Mutt extraordinaire
3/31/2021
Kristen and Cory Schattschneider with their latest adoption, Millie. Photo by Jackie Wilson
Kristen and Cory Schattschneider attempted to be dogless after their first dog passed away from cancer. But before long, they both craved a canine companion.
After searching through animal rescue sites, Kristen came upon a beagle/basset hound mix on AHeinz57. After visiting the unique dog, they decided it needed a home. So, in August of 2019, they adopted Millie.
As a rescue dog requirement, Millie was scheduled with the veterinarian to get spayed, but the doctor refused to do the procedure. Why? It turned out that Millie was pregnant.
The vet asked if they still wanted the dog, and both wholeheartedly agreed they did — but they weren’t sure about raising puppies. They took Millie to a foster dog mom, who agreed to keep Millie until she gave birth. They visited Millie and then eventually her nine puppies. Once the puppies were weaned, it was time for Millie to come home.
Millie originally arrived via the AHeinz57 pet transport from a dog-hoarding situation in Oklahoma. AHeinz57 brings various dogs to Iowa, saving them from being euthanized. Millie was found living under a pickup truck and had recently given birth.
When Millie was first brought into a foster home, she didn’t like men. Kristen says, “It breaks my heart to think of what happened to her. She wasn’t a big fan of Cory.”
Yet, as she got used to trusting Cory, and as they wrestled and tugged with Millie’s favorite stuffed toys, she began to trust him.
“I wore her down,” Cory smiles. “She likes me now.”
Millie is no longer afraid of people or new situations.
“It’s so rewarding to see her become brave,” says Kristen. “She used to cower at the vet. Now she just struts in.”
The couple admits to spoiling Millie. As they visit a fast-food drive through, Millie is treated to a pup cup of ice cream, usually on a Saturday evening.
“Our routine is to get her white blanket to take on the drive,” says Cory. “Once she sees the blanket, she somehow knows it is time to eat her pup cup and gets excited.”
To find out Millie’s breed, Cory administered a DNA test. It turns out she has seven different breeds, including Boston terrier, Doberman pincher, Rottweiler, dachshund and more.
“She’s a mutt extraordinaire,” exclaims Kristen.
Kristen is confident she’ll continue to adopt rescue dogs, but she understands that people buy purebreds so owners know the lineage.
“There are many dogs out there who need love,” she says. “It’s a good cause to adopt. Something happened in their first part of life. We hope their second part of life is better.”
“It’s our experience that dogs know they’re given a second chance and love us even more,” says Cory. “Even when she’s on top of us at 8 a.m., barking and waking us up, we love her.” ♦
One Comment
Post a Comment
I have a large 3/4 of an acre fenced back yard and a doggie door that opens to it (I’m not playing doorman) for my 2 rescues.
Mine were the less “popular” ones at the rescues; a Pitt bull who evidently did not play well with his fellow inmates at the Humane Society and a Siberian Husky who managed to go through 6 different placements (returns and removals by the society for cause on a couple) prior to me. The lady shared his history, very quietly/meekly, when he started running circles in the “greeting” room and leaping on to and then off the walls….lol. 20% of Siberian Huskies are said to be hyper and perfect for sled dogs and that described Tony. I doubt he’s ever seen a sled and even at 10 years older he still runs into the house at full speed and leaps onto the back of the sofa to leap off, run in a circle, scream/bark at me, then leap onto and off the sofa back a few more times…..
Despite their upbringings, I can literally take the garbage they steal out of their mouths now with my fingers, of course you have to catch the Husky first…he obeys like a Husky; when he believes there is an advantage to do so…
Forget the breeders…get a rescue instead.
As long as you are patient with them they make great dogs…if the Husky would mind better….lol