Vixen originally came to us thanks to our Mill Mama Program after spending her entire life being used as a breeder dog in a commercial breeding facility (puppy mill) in Lancaster County.

Vixen arrived in our care with multiple mammary masses that we hoped would be benign, but sadly, biopsies confirmed they were malignant (cancerous). Female dogs who are not spayed or spayed later in life are at an increased risk for developing these Mammary Carcinomas.

Vixen previously lived only to create puppies and was never given the simple joys in life that all dogs deserve- to have a family that loves them, to run around and roll in the grass, to lay in the sunshine, and to just be a dog.

We are heartbroken that Vixen escaped her past life only to be given this terminal diagnosis, but despite that we are incredibly grateful to have a hospice program that allows Vixen all the happiness and comfort she always deserved in life, for however long she may be with us.

We already have a wonderful foster family who readily agreed to let this sweet girl live out her days with them as part of the program, and Vixen is clearly unaware that anything is wrong with her. In fact, her life is better than it’s ever been.

She is surrounded by a family who loves and cares about her, gets lots of tasty treats, sleeps in a warm bed, lays out in the sunshine with her foster siblings every day, and goes for daily hikes (even if she does like to sprint until she plops…she is still learning to pace herself!). She excitedly runs up to any new person she meets, rolling over onto her belly asking to be petted. It’s pretty hard not to have your heart stolen by this sweet girl and feel her pure joy for life.

All Vixen needs to do right now is be happy and enjoy her life, and we are confident that this sweet girl is doing just that.