Ashleigh would like to thank all the people who have been  following her progress and cheering her on with kind words of support.  We can't tell how much your emails and response to Ashleigh's YouTube videos has meant to us. They make us feel that Ashleigh did not go through all of this pain for nothing.  You have watched as Ashleigh did many first.  Her first bone, her first toy, first time she played with a dog, the first time she let a human pet her.  And Ashleigh still has many first to go.  At 6 years old she is still like a puppy just learning what the world is about.  If she gets to educate one person about the horror's that puppy mill dogs go through to supply the pet stores with those cute little puppies,  then we know Ashleigh, and we know that would make her very happy.  If you would like to help Ashleigh and other dogs like her, you can start right now by telling your friends, family, co-workers, everyone.....adopt don't shop.  Take away the market for the cute little pups by not buying them and get all dogs like Ashleigh out of puppy mills. 

Update 2-6-2010:  Ashleigh went to a foster home with a wonderfully patient foster mom with lots of experience with puppy mill dogs.  The first couple of days went okay but after a few days Ashleigh started shaking.  When her old foster mom went to pick her up she pressed her head against her chest, hugged and quit shaking. 

Ashleigh has bonded with her foster mom.  She stays in a bed behind her chair and let's her turn around and pet her anytime she wants.  In the months ahead we will see if we can get that attachment to grow and let other people in. 

We have to put Ashleigh in the bathroom to eat because she will walk away and not eat if another dog walks up.  Even this is a great improvement for Ashleigh who used to go all day without eating and only eat after the lights went out at night.   Ashleigh has a very timid personality.  We have never heard her growl.  

We feel that Ashleigh may never get psychologically well enough to function in a normal family environment.  She has a job with the rescue.  Ashleigh loves all puppies and comforts them all.  No matter how young, big, little....her mommy instincts just kick in and she takes care of them. 
















Ashleigh- Ashleigh is four years old.  She is a larger boned Yorkie but she only weighs 13.6 lbs. She is from a Missouri puppy mill.  Ashleigh is spayed, micro-chipped, up to date on shots, has her rabies and is on heartgard monthly and one spot.  She is ready to be adopted physically but not mentally.  She has just started to walk with her head up and looking  humans in the eyes in the last two weeks. 
Ashleigh is only adoptable to a family with puppy mill experience now.  If you are interested in Ashleigh please keep checking back.  We will update her progress here.   






 Ashleigh Now  
    
   Ashleigh 3 months ago 
















Update 10-02-2009   Ashleigh has made tremendous progress in the last few weeks.  For two weeks she has been coming up to her foster mom for treats and to lick her hand.  This week she played for the first time.  She is becoming more curious of her surroundings and is staying outside her crate for longer periods of time.

You can see from this video that Ashleigh is a natural born mother.  She could not stand to hear them cry.  She would run to the crate and put her paw up and have them lick it, like she was saying it is okay.

Update 11-14-2009 Ashleigh has done several first in the past few days.  The video below is the first time she had played with a dog.  She clings to other puppy mill dogs but never played.  You can tell that she does not know how to play.  But she is trying so hard to learn and she is doing so wonderful.