Page 20 - Assisi Paw Prints issue 95

when he enters the room. We think this is because he is a stand and watch the traffic absolutely fascinated. She soon
tall male and possibly reminds Molly of her experiences or made friends with 11-month-old spaniel Milo and 7-month-
handlers in the puppy farm. We are continuing to help Molly old beagle Leo and loved getting out on her walks with
progress which will take time and patience. She has very them and chasing them in our fields.
quickly become part of our family and is settling in well.
It is very rewarding to help Molly develop in confidence, Applications soon came flooding in and, like Ginny’s new
affection and to see her clumsy personality come through. home, we knew Stella would continue to thrive better living
Thank you to Assisi for bringing Molly into our lives!” with another dog. One family who applied had not one, but
two pugs already, and after meeting Stella (now Daisy) they
all (unsurprisingly) fell in love with her!
Stella’s Story
Since being rehomed, we have received a video of Daisy
enjoying her first trip to the beach. She has come such
One day, not long after Ginny had been rehomed, staff a long way from that scared little lady who refused to
member Connor attempted to walk Stella the short approach people to now following her family around the
distance from her kennel to our dog kitchen so he could beach off lead. She has settled fantastically with her new
weigh her, but Stella had other plans – she turned in the sisters and formed a ‘pug army’ and is even making friends
opposite direction and dragged him to the entrance gate of with her new feline brothers (although she loves to steal
the sanctuary! their food)!

Our little Stella was shy no more, and she wanted to go Huge thanks are due to all the fosterers, vet team, adopters
out and explore! We were mindful that she had never had and of course to you, our amazing supporters who make it
proper exercise before and was still recovering from her all possible.
hernia repair and nose surgery, and we didn’t want to
overexert her; each day bit by bit, Stella’s walks gradually
got bigger.
Puppy Farming
As everything was so new and interesting, a walking route
that usually took 15 minutes took nearly an hour, as Stella Tips on how to not be caught out by puppy farmers
wanted to stop and sniff every few seconds and would
● If your puppy has been advertised online, look
at what other advertisements the seller has
posted. A respectable breeder will be breed
specific, whereas a puppy farmer will have many
different breeds available.

● Talk in depth with the breeder – a good breeder
will be very knowledgeable and passionate about
the one breed. Often, they will offer advice
and want to keep in touch for updates and ask
questions to ensure their puppies are going to a
good home. A puppy farmer will not care and will
be keen for you to buy.

● Ask to meet your pup’s mum, dad, and littermates
in their natural/home setting. If a breeder is not
prepared for you to see the parents and wants
to meet you with the puppy in a vague location
such as a carpark, this is a huge red flag! When
you meet the mother, take note of how she reacts
around her handlers – is she friendly? Or does she
cower away?

● Ask for your puppy’s vaccination card and
microchip number. At 8 weeks old (the minimum
age of separation from mum) your pup will be
old enough for a 1st vaccination and microchip,
and a reputable breeder will have taken your pup

20 ISSUE NO. 95 | SPRING / SUMMER 2022