Daisy

Lazy Days – Sleepin’ in the Sun

Daisy lives with people who love her. But Daisy’s life wasn’t always what some would refer to as “dog days.” Daisy was a puppy mill girl – a breeder girl – kept confined for 8 years in terrible conditions. Thankfully, Brookline Labrador Rescue came into her life. Brookline knew that, despite what the breeder believed, Daisy still had many good days left in her. She hasn’t let us down for a minute. Daisy came to our family with a torn CCL, scars from old wounds, missing many of her teeth, and with the obvious anxiety issues that come from years of solitary confinement. She has since had her knee repaired and her anxiety issues have greatly subsided. She loves her Orvis memory foam beds (she has two to choose from) and her special Orvis ID collar is a reminder that Daisy has found her forever home. Our many walks throughout our neighborhood are the highlight of her day. There isn’t a human Daisy encounters that she doesn’t accept unconditionally. She graciously sits and welcomes their gentle strokes; closing her eyes to take it all in. While she may never forget her past life, Daisy is willing to give us humans a second chance. We are blessed! “To err is human – to forgive, canine.” – Author Unknown.

Daisy’s life as a breeder dog was a tough one. Years of confinement to a horse stall took their toll. With love and patience, however, Daisy has not only become a loving member of our family but has inspired a Brookline campaign to save more farm dogs from the grueling life as a puppy mill breeder. Daisy’s remarkable journey is a reminder of the power of patience, the strength of resilience, and the gift of forgiveness.

When no longer of use to the breeder, Daisy was rescued and placed in a loving Brookline foster home with Corrie and her family. Daisy spent close to a year with Corrie, healing from her scars and learning to trust humans. We adopted Daisy in 2020 just before her 9th birthday. She still has her quirks but, over the years, the harsh memories of her former life have faded. To this day, however, should she get anxious, she will still pace in a perfect circle. We can only surmise that the distance she paces is the exact circumference of the interior of that horse stall. Having spent so much time in darkness, she enjoys every opportunity to lay in the cool grass and soak up the warm sun.

At the time we adopted Daisy, we had Bear. Bear was an older, curmudgeon, chocolate lab. Bear wasn’t the warm and fuzzy type of lab, but she was a confident dog and she welcomed Daisy. When Bear passed away in May of 2023, we knew Daisy could not be an only dog. Ironically, at the time, Corrie’s family had been fostering another farm girl named Abby. Knowing Daisy as she had, Corrie believed that Abby would be the perfect companion dog for Daisy. She was right: Daisy and Abby are inseparable.

Daisy will turn 13 in November. Farm life is a distant memory. Loud noises no longer bother her as her hearing isn’t what it used to be. She is thin, frail, her legs are weak, but her will to live and her desire to love are strong. She is resilient. Abby just turned 10 in May. Abby was rescued at 9 years of age and came with her own farm-life quirks, but Abby is the lab you would like to clone. She is a confident girl and doesn’t have one mean bone in her very large body.

With time and patience both of our girls have come to love and to trust. As someone once said, “To err is human, to forgive, canine.” These two former breeder girls may have had a tough career, but they are resilient, and they have learned to forgive. Now, together, they are best of friends and enjoying a well-deserved retirement. Thank you, Brookline!