My husband Pat and I came to know about Pugs and Alabama Pug Rescue and Adoption thanks to our children, Anthony (11) and Sheila (9), who we adopted about 4 years ago. When Anthony and Sheila came to live with us, we had two female cats, Jefferson and Shelby, but no dogs. Shelby is a scaredy cat and wouldn't play with the kids much, but Jefferson presented herself to be petted and played with. Little did she know what she was in for. Sheila treated Jefferson just like a dog. She picked her up and swung her around, and toted her around the house draped over one arm. I couldn't believe Jefferson tolerated this, but she was either too nice or too dumb to protest. Sheila begged for a dog, but we didn't think it a good idea since we didn't have a fenced yard or a yard that would be easy to fence. Besides, Anthony was a little afraid of dogs.
Through my volunteer work with the Humane Society, Sheila and Anthony were exposed to lots of dogs in all shapes and sizes and after about a year, Anthony lost his fear. He joined Sheila in wanting to adopt a dog, or two. At first I was hesitant to use the word adoption in regard to dogs at the Humane Society, as I didn't want the children to associate themselves with the dogs they saw in cages without homes. Over time, though, I've changed my mind and use the term freely. Anyway, by this time, Jefferson was starting to get a little testy with all the rough treatment and had scratched Sheila a couple of times (I can't say I blame the cat). Pat and I deciced it was time to consider a dog.
We researched most of the small breeds, and even took a quiz that was supposed to match us with the breed best for us. We had almost decided on pugs, and when the quiz said a pug was right for us, that was the clencher. Why was a pug right for us? Because, according to the quiz, pugs don't shed much, are quiet lap dogs, not too active, don't bark much, and are great with children. I wonder where that information came from?
We got our first pug, Madison, as a puppy from a breeder. We hadn't heard about APRA yet. Madison stole our hearts totally, even though she sheds terribly, barks at nothing, runs through the house at 70 miles per hour, chews everything in sight, and only wants to sit in my lap when she's exhausted. She was great with the kids though.
I eventually found the APRA web site and learned about Pugs on Parade (POP). Well, we took Madison to the parade last year, and it changed my life. I saw an entire community of people who loved pugs as much as we loved Madison. In fact, we were about the only family there with just one pug. They seemed to come in groups. We also saw our first black pug. We had not seen one in "person" before and all agreed that if we ever wanted a friend for Madison, we would like to have a black pug.
Up until Pugs on Parade, Madison had been scared of other dogs. But when she saw all the pugs at POP, she joined right in with them and had the best time. We couldn't believe the change in her. We knew then how much she would benefit from having a pug pal.
Like others who have told their story on this web site, I began "lurking" around the APRA site, looking at the rescue pugs and falling in love with each of them. I finallly filled out an application and had a home visit. It was all so familiar! Adopting a pug from APRA is very much like adopting a child. Pam at APRA takes it just as seriously. The volunteers who called and visited my home were great, and I felt a kindred spirit in Pam right away. When Marshall, a young black male pug showed up on the site, I knew he was meant to be for us. And I was right! He joined our family last summer and is the sweetest, snuggliest lap dog you could imagine, and he doesn't shed anything like Madison does. In fact, he is teaching Madison what it means to be a pug. He and Madison are best friends now, and I can't imagine how lonely she must have been before Marshall. They play together, they sleep together during the day (but they don't eat together - eating is serious business to a pug). At night, Marshall sleeps with Anthony and Madison sleeps with Sheila. The only time I get to sleep with one of the pugs is when I sneak it out of one of the kid's beds at night, and sneak it back in the morning before the kids wake up. The pugs are teaching the children so much about responsibility. Anthony and Sheila take "their" dogs out on leashes several times a day (and only rarely complain about it). They feed them, play with them, walk them. People are amazed when I explain how much the kids take care of these dogs.
The friends I've made in APRA are wonderful. They're always ready with advice and encouragement. We have get-togethers, and we email each other almost daily. They are a great source of comfort and I know they're always just a click or phone call away. Thank you Pam, and everyone involved in APRA, for the countless ways you've enriched my life and that of my family. Little did I know that when we adopted two children, that two pugs were just around the corner. I can't imagine it any other
way.
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