Playtime for Millie: A puppy mill dog's spring day

Every dog should get to play. After years in the puppy mill, Millie finally learns what play is all about.

When you adopt a dog from a puppy mill, sometimes the littlest things mean the most - like a day of play with your brothers. After all, dogs play...that is what they were born to do.

But, for dogs born and raised in puppy mills, play isn't part of the picture. Play is something that doesn't happen at all. So, for some families, when a dog rescued from a puppy mill starts to play, really play, it's time for celebration.

Monday was the day for Millie. It was a beautiful spring day. The first truly spring day after a long, horrible winter. And, Millie played. She really played with her brothers.

'She was doing what every dog should be doing - playing and having the time of her life,' says Cari Meyers, founder of The Puppy Mill Project. 'She's been with us since May after at least eight years in a puppy mill. But she never played with her brothers until yesterday. I couldn't help but cry.'

Millie was rescued by the National Mill Dog Rescue last spring. Meyers met and fell in love with her when volunteering for the organization in May. Day-by-day she settles in just a little more. And is finally, all these months later, enjoying freedom and a day of play with her brothers.

Millie is also the spokesdog for The Puppy Mill Project's Millie's Mission Campaign. The organization is raising funds to establish a rescue fund for other mill dogs just like Millie - dogs that need rescue before they too can play with other dogs like they should have been doing their whole life.

You can help by donating to Millie's Mission. Or better yet, come to the Mothers in the Mills Benefit on May 10 ^th at John Barleycorns at 149 West Kinzie in Chicago ( details and tickets here). Janet Davies from 190 North on Channel 7 will be the emcee.

The Puppy Mill Project will honor Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza for her work in the passage of the Companion Animal and Consumer Protection Act - the law outlawing the sale of puppy mill dogs in Chicago's pet store. The group will also honor Bernie Berlin of A Place to Bark for her rescue work with Naperville's humane pet store Dog Patch Pet and Feed.

There will be cool auction items - like a signed Carrie Underwood Guitar and a behind the scenes tour of the United Center - and much more. By the end of the evening, The Puppy Mill Project hopes to have more funds to educate and to set up Millie's Rescue Mission.

Learn more and get your tickets online. And, follow The Puppy Mill Project on Facebook for updates on this great event. And don't forget the Mother's in the Mills and dogs like Millie...who all deserve a lifetime of play dates.

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