A few months ago, we heard the news about a massive rescue operation taking place in Montcalm County Michigan.  An irresponsible breeder was busted for breaking several local ordinances by keeping 100+ puppies and dogs on her property.  She decided to surrender all of her dogs rather than face a citation. The BISSELL Pet Foundation responded quickly to the crisis allocating emergency grant funds to McCloud’s Lake Haven to provide for the sterilization, flea medication, and dental work for 58 pixie dogs.  McCloud’s Lake Haven sent us the following story from a family who adopted two of these rescued dogs.

Lilly and Petunia’s Story

After 13 years, we had to put our Bichon, Dilly down in March. We were all heartbroken about it. The next day, my parents saw on the news that over 100 animals were being taken in by Lake Haven Rescue, the pixies, and they immediately thought of adopting one even though it was very soon.  Although my mom had said that we wouldn’t get another dog for a while, my brother and I finally convinced her to go look at the dogs on a Saturday at Petsmart about three weeks later.

My brother immediately gravitated toward Eve, who is now Lilly, and my mom immediately pick up Haven, who is now Petunia, with no intention by my mom of bringing home two dogs.  They adopted Lilly, and Petunia was too young to go home that day, but they decided to adopt her as well.

I was at the University of Michigan, and my family video called me while I was in the library to show me Lilly.  I was so excited that I drove home to Whitehall from Ann Arbor that day to spend the weekend with her.  A few days later, they were able to bring Petunia home.  They fought and wrestled the first day, and soon enough they were sleeping together in the bed that Dilly used to occupy.  They are so small that they can both fit in it.

I came home from school for the summer a few weeks later, and our house was definitely not empty.  It was an overwhelmingly great feeling to give two dogs a home where they have many people coming in and out to see them, and when they are alone they have each other.  They spend their days playing and wrestling and then napping with us on the couch.  My cat, who is 19 years old, is indifferent to the puppies, but they lover her and attempt to play with her.

Petunia is growing fast, and she cries when she thinks she is going to be left alone without Lilly.  Lilly’s favorite toys are ping pong balls, and she likes being held like a baby.  They are so loving and we refer to them as our little ‘time wasters’ because of all the time we spend petting them and playing with them when we are busy because we just can’t help it.

Thank you for allowing our family to be complete.

-Marie D.

According to the ASPCA, only 20-30% are adopted from rescues or shelters.  Five out of ten dogs in shelters are destroyed simply because there is no one to adopt them.  The BISSELL Pet Foundation is determined to change these statistics by providing support for adoption programs across the United States.  We are grateful to the many individual donors who provided the funds to help dogs like Lilly and Petunia.  Your support helped save the lives of 58 pixie pups!

About the BISSELL Pet Foundation

The BISSELL Pet Foundation is a charitable 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to help reduce the number of animals in shelters and to support organizations dedicated to the humane care and treated of animals through pet adoption, spay/neuter programs, microchipping and foster care. Founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, the BISSELL Pet Foundation is an extension of her long-standing love for animals and commitment to their welfare. The foundation is supported by BISSELL Homecare, Inc., a 137-year-old Grand Rapids-based floor care appliance brand in its fourth generation of family leadership.