Under My Wing Pug Rescue in dire straights.....

[Wally 'n' Leto]

This was just posted to Facebook by the founder of UMWPR:

"We are currently at breaking point and we desperately need your help. We have rescued many pugs that have required medical care and our finances have reached a critical point. We actually have 8 healthy pugs available for adoption and 3 more are soon going to be up for adoption. If you are interested in making a donation, please email me or go on the website to donate online. PLEASE REPOST THIS. THANKS a lot !!!!!"

I don't usually like requests for funds made like this, but this is really a small operation. One of the fosters currently has 5 pugs.

If you're interested in helping, please pm me or go to undermywingpugrescue dot com

Or even just a Pug Village prayer that some money will be found for UMWPR to continue its good work!

Thanks everyone!

[tall grass pugs]

I was going to pm you but some things are more helpful up front. Rescues are very expensive to run. Heartbreakingly so. Fund raising difficult these days. Quick funds from Garage Sales where everyone digs deep and takes turns. Do it soon before winter and trot out winter clothing, blankets and boots. Make friends with a local tv channel and radio station. Ask for time helping with placement and foster care. Radio stations are easy to tap into and you can pretend the pug on your lap is silent bob asking for help. Learn how to write grants---be creative in folks approached and show them how your funds are dispersed, how you contribute to the community and how the donor's name will be mentioned at your once a year big function. Don't be bashful. Do you have your correct funding status----that's important because you will be asked for it raising funds. Halloween is coming up, how about a five dollar a pop bash a wreck for charity.
Before the sledge hammers swing, charge five a can to express yourself tagging the wreck. Ask a car company to donate the wreck and sit on a radio station to broadcast the when and where. Be sure to insist on gloves and safety glasses. Pick a vet to put the hurt on, whine big time for lowest rates on spay and neuter and eye care---then support him with all your business from rescues and your own dogs. I love Dire Straits old music-----can you raffle tickets to see a concert or go to dinner. Radio stations love to broadcast that sort of thing. Remember when asking for help, the person can only say 'no'-they cannot come through the phone line and strangle you. Suck it up, and start dialing

[Smart Pugs]

We would have a couple in a heart beat if they where in the uk! Good luck xx

[Wally 'n' Leto]

UMWPR has actually done many of the things you suggest -- they have fundraisers 3 or 4 times a year, with anal glands, nails, gently used sales, bake sales, etc for donations. The president works at a pet shop to help fund some things (discount food etc) and that store has frequent dog washes etc for UMWPR. They have the sponsorship of a popular local radio station and the support of a brachy-loving vet who gives them rock bottom discount rates. There's other efforts that I'm not up on -- I live in another city so don't necessarily look for details about the other fundraisers -- I make sure I keep up with the big ones.

This summer has just been CRAZY in the sheer number of pugs being given up or coming in from pounds and mills, and many of these with serious health issues. One dog has racked up (discounted) 2300$ in vet bills in 3 weeks, and there are others that were and are nearly as sick. Hopefully as some of the backlog is adopted out, the adoption fees will help too. There's a lot of dogs coming in and not many going out right now. Maybe once the summer ends, people come back from vacation, and kids get settled into school people will open their homes and hearts to a new friend.

Check out the website to see some of the absolute cuties there now both in the ready for adoption and not ready for adoption categories. I don't understand why these lovely pooches are still waiting in foster homes.

[GracieandOscar]

I love Under My Wing Pug Rescue! We just welcomed Oscar into our home from them in July. If we were set up for another one we would in a minute!So nice of you to post this here for them. I will talk to my husband tomorrow about making a monetary donation tomorrow. It would kill me to see them have to close their doors

[Wally 'n' Leto]

I wondered when I saw the name Oscar if that was the one! In his pic he is a real cutie. We're involved in transporting now, and of the current lot, we have crossed pats with Pushkin, Copain and Brigitte. All so cute! Genevieve works SO hard. I imagine we'll see you at the Howl-o-ween party?

[GracieandOscar]

Oh that's great! We tried to help out with some transport but the stars weren't in line that day. I see there are 4 home visits scheduled as of today, such wonderful news for Genevieve : ) She works so hard for all of the little puggies :) We won't be able to make the Howl-o-ween party, we live about 6 hours away unfortunately. We have a local pugnic here that we are looking forward to! When we are in the position to take on another, we will certainly be filling out another application for umwpr : ) Thank you again for all that you do

[Wally 'n' Leto]

And to you too! :)

[tall grass pugs]

You have to be brash to solicit funds---for example, pugs have smooshed faces, fast forward to a time when a pug was a used up boxer---I would visit gyms and martial arts studios, taking a pug with you. When soliciting via grant proposal, you will find that many grants are given to all breed and not breed specific. But hello, your grant person has to be thick skinned with a big smile. It is always the same pitch, ask a mega corporation for money based on the good you do for the community, the smarts you apply using it, invite them to a function with big hoopla and their name in lights, and then do it again next year. I would also solicit donations from feed stores, taking a pug with me. I have no conscience but I have had a lot of success.

[Mom to Lucy]

Have you tried applying for support grants from Morris Animal Foundation, PetSmart Charities Foundation, Koret Foundation, or similar non-profit sponsors? Each one of these has provided support of one sort or another for projects and programs at UC Davis. Might be worth scanning their websites, at least...