Hope is inching toward a little more trust.

Jake and Windy started barking and wanting my attention while I was seated. Hope watched. They were nagging me for a walk. While they were being petted, Hope came up and joined them. I held out my hand, palm up. She touched it with her nose and sniffed. This is another breakthrough.

Hope’s behavior may not seem like much in the world of a normal dog, but remember with five years in an Amish puppy mill trust is a major issue.

If you want to rescue a puppy mill dog, you are in for a challenge. You must have patience and be able to appreciate tiny accomplishments. If you don’t have the time and fortitude, get another rescue dog. Sometimes pets wind up in puppy mills, and their rehabilitation in a true home is not as complicated. If the dog has been in a mill all her life, then her progress is slow in learning to be a pet

My girl is smart and can learn. Her spirit was broken, but I believe in her.