Her coat, once dull and coarse, is now soft and shiny. She’s trimmed down to a healthy 16 pounds, and the eye that once caused her such agonizing pain has been removed.

The sweet little beagle who came to be known as Mabel was rescued from a commercial breeding operation in Virginia last fall with the help of Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends members and others read her story on the Best Friends website and immediately fell in love with the little girl. Lynne Przychodzki of Hightstown, New Jersey, was one of those people.

“When I read her story, I was just outraged,” Lynne says.

Mabel, one of 179 dogs rescued from the Virginia puppy mill, had spent eight to 10 years living in a cage churning out litter after litter of puppies for profit. Last October, Best Friends helped rescue the dogs from an auction and transported them to Pets Alive, a New York animal sanctuary that Best Friends had stepped in to help when its owner fell on hard times.

Mabel was in bad shape. Glaucoma had robbed her of her eyesight and she suffered from obesity, multiple mammary tumors and other physical maladies common to puppy mill dogs. Her tired little body had just given birth to her last puppy, who did not survive. Mabel was in need of someone to give her some one-on-one attention, so the plea went out for a foster home. For Lynne and her boyfriend, Roger DeVries, it was a no-brainer. They e-mailed Best Friends offering to foster Mabel.

“They said, ‘Come and get her. She needs some special care,’” Lynne says. Lynne made the two-hour drive to Pets Alive, where she had worked as a volunteer. Roger was already there to meet her.

“Wait until you see her,” Roger told her.

The first time Lynne laid eyes on Mabel in person, she was in a pen with a toy that said “World’s Best Mom.”

“I just cried because she was so old and [I was] thinking how she must have spent her life,” Lynne says.

Mabel has faced some physical and emotional challenges. Though the physical problems of puppy mill dogs have been well-documented, no one has really studied the long-term emotional challenges these dogs face.

Until now, that is. Best Friends’ own Dr. Frank McMillan is now doing a groundbreaking study on the emotional health of the dogs Best Friends has rescued from commercial breeding operations. He plans to follow them throughout their lifetimes. What makes some of these dogs more resilient than others? Just what kinds of things can be done to help a puppy mill dog best heal the emotional wounds? These are just a couple of the questions Dr. Frank hopes his study will answer.

Lynne and Roger have officially adopted Mabel and she happily shares their New Jersey home with their other dogs. She recently discovered a great new treat – “pupcorn.” Hearing Roger open a bag of microwave popcorn will wake her up from a deep sleep and she’ll “beagle on through” the other dogs to be the first to dive into Roger’s lap. “She loves popcorn,” Lynne says. “She has a strange obsession with it.”

Mabel’s days of living in a cage are over for good. Thanks to Lynne and Roger, her golden years will continue to be filled with love, good veterinary care and, of course, plenty of popcorn.

Story by Sandy Miller
Photos are courtesy of Lynne Przychodzki

To get regular updates on Mabel’s progress, read her blog.

To read more about the commercial pet trade, see The Truth About the Pet Trade on the Best Friends Network.

The work of Best Friends is possible only because of your generous support. Please help us reach our goal of No More Homeless Pets.

Check out more Best Friends news.

August 5, 2008 : 11:33 AM ET
posted by: cattees

Whee!

July 30, 2008 : 2:55 PM ET
posted by: watsonsmom

WOW, what a great happy ending for this amazing girl.. this puppy mill thing,, it just makes me sick .. as a society we need to act on this.. no creature should suffer so, the way these babies do in those obscene places. Thanks BF and Mabel's new family for taking the time and resources to save, love and nurture this little girl.

July 29, 2008 : 11:17 AM ET
posted by: dogsinthecity

Oh Mabel, the photos of you on your blog site put such a huge smile on my face. I'm so glad you continue to thrive with your new family surrounded by love and lots of new adventures. Pupcorn, YUM!!

Lynne & Roger, the world needs more people like you two... :) Thanks for giving her the love and care she always deserved.

July 29, 2008 : 1:35 AM ET
posted by: wycheck fan

Mabel, I love you blog. I love how you show us how to appreciate all the great things life has to offer (like pupcorn!). Lots of love to you, little Beagle girl!

July 28, 2008 : 7:56 PM ET
posted by: pooh8433

AWESOME! THAT'S ALL THAT COMES TO MIND WHEN I READ ABOUT BEST FRIENDS, LYNNE, ROGER AND MABEL!

