Saturday, May 31, 2008

Treats!


Treats!

Daisy Duke (hospice), Tasha (hopsice), Buster (available for adoption), Big Ben (hospice), Mac (hospice), and Cowboy (adopted) all wait expectantly for treats.

Links:
Pet food recipes

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Friday, May 30, 2008

Pooped puggy

Name: Sally
Rescued: 3/2007
Adopted: 3/2007

Sally spent a long day in the hot weather. Even with her "cooling coat" and her umbrella shade, she was starting to suffer from the heat.

The people at the Coldwater Creek store kindly allowed Sally to spread-eagle on the cool tiles inside the doors of the air-conditioned store.

In just a few minutes, Sally's temperature and breathing returned to normal. She soon fell asleep.

That's okay -- Sally doesn't look good in the new summer fashion colors. :>)

Links:
Heat Stroke in Dogs
How to choose what color to wear

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Jin-Jin: Pug of the Day

Name: Jin-Jin
Rescued: 12/2004
Adopted: 6/2005
Rainbow Bridge: 2/2008

Jin-Jin's family wrote:

Jin-Jin was the most soulful Dog/Pug I have ever seen. She was the apple of all of our eyes. You always knew how she was feeling by just looking into her beautiful eyes.

When she wanted a treat or her meal she would start barking. By the time Jin-Jin went over the rainbow, she was completely blind and deaf. When she wanted to find you she would do her little "talk" and we all would come running. She was a Daddy's Girl big time and she would just "talk" to him and say some very serious things!

Jin-Jin will never be out of our lives as she enriched anyone and everyone that met her.

Links:
The Rainbow Bridge

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Duncan: Pug of the Day

Name: Duncan
Rescued: 3/2008
Adopted: 3/2008


Duncan's family sent us this news:

A couple of words about Duncan, oh my where to start. (lol) Duncan loves stuffed animals and has ripped the arms and/or legs off of all of them. To which I sew up the holes and hand them back until they are not sew-able any more.

Duncan wakes us all up every morning with VERY wet slurpy kisses. He loves a great game of tug-of-war with his toys. And here is the amazing thing... when Duncan gets tired he literally takes himself to the bedroom, climbs into our bed and goes to sleep at about 8 pm every night.

He really enjoys his walks and barks at all cars.

Links:
Bob Vila's guide to fixing stuffed toys
Denver Dumb Friends League guide to dog toys

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Dawn: Pug of the Day

Name: Dawn
Rescued: 2/2008
Available for Adoption!

Yes, Dawn really is this cute.

She spent several hours outside and she wore a "cool coat" to keep her comfortable in the spring heat.

Dawn's profile is listed on the PugPROS website. Are you the right person for Dawn?

The link (below) includes a pattern for making your own cool coat. You can also google "cooler coat" or "cooling coat" or "cool coat" to find the many retailers with ready-made coats you can purchase.

Links:
Dog Cooling Jackets

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Monday, May 26, 2008

Buster: Pug of the Day

Name: Buster
Rescued: 10/2007
Adopted: Not yet! Buster needs a home!

Buster attended the Animals On Broadway event in Walnut Creek, CA last weekend. He lounged in the "pug play pen" we keep behind the PugPROS booth. He was very calm and tolerant of the hundreds of people who walked past.

Buster is an older pug gentleman with a distinguished gray face.

Are you the right person for Buster?

Links:
Keeping Your Older Dog Healthy

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Bubba: Pug of the Day

Name: Bubba
Rescued: 2/2003
Adopted: 2/2003

This photo shows Bubba on the left, with his new friend Duncan on the right.

Bubba's family wrote:

To say a couple of words about Bubba, well he is a LOVER, he is calm and collected all the time! Unless his favorite treat is being served, which is baby carrots. Bubba is completely blind because of his diabetes but does amazingly well. He is a very lucky little man as his Girlfriend Maddy (our other pug) is his protector and shows him the way. Plus, Bubba will talk like crazy for his meals.


Links:
Diabetes in Dogs
Littlest Angel Vest for Blind Dogs

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Gus: Pug of the Day


Name: Gus
Rescued: 2/2002
Adopted: 2/2002

Gus was adopted over 6 years ago. His family sent this message last week:

He is a good boy! We call him the Sgt Major. He's always been big..but not fat..very solid. Sometimes people ask if he's a bulldog. His full moniker is "Gustav Snortimer" but we call him GusGus.

He has aged well, but more recently developed a sore shoulder. His favorite sleeping spot is on top the ottoman. Jumping up is easy, but jumping down is more of a problem. We talked to the vet, and she treated him with a series of Adaquin injections which seem to have helped.

