Rebecca Nicole Schweitzer Iowa: Why I Chose Adoption and Why Puppy Mill Reform Matters

Thirteen years ago, I decided it was time to have a dog again.

I grew up with dogs. Our home never felt complete without one, especially the toy poodle who was part of my childhood. As the years went by, I realized something felt off. There was a quiet space in my life that used to be filled by the steady presence of a dog. I missed the companionship. I missed the comfort. I knew a dog was missing.

From the beginning, I knew I wanted to adopt. Too many animals need safe, stable homes. That is how I found him through AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport in Iowa. He was a small toy poodle who had been born and raised in an Iowa puppy mill.

I went to meet him and brought him home the same day.

I renamed him Bobby. My family has a tradition of naming our animals after Kennedys, and the name felt right. He was tiny, quiet, and observant. He watched everything. He did not trust easily.

What I did not fully understand at the time was how much trauma he carried with him.

Living with the Effects of a Puppy Mill

Bobby was terrified of almost everything. People. Sounds. Doorways. Sudden movement. He would get sick in the car every time I tried to take him somewhere. I love to travel, so I worried about how this would work long term. But the real challenge was not logistics. It was trust.

For the first couple of weeks, he would barely let me near him. He flinched at normal movement and stayed frozen in place. When you bring a dog home, you picture tail wags and instant affection. Instead, I had to earn every inch of progress.

So I committed to doing exactly that.

I hired someone to come into my home and coach both of us. It was not just about training him. It was about teaching me how to show up in a calm, consistent way so he could begin to feel safe. Later, we worked with a trainer who specialized in abused animals so he could slowly get used to other dogs, other people, and new environments.

Progress was slow. Some days it felt like nothing was changing. But over time, it did.

Bobby began to trust me. He learned routines. He learned that hands were not something to fear. He learned how to play. Even now, thirteen years later, he is still cautious around people he does not know and nervous in unfamiliar places if I am not nearby. Trauma does not disappear simply because time passes.

But he has grown. And so have I.

What Bobby Taught Me

Bobby taught me patience in a way nothing else could. He taught me that trust is built slowly. That love is not always loud or immediate. Sometimes it is quiet and steady. Sometimes it looks like sitting in the same room every night until a frightened dog decides to move a little closer.

We have been through a lot together in these thirteen years. Moves. Career changes. Long road trips. Quiet nights at home. Through all of it, he has been there.

When people talk about puppy mills in Iowa, it can feel abstract. It sounds like policy. Statistics. Reports. But for me, it is personal. It is the reason my dog still startles easily. It is the reason socialization took so much intentional work. It is the reason fear showed up before trust.

Iowa Puppy Mills and the Need for Reform

Iowa consistently ranks near the top nationally for commercial dog breeders and for documented violations in large breeding operations. That does not mean every breeder is irresponsible. But it does mean oversight matters.

Dogs born into high volume breeding facilities often spend their earliest months in crowded, limited environments with little meaningful human interaction. Early development is critical. When those first experiences are shaped by neglect or isolation, it can affect behavior for life.

Adoption gives dogs like Bobby a second chance. But adoption alone is not the solution.

Iowa needs stronger animal protection laws and meaningful enforcement. That means regular inspections, clear standards, and real consequences for repeat violations. It means closing loopholes that allow poor conditions to continue year after year.

Puppy mill reform should not be partisan. It is about basic animal welfare and accountability. It is about ensuring that dogs are treated humanely from the start.

Why This Matters to Me

For me, this issue is not theoretical. It is lived experience. It is thirteen years of watching a dog slowly learn that he is safe. It is understanding firsthand how early neglect leaves lasting marks.

Bobby is not just a rescue story. He is part of my story.

If you are searching for Rebecca Nicole Schweitzer in Iowa, I hope you find someone who believes accountability matters, whether in public policy or in how we treat the most vulnerable among us.

Thirteen years ago, I chose him.

Knowing everything I know now, I would choose him again every single time.