Wednesday, June 7, 2006

Warrick - The Saddest Pug No More

My name is Ann Colby. I work for and do fostering for Central Florida Pug Rescue, a newly formed pug rescue organization serving Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake and Brevard counties in Florida. This past April I was called to pick up and foster an owner surrender in Titusville. Warrick was an older male pug, exact age unknown, with a checkered history, passed from one owner to another and unsettled for most of his life. When I picked him up he was about 10 lbs underweight, had a severe bronchial infection and infected eyes, was missing large patches of hair on his legs and hindquarters and was the saddest, most withdrawn pug I had ever seen in my life. He went with me willingly but without enthusiasm and lay quietly in my car for the drive back to Winter Park, barely lifting his head. When we arrived home, Warrick was enthusiastically greeted by the home pack, 2 pugs, Bailey and Julia, and two other rescues of indeterminate breed, Rohan and Jana, but he wanted nothing to do with them, preferring to lie down in a dark corner. He carried his tail straight down, never curled…a sure sign of a pug with no self esteem…a real anomaly in the pug world I'm used to seeing. I knew then and there my new goal in life was to make The Saddest Pug in the World smile.

Warrick cracks a smile after receiving some much needed TLC from his new family.

First he had an immediate trip to the vet, to start treatment for the bronchial infection, deep hacking cough and runny eyes. He also started getting three substantial meals a day, home cooked chicken breast, brown rice and vegetables, supplemented with snacks of salmon and pieces of fruit. But most of all, my husband and I started him on a 24 hour diet of hugs, praise, cuddling and one-on-one play time. He joined Bailey and Julia in our bed every night to sleep…and here the other two pugs joined our efforts, thoroughly bathing Warrick every night before settling in. Within the week his health started to improve, his fur started to grow back in and he started gaining weight. By the second week with us, the miracle started to happen…Warrick's tail started to curl upwards. By the third week we got great big pug grins! Warrick has now been with us for two months, and has morphed into a happy, healthy, joyful pug. And we have a new, full-time family member…because there is no way I'll ever risk the return of the Saddest Pug in the World!

Warrick hanging out with his brother Bailey

Another happy note…a few weeks ago I started fostering another pug for CFPR, a young male named Oliver who is almost completely blind. As soon as he arrived, Warrick became his special mate, leading him around the house and yard, sharing meals with him and cuddling next to him at night. Warrick has become my Assistant Rescue Pug…ready to share with the new guys and girls the happiness and security he knows is his forever.