I'm writing about this so you can get to know me better, it might help some pugs, and I want to keep my promise of writing every day for the first week of my blog. Belle is my dog and I rescued her from Homeward Bound Pug Rescue on December 15, 2013.
I had wanted a pug since I moved away from home. However, when I went to college, I lived on campus (no dogs there), I lived in my sorority house (no dogs there), and then I lived in an apartment (absolutely NO dogs there). I had known about the pug rescue the entire time but it just wasn't the right time. I finally started putting a little more thought into adopting and I had several friends that were involved with other animal rescues. Then I got nervous-could I take care of a dog? What if I don't know how to house break a dog? Do I want a puppy? Do I want a more mature dog? I had all these questions but I still pressed forward.
I filled out the adoption application, had a volunteer from the rescue come and do a house check, and had even picked out the little girl I wanted! I was ready! I was excited and nervous all at the same time. I was put into contact with the woman who was fostering the sweet little girl and found out some things about her that made me apprehensive about adopting her. I contacted the rescue and was completely honest the entire time about how I was feeling. They suggested I come to their pug meet and greet in a few days. I went and one of the first pugs I met was a timid girl named, Maggie. They were all so cute, and it was heartbreaking at the same time. None of them had a forever home and the rescue only had a fraction of their pugs there.
Maggie didn't like the commotion of a room full of dogs. She was definitely nervous and she hung out right under my chair the majority of the time. I knew I wanted to adopt, I was still unsure of whether I wanted a puppy or an older dog though. I sat right by Maggie's foster mom and talked away. I asked her questions about Maggie and I could tell she loved her. I didn't see much of Maggie's personality that day but the way her foster mom spoke about her, I knew she was something special. I took Maggie home that day!
I'm pretty particular on pet names-I don't really like common people names, nothing weird, nothing that ends with an "ie" or a "y", and I like short names. For the first four days I had her, I called her pug. Four days was long enough to be nameless-I tried Paige, Basil, Sage, and I even considered Pug-I finally pulled a name out of nowhere and it stuck! Her name is Belle. Meet my BABY BELLE!
Belle and I, we are a packaged deal. I'm hardly ever separated from her and vice versa. I can't even explain how much I love this little girl. We went to the vet and she is healthy but she has some arthritis in her left back knee. It kills me thinking that this might eventually be painful for her so I make life as comfortable for her as I can. I got her some little doggy steps for my bed and I set her back on the ground instead of letting her jump if she gets in the recliner me. Belle is around 6 years old. The rescue estimated around 5 or 6 and my vet estimated 6 or 7. I decided on 6. She is not a poor little rescue dog. She is my companion and after she got acclimated, we started getting into a schedule and training. I don't think too much of my trainer skills so I think she is just really smart. She was house broken when she came to live with me, that was a plus, but didn't have any other training.
It's been tricky teaching her how to sit because of her rickety knee but man did she catch on fast once I discovered a way she could move! She knows which toys are which and it's really cute. She fetches, plays, and comes when I call her. Belle knows what's about to come when I ask her if she's hungry and gets really excited for meal time. She barks to tell me somebody's here. I think she know that I am visually impaired, so when someone goes in to hug me from a blind spot, she warns me. She gets a little jealous of the cat sometimes but he's really her best friend.
Here's my happy girl playing with her toy penguin
I am so thankful to Homeward Bound Pug Rescue for introducing me to Belle, my life would not be complete without her! The people who operate Homeward Bound Pug Rescue and their volunteers are delightful. They love all their dogs so evidently much. I can't imagine the joy and heart break that would go hand in hand with running an animal rescue. Homeward Bound Pug Rescue recently had a breeder release 21 pugs to them-three of them were pregnant-and they do have the puppy pictures up on their Facebook page! That 21 + puppies is in addition to the many pugs that they were already caring for. They've been asking for donations in the form of supplies and money, foster homes, and adoption applications.
Homeward Bound Pug Rescue's website From the website you can donate through Paypal, view the available listing, fill out the foster and adoption applications, buy from the rescue's amazon wish list, and find out more information about the rescue in general. The rescue is in Oklahoma but they have really tried to work with people from all over the country.
Homeward Bound Pug Rescue's Facebook Page The Facebook page is where you can get the most current information from Homeward Bound. They are able to more quickly communicate immediate needs and former adopters love to stay in touch.
Have any of you ever adopted an animal? I can say the only regret I have is not getting the adoption process going sooner, but then again-maybe it was perfect timing that led me to Belle! I encourage you to get to know this beautiful recuse online and through Facebook.
XOXO,
The Redheaded Life
