what happens when Pugalug is unable to accept Rescues!

[Gromit and Kevin]

Just wondering.. when Pugalug is full and unable to accept any new pugs what happens to the pugs that you cant take in?  Is there any way that you could let us know so maybe people looking to adopt could help out those pugs?  Thanks

[blanche]

When our rescue gets full, we ask owners if they can wait until foster space becomes available.  We also refer to the other small breed rescues and/or all breed rescues.
Also the Pug Club of Canada has a rescue program and they have helped us out both times our intake closed.  They have taken in two pugs during this closure--one from us and one from the Ottawa pug rescue).
As to notifying people about rescues that we can't take in--that can get tricky.  If the dog is in the shelter system, it is easy.  If it is an owner surrender, then things get more complicated as owners mostly DON'T want any of their information out in the public.  Plus, until we have thoroughly checked out a potential adopter, we can't really tell a surrendering owner that we "endorse" anyone.
Posting on the forum by the owner is also difficult as it is hard to know who is surrendering vs. who is trying to sell their dog.  We generally have a policy of NOT using the forum for people to re-home their dogs as it can really get ugly.
The sad reality of rescue is that we won't always be able to save every pug about whom we get called.  I do try very hard to refer people on to other resources if we can't take the dog.  It is heart breaking, but it is the reality.  There are too many dogs and not enough resources.  And I don't see any end in sight in the near future.

[Gromit and Kevin]

Thanks so much Blanche.  That completely makes sense.. it's just that it breaks my heart to think of a pug sleeping on a shelter floor instead of in the big bed where they belong.  So, if an owner is surrendering hopefully they would wait until Pugalug has space... but if a shelter has pug and you are full I can only hope that he finds a good home or a different rescue will take him/her in...

Until recently I didn't realize how many pugs were in rescue programs all over... I think Pugalug is doing an amazing job getting the message out there and I want to do everything I possibly can to help.

I am completely aware that its not just pugs that are in need of help, sadly it's every single breed out there... Its just that being a pug mom I have an especially soft spot for them.

Sorry for the long post.

[blanche]

No need to apologize.  We've been lucky so far in that we haven't had to turn down a dog without any options--I've had to reject a dog or two because of their bite record, but so far, we've been able to find other resources for dogs in need.  Our priority is always a dog in the shelter system because they can be on borrowed time.  Many rescues will no longer take owner surrenders because the need of shelter dogs is so huge.
The rescues for pugs in the U.S. are jammed to overflowing by comparison to us.  My heart goes out to Prairie Pug Rescue, SEPRA, NIPRA and the others that are in the heart of puppy mill country.  By comparison, we have had it very easy.  We are one of the few pug rescues that can still take mixes.  Most have had to make the hard choice to take only pure pugs, because their resources are stretched so thin and mixes can be harder to adopt out.

[Pugpillow]

You learn very early in the rescue business the hard lesson that you can't do everything nor help every one.  Nor can you educate every person or change every person's way of thinking.  There is so much need and so few resources.  But one person can only do so much and one group of people can only do so much also.  The key is knowing your individual and collective limitations.  There's a very true saying, "you can't change the world, but you can change one dog's world".