While he is the "Alpha" pug of the house (and Ellie is the Alpha-ette), he becomes "Mr. Shivers" at the vet. Of course, being in a place that always culminates in shots, toe nail snipping, or things being stuck up your tailpipe can be harrowing.

He's very fun and funny! And we love him very much.

Links:
Bow Wow Meow: Pet Names with Personality

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Friday, May 23, 2008

Fitness challenge

Adopted!
Name: Jimmy
Rescued: 1/2008
Adopted: 4/2008

The wonderful spring weather is here and it's time to go play outside! Jimmy (left) and Missy (right) love to run around in the grass.

What is your fitness plan? Isn't it time to go for a walk with your puggies? :>)

Links:
California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness
Calhoun J. Pigglesworth, III, a Certified Personal Trainer (Pug)

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Wally: Pug of the Day

Adopted!
Name: Wally
Rescued: 1/2008
Adopted: 3/2008
Wally's new family sent this update to his story:
Wally is amazingly affectionate for a dog who has been through what he has been through. The only thing he wants to do is lie right next to you with his body firmly pressed up against yours. He is all about the affection.
I think that everyone who was involved with Wally when he was first rescued is amazed by this transformation in his personality that started with his amazing foster family. He is a very sweet, playful and affectionate boy who is getting along with his older brother Niko.
To see him in the backyard, you would be hard pressed to know that Wally is blind and deaf.

Links:

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Toby: Pug of the Day

Adopted!
Name: Toby
Rescued: 10/2005
Adopted: 11/2005

The PugPROS team was out in force at the Animals on Broadway event in Walnut Creek, CA last weekend. We raised money and provided information to the hundreds of people who attend this annual event.

We also got to see Toby again when his adoptive family stopped by to say hi.

Toby lives in Northern California. During the day, he spends quality time with the 90+ year old grandparents in the in-law suite. In the evening he relaxes with his family. On weekends, he visits the grandchildren and their pug.

He has lived there almost 3 years and he fits in well with this multi-generational family.

It's always good to see our PugPROS alumni!

Links:

Older adults benefit from pet ownership
Animals on Broadway in Walnut Creek, CA

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Harry: Pug of the Day

Adopted!
Name: Harry
Rescued: 12/2007
Adopted: 3/2008

This is an adorable photo!

Here is the news from Harry's new family:

This is Harry (formerly Gary) and Pete on the love seat in our family room. Harry has fit right in and Pete has graciously shared everything...his toys, bed and family. Pete does, however, manage to make sure he's the closest whenever the two are snoozing with any of us.

They both wait, like patient bookends, in the kitchen under the cutting board or the dining room table, for any clumsy action that might rain snippets of food on them. Otherwise, they spend most of the day hanging out together in the garden, dodging our chickens or sleeping on each other if we're away.

Links:
How to take adorable photos of your pet
Cute Overload: amazing cute photos

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Monday, May 19, 2008

Ellie: Pug of the Day

Adopted!
Name: Ellie
Rescued: 7/2006
Adopted: 1/2007

Thanks to Ellie's adoptive family for providing her story:

We adopted Ellie in January 2007. Ellie had a "chronic" back injury that made her difficult to place. Even though Ellie was half the age of our older gentlemen pugs, we decided to check her out, thinking her back issues would place her at about their activity level. As soon as I sat on the floor to get to know her in her foster mom's livingroom, she came up and sat on my lap....that was that.

She was small, but had a big round belly. We called her Ellie Belly our Potbelly pug. Odd because she did not eat much.

When we got her home, we started walking her regularly...starting short distances and working up. Soon she was out pacing her brothers. Our vet xrayed her and said she could not find any significant injury. She could see modest arthritis, but nothing too unusual for her age. I talked to the vet about her belly, small appetite, thin fur, and bald "rat tail" and she suggested we check her thyroid levels. Turns out she had hypo-thyroidism.

She has been on thyroid medicine for several months now (and had her dosage confirmed) and she is a NEW PUG. She is a puppy. Holey moley! What energy! Her belly is smaller, she eats with vigor, she has taken over all of Gus' plush toys. Her fur is thicker and her rat tail is gone! Amazing! I read that hypo-thyroidism is unusual in toy dogs, so I don't think previous vets thought of it.

Princess Ellie now rules the roost.

Links:
Hypothyroidism in dogs
Thyroid disorders in humans

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Polly: Pug of the Day

Adopted!
Name: Polly
Rescued: 12/2006
Adopted: 11/2007

Polly was found as a stray and turned in to the local animal shelter. The shelter contacted PugPROS to take her.

