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Loretta was born December, 1999. She lived her life in a puppy mill as a breeder until, June 5th, 2004, when Col. Potter was able to obtain her, along with five others at an auction. After her health vetting, she went to Lynell and Bob's awaiting transport to her foster home.
She was a gorgeous black/brindle girl with huge
black eyes. She was such a little sweetheart but scared to death.
She was a little "leggy" and thin...she would have
filled out given time. The morning after her bed and biscuit with
Bob and Lynell, they were in the backyard with her companions and
transports buddies, Waylon, Patsy and Lola. Lola had experienced
the freedom of running in an open
area, but the three little mill survivors had not had that chance,
yet.
Any of you that have had the privilege of watching a mill survivor
overcome their fears and experience new things can understand the
joy of watching the three babies run back and forth, around and
around the yard. Little Patsy is a bit chubby and really had to
work her short stubby legs to try and keep up with Waylon....he was
a bit bigger and a little slower...but Loretta...she ran like the
wind! Her long legs gave her the advantage and she led the others
round and round....happily zooming Bob and Lynell....the tree, the swing
and each of the other kids. She came to them on her belly.....fearful
yet brave.....wanting their love and attention, yet unsure that their
hands would be kind.
Lynell and Bob held her, as they did each of them that morning, whispering in
their ears that they were safe...and they were on their
way......each of them had a new life ahead of them....filled with
the love of all of us and eventually their own FOREVER FAMILY.
On June 22nd, Loretta left Lynell and Bob's and was placed on a transport to her foster home.
Later that evening on the road, she escaped. Loretta had become fearful and backed out of her
collar while at a rest stop. Because
she was a puppy mill dog, we knew that she did not have the survival skills to
be out in the world alone and she needed to be found fast. We
notified every shelter, Humane Society, rescue group, and vet in the area. Lynell and Susan Z. drove out to the
rest stop to help search where Loretta had last been seen.
She had gotten very close to the interstate, so Susan and Lynell
started their searches on opposite sides of the interstate.
It wasn't long before Lynell called Susan over. The search had ended. Tragically, Loretta had gone over
the bridge. They picked up all the pieces of her broken body and put them
in a container and covered her with a towel. And then stood on
the side of the interstate and hugged each other as they cried.
Lynell took Loretta home with her, where she will have her cremated. Loretta's
ashes will receive their proper burial in the Greyfriar Cemetery in
California. We have closure. Loretta is not lying
somewhere hurt, hungry, or frightened. She has crossed the Bridge and is
running and playing with the other Cairns who have gone ahead of her. God
has a new angel tonight.
Please remember Loretta as a little girl with shiny coal black eyes,
long legs racing towards her future....with the love of each of us
wrapped tightly around her....keeping her safe. The broken and
battered body Susan Z. and Lynell "rescued" from the side of the road
was only the earthly body she needed while with us....her
beautiful spirit and her soul are with the many that have gone
before her...making their way so she could find hers....and be
welcomed with open arms where she will forever know our boundless
love.
We were not able to keep our promise to Loretta
but her Legacy must be for each and every person that has a hand in
the Rescue of these babies be more vigilant, hyper-vigilant if
necessary, we need to learn from this tragic lesson....
Dear, sweet angel Loretta, you run and play and know freedom at the
Bridge that you never got to experience here in this world!
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