We Interrupt Howie's Blog Fur This Important Message!

The 2010 Pug Rescue Calendar Voting Is Open!

The nation's largest pug rescue has launched its annual Calendar Contest to choose Ameria's Top Pug! Vote for your favorite pug for our the Dallas Fort Worth Pug calendar contest by August 1 at our contest site. Each vote is a $1 donation to DFW Pug Rescue, so use your paws and vote multiple times! The Top 13 pugs will be featured in our fabulous calendar and the grand prize pug who receives the most votes will be featured on the cover.

Official rules and important stuff:
Each photo submitted becomes the property of DFWPRC. Photos that are submitted cannot be professionally produced. Photos with people in them will not be considered and two photo entries are allowed per family. Pictures must be light enough, of good quality and not blurry. Pugs with less than 10 votes by July 1st, will be removed from the competition.

No Pug Left Behind - Elvis in His Own Words

Hi, I'm Elvis Puggy. After I ate some of that tainted dog food,

I got pretty sick and my back legs stopped working. Mom

bought me one of those fancy carts and, in no time flat, I

was doing wheelies up and down the sidewalk.

My mom was real worried there for a while. I told her
there wasn't a thing to worry about, as long as she kept
those hugs and kisses coming...I'm feeling much better now.

One of mom's friends made this picture of me. Handsome, aren't

I? She dedicated this picture to Dallas-Fort Worth Pug Rescue

because they rescue pugs just like me. They put my picture

on a T shirt and called it No Pug Left Behind. I try not to let the fame go to my head, but I'll
give you an autograph for a scratch behind the ears.

Mom takes me out for strolls to see all my peeps. They
adore me, and who can blame them?

This is my sister, Dandy. She put away her cowboy boots and moved
to California. She's hoping to get discovered by some big
time Howlywood Agent.

As you can see, Dandy's a natural poser. I think
she's got a Howlywood gig in the bag.

I love my sister Dandy, but the lady closest
to my heart will always be my Mama Mindy. Most especially
when she takes me out for a double double with
extra cheese. *gives his Mama big kisses*

Mr. Dog, A Forgotten Pug

Mr. Dog of West Virginia

On his way to his new foster home with

Chad and Gabby, after 5 years alone in a yard.

You're probably wondering how such a good looking fellow like me would ever slip from somebody's mind, aren't you? My foster mom and dad sure are. This morning when I woke up, I had to nibble my leg just to see if I was dreaming - I woke up indoors for the first time in 5 years.

This time last week I was in the YARD. The yard was my home and just about the only place I knew. It was very quiet in the yard, someone would run a hose and fill my water bowl and put some dry kibble out for me once in a while. My feet itched alot, and that helped me to pass the time. I kept little scratchies on the wooden fencepost to keep track of the days, but pretty soon I couldn't find a blank space to leave a daily scratch so I just gave up.

The last time I was indoors I was just a little pug puppy. I know I was terribly cute then, everyone said so, but the humans must have got tired of me because I was out in the yard before I knew it. I think this lady who found me might be an angel. Maybe I am in heaven? She has a soft voice and acts like she loves to pet me. So I am either dreaming or in heaven.

They are trying to think of a name for me now. I think Ferdinand might be nice. Or perhaps Rockefeller. Something subtle and understated. For now, I think I'll go over there and take a nap on that soft rug. Maybe that cute little girl puggy, Tulley Belle, will come sniff me again. She is about the nicest smelling thing I've ever met, aside from this new fancy kibble I'm getting.

Thank goodness for the lady. I think she loves me. How could that be, I am just Dog, after all? One thing I know for certain, I hope I never wake up in the yard again.

The Story of Mister Pug

When I arrived at Foster Mom's house she said I was very

skinny, but I had a scandalously handsome smile.

I made some new friends.

One of them, Howard Pee Pugpants,
was a very bad influence.

These were just laying around
everywhere, so I grabbed one!

One day, Foster Mom said it was time
to meet my furever family.

Pugs in the mirror...are closer than they appear!

Someone has posted a welcome sign in my honor!

My new family was very excited to meet me,
and who can blame them?


Now I've pretty much got the pawfect life. Foster
mom misses me and thinks of me often. She hums this
little song when she thinks of me.

I'm Just a Sack o Bones...

I'm just a little sack o bones.......
Just looking for a home.............
Yes I'm just a sack o bones........
Just waiting by the phone.........
For the family who will be.........
Forever love to little me.........
Cuz I'm just a sack o bones........
Just waitin for a home..............

I've got some knobbley little knees...
And a tail that's very waggley...
I've got some skinny little fleas....
and a coat that's kinda scraggley....

If you see a sack o bones....
Who is lookin for a home..........
Pick him up and hold him near....
And then just whisper in his ear......

I love you little sack o bones.....
I love you little sack o bones.....
I love you little sack o bones....
Just lookin for a home.....