Polly was very, very sick. She was heartworm positive, had terrible teeth, external tumors and an inguinal hernia. We weren't sure she would make it, but she did!


Polly, like every other PugPROS pug, has a microchip so she can never get lost again.

We remind all of the adoptive families to inform PugPROS when their contact information changes. If one of the pugs is lost or found, up-to-date contact information is critical to reuniting the pug and the family.

Links:
AVID microchips
Home Again microchips

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Cowboy: Pug of the Day


Adopted!
Name: Cowboy
Rescued: 1/2005
Adopted: 2/2005

Cowboy is a handsome pug -- especially in his pirate costume at the Novato Pugtoberfest in October 2007. Check out the eye patch and the earring. Cute!

When he came to PugPROS, Cowboy had a severe case of separation anxiety. He would not tolerate being left alone or in a crate. PugPROS found an adoptive home for him with the experience and resources to deal with Cowboy's behavioral problem.

Now, he's good as gold! Ayyyy, matey!

Link:

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Friday, May 16, 2008

Rocko: Pug of the Day



Adopted!
Name: Rocko
Rescued: 10/2002
Adopted: 12/2002
Rocko has lived happily in his adoptive home for more than 5 years. He's always been an easy-going pug, very laid back.
This photo shows Rocko in a contented moment, snuggling close to his human on the couch. His eyes are just about to shut for an afternoon snooze.

Links:

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Lola: Pug of the Day

Adopted!
Name: Lola
Rescued: 1/2008
Adopted: 2/2008

Lola's previous owner turned her in to the shelter. PugPROS got her out and into a loving foster family.

Lola is a very affectionate, lively pug with a wonderful personality. Her adoptive family writes, "she is what we've been missing."

Lola appears somewhat disgruntled in this photo in front of a portrait of a cat. She prefers the artist's paintings of dogs (especially pugs!)

Link:
Paintings by Mylette Welch

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Wally: Pug of the Day


Adopted!
Name: Wally
Rescued: 1/2008
Adopted: 3/2008

Wally is a very handsome 4-year-old male. He was not raised in the best circumstances, so he was stressed and afraid when he came into rescue. His foster family worked intensively with him, then PugPROS found an adoptive family that continues to socialize him.

His one bad habit?

His family wrote, "We have to make sure that bed sheets and clothes are kept away because he will pull them down and curl up in them."

Links:
How to deal with a husband who steals the covers

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Jimmy: Pug of the Day

Adopted!

Name: Jimmy
Rescued: 1/2008
Adopted: 4/2008

Jimmy was very, very shy when he was rescued. He had very little socialization. Thanks to his foster family and his adoptive family, Jimmy has learned to love playing in the park.

His new family writes, "We have found that Jimmy is a very proud dog, when you scratch his chest he lifts his head and looks like the king of the world."

Links:

Dog parks in North America


More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Monday, May 12, 2008

Elsie: Pug Of the Day


Hospice
Name: Elsie
Rescued: 2005

Elsie is a "little old lady" pug. She's tiny, she's 14 years old, and she knows how to dress for any occasion.

In this photo from 2005, Elsie is wearing her Easter bonnet. Cute!

You can make pug hats yourself, using doll patterns.

Links:
Make your own pug hats

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Milo: Pug of the Day


Adopted!
Name: Milo
Rescued: August 2005
Adopted: October 2005

Milo is getting up in years, but he still enjoys a walk around the block. Lucky for him, his adoptive family has a pet stroller. Milo is happy in his "MiloMobile" and even shares it with his pug buddies.

Links:
Pet Strollers

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Tank: Pug of the Day



Rainbow Bridge
Name: Tank
Rescued: 2003
Adopted: 2003
Rainbow Bridge: 2006

Tank weighed almost 40 pounds when he came to PugPROS. His elderly owners had lavished him with food, but there came a time when they could no longer care for him.

Tank was a very special pug, adopted to a very special family. He eventually lost 12 pounds and could easily scramble up and down the stairs.

When Tank crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2006 his family said, "He was such a little clown and a bright light in our lives."

Tank's family affectionately compared him to a walrus. You be the judge... :>)


Links:
National Geographic: Walrus Portrait

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Friday, May 9, 2008

Barkalounger

Adopted!
Names: Ellie (pink collar), Gus (on footstool), Milo (next to chair)

This is every pug's dream home: soft beds and a human to snooze with. Life is good.

