Our love for the pug dog began years before we found Alabama Pug Rescue and Adoption. My husband, Jim and I started with one little female and were completely smitten with her from the first moment we met her. Her name is Matilda and everything she did delighted us. Even when she was misbehaving, we couldn't be scold her. Usually because we were laughing too hard at her clownish antics.
It wasn't long before we knew we needed another pug. We took the time to search for a reputable, responsible breeder and found a delightful couple in Florida that raised show pugs. We found ourselves the proud new parents of a one year old little black female named 'Naughty Nancy'. Nancy had been a show puppy and even has the ribbons and her own little portfolio to prove it but she stopped growing at about six months of age and never reached the size of a show standard pug so she retired early and now enjoys life as one of our very spoiled pets. Let me mention that we paid far less for this well bred, healthy little girl than most back yard breeders charge for their puppies. We also had to sign a contract that she would be spayed.
Our first rescue came to us about a year later, just before Thanksgiving in 1998. The same couple that we got Nancy from contacted us and said that they had a young black male which they had managed to get away from a back yard breeder. He needed a good home and they knew that we were interested in adding to our pug family. He was about two years old and didn't even have a name. He had spent his entire life outside in the hot and humid Florida climate and had been used for breeding purposes only. He was malnourished and his coat was a mess. We took him home on a Friday night and made an appointment with our vet first thing Monday morning. He was a little shy at first but he bonded quickly. We decided his name would be Nicholas.
Our first trip to the vet with Nicholas was heartbreaking. He was diagnosed with demodex mange and had roundworms, tapeworms, pinworms, and was confirmed to be heartworm positive. We were devestated but optimistic that we could treat him and get him through this. We decided to treat the demodex first and nourish him until he was strong enough to withstand the heartworm treatment. He was the sweetest little boy in the world and seemed so grateful for his new life. He would stand in my lap and wrap his little paws around my neck with his face pressed against my cheek and just sigh while I hugged him.
On December 27, 1998 Jim came home and found him very sick and lethargic. When we left him that morning he was fine. Jim rushed him to the vet and left him with the doctor for the night who promised us he would do everything he could and was even going to take him home for the night to keep an eye on him. This doctor had an attatchment to Nicholas also. We had all been through so much together.
As it turned out, Nicholas had develped internal bleeding. His system just couldn't take everything that had happened to him. The doctor was rushing frantically to set up a blood tranfusion when he slipped away and crossed the rainbow bridge. Jim took the phone call from the vet and I will never forget the agony I felt when I realized what had happened. We were both devastated. The only emotion that could surpass the sadness was the rage at the person who had allowed all of this to happen. This person who only saw dollar signs from the profit they made on puppies.
It is so unfortunate that this type of neglect and abuse is common among dog breeders. I didn't realize just how common it is until I became a volunteer for Alabama Pug Rescue and Adoption.
Our life with APRA began when we came across the website and read Hope's story. It brought both of us to tears and we knew we had to try to help.
We applied to adopt a pug and had a particular little amputee in mind who we read about on the site. After the application process and a home visit, Pam called and informed us that we had been approved and we could in fact adopt the little three legged boy that we had been thinking about. But, she said she also had another special boy that she thought we may be interested in. A black male named Ace that was not listed on the website. Ace sounded a lot like Nicholas so we decided to adopt him. When we met Ace we couldn't beleive what we were seeing. He was the spitting image of Nicholas. Not only his looks but his personality was remarkably identical! Ace was about two years old. Nicholas had died just about two years before. I couldn't help but wonder....did God help Nicholas find his way back to us? I know it sounds silly, but....
I became a volunteer for APRA at this point and have had a good inside look at rescue. I could never have imagined the kind of relationships I would have with such an incredible group of people. The volunteers of APRA are a remarkably compassionate group with an incredible capacity for generosity. They are an ever present source of support inside and outside of rescue and I am truly blessed to be a part of this family.
We have seen so many pugs come through rescue and many of them have backgrounds similar to little Nick's. We have shed many tears of sorrow and anger but we have shed equally as many tears of joy and elation when a rescue has overcome all the odds and found the perfect forever home.
There are many more out there like Nicholas who need help. Thanks to Pam Mayes, the founder and president of APRA many have been saved and have found 'Perfect'. She started with Hope and has saved over three hundred lives to date. Nurturing, caring, and healing....leaving no stone unturned.
Thank You Pam!
|
