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Mid-Atlantic Pug Rescue

Why Adopt A Senior?

 

Who better to answer this question than the loving folks who are currently sharing their heart and home with a senior canine companion? 

 

 

       The Pumpkin Patch

  

 

 

Gracie & Pappy
"Pebble and Pappy made a perfect addition for my schnauzer and poodle.  They are fast bedtime pals and get along really well. Seniors are the  perfect companion for those of us who work and want a low key companion.  They are willing to do as much or as little as you want, and they are  perfect snugglers! There is so little training to do with them because
like us they have been around the block a time or two! You cannot go  wrong with a senior who will be eternally grateful to have a forever  home until they cross the rainbow bridge!"  Sue L.

 

 

     Tasha Tuder

 

 

 XXXx

Ginger has been a perfect addition to our family.  I've owned my pug Bella for several years, but decided that I wanted a companion for Bella while I was at work during the day.  I knew I wanted to adopt a rescue, and I decided that, because Bella is young and full of energy, I would ideally like to adopt a senior who had less energy.  I was hoping that they would sort of balance each other out.  That's the reason I started looking for a senior pug, but after I found Ginger, she made it abundantly clear why she found me.

Ginger is one of the sweetest dogs I have ever known.  She came into our house wanting nothing more than to love and be loved in return.  She is affectionate, undemanding, sweet, well-trained, and all-around adorable.  She is a couch-potato at heart, but has as much pep and enthusiasm on walks as my four year old pug!  Ginger has adopted Bella as her little sister, and is patiently showing Bella that it's alright to be low-key sometimes!  They snuggle together frequently, and Ginger has made a perfect companion, just as I hoped.  But I really feel that Ginger picked us just as much as I picked her.  She has bonded to me, and is my shadow throughout the day.  She wants nothing more than to cuddle on my lap and kiss my face to her heart's content.  Adopting a senior has permanently changed my life for the better, and I now can't imagine my life without my little old lady. 
Melissa
 

 
 
Ellie If I were writing a classified ad, it would say "Single, working woman with three cats and no-longer-boundless energy yearns to add a canine to her household."  A puppy?  Housetraining, leash training, shoe chewing, cat chasing, etc. - no thank you!  A young dog with lots of energy -- too exhausting.  What about an older dog who's character traits are settled, who doesn't have endless energy, who is already housetrained and leash trained, who needs exercise but also loves just to snooze some hours away on couch beside me while I watch TV -- perfect!  Ellie, who may be as much as 10 years old, came to MAPR after her breeding days were over.  She became a part of my family in July 2007, and what a joy the last year has been!  Perfectly house-trained, a great eater (what pug isn't?), calm, walks well on a leash, gets along with my cats, gives great nose licks, does a happy dance (with toy in mouth) every time I come in the door, sings along when I play music.  Laughing with and loving this wonderful pug is a blessing every day.   Susan L. 
 
                                       
 
Bear After rescuing Bear and telling those who asked how old he is, many would then ask, how long do pugs live? My response was that it did not matter because what I have been able to give Bear since rescuing him is more than he has ever known. 
In March 2007, I decided that I wanted to expand my pug family but that my schedule did not allow me the opportunity to train a puppy. So, I did some research and found Maryland Pug Rescue, which has since merged with Mid-Atlantic Pug Rescue. After browsing their website, I was intrigued by Bear’s adorable picture and amazing story. He was blind and roughly 12 years old. That didn’t matter to me. I proceeded and completed the adoption application. I had multiple phone conversations with Bear’s foster mom and we arranged for my pugs and I to meet Bear.
    On the day that Mugzee, Pudge, and I met Bear - it was love at first sight (no pun intended). At the dog park, I kneeled down and Bear came right to me and loved me right back. I knew at that moment that he was perfect. Did I have some reservation about his age? Minimally yes, but realized quickly that it did not matter. If I had him for a week, a month, a year, or many years, I knew that I could give him more than he ever had. I could provide him with a loving home after living outside for over 11 years.
    Former president of the Maryland Pug Rescue Susan Bauer commented to me that, “it is just mind boggling to me that this wonderful dog was treated like garbage for a decade, yet he is so precious to all of us. I will never understand it. I can only be really happy for him that although the first part of his life was utter tragedy, the rest of his life will be spent like a prince. Thank you, thank you, for loving Bear.”
    Love is all he knows now. Since rescuing Bear a year and a half ago, I continue to show him the world. He has been on many, many walks, has been honored at a Pug Walk, has gone for a hike at Great Falls, has been fishing and camping (overnight in a tent), has gone to many Pug meet-ups and parties, enjoyed Christmas with presents, has traveled to Oklahoma and back, and even participated in a photo shoot that I won with Lee Anderson! He loves his life. I truly believe he is reliving his youth and the life he never had and therefore, he is nowhere ready to leave this amazing “new” world.
    I am honored to be Bear’s owner – to love him everyday and show him what life should be like. And if my love isn’t enough, Mugzee, Pudge, and my latest rescue, Orson, Bear’s grandson, show him more. And yes, his grandson - I was thrilled this past February when given the opportunity to rescue Bear’s grandson so that they could be reunited and Bear now gets to spend the better part of his life with his own family.Bear has touched my heart and soul in a way that I never knew possible and I know I have done the same for him.

