Colorado Pug Rescue

Our beloved, sweet Sammy came to us as a foster pug with the Colorado Pug Rescue in January 2009, but we did not have him long before we knew he could never be adopted. He had many serious health problems and would be staying with us for the rest of his life as a hospice pug.

We were very optimistic that most of his problems could be treated as he still had a few more years to be our special boy. We were looking forward to a summer filled with wagon rides, camping trips and evenings on the swing in the backyard, just enjoying each other. Sammy never made it to the summer. His health conditions improved for a while, but then things got very bad very fast. Ultimately, we discovered that his bladder had ruptured, which was why he was in such bad shape. At just 10 years old, his body was plain work out and he could not go on. We helped him make his final journey snuggled in our arms, and our hearts have been aching ever since.

Sammy has the most pure and sweet heart that any animal could have and we only wanted to give him the joy he gave us. We know that we did, but it was for too short of a time.

We miss you Sammy.

– Joan, Steve, Lisa, Kelly, and Polo

May 17, 2009

Kentfield, CA – During the night of May 17, 2009, Selena Brinckerhoff the Pug passed away after a full rich life, including five years at the Feeley/Brinckerhoff pug retirement home(s) in Denver, Basalt, and Kentfield, at the age of 15 (105 in dog years). She is survived by her husband/brother Chatto and her approximately 40 estranged children, as well as her people (Nora, Coleman and Merritt).

She will be remembered for her queen-like stature, the way she always managed to be literally underfoot at all times so as to never miss a moment with her people, the way her tongue hung out of her mouth with no teeth to keep it in place, her ability to coax small children (and adults) to part with their food, her quick study of English as a second language to her native Spanish tongue, her constant protection of Merritt from the day he came home from the hospital and Chatto tried to eat him, and finally – her unwavering grace which was only necessarily absent when thwarting Chatto’s continued romantic advances. And let us not forget her trademark snake like snow tracks, which could only be created by the dragging saggy parts of she who birthed double digits of litters. Our gratitude goes out to the many vets who saved her life during her soft palate surgery, her ACL surgery, the removal of most of her teeth, the incident with the large bowl of dog food she stole from my sister’s 120 lb great Pyrenees, the seizures, the overheating episodes, the problems with the nose which kept falling off, and the oxygen tank stints in Aspen including the overnight visit to the vet’s home with the homemade oxygen cone.

If Selena had a human voice, she would have sounded just like Bette Midler. She was a strong, confident survivor who despite her humble roots from the trailer park in which she was raised as a breeder, to the various foster homes which led to her eventual rescue, was always a lady.

We will miss her dearly and remember her fondly.

– Nora, Coleman, and Merritt

June 27, 2009

Chatto is Spanish for “flat nosed,” or at least that is what the pug rescue told us when we adopted him (along with Selena who passed away last month) five years ago at approximately ten years of age. Everyone says they won’t give their pets stupid nicknames, but in spite of otherwise good intentions, Chatto sometimes was known as Chatch, and Chacci (as in Joni loves ____).

After Merritt’s swim lesson in the city and a trip to the Ferry Building farmer’s market earlier in the day, my mother-in-law (Suz) and I returned to the house to find Chatto gasping for air, apparently after suffering a stroke and/or a seizure and battling pneumonia. The sweltering heat didn’t help. We wrapped him in cool towels, and Merritt gave him a final petting – just in case – and told him he could go be with Selena now – if he wanted. I then rushed him to San Rafael emergency pet clinic since our animal hospital isn’t open on weekends (these things never happen between 9 and 5 M-F). They took him back to the examining room, and the vet came out and said it was time. I held his paw and stroked his head and tried to comfort him, “It’s ok Chacci. Good boy Chatch.” Then I echoed Merritt’s wisdom “Chatto you can go be with Selena now. If you want.” As the vet put the syringe in his IV, his painful strained breathing slowed to a peaceful pace, his panicked bulging eyes slowly closed and his frantically panting tongue settled gently in the space where teeth once lived. He looked just like when he is sleeping except without the loud snoring part. Then I left so I could remember him just like that.

I’m sure Selena will be glad to have her husband/brother back, but we’ll sure miss him.

