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Marshmallow is one of 1,500 beagles pulled from Ridglan Farms, a dog breeding and research facility in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin
NEED TO KNOW
- Marshmallow is a senior beagle, one of 1,500 dogs removed from a Wisconsin breeding and research facility
- Stephanie Stern volunteered to help the canines removed from the facility and briefly met Marshmallow
- After the meeting, Stern decided she needed to adopt the dog and spent days searching for the beagle
Marshmallow’s pet parent, Stephanie Stern, has been devoted to her since the moment they met and showed that love by spending days searching for the rescue beagle so she could adopt her.
Marshmallow is one of the over 1,000 beagles pulled from Ridglan Farms. According to the Associated Press, Ridglan Farms is a dog breeding and research facility in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin. In April, Ridglan Farms reached a confidential agreement with Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy, selling its 1,500 beagles to the organizations for an undisclosed amount.
The two organizations purchased the pooches, then worked with dozens of rescue partners to take over the dogs’ care and find them adopters.
An animal lover all her life and experienced dog rescuer, Stern, 31, reached out to help with the massive beagle rescue effort as soon as she heard about it.
“All my free time is spent doing dog rescue,” Stern, who works as a supervisor at a wastewater treatment facility, tells PEOPLE, adding, “I applied to volunteer right away.”
Stern ended up volunteering to help with the medical intake of the dogs in Wisconsin. As part of the intake, she examined the dogs to help determine what health issues each animal had and what care they would need.
One of the dogs Stern spent a few moments with was Marshmallow, a distinctive senior beagle with an almost all-white face.
“She kind of plopped down and lay on her side like she wanted belly rubs,” Stern recalls of how quickly Marshmallow warmed up to her. “She just completely stuck out to me. And then, somewhere during the intake process, she ended up kissing me on the nose.”
Stern’s time with Marshmallow struck a chord, and she found herself thinking about the dog long after her volunteer shift was over. Soon, the dog lover had easily convinced herself that she needed to adopt the 9-year-old rescue dog.
“It basically dawned on me days later: ‘I need that dog in my life.’ I’ve fostered just under 100 dogs, but for some reason, she sticks out to me,” Stern says.
Unfortunately, during her volunteer shift, where Stern encountered dozens of dogs, she didn’t think to snap a picture of Marshmallow or learn what shelter she was moving to after intake. All Stern knew about Marshmallow was that the dog had a white face, was missing her two front teeth, and had a number tattooed on her ear by Ridglan Farms that ended in 7.
“That’s when I kind of went on a manhunt,” she shares.
Instead of giving up on reuniting with Marshmallow, Stern decided to embark on a sleuthing spree. Between speaking with her fellow volunteers and researching shelters part of the Ridglan rescue effort, Stern narrowed down the beagle’s likely location to three rescues in Minnesota.
“So then I started messaging all three organizations. And I’m telling them, you know, “I volunteer with Beagle Freedom Project, and this one dog stuck out to me. I cannot stop thinking about her,” Stern explains, adding that she also shared the three identifiers she had for Marshmallow with the rescues as well.
Eventually, one of the organizations, Ruff Start Rescue, followed up with Stern to let her know it had a dog that matched that description and sent her a photo of the pup.
“I was at work, and I just felt like I was going to start crying. I was so excited. And they were one of the first places to get back to me. So thankful for that,” Stern says of seeing Ruff Start’s photo and realizing it was indeed Marshmallow.
She had to wait a few more days before Marshmallow was available for adoption. As soon as the dog was available, Stern rapidly filled out an application, expressing her love for the beagle and her desire to give Marshmallow the perfect forever home.
Ruff Start soon got back to Stern to approve her as Marshmallow’s adopter and connect her to the dog’s foster parent. On June 6, Stern drove five hours to meet Marshmallow’s foster mom and take the dog home.
And while the beagle seemed nervous at first, she quickly and happily accepted her new life, cuddling with Noodle —Stern’s foster beagle she brought on the trip — and falling into a peaceful sleep on the drive back to Stern’s home in Milwaukee.
Over the past month, Marshmallow has started to settle into her forever home, where everything is exciting and new to her after years spent in a cage.
“She’s learned from the other dogs in my house kind of how to be a dog. So, she’s seen them get the zoomies, so she’ll get the zoomies now. And it is so funny because she’s nine, but acting like a puppy,” Stern notes. “She’s now interested in toys; she chews on bones. It’s so cute to see her experience the good life.”
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Along with Stern, her four dogs and 6-year-old daughter have helped Marshmallow emerge from her shell and embrace joy.
Stern hopes that Marshmallow’s story inspires others to get involved with animal rescue, and adds that no contribution is too small.
“There are so many dogs nowadays that need rescue. If anyone can help, volunteer in any way, even if it’s just for a day or two once a year, anything helps,” she says. “And, you know, maybe you’ll find your soul dog.”
Dog lovers looking to stay up to date on Marshmallow’s adventures can keep track through Stern’s social media account for her rescue dogs, @onemoredogwonthurt.
Read the original article on People