Age is truly just a number. You are only as old as you feel and Bear feels like a puppy again.
Amy S.

 
  
Piglet My husband and I thought that a "younger" pug would suit us better when we were ready to adopt a pug. After MAPR evaluated our application, conducted our phone interviews, and reached out to our references, MAPR asked us if we would consider an older pug, one in particular who was named "Papie Smurf" (now known as "Piglet").  We
had never thought of adopting an older pug until MAPR had asked us. Why had we overlooked all of the older pugs on the MAPR website? Probably for the same reasons everyone else does.

When we went to pick up Piglet from his foster mom's home, we knew we had found our perfect pug, or that he had found us. We are blessed to have such a great addition to our family. He is very laidback, but
will let you know when he's ready to play, or play when you want to play. Piglet is content being in the same room with you at home. He loves car rides, he loves the outdoors, and he loves to eat!  Our neighbors in our condo building adore him. Piglet also has a thing for seniors and for children. He can't get enough of them!

Piglet's front legs are bowlegged, and we get a lot of questions from people who meet Piglet for the first time. We give him joint tablets twice a day since he is an older pug.  We carry him up and down the stairs because he doesn't like the stairs, but he loves being carried! Other than that, Piglet gets around just fine. He will be celebrating his 10th birthday in early 2009. We love our Piglet.
 
 
This note was written by a wonderful MAPR family who adopted two senior pugs from us in 2005 – it shows the priceless joy that they can bring to their new owners.  We thank every family who has opened their hearts to older rescues.  This  story reminds me of our MAPR President's favorite quote -  "A good man will take care of his horses and dogs, not only while they are young, but also when they are old and past service. ---Plutarch 

     –Kimberly Thompson, Mid-Atlantic Pug Rescue, Inc.

 MY STORY

        I am afraid of dogs, yes believe it!  That is, until I met some pugs at my ripe old age of 31.  Now, I am still afraid of dogs – but certainly not pugs!  To me a pug is more a person who is trapped in a dog’s body.  When I say that I mean they are very sensitive, sincere and loyal - my pugs are there for me and I care and love them as if they were my own children.   I already had 2 pugs – one boy fawn (4) and one girl fawn (1) and if you ever speak to a pug owner – they are like potato chips - one is not enough, two maybe enough (but not in my case)….hence my story begins.
          I knew I loved pugs – I never knew about rescues until watching emergency vets on Animal Planet one evening. The next day I decided to find out if there was a pug rescue in my area.  After visiting the MAPR website I was SHOCKED!!!!  I was in awe of people putting pugs in a dumpster, on the side of the road (HOMER), outside chained in bad weather – I just could not understand that – at that point I decided to take a stand!  I became a supporter of the cause – to save and assist helpless pugs….this is the point in which my story changes……..I put in my application to help and was contacted by the great MAPR folks about 2 older, bonded pugs who needed a home quickly.  Two senior pugs seem to be among the toughest pugs of all to place in a forever home.  Finally, after I went through the MAPR adoption approval process they both arrived in November 2005.  The two I already had adjusted for about a week with the new dogs, but luckily pugs are notorious for getting along with each other!  Though they have since passed, we were a very happy family, and I will say that the addition of the two older pugs has made my life happy – the 2 older ones showed the younger ones the ropes, and the two younger ones kept the older ones on their toes.  The older ones tended to appreciate EVERYTHING!!!!  If I ever had to do it over, I would not change a thing…I certainly know I gave them a quality of life they deserved in their last years and they gave me more joy, love, loyalty and companionship that I ever expected. 
Thank you MAPR,   --Laura C., Hampton Roads, VA

LACIE  Happiness is certainly the soft, grey furry face of a senior pug.  We adopted Lacie through a small rescue group.  I just responded to the small rescue group inquiring about her and they said "She is 10 years old.  Will that be a problem?"  That broke my heart and I just immediatly said "No, that is not a problem.  When can I meet her?"  The first time we saw her face the rescue lady came up our walkway holding Lacie.  I loved her the first time I saw her face.   After several years of loving this gal, Lacie has since passed over to the Rainbow Bridge.  I can only say this, she was my canine soulmate, if you've experienced this, then you know exactly what I mean.  Lacie, thank you for the love, companionship and for capturing a part of my soul that we connected into such a tight bond.  Until we meet again my precious one.  Love, Holly and family

XXX

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If you are owned by a senior rescue and would like to share,

please send info to: ownedbypugs@cox.net