– Nora, Coleman, and Merritt

January 7, 1995 – May 18, 2009

Missed dearly by Shelly and  David Murray and pug sisters Fopaw Allison Murray and Aspen Cheyenne Murray.

Greeted in pug heaven by Allison Murray, Sweetie and L.C.

June 15, 2005 – August 5, 2009

God rest his soul. My precious baby doll Ralphie came into my life when he was only 8 1/2 weeks old. He was a blessing from the beginning. Ralphie became a little buddy to anyone who came in contact with him. He was loved by all!!!! I have never felt pain and sadness as I did the day he passed. Ralphie suffered from heat stroke while at doggie daycare. I know it was not their fault, just a freak accident. Ralphie loved going to “school,” and they loved when he came. He always made everyone laugh and smile no matter what.

I will forever miss you baby doll!

– Gina Carey

1998 – November 28, 2009

Sweet Scooter, our Mr. Man:

You were our best friend and brought so much joy to our lives. We miss you so much – the way you would yell for your kibble, how you loved to have your wrinkles scratched, your passion for car rides, and they way you charmed everyone who met you. We are so blessed and proud to have been your people. We wish we could hold you again and tell you how much we love you.

We think about you and miss you every day and hope with all of our hearts we can hold you again someday.

– Love,
The Mommies and Daddies

January 16, 2002  – December 28, 2009

Thor was not just a friend, but he was a member of my family.

Two days after Christmas, he lost his fight against bladder/urinary tract cancer. Losing him is one of the toughest ordeals that my family and I went through. I miss the noise and excitement he helped create around the house. But most of all, I miss him.  I never imagined the pain of his loss; nevertheless, I am glad to have had him. His time came too soon. I hope that God will grant me the honor and privilege to see him again.

Thor, you were one of the two greatest dogs in the family – we miss you.

– Love Always,
Mark, April, Jared, Travis, Haley, & Sif

March 2000 – July 24, 2010

Mojo was very loved and will be very missed. While we only had him for two years, it was the most wonderful two years. He was the most amazing dog with our 17 month old. He loved his two cat sisters, his cat brother, and his dog sister. Though Mojo was eight when we adopted him, I wouldn’t change it for the world, and if I had the chance to do it all over again with him, I would do it 100 times over. Though his running and barking at the TV (especially at Drew Barrymore, don’t know why) was annoying, I am definitely going to miss it. Couldn’t have asked for a better dog, friend, and “son.”

Thank you so much to Bobbye and her family for taking care of our little guy before we got him!

Mojo – you are loved and missed by everyone that had the opportunity to have you in their life.

-Kyle, Laura, and your baby Liam Clark

March 1995 – July 26, 2010

About 12 years ago, we adopted a little pug named Roscoe from CPR. He was three years old. When we got him to our house, he didn’t seem like Roscoe to us. He seemed like Oscar, so that is what we called him.

Oscar was 15 in March. He died in July. He didn’t suffer. He ate and drank well that morning, barking to be let out just as usual. We found him this evening asleep in his kennel. He liked to go in there to be by himself sometimes. We buried him beneath the apricot tree where he liked to lounge in the shade.

RIP Oscar.

Thank you CPR, for providing my husband, children and myself a wonderful companion and friend.

Oscar will be missed.

–Naomi Loschen

It was in Spring 1998. “Wally” needed a home, and we were the fortunate new parents that he chose. We think he was about three years old when he came to live with us, but nobody knew his exact age. Wally came to CPR as a “found” Pug and soon became known as an “escape artist” according to Eve Wallace and his foster parents. Eve called us one day to answer our request for a Pug and said she had a match for us! How true that was! Wally-Man stole our hearts with his little antics from the git-go! Whenever we left him home alone, he somehow found a way to jump from the couch to the nearby counter to get to the bowl of M&M’s. When we would return home, we would find red and green candy smudges on the white sofa, and we finally figured it out! And Wally could “talk” better than anybody. He loved to say “I wub you” plain as day. He amazed everyone who heard him. Then in 2002, we adopted his brother “Bumper.” Bumper was a big beautiful perfect Pug. He weighed 26 pounds, and Wally was only 16 pounds. Wally was small and swift. Wally could run like the wind and jump like a rabbit. Bumper was big and lumbering and never in a hurry to get anywhere. They were as close as two Pugs can be, constantly by each other’s side.

