On June 14, When Cristyn Zloza took 2nd place at the 2014 PetQuest Poodle tournament in Wilmington, Ohio, it was more than a win for her skill

in grooming. It was also a testament to the power of dog rescue — because Aurora, the dog Cristyn groomed for the competition, is a miniature poodle that she and her husband Michael rescued two years ago from almost certain death.

Inhumanely debarked and cruelly used in a puppy mill, Aurora was one of hundreds of dogs rescued by a group with which the Zlozas are affiliated. The couple, who own and operate the grooming salon Spotted Paw Shop in Wheaton, are dedicated to dog rescue and know first-hand the difference a safe, loving home can make for a dog who has been subjected to the horrors of a puppy mill. Even after two years, Aurora’s coat still shows signs of the incredible stress and inhumane living conditions she suffered, but with the Zlozas help, she’s not just winning grooming competitions, she’s also learning what life is meant to be for a loving dog.