Looking For A Pug In Rescue

[Snout Girl]

There are a lot of people who will swear their pug is perfectly content being alone for 8 or more hours a day most days. They are entitled to their opinion, and if that is all the pug has known since a tiny baby puppy, then maybe he/she has never had the chance to know there is a better way of life. But I, and most other pugaholics can tell you that although they may sleep all day, they do NOT choose to sleep apart from each other or far away from people if they have thee chance. Pugs crave companionship and on the one occasion in my life when I had only one dog, I delivered her to a pet-sitter where she could romp with other small dogs every workday on my way to work. Some may consider that overly fanatic, but I was concerned that she had NEVER been alone - always had had other pugs or other dogs within snuggling distance.

Rehoming an older pug (especially one that may have had abuse or neglect) I consider it my responsibility to find the IDEAL home, where that pug WILL have companionship, animal and/or human for most of the daylight hours as well as at night and on weekends.This can be a luxury when rehoming mixed breeds, sometimes I am grateful to find homes where they will be loved and well-cared for. Fortunately for rescue Pugs though, that is an affordable luxury as the demand is high. So, I, for one, support the PUG breed rescues in putting prospective adopters through the wringer - when there are a heap of applications it would be a dereliction of duty to NOT approve the best possible match. Just trying to explain a point of view..

whilst I do agree with you that as a general rule pugs should not be without other canine company during the day if its humans are at work, I find this notion that an application that has a retired couple or stay at home parent (for example) is somehow superior to someone who works a little misguided. Who's to say that the 'ideal' stay at home mum with older kids isnt going to stick the dog in the backyard all day because it sheds and they are house proud? Or be off all day socialising, shopping etc? There are no certainties, so each application should be looked at for its merit not dismissed because someone is an 'evil full time worker' or immediately put to the top of the pile just because someone is a stay at home mum or retired couple(for example).

[HazyWal]

I wouldn't rehome a Pug, or several other companion-focused breeds, to be the only pet in a household where no-one is at home during the day. As a breed they are focused on companionship, and being totally alone for the daylight hours except on weekends is NOT an ideal home. However, I would happily rehome to a family who are not at home weekdays if one or two other small dogs of a compatible nature are sharing the home and I could see and meet them and know they had plenty of interaction with their human family evenings and weekends.

There are breeds who will occupy themselves if left alone a lot. It is a rare Pug that will be able to.

Because pugs aren't known for sleeping most of the day, regardless of how many people are home or not :laugh:

I dated a guy who had a pug as the solo dog and he worked full time, she seemed content to me. She had a doggy door to the balcony (he lived on a first floor unit) and when we came home we'd see this blob sunning herself on her back on the balcony. She went to footy games on the weekends with him, but was home alone during the week pretty content.

Like any dog, every pug is different. That why the blanket "no pugs to homes that work" rules are just eye rollingly stupid. It's saying that a better home is one that doesn't have the income to provide for the dog, especially in the event it needed emergency medical care etc

The best rescues are the ones that don't have blanket rules and assess every dog and every home on a case by case basis.

The best rescues according to who? You? Considering RuralPug has been doing rescue longer than you have been alive a little respect wouldn't go astray.

[Clyde]

That why the blanket "no pugs to homes that work" rules are just eye rollingly stupid. It's saying that a better home is one that doesn't have the income to provide for the dog, especially in the event it needed emergency medical care etc

It's a massive generalization to assume that people who don't work, don't have an income or can't afford medical care over people who are employed.

I think any rescuer would be mad not to choose someone who is home a lot over someone who works full time, provided all other boxes are ticked (with any breed).

That being said, I agree that each individual case is worth being looked at. I work from home and am home most of the time, but if the weather is nice the Pug gets booted outside during the day. He has other dogs to hang out with but he loves tooling around on his own and certainly doesn't snooze the day away!

I guess if people don't like the way a rescue runs then they should do it themselves. There is nothing unethical about their decision, plenty of other rescues needing homes! Like RuralPug said, she can afford to be extra choosy as the breed is still in high demand - so if they can find these awesome homes then why not!

[Clyde]

There are a lot of people who will swear their pug is perfectly content being alone for 8 or more hours a day most days. They are entitled to their opinion, and if that is all the pug has known since a tiny baby puppy, then maybe he/she has never had the chance to know there is a better way of life. But I, and most other pugaholics can tell you that although they may sleep all day, they do NOT choose to sleep apart from each other or far away from people if they have thee chance. Pugs crave companionship and on the one occasion in my life when I had only one dog, I delivered her to a pet-sitter where she could romp with other small dogs every workday on my way to work. Some may consider that overly fanatic, but I was concerned that she had NEVER been alone - always had had other pugs or other dogs within snuggling distance.

