Fox 28: South Bend, Elkhart IN News, Weather, SportsPuppy mill dogs up for adoption

Puppy mill dogs up for adoption

A handful of puppy mill dogs will soon find a permanent home.  We've been following this story for weeks now.  You remember the more than 200 dogs that were taken from a Southern Indiana puppy mill and about 30 of those dogs were dropped off at Pet Refuge in Mishawaka.  After some intense love and care, some of the dogs are ready to start a new beginning.

They lived their entire lives in crates.  They're only job was to reproduce.  But they were rescued from a Southern Indiana puppy mill and brought to Pet Refuge in Mishawaka.

"It's awful I had no idea I didn't know how bad it was," said Melanie Rockrohr who wants to adopt.

Now the dogs can show off their true selves.

"They've all been vaccinated they will all be spade and neutered.  Everybody's been groomed so we're all looking very pretty right now," said Pet Refuge Board Member Pam Comer.

Besides the obvious grooming, Comer says the dogs are all being socialized with their foster parents which should make it easier for them to be adopted.

"They've learned to walk on leash.  They've learned what it is to have a human touch.  They've learned what it means to be in a home," said Comer.

The Rockrohrs say the news of the puppy mill dogs changed their outlook on pet shopping.

"They don't want to go to a pet store or to a breeder.  They want to get a dog that needs a home," said Rockrohr.

But a puppy mill dog comes with a list of concerns from lack of care, nutrition, and proper vetting.

"They sent us a four page thing on the problems with puppy mill dogs and I'm going, "Oh my goodness.  We think they deserve a good home," said Jo Klodzinski who wants to adopt.

They've got their heart set on Phoebe.

"Kind of quiet lap dog.  She doesn't seem to be too much of a yapper and that's kind of what we want," said Klodzinski.

New state legislation that cracks down on puppy mills goes into effect in July.  So Pet Refuge is getting ready for more dogs in need.

"This is going to happen again and again as we correct these situations so for these situations so for those that don't adopt this week, more of this to come," said Comer.

If you missed Saturday's adoption, you still have time.  The families at today's adoption aren't guaranteed one of the puppy mill dogs and some of the dogs still aren't ready for adoption.

Reporter: Nadia Crow