In Memory of Deena

Lily aka Deena
Undina from the Oklahoma 10, #179
Bred in Belarus, Russia
Born 2 July 04
Died 28 May 08

I was asked to write a memorial for my lovely Lily, known as Deena to the FBRN folks and those who sponsored her and followed her progress.

The call for volunteers came in early March 2008. FBRN volunteers had raised money on their own to go to a puppy mill auction in Oklahoma. I jumped at the chance to help. I wanted to go to Oklahoma and be there; but due to other obligations, I had to wait breathlessly on the sidelines for updates from those who did go. Finally, the update I was waiting for: 10 dogs were now in FBRN custody and waiting for foster families to step up to the plate. I had not fostered in over 3 years and was ready to jump back in with both feet. What was I getting into? I offered to take at least 2 of the girls. I brought one boy for another volunteer and 2 spotted girls home with me. Again, what have I done!?

Twenty five years of working with dogs and being a part of puppy mill raids in the past, I was nervous about the temperament, condition and trainability of these two girls. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they both had personalities of gold, fairly well behaved in the house and eager to please. So, the two became known as the Freak Twins or the Oreo Twins in our house.

Shy, beautiful Deena. I renamed her Lily; it just seemed to fit. She quickly learned her name. She was still shy of strangers and even my husband. She was starting to warm to me. She would wag her little stumpy tail and seek out attention from me. Now and then, she would get out of her comfort zone but rather than snap, bark or bite, she would remove herself from the situation. Oh, if only she could speak of the horrors she had lived through.

She was a wonderful friend and mother to younger Polly. They would play and romp and she even tried to play with my geriatric matriarch, Ivy. What a sight. They would come into the house and romp and play for hours, finally crashing on the large dog bed and napping, 2 spotted clowns with their darker siblings mixed in amongst them.

Then, sadly, those days came to an end. Puppy millers are only out for one thing: money. Lily had 3 litters that we knew of in her short life, all only 6 months apart. She wasn't even 4 years old yet. She had a large hernia on her tummy from previous surgeries. We put off her surgery in order to ensure she was not pregnant and to get her confidence level up. When the vet got into the surgery, he discovered to his horror that her entire abdomen was full of scar tissue from her previous surgeries. She was bleeding, but he and his partner got everything under control. Though she was out of anesthesia and recovering well, when the vet returned to check on her, she had died.

My sweet girl was gone: just like that. When I talked to the vet, my heart broke into a thousand pieces. What about poor Polly? Her sister was gone; her friend, her mate; her comrade in arms. My sweet, silly girl was gone. Luckily I had the support of my family: both those that are related to me by blood and those related to me by cause.

I cry now and then, just like I am now. I miss her. My heart has a hole in it.

Goodbye, sweet Lily. My LilyAnna, Freak Twin, Silly Girl. I miss you. I love you as much as if I had you forever instead of the 2 short months you were here. I am glad that I was a part of the best time of your life.

She was cremated and is here with me.
She has found her forever home.

Barbara Hartvigsen

Deena - June, 2008 Deena was a fragile soul, saved by the Oklahoma 10 rescue angels from a life of puppy mill hell. Polly, another OK 10 survivor, shared the same foster home and Deena relied on Polly for comfort and support. Some dogs are buoyantly resilient, but Deena was not one of them. Finally, after months of loving care, she would allow her foster mom to hold her and stroke her belly, relaxing enough to briefly close her eyes.

At three years old, we believed she had delivered several litters of puppies. FBRN's Hannah and her sister, Graycen, are Deena's daughters. Of course, you know that Frenchies usually deliver their puppies by C-section. Did you know that puppy mill girls often deliver by Caesarean without a competent veterinarian? Sometimes there is no veterinarian at all. As a result, their abdomens are a tangle of scar tissue and adhesions. And so it was for this little frog. She must have been bred repeatedly at every heat, as her entire abdomen was filled with adhesions and her vital organs were compromised. She went to the Rainbow Bridge following her spay, normally a routine surgery. There was too much damage and her little body just couldn't make it.

We love you dearly, shy little one. We wish you could have been with us longer. With your passing we rededicate ourselves to ending the suffering and greedy trafficking of living beings in puppy mills. Your daughters, Hannah and Graycen, will be reunited for the first time since their rescue in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on September 20, 2008, at Puppy Mill Awareness Day (http://www.awarenessday.org/) Your spirit shines brightly in their eyes, our precious Deena.