One-Eyed Chihuahua Had Many Great Halloween Costumes -- But Wait 'Til You See THE BEST ONE

Harley spent the first 10 years of his life suffering in a small, filthy wire cage in a puppy mill... but his life changed forever after he was rescued. Harley then spent his next five years in freedom, learning about love and kindness, and he even learned about fun things ― like Halloween and dressing up! According to his mom, “Harley didn’t mind dressing up; he seemed to enjoy the attention! But it was his ghost costume that was the favorite of his many friends and fans.”

Below are more pictures of Harley in costume... enjoy!

What is a Puppy Mill?

A puppy mill is a large scale commercial dog breeding operation where dogs live in cages and are bred repeatedly, producing puppies to be sold in pet stores across the country – and online throughout the world. There may be as few as 100 breeding dogs or as many as 800 breeding dogs housed at a single facility. It is estimated there are approximately 10,000 puppy mills in the USA, the majority being located in the Midwest. About one-third of these mills are approved and licensed by the USDA, as dogs are legally classified as “livestock.”

Most of the dogs live in wire cages in buildings, barns and sheds which often have no heating or cooling. The dogs are not socialized, they receive little or no veterinary care, they do not have beds or toys, and they never get to run and play in the grass – some dogs never even see the sunlight – and though they yearn for it, they never receive love.

Puppy mill dogs drink from “rabbit-type” water bottles and cannot lap water normally to flush their mouths. This allows bacteria to remain, leading to severe dental issues; the most extreme (but not uncommon) is loss of jaw bone. Long-haired breeds are never groomed and become painfully matted, causing horrible infections. The floors of the cages in which they live are wire and the dogs’ nails are seldom cut, resulting in deformities and painful sores. Life in a cage produces a list of other physical conditions far too long to elaborate on: missing eyes, broken tails, spinal injuries, unrepaired broken bones, heartworm disease, ticks and parasites… to name just a few.

The female dogs are bred at every heat cycle and their puppies are usually taken from them too young. When a dog is no longer productive, typically at 5-7 years old, standard procedure is to destroy it.

Learn more about puppy mills at: www.harleypuppymilldog.com