Bumper got his name from his habit of grabbing his toy and then bumping you in the leg as hard as he could to get your attention. He was such lover. The rabbits in our back yard would scatter at the sight of Wally but would walk right in front of Bumper. They knew who would chase them and they knew who wouldn’t!

In 2008 Bumpie, was diagnosed with diabetes. He needed insulin twice a day and he eventually lost his sight. That slowed him down for a couple of days, but he was always such a trooper. He never complained about the injections and didn’t mind the frequent trips to the vet and all the blood tests. He was always smiling. He loved everybody, and everybody loved him back. We finally lost Bumpie in December 2009 at age 9.

The loss of his brother took its toll on Wally. Wally was now about 14 years old, and he suffered several strokes after losing Bumper. It was Valentines Day 2010 when another in a series of several strokes left him unable to hear or to walk straight, and he couldn’t talk anymore. In April 2010, another stroke and he was gone.

These little boys were so beautiful and adorable and always the best and constant companions to us and to each other. We love them still. They have left two huge holes in our hearts that will never be filled until the day we meet again at the Rainbow Bridge.

Please wait for us Wally and Bumpie. We miss you so much.

Born October 28, 1999. Adopted December 19, 2009. Died February 20, 2011.

When we brought you home, we were worried. Then you took that first treat from us, however hesitantly, and that was the beginning. We grew together, the  four of us intertwined like vines in a garden. We loved and laughed and rubbed heads, bellies and ears (especially the ears). We gave you everything we had, and you gave us more.

You were taken away from us much too early, but every moment with you will be treasured, relived, relished and remembered. You were a gift from God to us. You were rescued by others, and we thought we came to finish the rescue. But instead, you rescued us. You died in our arms much loved and now, much missed. We will never forget you.

-Bernard Poskus, Cheryl Blehm-Poskus and Zeke (the Pug) Poskus

June 2011

Moe was our foster dog for almost two years; however, in the end, she “adopted” our family.

She was a good old girl and loved everyone that had the chance to meet her. We will never forget Moe’s sweet, loving eyes. Hopefully, there is an all-you-can-eat dog treat buffet at the rainbow bridge because we never met a dog that loved food more. Around meal time, she enjoyed knocking all the dog food bowls over, barking, and wagging her tail persistently to remind us that it was feeding time.

Rest in peace Moe. Our family will miss you!!

-The Lounsberry Family

December 18, 2005 – March 14, 2011

Coco came into our lives as a very scared pug, unwanted by her original owner. Over the time that she graced our lives, Coco bloomed into a beautiful, loving companion to our entire family. She and my daughter Erin participated for three years in 4-H, where they placed Reserve Grand Champion in their first year. Coco and Carla went through certification for Coco to become a therapy dog, as well.

Coco ministered that love that she had for others for as long as she could. We lost our Coco very unexpectedly, and for us, way too soon. She has left a huge hole in my heart, and part of me died when Coco died. We miss Coco dearly but know that she is no longer in pain and is now chasing butterflies over the rainbow bridge. I look forward to the day that she will be greeting us on the other side.

Coco’s companions who are still with us: Baby-Girl (pug) & Bullwinkle (Boston terrier).

– Love always and forever, Carla, Michael, and Erin Griffin

2002 – September 2011

My nine-year-old pug, “Spaz,” passed away in September, 2011.

I got him at nine weeks old. I am heart broken; he was like a son to me, and I miss him terribly.

He was the best friend, companion and cuddle buddy I could ever have asked for. He loved to lick his nose, and when I talked to him, he would howl at me. He was the leader of the pack; I have two other dogs that he grew up with.

Spaz will forever be missed and never forgotten.

-Cindy

2008 – October 2011

I am eleven years old. My grandma just lost her pug, Suki. We both miss how Suki would snuggle in bed with us every night.

My grandma misses how Suki was so cute and fluffy. She misses cuddling with Suki on the couch while she was watching television. The reason Suki died was because of seizures and liver problems. My grandma and I handle our loss with grace and courage.

Today, I search for a new pug at the Colorado Pug Rescue so my grandma would completely get over her loss. When I search for a pug, the Colorado Pug Rescue is the place to go!

Although Suki is gone, my grandma and I know she’s with us every day of our lives.

– Kristin