This is one of my favorite stories, and shows what PV can do. For those who don't know, this is why Betsy's birthday is so special. (Jake died earlier this year, both of them ended up as foster failures!)
The Story of Jake & Betsy
by Pugpillow (Hilary)
On March 5, 2007, Roxane, a volunteer with PugSavers Rescue in California, got a call from someone wanting to dump Jake and Betsy, their two senior pugs, because they were moving and didn’t want to take them. Sadly, PugSavers did not have any open hospice or foster homes and the other local rescue had already turned them down. It became apparent that Jake and Betsy had a death threat hanging over them. Roxane asked her contacts on an internet pug forum (Pug Village) for prayers.
The hearts of many people were touched and within about three hours, a plan to help these pugs started gathering momentum. Volunteers with pug rescue organizations across the U.S. and independent pug lovers around the world offered to drive long distances, or to chip in for gas money and accommodation to help others transport Jake and Betsy to whatever rescue could take them. The same night, volunteers from Pugalug Rescue offered their services if transport across the continent could be arranged. Jake & Betsy’s people agreed to hold off putting them down for a day while Roxane could figure out how to get them to Toronto. Another lady, Kendie from California, jumped in and was very instrumental in pulling the logistics together.
The next morning Peg in Reno, Nevada, asked her son Byron if he would drive them during his spring break from school. Byron graciously agreed. First he drove to the San Francisco area to pick the pugs up and took them home to Reno (700 km round trip) where he and Peg fostered them for ten days until their Great Adventure began on March 19. While in Reno, they were vet checked, had their shots updated, were microchipped and tested negative for heartworm. They also got new harnesses, tags and seat belts, and won the love of everyone they met. What a change to live indoors and be spoiled rotten instead of being kept outdoors and sleeping in a doghouse!
Byron, accompanied by his friend Ashley, had volunteered to drive them right through to Ontario, but when the logistics were sorted out he had time to get them only as far as Chicago (return driving time of about 60 hours) in order to get back home in time for class the next week. Mary and Kent from near Cleveland, offered to pick them up in Indiana and bring them through the border and on to Toronto, total travel time of about 20 hours. En route, the pugs and their transporters were accommodated at the homes of pug lovers in Utah, Nebraska and Ohio. The people (and there were many) who offered their homes and contributed to gas and food along the way had never met Byron or Kent and Mary, but were brought together by their common love of pugs and the urge to save the lives of these two pugs in particular. The love, generosity and effort of so many caring humans has just extended the lives of these two lucky pugs and proven that animal lovers are among the best in the world!
Jake and Betsy are adorable. They traveled happily and well and have had no problem adjusting to the many changes they’ve undergone or integrating into their Pugalug foster home. Sure, they need to work on potty-training and bedtime manners, but that is understandable given their past life of living outdoors. They love human interaction and give kisses and cuddles without reservation. Both have their tails up all the time, with much wagging. They are clearly happy to be given some loving attention.
They have just been vet-checked in Ontario and were pronounced in quite good shape for their ages. Jake just turned 10 and Betsy is 11. They are remarkably energetic and spry but also love to settle down and snooze at your feet or on the couch. Betsy can actually jump onto the couch with ease and they both use the doggy-steps with no problem. Jake has an interesting rolling gait, like a horse cantering, which is due to two fused vertebrae and arthritis in his front right leg. He will have to be given glucosamine for this. The vet says he is completely blind, although his behaviour would suggest otherwise and he blinks when I wave my hand in front of his eyes. At 15.6 lbs, he needs to gain a couple of pounds, which should be no problem now that he’s eating twice a day, as he as a good appetite, to say the least. Betsy is a good weight at only 13.2 lbs.
Sheila, owned by Paddy the Wonderpug
Save the planet; it's the only one with red wine, chocolate, and pugs
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Village Admiral
to Betsy!!!!
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