For most of her life, the small white poodle was known as number 94. That was the number tattooed inside her ear. She was a breeding machine in a puppy mill, not even worthy of having her own name.
She has a name now: Baby. And she's gone from being nameless to becoming the face of puppy mill survivors. After nearly 10 years confined to a cage, Baby was rescued, then adopted by Jana Kohl, Psy.D. She lost one leg to injuries caused by years of confinement, but she didn't lose her ability to love and trust her new "Ma."
Two Lives Changed Forever
Baby was Kohl's introduction to the sordid world of puppy mills and is at the heart of Kohl's new book, A Rare Breed of Love: the True Story of BABY and the Mission She Inspired to Help Dogs Everywhere. The book is not just a condemnation of the mass breeding facilities that crank out millions of puppies a year. As HSUS President and CEO Wayne Pacelle notes in his introduction, it is "a story of two lives changed forever by an act of compassion."
It's also a celebration of Baby herself, and the people she's met on her travels with Kohl. Throughout the book, more than 60 notable celebrities and public figures pose for warm and candid photos with Baby.
There are fascinating vignettes about Baby's co-stars, from Barack Obama to Lindsay Lohan. Many, including Judge Judith Sheindlin (TV's Judge Judy) and renowned actor James Cromwell, express their own thoughts about animals, while others—including Alice Walker—contribute original essays.
All in all, it's a remarkable book that will introduce the uninitiated to the issue of puppy mills and introduce everyone to the inspiring Baby.
Road Trip
Beginning with the book's release in June and ending in October, Kohl and Baby embarked on "Baby's Rare Breed of Love Road Trip," a tour to more than 20 cities across America. Kohl's mission was to encourage adoptions, raise awareness about puppy mills and help promote the welfare of all animals.
You can find A Rare Breed of Love wherever books are sold.
A Rare Breed of Love is published by Fireside/Simon and Schuster. Jana Kohl is a psychologist, writer, artist, and ardent advocate for animals, as well as a strong supporter of The Humane Society of the United States.
Updated Nov. 3, 2008