Rehoming an older pug (especially one that may have had abuse or neglect) I consider it my responsibility to find the IDEAL home, where that pug WILL have companionship, animal and/or human for most of the daylight hours as well as at night and on weekends.This can be a luxury when rehoming mixed breeds, sometimes I am grateful to find homes where they will be loved and well-cared for. Fortunately for rescue Pugs though, that is an affordable luxury as the demand is high. So, I, for one, support the PUG breed rescues in putting prospective adopters through the wringer - when there are a heap of applications it would be a dereliction of duty to NOT approve the best possible match. Just trying to explain a point of view..

whilst I do agree with you that as a general rule pugs should not be without other canine company during the day if its humans are at work, I find this notion that an application that has a retired couple or stay at home parent (for example) is somehow superior to someone who works a little misguided. Who's to say that the 'ideal' stay at home mum with older kids isnt going to stick the dog in the backyard all day because it sheds and they are house proud? Or be off all day socialising, shopping etc? There are no certainties, so each application should be looked at for its merit not dismissed because someone is an 'evil full time worker' or immediately put to the top of the pile just because someone is a stay at home mum or retired couple(for example).

Nobody is saying full time workers don't offer good homes. It's more that they've decided on the ideal home for their breed, and then withing these ideals, they choose the right home. I'm sure they get applicants who don't work who aren't ideal candidates.

[Guest donatella]

I wouldn't rehome a Pug, or several other companion-focused breeds, to be the only pet in a household where no-one is at home during the day. As a breed they are focused on companionship, and being totally alone for the daylight hours except on weekends is NOT an ideal home. However, I would happily rehome to a family who are not at home weekdays if one or two other small dogs of a compatible nature are sharing the home and I could see and meet them and know they had plenty of interaction with their human family evenings and weekends.

There are breeds who will occupy themselves if left alone a lot. It is a rare Pug that will be able to.

Because pugs aren't known for sleeping most of the day, regardless of how many people are home or not :laugh:

I dated a guy who had a pug as the solo dog and he worked full time, she seemed content to me. She had a doggy door to the balcony (he lived on a first floor unit) and when we came home we'd see this blob sunning herself on her back on the balcony. She went to footy games on the weekends with him, but was home alone during the week pretty content.

Like any dog, every pug is different. That why the blanket "no pugs to homes that work" rules are just eye rollingly stupid. It's saying that a better home is one that doesn't have the income to provide for the dog, especially in the event it needed emergency medical care etc

The best rescues are the ones that don't have blanket rules and assess every dog and every home on a case by case basis.

I agree with this, it should be a dog by dog basis as to whether they can be at home alone not breed by breed.

[~Anne~]

As a pug rescuer, I considered each application on merit. I didn't exclude applications from people who worked and didn't have other animals. I did prefer that homes had at least one other dog but it was not absolutely necessary unless that particular rescue dog needed a companion for a particular reason.

Bottom line is, I guess it is up to the individual rescue to set their boundaries. In having said that, it seems to me at any rate, that some rescues have very strict boundaries that may ultimately prove to be a negative.

[Plan B]

It's pretty sad when we have people coming to us asking if we have pugs because they've been searching for one in rescue for a really long time but have been turned down because they both work or they don't have another dog or because their dog is [insert breed here]. We've helped a couple of families find their pugs in the pounds and they have been wonderful families, sending updates routinely, so thankful they were, I guess, given a chance to do the right thing.

Ideals are great to have but the individual dog is what matters.

[PugsSOS]

Hi all, Belinda here from Pugs SOS. I would just like to set the record straight in relation to our adoptions :) We understand that people need to work - to assume that all potential pug adopters need to be retired or super wealthy is unrealistic. With the high number of entire pugs being advertised nationwide online each week through the Trading Post, Gumtree, PetLink, Simple Trade, Trade Me, a multitude of Buy Swap and Sell sites and several other smaller sites - we need lots of good homes.

For this reason we do adopt to homes where people work. It is simply unavoidable. And let's face it, many (not some) of these pugs we rescue have been locked outside in a backyard their entire life and never let inside the house. We picked up a pug in Lang Lang on Saturday night - 18 months old and had never set foot in the house and was outside alone. We picked up a girl on Monday who was 14 months old and never set foot inside a house, nor had she ever left the courtyard she lived in. The boy we picked up this afternoon was 6 years old and cringed into the ground when the owner approached him. The young daughter of the friend I was with approached the pug, and he licked her on the cheek. The owner launched across the garden yelling at the dog to get away, and it hit the deck. These are all pugs I am talking about ... dogs bred specifically for companionship. It's not all doom and gloom .. we are picking up two very loved and spoilt pugs tomorrow who are going through a move tomorrow, the wife is devastated, but the dogs have to go.

