Thursday, January 16, 2025
In light of Christmas, The Gatesville Messenger hosted a Christmas Critters photo contest during the month of December to showcase local festive pets during the holiday season. The winner of the photo contest was Millie, a 15-year-old yorkie, who is also a rescue.
Millie’s owner, Mary Kafer, expressed that it is so special that Millie got picked, because she is a special dog.
“She never gets to shine since she is shy,” Kafer said. “She is sweet and shy, and we got her from a shelter, so I think it is perfect.”
Kafer explained that she wasn’t looking for a pet at the time when she came across Millie, but once she noticed her at Fuzzy Friends Rescue in Waco, the rest was history.
“She was so traumatized that she had been returned for the second time because she was terrified of everybody and everything. She had been badly mistreated and was in a cage for the first few years of her life,” she said. “So, I took her, and she just blossomed.”
Kafer explained that Millie has come a long way from where she started and even cuddles with her and sits in her mother’s lap.
“I take pictures of my dogs a lot; I don’t have any grandkids or kids here, since my son doesn’t live here,” she said.
She also mentioned that Millie likes to dress up and wear clothes as well as having her hair brushed.
“They said that she never got any attention, and now she just loves it,” she said.
Kafer expressed that Millie, along with her other two dogs are her world.
“They are always happy to see me, and they love me no matter what, and they don’t need anything except for me,” she said. “I call them my entourage.”
Since winning the photo contest, Kafer and Millie received $100 from The Gatesville Messenger and a one-year subscription, as well as a $100 value gift from the First Methodist Church, who was the sponsor of the contest.