July 28, 2008 : 6:14 PM ET
posted by: jkrogh

How to say thank you to Lynne and Roger for all that they have done for this sweet soul. She looks wonderful and I know she is in the perfect home.. Go Bless you for what you have done and Sweet Mabel you deserve the good life for as long as you can be around.. Love ya!! J

July 28, 2008 : 4:45 PM ET
posted by: hmelzerus

I am so happy that this sweetie is doing well. We rescued a female dachshund from a puppy mill who didn't do as well. She literally gave up. I think the change was such a shock that no matter how much love or good food or space or company she had, she couldn't take it. We tried everything; cage or no cage, company or being alone, and always love. Her eyes just stayed glazed, she stopped eating and simply passed away. I hope cases like this get into the study. Maybe there is a better way to bring an animal out of this horrid environment.

July 28, 2008 : 10:33 AM ET
posted by: lindablauch

I love you soooooooo much Mabel.

July 28, 2008 : 9:53 AM ET
posted by: venice05

Dear Mabel, I'm so happy you've found your forever home. I wasn't a puppy mill mom, but I was neglected and given up by my owner when I became old and blind. I found my forever family last year, and recently celebrated my 15th birthday in style! I hope your story inspires many more people to adopt senior, special-needs dogs because, as you and your mom and dad know, we make wonderful family members! Love, Maggie Mae

July 26, 2008 : 7:36 PM ET
posted by: skya

What fantastic news!! I fell right in love with Mabel from the moment I saw her first picture. Bright blessings on you all! >^..^<

July 26, 2008 : 8:18 AM ET
posted by: bluedog

Dear Lynne and Roger, What you have done for Mabel is so wonderful. You are heroes in my eyes, and my eyes cry alot for so much saddness in our world. I like when I cry happy tears, like the tears for Mablel, and you both. Thank you!

July 26, 2008 : 1:57 AM ET
posted by: freelady72000

I think it is wonderful that a dog this sweet was saved. My question is, when can we save these wonderful girls before they come up at auction? By the time they are saved, they have been savaged by the puppy mills. Then the story is all about research into how this terrible exploitation affects these victims. When will animal advocates be able to stop this exploitation? What can animal activists do to stop this?

July 25, 2008 : 10:46 PM ET
posted by: lindalarnerd

So glad that Mabel has a home of her own now, the people who adopted her are truly wonderful...despite all her trials and tribulations at the puppy mill, I know she knows how much she is loved now and will enjoy her life as a "popcorn eating pooch"! And I hope the other dogs don't get in her way to the popcorn bowl....

July 25, 2008 : 8:45 PM ET
posted by: KinKStar

Ah, after years of suffering, dear Mabel is home at last. Bless your heart sweetie, may you live a long life, feeling love everyday to make up for what you were missing for so long. ?

July 25, 2008 : 7:45 PM ET
posted by: dogfuzzer

What a lovely ending to a horrible story. I'm glad Mabel found her happy forever home with Lynne and her friend. She's a lucky doggie now and thank goodness dogs live in the moment. She can hopefully put her past behind her and lap up the good times and the popcorn! It is a wonder that this goes on in this country in this day and age but all you have to do is see the way people treat their children to understand why dogs are treated this way. So very sad. But it's good that there are people working to stop it. Thank you Best Friends!

July 25, 2008 : 7:36 PM ET
posted by: disbelief

I was asking myself how can anyone be allowed to cage dogs their entire lives in little cramped boxes and get away with it? The answer came to me very quickly... because the public is truly unaware of the horrors and greed surrounding the puppy mill industry. It will take many more Oprah shows and other news stories to get the word out. Thank you Best Friends for taking on this descipable business and I know you will vow not to let up until the door has been nailed shut on the very last puppy mill. God Bless you all.

July 25, 2008 : 7:28 PM ET
posted by: Beth Janich

This story is a perfect example of why I will always be a supporter of Best Friends. Thank goodness that Mabel has finally found a loving home after enduring so much misery for so many years. Many thanks to everyone who helped make it possible for her.

July 25, 2008 : 7:26 PM ET
posted by: rad123

Mabel - you're a star!!!!

July 25, 2008 : 6:54 PM ET
posted by: veganmarcy

from the beginning i couldn't help but wonder if they'd end up adopting her, and am so glad that's worked out for our favorite little beagle!

July 25, 2008 : 6:40 PM ET
posted by: Godisgr8

What an incredible story. Thank you to Best Friends for all your hard work to help these precious souls and to special people like Lynne and her boyfriend who opened up their hearts and home to such a deserving dog. Mabel is a true hero and it's so heartwarming to know that every day for the rest of her life she will be truly loved and be made to feel the special dog that she is.

July 25, 2008 : 3:39 PM ET
posted by: lovemybabies

Hugs and Kisses to Mabel

July 25, 2008 : 10:26 AM ET
posted by: cambridgeratmom

Mabel, I knew you could do it!

July 24, 2008 : 12:46 PM ET
posted by: alex

We love you Mabel!!!!