So ... we take a realistic approach in considering each application. We say "NO" to places with no fences, or people living in a high rise apartment and want to leave the pug on the balcony all day from 7.30am to 6pm. We say "NO" to people with no other pets who work all day. We feel we have just rescued a pug from sitting outside alone all day - why put him or her straight back into a similar situation? We also meet some people and say "NO" .. we do not think a constantly moulting, snoring, highly energetic, highly demanding pug is the right breed for you .. and we make every effort to find them an alternative rescue.

We are happy to rehome a pug into a situation where the people work, however there must be another dog there for company, and their work hours/partners work hours/children/parents living arrangements do not necessitate the dogs sitting home alone for most of the week. Many of our rescues think they have died and gone to heaven just to be allowed access to the house via a dog door throughout the day, to have a doggy friend all day, and to be allowed to be in with their new owners every hour they are home. Warm bedding, regular meals, regular veterinary treatment, walks in the park, nights on the sofa and a spot at the end of the bed are dreams come true to our rescues ... and someone has to work to pay for all this:)

[Winterpaws]

Gb, are they still looking? I know of a pug X in Somersby looking for a home. I can send you some details on FB

[RuralPug]

Thank you SO much for setting the record straight, Belinda! I hope there are no more of those blanket statements going around and that people learn to do their research and not assume that a rumour is correct. Too much of that around

Pugs SOS do a wonderful job and it is really heartwarming to see all the feedback from the loving families of rehomed dogs!

[Snout Girl]

Thank you SO much for setting the record straight, Belinda! I hope there are no more of those blanket statements going around and that people learn to do their research and not assume that a rumour is correct. Too much of that around

Pugs SOS do a wonderful job and it is really heartwarming to see all the feedback from the loving families of rehomed dogs!

hardly a rumour when it is stated on their website:

"Please do not ask to adopt one of our pugs if you have to leave for work in the morning and are away all day ... these rescues need people and company around them for most of the day. They have been locked in sheds, tied up on farms, left in backyards, caged on verandahs or locked on apartment balconies up until now ... we owe it to them to start their new lives living the way pugs were meant to live .. as companion dogs surrounded by people for most of the day. Thank you for your understanding."

not trying to pick a fight, but don't assume people haven't done their research.

edited to include entire quote from website.

Edited June 9, 2013 by Snout Girl

[HazyWal]

Thank you SO much for setting the record straight, Belinda! I hope there are no more of those blanket statements going around and that people learn to do their research and not assume that a rumour is correct. Too much of that around

Pugs SOS do a wonderful job and it is really heartwarming to see all the feedback from the loving families of rehomed dogs!

hardly a rumour when it is stated on their website:

"Please do not ask to adopt one of our pugs if you have to leave for work in the morning and are away all day ... these rescues need people and company around them for most of the day. They have been locked in sheds, tied up on farms, left in backyards, caged on verandahs or locked on apartment balconies up until now ... we owe it to them to start their new lives living the way pugs were meant to live .. as companion dogs surrounded by people for most of the day. Thank you for your understanding."

not trying to pick a fight, but don't assume people haven't done their research.

edited to include entire quote from website.

As stated before though this is the way PugsSOS run their rescue if you don't like it don't adopt from them, pretty simple really. I would like more greyhound rescues to be as vigilant in their rehoming as these guys do but unfortunately for us there are way to many dogs in need so it's save at all costs

[ROYLIL]

Pugs SOS said they 'understand people need to work' so I put this to you if you had a pug that you had 2 possible homes for, both having for another pug already, however this pug has come from being left alone at a backyard breeders backyard but with other pugs with very little human contact which would you choose the better home?

1. fulltime worker x 2 9-5 5-6 days a week

2 Partime/ shift worker and a full timer worker

I think you will find that if you can home a pug/dog rescue to a home where someone is home often this to me is the better home. if you look on their Facebook page at the photos of adoptions they don't look like the unemployed or millionaires adopting these dogs!!!! They are families, which makes me think these people actually do work a little!!!!

Edited June 9, 2013 by ROYLIL

[PugsSOS]

Thank you for pulling up our quote from our Website re rehoming criteria :)

We receive many enquiries each day, which is fantastic, however a good percentage are so totally unsuitable (for rescued pugs) that we found we had to take a stronger line in our introductory page in an attempt to put our ideals across. Many still do not read it however, and we continue to read through and assess each and every application on an individual basis.

[Nic.B]

I love Pugs

I had the pleasure of meeting a few at HP over the years, they were fantastic little dogs!

One who stands out was "Zenny" Gosh he was a character :laugh: . Zenny was mortified with the kennel environment though managed very well.

Zenny used to come with me at luchtime, he was such an animated, bidable little bloke.

Zenny went to the most fabulous home. The couple who adopted him came in daily to visit and play with Zenny. On the day they picked him up they showed me all of the things they had been buying for him :laugh: the car was overflowing!

