Rescue
Dog Rescued From "Nightmare Mansion" Has New Life Now
When rescuers opened the mansion's front door, they were stunned by what they saw.
Britanie Leclair
11.27.18

Last summer, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) made a shocking discovery when they confirmed a northern New England mansion was the headquarters of an illegal puppy mill.

When rescuers opened the mansion’s front door, they were greeted by the sight of 84 neglected Great Danes

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HSUS/The Dodo
Source:
HSUS/The Dodo

Some of the dogs were caged while others ran free, and every room was covered in urine and feces. In an HSUS blog post, Wayne Pacelle describes the scene: “The first thing that hit [rescuers] was an overpowering rancid and putrid smell, with ammonia levels so high in some room that the rescuers’ eyes teared up,” he wrote.

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HSUS/The Dodo
Source:
HSUS/The Dodo

“There were feces and debris smeared across all the walls to the point where the windows were opaque.”

“There was no sign of available water, just some remains of raw chicken parts strewn around the dogs.”

In a bedroom, locked away from the others, were two lone Great Danes— one of them, a senior named Wanda.

Morgan, a rescuer at HSUS, told The Dodo: “We have these really dramatic pictures of [Wanda] in this person’s bed, and it was completely covered in feces.”

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HSUS/The Dodo
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HSUS/The Dodo

Although the dog was apprehensive, she quickly warmed up to the team.

Working tirelessly, HSUS rescuers transported the dogs to a temporary shelter. From there, the organization began a 14-month-long battle to gain legal custody of the group.

During those fourteen months, Wanda and Morgan developed a strong bond.

The older dog had fallen in love with the rescuer. In fact, Morgan recalled:

“All the volunteers would say, ‘You know that she’s your dog, right?’ She picked you. That’s your dog.'”

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HSUS/The Dodo
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HSUS/The Dodo

Morgan’s husband was suffering from health problems, and it wasn’t the best time to get a new dog— but something told her to go for it anyways. “It was probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” she later revealed.

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HSUS/The Dodo
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HSUS/The Dodo

Since then, Morgan’s started calling Wanda her “soul mate”.

In turn, the senior dog, now weighing 40 pounds more than her owner, follows her mum everywhere. The two are attached at the hip. Unsurprisingly, Morgan and her husband can’t imagine their life without the Great (big) Dane around.

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HSUS/The Dodo
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HSUS/The Dodo

“I love this dog more than anything,” she said.

“I literally spend my whole life caring for animals, and I don’t think I’ve loved an animal on Earth as much as I love her.”

It’s terrible that Wanda and the other dogs were being housed in such horrific conditions— but thanks to loving organizations like HSUS, they get to spend their new their lives in loving, ‘furever’ homes.

great-dane-rescued-mansion-wanda
HSUS/The Dodo
Source:
HSUS/The Dodo

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