Foster update - April 10

Hazel has found her forever home in a very special pug place. She will be joining a select group of pugs and humans who hold a special bond that I have very rarely encountered. Our very own Blanche has adopted this too precious little girl and Hazel will enjoy the tender loving care that she received at Kim's for the rest of her life

"She went to get her stitches removed today and has healed up better than we ever imagined. The vet was surprised how easily she went t hrough the whole procedure with very limited swelling. Also they couldn't believe how good she looked now. They said she was like a totally different dog. I can notice the weight gain and she has really come out of her shell. She amused the girls by dancing for treats (her new trick).

This should be the end of Hazel's vet visits for a while and as soon as her Mom gets back from her trip Hazel will be moving on to start her new life with her new pug brothers and non pug sisters."

Hazel Update, Feb, 20th

Well Hazel has just come into heat so her spaying operation has been rescheduled for about 3 weeks from now. In the meantime she will be coming to Pugintine (being held up most of the time by Kim or Joe). We will be also doing her dental work while she is under anesthetic.

The other good news is we have an application in for her adoption. Once everything is settled next month, I'll be able to put Hazel up into the Happy Tails section with her new family.

Take a close look at her paw in the photo. It has the "webbed" formation from spending years in a cage - confinement with no walking freely, running or playing. Hazel most likely has not had the kind reassurance of a warm, human touch.

As you can see in the photo, Hazel does have eye problems. She has no vision in her right eye and limited in her left. She will most likely be put on Optimmune, but Dr. Zaharchuk believes the damage has been done and that the drops will only help a little.
Yet, despite the background of her life as evidenced by her physical condition, she is a charmer. Her foster mom, Kim, reports that she would not stop wagging her tail the first day they had her. Even when they covered her with a blanket, the little pug tail was wagging back and forth under the blanket.

Hazel's Vet Visit - Feb 7th

She has won the hearts of the staff at Derrydale. She weighed in at only 12 lbs. but every pound was pure love and enjoyment while she was getting her checkup. We were worried that, coming from Missouri, she would have a heartworm condition. However the tests came back negative - we count every small blessing. Also her teeth and in fairly good shape with only tartar needing to be removed.

Her veterinary examination by Dr. Zaharchuk of Derrydale Animal Hospital had both good and bad news. He estimates Hazel is between 6 - 8 years old. She has had AT LEAST 10 litters. Dr. Zaharchuk figures she was bred every heat cycle since she was a year old. He has never seen teats as stretched as Hazel's. In order to avoid future infections, her skin will need to be tightened and possible removing the teats.

Hazel Introduction, Feb 5th

Meet Hazel, a Missouri puppymill breeder pug who destiny has led to our care. She is safe with us now and will be placed in a loving, forever home. Her foster mom changed her name from Taffee to Hazel (after the fiesty Mississauge mayor Hazel McCallion)

Rescuer's Report, January 24th

We are going to be having a new rescue come our way. Her name is Taffee and her’s is a sad story (that will have a happy ending). She is coming to us from another rescue person in Tavistock – outside Stratford. She got a call one day to come pick up some unwanted pugs. She met the woman in Windsor just this side of the border. In a crate in the care were 3 pugs. Judy figured they came from a mill in the States. No questions asked, she took the pugs and quarantined them at home.

They had huge ticks, worms and were in a general state of ill health. Taffee’s spine curled around like a half circle. Turns out she was pregnant and later gave birth to 7 dead pups. The vet figured it was due to trauma It’s taken a couple of months but Taffee now wags her tail at the sound of Judy’s voice. She still finds it difficult to respond to human touch. She has spent her life in a crate and never been touched.

She is fawn, 11.5 lbs and about 4 years old. She has lost the vision in one eye and only about half in the other. Kim has offered to take Taffee in for foster care. Kim has a lot of experience with pug eye problems. Plus generally nursing sick pugs back to a shine. Taffee is here to remind us why we do what we do.