Olivia's Story

Olivia Before

Olivia Now

Olivia was found wandering the streets by animal control and was brought in by the Houston branch of Dallas-Fort Worth Pug Rescue. She was skeletal and frightened and had demodectic mange and heavy yeast. Today Olivia has found a furever home with her mom Julie and she is lavished with only the best. She has come such a long way, and today Olivia can squeak the toy out of any squeakie toy.

The Transformation of Frito

Frito's first picture when she arrived at Dallas-Fort Worth

Pug Rescue's Houston branch. Frito has

type 2 cancer and other health issues.

The transformation of Frito under the loving care

of Mary Fran Burke, Houston pug rescue coordinator.

Frito Portrait - Step 1


Frito Portrait - Step 2


Frito Portrait - Fini

You may be wondering how a puggy gal with such class and distinction ever ended up out on the streets. Frito battled more than neglect when she was brought into Houston pug rescue by Mary Fran Burke -- her health issues were substantial. She had surgery this week to have two small cancers removed, and is doing well for a senior puggy gal. She insisted on greeting everyone in the waiting room when she returned to the vet for her re-check yesterday. Frito's before and after photographs were featured in Dallas-Fort Worth Pug Rescue's anniversary video celebrating 10 years and 3200 pugs rescued.

Mary Fran has taken Frito under her wing, as she has so many other pugs in the Houston area where she heads up pug rescue efforts. This portrait of Frito was completed last night in my studio, thanks to the tireless assistance of my own three wrinklesnorts, Howie, Java and Annie, who have never missed a meal in their entire lives.

Mary Fran is hoping Frito will be ready for the summer social season soon, so Frito can wear her new Hawaiian ensemble - a pug-sized grass skirt and a tiny coconut bra. Mary Fran you are an angel on earth. We can hardly wait to see pictures of Frito in her grass skirt.

Cammie

"The Bobs" - Boo Boo and Yogi

Elderly pug brothers recently adopted by Cammie

Bella - Never met a snack she didn't like,

diva and grand queen of the Black Seattle Pack

Monster - Runs with the big dogs, loves his

monkey toy, and charter member of the Black Seattle Pack

You might think I'm going to talk about pugs from looking at these pictures. You might also think I'm going to talk about beautiful pet photography, because these stunning photos were taken by a real professional. And you would be right on both counts, but what this is really about is my dear friend Cammie Owen, a Seattle resident, professional photographer, and animal rescuer with a heart of pure gold. Cammie is the proud mom of the famous Black Seattle Pack - five dogs who live with Cammie, Ric and Olivia in a beautiful home in a small Seattle neighborhood. She took all of the photos in this post and has her own photography business. You can see more of her work on her Web site.

Just a few days ago, Cammie and her family grew by two more four-footed members -- Yogi and Boo Boo. Yogi and Boo Boo, aka "The Bobs" aren't black, but they have fit right in with the Black Seattle Pack. Cammie found them advertised on Craigslist last month and called the owner. The Bobs are two elderly pug brothers who had been living outdoors with their own little doghouse with heated blankets after their family's daughter developed chronic allergies about a year ago. The Bobs' family didn't want them to continue living outside - it gets pretty cold in Seattle! They wanted to find the perfect home for them. Cammie took them in to foster, but decided when she and Ric returned from vacation a few days ago, The Bobs will be a permanent part of her family.

I got to visit with Cammie and the Black Seattle Pack last year in Seattle and she treated me to a trip with the whole gang to Whidby Island via a ride on a really big ferry boat. When we got to the island and she popped open the car's hatchback, all five dogs sat perfectly still, waiting for her command to hop out. I watched people stop dead in their tracks to witness this spectacle of absolute training and discipline. And yes, I have recounted this story numerous times to Howard Pee Pugpants, but none of the lessons appear to have made a mark on my own unruly pug household, particularly Howard, who ran out in the yard three times with Carlos' freshly washed socks yesterday.

Emmy Finds a Home

Emmy Before...

Emmy After.

In this second picture, Emmy is pictured below, with his sister Luling, above.

When Emeril "Emmy" came to Dallas Fort Worth Pug Rescue, his skin was in terrible shape. My friend Sherrie took in Emmy and Luling, his sister, as foster pugs because she didn't want them to be separated. It didn't take long for her to decide they would be a permanent part of her family. It's what we fondly call "foster failure." You can see now that Emmy is a beautiful, healthy boy under Sherrie's care. He has grown back all of his fur and has a sparkle in his eye. Sadly, his sister Luling, who is pictured with him, died suddenly a few weeks ago. She was just a young pug, and they're not really sure what caused her to go so suddenly. I dedicate this post with lots of hugs to Sherrie and also to every dog rescuer who has given their heart, time and love to these babies in need. Once you give your heart to a pug, you can never live without one. Sherrie and I both volunteer for DFWPRC - Dallas-Fort Worth Pug Rescue takes in all pugs regardless of medical condition, and is always in need of donations, volunteers, and foster families. You can see some of the puggies needing homes on their web site and in their anniversary video.