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New Beginnings
Finding a Forever Home
Pugs are surrendered to PRoNE for many reasons--from financial hardship and foreclosures to owners who don't understand their special needs. These lovely dogs go on to make great companions for those who can look beyond having a "second-hand dog".
Whether a puppy or a senior, rescued pugs continually show their new families how grateful they are for the love and attention they receive. Check out their stories.
One night in late July 2006 a small, black, female pug was found lost and wandering the streets of a small town in Western Massachusetts. This pug with no name was in horrific shape and in heat and the dog officer took her in and placed her in a kennel to begin her ten day waiting period to see if someone would claim her.
The little pug sat shaking and coughing in her cage – she was being fed, but her true needs for complete veterinary care, compassion, and love were still unmet. The dog officer contacted PRoNE volunteer Amy Palmeri. Amy went to see the pug and said that of course our rescue would take her in as soon as the ten days were up. During the course of the ten day period the dog officer brought the pug to the vet where she was told she could survive the ten day wait until rescue could take her in.
At the vet visit it was discovered that the little pug had been micro-chipped. The dog officer called the person associated with the micro-chip paperwork and was advised by the individual that the dog did not belong to her – she had no idea why she was the contact on the micro-chip registration and that it must be some kind of mistake. This person was (and still is) a back yard breeder who, at the current time, still has a lonely male pug tied to a tree in her front yard. We are thankful every day that this woman did not come to claim the little black pug.
After the ten day waiting period was over, PRoNE Amy arrived to release the little pug from her cell. Amy knew right away that this dog needed some serious help. When she arrived home, Amy and her husband bathed the pug, fed her, and tried to comfort her.
Later that evening Amy and her husband drove to Fitchburg to meet another PRoNE volunteer at a halfway point. That volunteer was me. When Amy opened the door of the crate so I could get a look at the little black pug I was simply shocked. The dog was breathing like no pug I had ever heard before. I was actually frightened. Cosmetically the little pug was a daunting sight as well. She is a black pug but in many places her fur was brown and it was course to the touch. She also had several large lumps on her lower abdomen that I thought might be tumors. Her back legs extended out at the sides so much that she reminded me of one of those large trucks with double tires in the rear. They literally jutted out sideways instead of being even with her body. The little pug also possessed an oddly crooked jaw.
I got in my car and placed the crate on the front passenger seat next to me and headed East toward home. During the drive the pug’s breathing became more and more labored and she was crying. I was convinced she might be in dire straights and I called PRoNE management to discuss the options. I sincerely thought I might have to put this poor little pug to sleep to ease her suffering that very night. PRoNE management advised me to use my judgment and I elected to drive to an emergency clinic in Woburn, MA to have her examined.
At the emergency clinic my fears were confirmed. I was told the pug had multiple mammary tumors which were most likely cancerous and that the cancer might have advanced to her lungs. They said an x-ray would be necessary to determine if the cancer had spread. I decided that I would do the x-ray the next day at my regular vet’s office in the interest of conserving funds for the rescue. The emergency clinic gave the pug an injection to calm her so she (and I) could sleep that night.
The next morning I set off to my own vet with high hopes that something could be done to assist the little pug. During the examination the vet realized that the pug did not have mammary tumors, but instead had several hernias. I was so happy that the emergency vet’s diagnosis appeared to be wrong. My vet felt the hernias were the result of multiple and irresponsible breedings. In his opinion, the pug’s weight of 10.5 pounds should have deterred any responsible breeder. The diagnosis of hernias rather than mammary tumors was good news but the vet felt that her breathing was a large concern. He recommended an ultrasound to look at her heart and lungs and her lower abdomen to determine what could be done about the multiple large hernias. My vet also diagnosed Grade 3 luxating patellas, a jaw that had been broken and had healed incorrectly, an ear infection, and a kidney infection. Again, I considered putting this sad little pug to sleep, but I was not convinced she was ready and I was definitely not ready.
The ultrasound showed damage to both the heart and lungs and revealed that the hernias would be difficult to repair because of their size and location. The doctor performing the ultrasound advised us to let nature take its course and see what happened. He did not think surgery was a viable option because he was not convinced the pug would survive anesthesia.
I took the pug home and my husband and I decided we would continue our efforts to improve the issues we could and to take it one day at a time. We started by giving the name “Hope” to the beautiful petite pug now in our care. We called her Hope because we were hoping that she would survive long enough to enjoy the care and affection she had clearly never received before.
Hope was essentially un-adoptable at this time due to her multiple illnesses. Several months passed and Hope’s ear and kidney infections cleared up. She added 1.5 pounds to her body weight and her fur started to have more black and less brown and was softer to the touch. She also perked up a bit and started to learn that a hand coming toward her would bring comfort and love instead of pain and suffering. Eventually Hope would come to crave constant contact with my husband or with me.
About five months passed without incident before my husband and I noticed that the abdominal hernias were growing larger. Another month passed and the hernias had grown to the size of plums. We decided to consult another vet for a second opinion on addressing these hernias as they were significantly impacting Hope’s quality of life yet she was thriving and healing in so many other ways. The second vet was willing to perform surgery on the hernias but cautioned us that it was risky. My husband and I felt that the risk was worth it because if the hernias coThen, the best thing that could happen did. Hope came through the hernia surgery with flying colors. The vet was even able to spay her so she would never have to go through a cycle again. We were told that Hope’s uterus was the size of a German Sheppards and they think she had at least 30 litters of puppies during her lifetime. Based on the condition of her organs Hope’s age was estimated at between 10 and 12. Because of her size most people think Hope is a puppy or young dog but she is actually a senior citizen.
Hope continues to live with us and my husband and I decided to adopt her. She is only the second dog we have adopted in our 5+ years working with PRoNE so you know how special she is. Hope is in good health although she still has luxating patellas and also arthritis in the hips. However, she is thriving and happy (although a little grumpy when other pugs invade her territory – which seems to include coming within 2 feet of either of either my husband or me).
Hope has lived up to her name and in my mind, represents what rescue is all about. It is about taking the tossed away and unwanted and healing them and placing them in homes where they will be cared for and loved as they should have been from the start.
Even when the path seems insurmountable, there is always a reason to hope.
ntinued to grow, as they likely would, Hope would need to be put to sleep anyway.