Her body language speaks louder than any human, trembling, silent, unwilling to make eye contact, she is the product of a puppy farmer who bred her until she was no more use.
Today we share her video as a disturbing reminder that buying a puppy this Christmas could help leave thousands of other puppy farm dogs in a similar state right here on the island of Ireland.
Today, weeks after she was taken into the care of Deise Animal Sanctuary, Bonnie still shakes uncontrollably when humans are near, terrified, closed down, unable to make eye contact, another broken dog thrown to the evils of puppy farming and rescued when she was no longer of use.
Read more: Biff the bouncing Boxer from the John Lewis Christmas has passed away
Named Bonnie by her rescuers, she was removed from a life of hell in a shed where she had been used to breed beautiful Golden Cocker Spaniels, puppies taken from her at six weeks old and openly sold to the public for thousands on websites across Ireland.
Today Bonnie is on her third adoptive home and still unable to settle or trust, and sadly her recovery from a life of animal slavery is not assured and it is unlikely she will not live to a great age given the abuse she suffered for the first five years of her life.
Rescuer Pat Edwards, from the Deise sanctuary explained: "To put it straight, Bonnie is broken, a broken little soul who cannot trust humans let alone look at them. We don't know if she will ever make any recovery but she is safe and loved, warm and fed, cared for and she will have the years left in comfort and the devotion she deserves.
"Other adopters tried to help her but she was too closed down. Now she's in a home for the rest of her life, where her adoptive family will let her live just as she needs and wants, they're able to deal with her mental and emotional health problems and they accept that she may never heal. If she eats and sleeps and feels calm, it will be enough and she will live out her life in comfort and care.
"Sadly Bonnie is not unusual, she is not a one-off, because Bonnie is the truth, the face of puppy farming right here on the island of Ireland. This is what happens to dogs who are repeatedly bred with no human contact, with no socialisation, without love or affection and in Bonnie's case without proper food to nourish her.
"God only knows what state of health her pups were in when they were taken from her. But they'd have been washed and handed over for thousands of pounds and the new owners left to live with the consequences of puppies from an unhealthy and mentally and emotionally broken mother.
"Bonnie was lifted from a shed with four other Cocker Spaniels who were used as breeding machines and she was the worst case. She had been repeatedly bred, she'd had no human contact other than a person taking her pups away at six weeks old and forcing her to breed again and again. Her food was animal carcasses left in the shed with the dogs. She's not fit for the sort of normal life we expect dogs to have.
"This is the fault of many people; the evil puppy farmers, the public who buy puppies without the proper checks and others who buy a puppy farmed dog and just don't care. And it's the fault of the governments who stand over animal welfare legislation that just doesn't work, which isn't effective enough to bring this crime and this despicable trade to an end.
"To expose Bonnie's video to thousand of people is sad and disturbing and certainly it's undignified for her, but we have to get the message out that everyone who wants a dog this Christmas, who buys a dog, who books a puppy, who turns away from rescue dogs for whatever reason, is adding to this problem, is perpetuating the myth that it won't happen to them. While the public buys, the puppy farmers profit and the dogs suffer.
"Please watch the video again and try to explain to yourself why and how this is acceptable, why innocent dogs like Bonnie should be made to suffer so much that they break, and then please ask yourself if you are adding to the problem. You know what to do and you know what not to do. Let Bonnie be your guide this Christmas and any time you fancy buying a puppy, let Bonnie remind you of the real cost.
"We would urge everyone who wants to add to their family with a pet to adopt not shop. be honest with yourself and if you really want to do the right thing then adopt a pet. Stop buying puppies, stop encouraging the problem.
"And please remember that to have a dog in a home, in a family takes time, love, patience and money and especially take this into consideration at this time of year as a dog is not just for Christmas. You could have up to 15 years or more with a healthy dog.
"People should really know the importance of second chances, if everyone could watch this video and see the real side of rescue and abuse from ex puppy farming dogs like Bonnie.
"She has lost all trust in humans and we can only hope she has enough time left to rebuild some trust and some joy. Bonnie has a family now who is willing to build up her trust again no matter how long it takes and keep her safe for the rest of her life.
"Please support animal rescues as we are all working so hard day in and out. This is just one case, but there are so many you don’t see so please do not be part of creating more Bonnies by supporting puppy farms and greedy breeders."
READ NEXT:
To get the latest dog news straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter
