HollyBerry 

She was born in a puppymill. She had no name there, only the number “24” tattooed in her right ear and some illegible specks of tattooing in the other ear.

Number “24” was kept in a cage with a wire floor. We know this from the way her toes are permanently spread, and from the damage to the pads of her tiny paws. This was not the only physical injury endured by "24". She developed an arch-like hump in her back...spinal scoliosis, possibly from poor nutrition. Her right eye was injured and, left untreated, it scarred in the center,  forever reducing her vision in that eye. Still, she was fortunate enough not to lose a paw or an ear to an aggressive cagemate.

Number "24" weighed only 11 pounds, far too small a pug for breeding. But the puppymiller either didn't realize this, or didn't care. “24” was bred numerous times and, because her tiny size prevented her from whelping naturally,  had multiple c-sections, which may or may not have been performed by a veterinarian. The pain and pressure of prolonged, unchecked labor left her with two compressed vertebrae in her back. "24" became terrified of human hands, which only ever touched her to hurt her. She ran from any hands  that came near her.

 When “24” became too much trouble to keep, too costly to maintain, or did not produce enough pups to justify feeding her, she was dumped in a hi-kill shelter to be euthanized. Her story might have ended there, but it didn't.

A kind rescuer found "24", pulled her from the shelter where she would have died, and took her to a veterinarian. On top of everything else, "24" was found to be heartworm positive. Still, things were looking up. For the first time in her three sad years of life, "24" was given a name.....Holly. 

Holly was treated for heartworms and her other health issues, but continued to be a behavior problem. She constantly expected to be hurt, and struck out at the other dogs in her foster home. When reprimanded, she would drop her ears, as if to say, "I'm sorry, I just can't help myself", but she wouldn't stop. After 2 1/2 months, she was moved to the home of another experienced rescuer who tried hard to help her. But Hollyberry continued attacking the rescuer's elderly pugs. She would not housetrain; a barrage of medical tests showed no physical reason for incontinence. After three more long, difficult months, the rescuer decided it was time to let someone else try. 

The third rescuer to foster Holly saw the awful fear that motivated Hollyberry and wanted badly to comfort her. She made it her  purpose in life to win the little dog's trust. Everyday the rescuer held her loosely and gently. She spoke in soft whispers, calling her  "my little Hollyberry". She said nothing when Holly had an accident on the rug, but praised her lavishly when she pottied outside. She didn't entirely understand why Holly would never housetrain, but she decided to accept the little dog on her own terms. In time, Hollyberry loved and was loved by her third foster mom and dad. Against all logic, and despite her many physical problems, they decided to adopt her.

It was a long and difficult journey, but Hollyberry definitely knew she was home to stay. Her outbursts of aggression dropped sharply, though they did not cease altogether. She instigated games of tug-o-war with her friend Duke by "woofing at him", head down, tail in the air, and she began showing her happiness when her family came home from work by grabbing a favorite toy and running with it.

Hollyberry still runs from her new parents' hands. But now, sometimes, she also runs to them.

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