I adopted Milo as a 6 month old rescue when I was living in Brooklyn. He was my first dog ever and I loved him to pieces. When I left Brooklyn, he went to live with my parents because my school/work schedule didn't leave much time for him. Once my schedule had died down a bit, they were so smitten with him that I was forbidden from taking him back.
We found out a little over a month ago that our 8 year old Japanese Chin, Milo, was suffering from Congestive Heart Failure. He was placed on medication and perked right up. We thought that thanks to the meds he would be around for at least a few more months, maybe years. We never expected it would be mere weeks. He was doing great on the medicine until Thursday morning when my Mom got up for work. She sat down and gave him a little pep talk before she left, but when she got home from work she found that he was already gone.
Not to get on my soapbox, but Milo was a perfect example of why you should NEVER EVER consider buying a puppy from a pet store. Milo was a pet store puppy born in a puppy mill in Arkansas. He was purchased in a pet shop by a lady who bought a male and female Japanese Chin at the pet shop with the intention to breed them, then changed her mind. Thankfully, at 6 months old he ended up at a rescue group. Companies who breed puppies for profit with no regard for their future health or the parents' current health are purely evil. The average life span of a Japanese Chin is 9.25 - 20 years. Because of careless breeding not testing for diseases that could be passed on and disregard for the future health of the puppies, Milo only got to live 8 years. He should be here for years to come. But we knew going in that is wasn't realistic to expect a long healthy life from a puppy mill pup.
Not to get on my soapbox, but Milo was a perfect example of why you should NEVER EVER consider buying a puppy from a pet store. Milo was a pet store puppy born in a puppy mill in Arkansas. He was purchased in a pet shop by a lady who bought a male and female Japanese Chin at the pet shop with the intention to breed them, then changed her mind. Thankfully, at 6 months old he ended up at a rescue group. Companies who breed puppies for profit with no regard for their future health or the parents' current health are purely evil. The average life span of a Japanese Chin is 9.25 - 20 years. Because of careless breeding not testing for diseases that could be passed on and disregard for the future health of the puppies, Milo only got to live 8 years. He should be here for years to come. But we knew going in that is wasn't realistic to expect a long healthy life from a puppy mill pup.
My mom put it best:
"He is barking at every UPS man in heaven :)"
I'm so happy that you and your parents gave Milo the most amazing life his little puppy heart could dream of. This is such an important message and only makes me love you more :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss. I have a puppy mill rescue too, a chihuahua, and I so worry about his future health. He lived that hard life for four years before he was rescued and came to us and had a few health issues even then. I'll hug him a little closer today. <3
ReplyDeleteI'm so, so sorry. Sending love your way!
ReplyDeleteaww i'm sorry to hear about milo :( what a cute little puppers he was.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for you loss. Milo was adorable and was lucky he found you and your family to give him he life he deserved.
ReplyDeleteI think rescue animals give you a little something extra in your life, they are always so amazing.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Pet love is unique and awesome and heartbreaking, but it sounds like Milo got to have a lot of fun in his lifetime. Also you're absolutely right regarding pet stores vs. rescues, there's a special ring in hell for people who mistreat/misbreed animals for profit.
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