A beagle named Rose had never experienced freedom until she was eight years old. She was born in a lab and used a test dog for her entire life until Beagle Freedom Project rescued her. When Shannon rescued her, Rose was very pregnant and very scared. Shannon could tell that Rose was used over and over for breeding.
When Shannon brought Rose home it was clear that Rose had never had a toy, or a treat, or a cuddle, or a bed. Something about Rose melted Shannon’s heart, especially when Rose would crawl over to her for hugs because she is scared but wanted love.
When Rose first came home she didn’t play with any of the many toys Shannon had throughout the house for her other dogs. Then, one day, Rose went went into the toy basket and pulled out a squeaky toy. It was a moment of pure joy for Rose. She threw the toy up in the air and then ran happily around the house with it. Within a short time, Rose pulled out every toy in the basket to play with.
Shortly after, Rose gave birth to seven healthy puppies. She is very attentive to her puppies and Shannon guesses it’s because Rose never had the luxury of being in a safe place with her babies before. It’s so heartwarming to see Rose get to experience all the wonderful firsts in a dog’s life. Her story is a powerful reminder of how rescue and rehabilitation can transform the lives of animals, offering them the love, freedom, and happiness they deserve after enduring so much.
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