The Pug Life

Pugs and Eliza! If you want to make me smile and give me a lighter step all you have to do us ask me about my dogs. I am a proud pug owner. As you have probably heard it said, "I did not choose the pug life it chose me. It all began over 22 years ago. My husband drove me to what was then, South Lake Mall for an afternoon diversion. At the time I was expecting our first baby (Tori) and pretty much absolutely huge. I gained a total of 30 lbs with my Victoria and at this time it was early summer and I was a short 8 weeks to delivery. We were walking thru the mall and came upon a "pet store". Marks first mistake was letting me walk inside but after that we were committed and it was quite literally the first step in what has been a life long love affair with a breed. We walked into that store and My eyes met with the most wonderful thing I had ever seen in my life. A little, fat, round , sleek, snorting, adorable, black, male, 6 week old pug was waiting for me in a little crate in the store. All I had to do was see the creature and I had to have it. At the time, Mark and I didn't have any money. We were surviving on his salary as a City of Atlanta rookie police officer and saving for our new baby. So how on earth would we afford a pure bred, solid black, little boy pug puppy? I didn't know and quite honestly didn't care. All I knew is that little creature had stolen my heart and my sweet husband knew he could not leave that store without that puppy. So, asking himself what in the world he was doing, Mark signed the papers committing us to a 12 month payment plan for a puppy and I left that day with a precious furry ball of love. That was the original Pugs. Sir Reginald Pugsley. He was with us for 2 years before I had to find him a new home. It was one of the most difficult things I had ever done letting that guy go but we were in a new state with a new home , new job and baby. It was just to much. But a few years later with the opening of a movie staring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith (Men in Black) my love for The Pug was rekindled. That love was rewarded when once again, my precious husband, who many would view as this tough, hardened soldier, showed up with a surprise for me. He met me at a jobsite with a tiny 6 week old, solid black pug, yep, it's not that I don't like the fawns, I just love those solid black ones. This one came into my life in the fall of 2002 and has been with me ever since. Sir Manford Hercules Pugsley. (He had a way of looking at me that reminded me of a very special, beloved minister from my past so I name him after that minister.) He is an amazing dog. He's made the move from Kentucky to Atlanta. He's lived on a chain the back yard In the 98 degree Georgia summer heat, spent countless hours in a crate while I was in academy and guarded my babies when I had to leave early in the morning before they were awake and never once neglected to greet me with abundant excitement and love. We blessed him in 2006 with a special lady. I knew he needed a friend and so we brought a beautiful, delicate, completely feminine, solid black female pug into our home to keep him company. We named her Eliza after the character from My Fair Lady. She is absolutely wonderful too though a little scared of thunder storms. Back in the day Eliza would sleep in Hanna's room, keeping her company and Barry would snuggle up with pugs. They were the best companions a mom could ever ask for. These precious creatures have so completed my life and home. We have had 2 litters of puppies. One litter I took to work with me and for the first time in the history of Fire Headquarters there were pug puppies racing in the hallways. They have run in Countless races and raised money for everything from school Supplies to The Susan G Komen 3 Day for a Cure. We've hiked, swam, skied and mountain climbed with these amazing dogs. We've dressed Pugs&Eliza up as Santa and Mrs. Clause and run the Jingle Jog and Eliza has won the costume contest twice. They are so amazing. To be honest, I still cannot help myself. They truly own me. These little black furry wonders. Pugs is almost 11 years old now. Pretty old for a Pug dog. But he still wiggles all over like a puppy when I walk in the door from work. Nothing on this planet will ever love me like that puppy does. He is the example of unconditional love. No, I can honestly tell you, I did not choose the Pug life. It chose me.