I volunteer with Pug Rescue (Pug PROS), providing some transport, consulting about behavior, helping out at fundraisers, and fostering. I tend to get the old timers, since I don't have stairs. I've had lots and lots of senior pugs, and end up being a hospice home quite a bit. 

This year changed the dynamic at my house a bit. Over the last 3 years I've lost 5 senior pugs. Then almost 2 weeks ago I lost Tango, and the ages and mobility in my house changed. I can't remember when I've had 4 dogs in my house. I can't remember when all my dogs could walk outside on their own. I can't remember when every dog in my house was housetrained. I can't remember the last time all of my dogs could jump onto the couch. I can't remember when nobody needed medication (well, not quite there yet, since Puck's still on antibiotics). 

I many ways it's nice. My house is cleaner, and I'm sure it smells better. I don't have to carry anyone. They can all hear me (they don't always LISTEN......) But in some ways it's just not right. I miss the sweet little pug bodies all curled up together on the dog bed. I miss the tap-tap-tap of nails on the floor as they wander around aimlessly. 

But I'm sure that will change shortly. We're desparately short of foster homes. I'd love a break, but I just can't take one. Since June, I've had 3 pugs come through here. One stayed almost six months. Skeeter was turned in to the shelter when his owner got a new boyfriend. She'd had him since he was 8 weeks old, and at 6 he went to the pound. He was a handful (had apparently gotten away with murder, and came at you with teeth flying if he didn't get his way). But luckily pugs don't have teeth that do damage, and I'm more stubborn than he was (20 minutes arguing about whether he could stay on the couch. I won.) I loved that dog, and he's in a good home. I get phone calls every once in awhile (I really "get" him, so his new mom calls for insight. His big problem is that he's brilliant.), and will continue to get them. These dogs are my responsibility for life, so I always answer the call. The last one to go was Darwin. He was turned in by his family because the new nanny wouldn't clean up dog poop. He was by far the easiest foster I've ever had. He was here 2 months, and walked into the house and onto the couch, and never gave me any trouble. When I talked to his potential parents, they kept asking about any issues he had. Barking? Nope. Marking? Nope. Food aggression? Nope. They were so excited to get him, they drove hours to meet me so that he could have Christmas with them. 

And today I got a new girl. Also an owner turn-in, she's just a doll. She was taken to the shelter 4 days after Christmas, and the shelter called us for help. She was described as food aggressive, a resource guarder and terrified/aggressive with large dogs. Well, she's sleeping at my feet right now. No sign of aggression, issues, fear - nothing. Even with Arnie humping her, she just looked at him. She even gave Snap a few licks on the chin. 

A question I'm asked a lot is how I can let them go. I think it's easy. Not every time (I have kept my share of fosters - Puck, Frosty, Beth, Little Bit, Winston, Cutie, Spud, Oscar and Arnie), but more often than not. I've had Pugsley's (about 10 LOL), Mae, Lindy, Buddy, Kai, Skeeter, Arne, and many more I can't even remember names of. Some stay a long time, some just overnight. But I can let them go because I know they are going to the place that they need. A home of their own. People of their own. I see them through the years, at Pug events, and they never even give me a second glance. That is success.



Kai, posing for his website photo, 2005