Blog 2: Introducing Luna

What you need to know:

1. Luna is a Boston terrier rescue who was saved from a puppy mill at the age of four, and adopted by my family.

2. Luna's struggles after adoption include her unfamiliarity with the basic aspects of a typical dog's life.

3. Despite her challenging past, Luna has made remarkable progress in her new home, showcasing her resilience and capacity for love as she continues to grow and thrive.

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In March of this year, my family and welcomed a new dog, Luna, into our lives. Luna is a roughly four-year-old Boston terrier who was rescued from being euthanized after her puppy mill deemed her “too old” to give them puppies. Her inspiring story—evolving from a scared, traumatized puppy mill breeding mother to a lively, happy member of our family—serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience and capacity for love that dogs possess.

My family and I adopted Luna a mere 10 days after she was rescued from the puppy mill. Everything was so new to her, even her name, as she had not been given one during her time as a breeding mother. She had no sense of house training, no knowledge of dog toys or treats, and was very weary of most people. She spent the majority of her first night in our home pacing around our living room, unable to sit still.

It is extremely sad looking back at this day—it was very apparent that she had just been ripped from her puppies, as her belly and mammary glands were still very swollen. She must have been so disoriented and confused. However, as days and weeks went by, Luna began to slowly heal from her traumatic circumstances.

She quickly found a friend in our other Boston terrier, Maggie, and Luna started to learn what being a dog truly meant through Maggie’s help. Maggie introduced her to the joys of toys, snuggling, barking, playing, and, of course, begging for food. During this time, Luna began really coming out of her shell, showing us the true personality that was hidden inside of her for so long.

Around strangers, she was still very shy and reserved, but around her family, she was free to be herself. She became very playful and full of life. It was around this time that

we started taking her to training lessons at PetSmart. Though the store’s setting was still a little too overwhelming for her, Luna quickly excelled with her training in the comfort of our home. Eventually, she was able to graduate from training! Now, she gets very excited to show us her skills and makes it a point to sit in front of us very politely when she wants a treat.

Food is still something that Luna struggles with, as it is very clear that she did not have much access to it at the puppy mill. To this day, she eats up her dinner in a matter of seconds, while keeping a watchful eye on everyone else, ensuring that no one will take it from her.

Despite her hardships at the puppy mill, Luna has grown significantly, transforming into a dog that is almost completely unrecognizable from the day that we got her. I am so excited to see how much more she grows and changes in the coming years, as this is just the beginning of her story.