I saw Zenny again at HP's reunion day and he was simply in heaven. Clearly a very treasured little man :)

[aussielover]

Pugs SOS- it's great that you assess each application and it merits.

Personally I think that if a person works full time arrangements can still be made to ensure the dog has stimulation and company.

For example doggy daycare, dog walkers, dog sports training etc.

even though I work full time I would say my dog has more company and stimulation than many dogs whose owners are home all day or work part time.

My housemates are actually home all day with their GSD but they don't do anything with her- my dog gets walked and trained twice a day and goes to doggy daycare 3 x a week because she gets too bored at home with them!

Perhaps not being a working breed pugs are happier with a less stimulating environment, I wouldn't really know, but just trying to make the point that people who work full time shouldn't necessarily be instantly discounted as many of us are probably more dedicated and more obsessed with our dogs lol.

[~Anne~]

The question isn't about which home is better. Obviously a home where someone is there all day is great for any dog, let alone a pug. The real question is - are some rescues setting the limitations to extremes and is it beneficial to rescue overall?

These dogs are not all locked in yards of 'backyard breeders' either, that kind of exaggerated emotional claptrap really gets my goat.

The need for pugs is much higher than the supply, hence why SOS can purchase advertised pugs from the Internet and on-sell them without the need to negotiate their rehoming criteria. I was also why I was able to take in surrenders without a concern.

Other rescuers, where the market is flooded, say for example Staffys, would never be able to set the bar as high or on-sell dogs because they would end up having to watch other staffys die while they did this.

As I said in my last post, it is up to the individual rescue to state their terms. In the pug world, we are lucky we can have the bar so high. For mixed breeds and other breeds as I illustrated above, they simply can't as it would mean the death of innocent dogs.

Edited June 9, 2013 by ~Anne~

[RuralPug]

Thank you SO much for setting the record straight, Belinda! I hope there are no more of those blanket statements going around and that people learn to do their research and not assume that a rumour is correct. Too much of that around

Pugs SOS do a wonderful job and it is really heartwarming to see all the feedback from the loving families of rehomed dogs!

hardly a rumour when it is stated on their website:

"Please do not ask to adopt one of our pugs if you have to leave for work in the morning and are away all day ... these rescues need people and company around them for most of the day. They have been locked in sheds, tied up on farms, left in backyards, caged on verandahs or locked on apartment balconies up until now ... we owe it to them to start their new lives living the way pugs were meant to live .. as companion dogs surrounded by people for most of the day. Thank you for your understanding."

not trying to pick a fight, but don't assume people haven't done their research.

edited to include entire quote from website.

OOOPS. I do stand corrected.

The reality is that every application is assessed on its merits, but as Belinda pointed out, having to troll through, say, 400 unsuitable applications to find the 40 suitable ones is just too much to ask of a volunteer. But people who are committed enough to follow up and enquire directly of Pugs SOS will more than likely be told "do apply and we will assess on total merit". You might look at it as a sort of extra hoop to jump...

People who just give up on reading the website are not likely, in my personal opinion, the be the right match for a stubborn little clown of a companion breed anyway!

[Nic.B]

I didn't comment on the rescue/rehome side as I have been there (still am on a small scale, though it is via very specific contacts rather than being "completely" out there) hope that makes sense

Rescue (each dog in your care) is individual. I always celebrated each rescue as an individual. Matching dogs and new owners is a priority to reduce any risk factors for both the dog AND the family considering adoption. Follow up support (open door policy)is also very important IMO.

My rescues have all been assesed in my home for at least 4 weeks (thats what I feel comfy with prior to listing for adoption).

The list to take into consideration for ethical rescuers is endless IME though crucial.

Breed/breed mix and the traits of those breeds (or combo), age, training, health and excercise needs etc. What the dog responds to and is motivated by, training they have/need etc is also important (for me).

Having said that, I have had consistant breeds (sadly not Pug's ) similar age, type etc though it is through assesment that I understand them, more importantly which type of home/owner would suit the dog.

They are all very individual.

I am probably not doing a good job communicating as I am a "hands on" girl so will give two examples of same breed, age, gender etc. Both working breeds and same type.

Both dogs showed the most fantastic drive (ball) but that was the only thing they had in common :laugh: Both would sit, drop, for the ball if asked.Though;

Dog 1. Showed fantastic control with the ball as his reward. He was very sensible and reasonable. He did well in a kennel environment (pound) when I met him.

Dog 2. Was greatly ball driven (same as dog 1) though had no experience under his belt essentially. This dog did not do well in a kennel environment.

Assesment, disclosure and matching well with families is key IME.

ETA Sorry dog 1 went to EDU, dog 2 went to a family on an extensive well fenced property.

Both are going great guns :)

Edited June 10, 2013 by Nic.B