Life can be hard for any dog inside a shelter, but there are certain pups who struggle far more than others, given what trauma they’ve been through in the past.
In a viral TikTok video posted by @adoptingdogs, Joe Kay laid bare the reality of what it’s like for dogs who are rescued from puppy mills, after years of being used solely for breeding. The devastating consequences can differ for each dog, but Kay from Wooster, Ohio, told Newsweek that most of those who are rescued “are very fearful of humans.”
The horrifying compilation video showed how a number of the dogs were shaking and visibly nervous around Kay. Since the video was posted on November 3, it has generated more than 136,400 views and 27,600 likes in a number of days. Kay admits that “these videos are difficult to look at,” but he implores people not to ignore the reality of what the dogs are put through.
“This is just what people are willing to do to make money. The people who are buying the puppies are closing their eyes to the parents, all just to get a puppy,” Kay told Newsweek.
“It takes time for the dogs to decompress, and every dog is different. I would say half of the dogs have medical issues. These breeders don’t care and will breed dogs with heart murmurs and other genetic illnesses.”
@adoptingdogs / TikTok
There are thought to be 10,000 commercial puppy mills across the country, which are considered inhumane dog breeding facilities, according to the Humane Society of the United States. It’s highlighted that the health of the dogs is disregarded, with the main priority being that of profits, by squeezing as many dogs as possible into tiny spaces, and breeding them repeatedly.
Puppy mills aren’t illegal, but the Humane Society is campaigning to have them shut down or regulated wherever possible. Since 2006, they claim that more than 11,000 dogs have been rescued from puppy mills around the U.S and are thankfully now in loving homes. But there are many more who are continuously used for breeding new litters and have zero quality of life.
While Kay works in a number of shelters around the city, he is predominantly based at The Wayne County Dog Shelter, where they see many dogs brought in from puppy mills each year.
By using social media to show people the harsh realities for some of these dogs, he hopes to bring awareness and encourage more people to rescue from a shelter, rather than choose a puppy.
He said: “I’ve been doing videos like these for a couple of years now. They do seem to help, and if it only changes one person’s mind, then I’ll take that as a win. If you are looking to adopt, please check your local shelter or rescue first.”
The video has generated plenty of attention since going viral, leaving many people desperate to help these poor dogs, and spreading Kay’s all-important message.
One commenter wrote: “These videos crush me. I wish we could save them all, they deserve so much better.”
Another person responded: “More people need to see this. Terribly sad.”
Meanwhile, one TikTok user simply wrote: “Heartbreaking.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.