a puppy mill dog and I still visit the store once in awhile but I wanted them to be cautious about the dogs they sold.

The point to my long story is that it is up to us to be aware, to ask questions, to educate when appropriate. Even though I'm glad our dog did not endure a lifetime of puppy mill breeding, I can't help but think that my purchase encouraged someone to produce another litter.

Bradley has done a great job of educating us on the horrors of puppy mills, the encouragement of new legislation and the difficulty of policing the thousands of dog breeders in our country.

At the end of the book, which is really an ongoing story since the problem is not gone, is an Appendix of wonderful information about finding the right dog, what to look for in a breeder, and other helpful questions to ask.

We should all be outraged that as a nation, we spend so much on our personal pets, while thousands of animals are suffering.

I commend Bradley and the many other heroes, including my friend Linda, for their efforts, their voices, their countless hours and dedication to defeating this problem and I implore you to ask questions, to speak up and to do whatever you need to do to NOT support the profitability of puppy mills.

My wife and I just adopted an 18 month old schnauzer who was rescued from a puppy mill. He spent his entire life inside of a cage. This book helped us to understand certain behaviors of puppy mill dogs. It is well written and a must read for anyone considering adopting a puppy mill pet.

This book was very moving. While I'm sure that this dog can relate to so many others that have been saved, but the fact that so many other dogs will never find the loving home or know a life outside of a puppy mill is saddening. This is a perfect reason why to adopt! There are so many dogs out there that need a good home. This is a nice little reality check for those who want the "latest model" of some new breed or think they can't settle for less that a over priced dog. All mine are rescues and their the best dogs I've ever had. Must read for any dog lover!

The sometimes secret and shadowy world of puppy mills is exposed by this book. You will be shocked at the horrendous way that some breeders treat their dogs. As sad as the situation was and in some cases still is, the book shows that with a lot of money, patience and care, some puppy mill dogs can be restored to reasonable health and happiness. Some can never be restored after years of abuse and neglect. The physical abuse is bad enough, but puppy mill dogs suffer immense emotional abuse as well. Only through the efforts of caring people can these places be shut down. Many have been stopped with stronger legislation and the efforts of caring people, but I think the book makes it clear that we have to be ever watchful and not do things that allow the puppy mills to flourish. Adopt an animal from a local humane society and don't insist on a purebred. Mixed breed dogs are often just as wonderful than full breeds. They tend to be healthier and often have better dispositions. The book is an easy read at just 200 pages in my advance copy. It's a good book for high school kids who might want to get active in protecting animals. Younger children might be able to read the book easily, but could be disturbed by the terrible treatment that is described in the book. A must read for any adult who cares about dogs and animals. At the end of the book is also information on how you can get involved and make a difference. Very well written and hard to put down. You may well read it in a single sitting.

This book gives you a startling look at puppy mills. As a dog lover, I was appalled by the situations described in the book. I'm glad that Gracie was able to find her happy ending and that the author brought even more light to the sickening practice.

This book shows the horrors of what dogs have to endure in a puppy mill. I recently adopted a puppy mill dog. She lived in a 2 ft by 2 ft chicken coop all 8 yrs of her life and had to produce litter after litter of puppies. She is from an Amish farm in Lancaster County, PA.
I hope that people will read this book and realize that these places have to be shut down.
Thank you to Carol Bradley for writing this book.

"Saving Gracie" takes a cold heart look at America's hidden shame of puppy mills.

That adorable little scamp in the store probably came from a "puppy mill," a breeding kennel that raises dogs in cramped, crude, filthy conditions. The majority of these facilities are in the Midwest, but kennels can be found throughout the country, and some dealers even import puppies from other countries. Constant confinement and a lack of adequate veterinary care and socialization often result in animals who are unhealthy and difficult to socialize. As a result, many are abandoned within weeks or months of their adoption by frustrated buyers further exacerbating the tragic companion animal overpopulation crisis.

As if being raised in indogmane conditions, psychology effects can be very long lasting. In addition to the inhumane conditions in puppy mills, isolation, lack of human or animal contact and socialization, and confinement in small cages can have a profound psychological impact on the animals - particularly the breeding females.

Both long term and short term metal health problems arise from being raised in such deplorable conditions ... depression, aggression, anxiety attacks, separation anxiety, obsessive compulsive behaviors, and psychosomatic physical ailments.

Gracie was lucky enough to be adopted by a loving family in the summer of 1996. Gracie had a new life and was transformed from prisoner to a loyal member of a family of her own. Hopefully by Gracie telling her story she can save others.

The story of puppy mills is a heartbreaking one. This book details many of the horrific conditions that the dogs go through. The title led me to believe that the entire book would be about Gracie and her path from puppy mill to a family. Gracie did make an appearance throughout the book, but the story was much bigger than one dog.

The background of the author is that of a reporter, so while the book moves along, it is very detailed with the who, what, where details that are sometimes very tedious to read through. I expected the author to weave a wonderful story about hope and the triumph of a little dog. There were personal details about various people in the book that seemed tacked on to the paragraphs in order to make the story more than just a chronological, factual account of the events.

I'm glad that I read the book, but I did not enjoy that writing style as much as I had hoped.