It could be an advertisement for a new brand of furniture - the "Barkalounger" :>)

Links:
Official Barcalounger website
Friends: The episode where Joey's Barcalounger dies

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Thursday, May 8, 2008

The Princess and the Pea


Name: Jin-Jin (J-J)
Rescued: 2005
Adopted: 2006
Rainbow Bridge: 2008

Jin-Jin's absolutely favorite place to sleep at her foster mom's house was in a cat bed. A friend's cat had rejected the cat bed, so it became an official pug bed.

Jin-Jin was a plus-size pug, so she was never able to fit all of her legs in the bed at the same time. One or two legs always hung out, because it was a tight fit.

There was no room for a pea in this princess's bed. :>)

Does your pug have a favorite place to snooze? Tell us about it!

Resources:
The Princess and the Pea
Make Your Own Dog Bed

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

How do you handle a hungry pug?


Adopted!
Name: Babe
Rescued: 2007
Adopted: 2007

Today's post is a question to readers. What do your pugs eat?


I adopted the Sally, the world's pickiest pug. She refused to eat -at all- for the first week after I got her so I had to take her to the vet. I experimented with multiple kinds of food over several months until I found a food that she will eat.
Sally likes "Just a Wee Bit" by Solid Gold. These are tiny kibbles of bison and salmon- just the right size for a little old lady pug with a lot of missing teeth.


Sally loves the canned food made by Castor & Pollux, but her little digestive tract emits clouds of flatulence in the middle of the night, which wakes up her human. :>(

Sally turned up her nose at Honest Kitchen and walked away after sampling Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul.

So here's the question: What do your pugs eat?
More information:
More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Baby: Pug of the Day

Name: Baby
Rescued: 2006
Adopted: 2007
Rainbow Bridge: 2008













Baby was fostered in Sacramento. The first week she arrived, a friend saw her and said, "She looks just like Marty Feldman!"
Sure enough - there is a resemblance... :>)

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Monday, May 5, 2008

Princess Daisy: Pug of the Day


Adopted!
Name: Princess Daisy
Rescued: August 2007
Adopted: 2007

Princess Daisy was abandoned at a local animal shelter. Her front legs are deformed, so she got around by hopping like a bunny.

Princess Daisy was given a cart and now wheels around just as fast as her little puppy legs can push her.

This photo was taken at the Pugtober Fest in Novato, CA in October 2007. That is just the cutest little pink helmet!

Princess Daisy has more photos at her online store at http://www.cafepress.com/princessdaisy

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Shadow: Pug of the Day


Adopted!
Name: Shadow
Rescued: October 2005
Adopted: November 2005
Shadow's owner became very ill and was unable to care for Shadow.
This photo makes me laugh -- Shadow is a happy pug and looks at the camera as if to say "Wanna play?"
The American Kennel Club describes the pug temperament this way:
"This is an even-tempered breed, exhibiting stability, playfulness, great charm, dignity, and an outgoing, loving disposition."
In other words... pugs just want to have fun! :>)
More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Sophia: Pug of the Day

Hospice
Name: Sophia
Rescued: 2005

Sophia came to PugPROS in 2005 when her owner moved overseas.

Sophia's fur is almost champagne-colored and her eyes are a luminous brown. She is a beautiful pug and was obviously been well-loved.

Earlier in her life, Sophia had passed a qualifying exam to be a certified therapy dog. She has wonderful manners and a gentle temperament.

Sophia is now 14 years old and she has some significant health issues, including a mast cell tumor. PugPROS provides her with a hospice home and vet treatment.

Kate Connick has written an informative article on canine mast cell tumors.

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Friday, May 2, 2008

Don't it make my brown eyes blue?


Adopted!
Name: Milo
Rescued: August 2005
Adopted: October 2005
Milo was found as a stray in the Sacramento area.
This photo was taken soon after he arrived.
Interesting fact: My camera has automatic "red-eye" correction and it works very well -- for humans. When I photograph pugs and use the flash, my pugs end up with blue eyes. Yikes! Milo has gorgeous brown eyes.
There's an interesting article at Scientific American that explains this phenomenon.
People of a certain age might remember Crystal Gayle's hit, Don't it make my brown eyes blue.
More information is available at our website, pugpros.org

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Sally: Pug of the Day



Adopted!

Name: Sally

Rescued: 2007

Adopted: 2007

Sally came to PugPROS in 2007, when her elderly owner was no longer able to care for her.

This photo was taken at the "Animals On Broadway" event in downtown Walnut Creek, CA in 2007. Sally and several other PugPROS pugs lounged around in the pug playpen behind the PugPROS booth.

Everyone had a wonderful time!

The 2008 "Animals on Broadway" event will be held this year on Sunday, May 18. We invite everyone to visit our booth.

More information is available at our website, pugpros.org
and at the Animals on Broadway website.