Breaking News---Twenty Pugs Rescued!

It's raining pugs in North Carolina! Yesterday, Pug Rescue of NC took in twenty pugs from a hoarder on the coast. Details are sketchy at this point as the rescuers are worn out and barely had time to post the event before falling into bed exhausted.

This is what I know so far: The relinquishment was voluntary after family members of the hoarder became involved. The pugs, in varying degrees of disease and neglect, were picked up early yesterday morning by our founder, Chris Hedrick and one volunteer. They were transported back to PRONC headquarters near Greensboro, NC, where they were all bathed, dipped, wormed, and evaluated according to who needed to see the vet first. Two are in emergency vet care. Both have eye injuries that threaten removal. One is a sure thing. We don't know about the second one yet. Another has a horrific luxating patella and will need corrective surgery as early as today.

None are altered. Our vets will be busy over the next few days giving us medical assessments on each one. All we know right now is what is visible to the eye. That alone will be quite expensive.

These come on the heels of an alarming rate of relinquishments over the past three weeks. PRONC has taken in more than 40 pugs in the past 30 days!! No one is sure at this point if we have enough foster homes to cover the need. We'll be sorting that out over the next few days as well.

I will keep you posted until we have the time to get their stories and needs up on the website.

Judy
PRONC rep

Wow, you guys really do amazing work, Judy. I can't believe all the pugs that have been turned in over the past month, what is up with that? People planning their summer vacations and deciding it is a good time to ditch their unwanted pets? Grrrrr.

20 pugs that weren't taken care of? I'm so greatful to that family for stepping in and saying enough is enough! I am of course also greatful for PRONC! Good for you guys!!

Seattle Pug Rescue had a similar situation after the first of the year. I believe they got 17 from one hoarder that was a case of neglect, that the animal control shelter turned over to us and there were ten more that came in in groups of 2 or more for a total of about 27 in a week.

Things did slow down after that, but wow, what a horrific ordeal for the Pugs and our vets, who worked tirelessly to get all of them immediate care, including those with eye injuries.

My handler just brought back two seniors that Vickie needed to send us, and there was another one needing to come here from E. Washington, who's transportation wasn't arranged last I heard. It's a HUGE job, and in every case, a very sad story. The two I got were in really good shape, but their elderly owner was not able to care for them any longer. I think those situations are especially tragic.

I was unable to avoid a piece of junk that bounced into the lane in front of my car, while I was boxed in on the freeway and traveling at 60 mph, so had a blowout on the way home. I was just grateful I'd dropped the two oldsters off before heading home, so they didn't have to go through sitting along side the freeway waiting for AAA to come and change my tire. (Jack & May were with me.) I had to remove the 400 crate they'd been in to get to the spare and the tools, and I can't imagine that would have done much for their stress level, if they'd been in the crate when I moved it.

Some trauma is unavoidable, but I feel awful when the old ones go through the stress of losing their person and being shipped off to a totally new situation.

Kudos to you and Chris, and the rest of the volunteers, there, Judy!

~Sandra M.

Whew! I just got off the phone with Chris. Our "twenty" will be multiplying soon. There are 12 females. As Sandra and some of the others know, Chris is also a show person and breeder.
She has a good eye for pregnant females. She believes we have "several" who are pregnant.
There is also a mom and 3 four week old puppies, and a couple that look to be 12 or so weeks.
There is also a "pug of color" in the bunch...white.

The ones with bad eyes may lose BOTH eyeballs. The thought of that makes me sick!
She's having ultrasounds on the girls she thinks may be pregnant. Chris and I will foster those, and hopefully the rest can be sent to other volunteers as soon as they are vetted.

What a mess!

Judy

This sounds like an overwhelming thing to take on. Judy you and all the volunteers are amazing for doing what you do for all these pugs-and their offspring!!

Wow this is unbelievable! Can you please post your rescue's website so that some of us can donate and help out? Thank you and please continue to keep us posted.

Here it is
http://www.pugrescuen...

Thanks everyone! Any donations to help us are greatly appreciated. We expect to spend around $250-$300 per dog just for basics...spay/nueter, HW tests, rabies and vax updates. That does not include *any* surgeries or diagnostic testing. We already know there will be some of that! Our food bill just went up a tad too! We could have the pregnant girls in foster care for up to four months each before they can be adopted. Their babies will have to be here and weaned!

It's mind boggling what all these dogs can cost all at once!

Judy

Judy,
The bunch we got also included puppies, with eye injuries. It was sickening. An eye injury is devastating, but these pups almost all had them. Of course, none had any vet care, so most lost their eyes. Sometimes it's just overwhelming, but we're lucky to have vets who show and breed Pugs and have done so for 30+ years that donate all but their expenses. If you guys get stuck, email me privately so we can talk about some alternatives for you! We may be able to help you guys out. We do as much as we can for other rescue groups. Even taking those that need surgeries, since we can get it done without using all our own funds. I'm not in charge anymore, so I can ask, but don't make the decisions.

~Sandra M.