It's All Starting to Make Sense...

More inspirational photos here.

Natty's Other Half

Nope, I'm not talking about big brother and best buddy Klausie. :) I'm talking about a pug from Natty's life "BEFORE."

A story that I haven't told about Miss Nattyloo yet is how she came to be in rescue. Well, we don't know where she came from, but we do know where she was found--in rural Kankakee, IL. Wandering the icy streets. In FEBRUARY.

But Miss Natty wasn't alone. She had a companion, another pug, who was totally and completely blind. It's hard enough for me to imagine one little pug surviving on the streets in the dead of winter in Illinois, but a blind pug? To my way of thinking, it's a complete and utter miracle that they ever made it into rescue at all. Little Miss Natty, industrious as she is, cared for her companion and led him to safety with NIPRA. When I say that this girl is TOUGH, I mean it. She is smart as a whip, incredibly fearless, and spunky as hell. Natty has got some street cred. She's even got the (beebee) gunshot wound to prove it.

When we were first approved as a match for Natty and we learned that she had come in with another pug, it broke my heart to think of separating them. We could only take one pug, but look how far they had come together, and who KNOWS what trials they made it through? Our little lady is fiercely independent, but what about her friend? But the rescue assured me that they had intended to separate them all along, regardless of whether we took Natty or not. They would each be fine on their own with a loving family and a friendly canine companion. It can be very difficult to place more than one pug in an appropriate home together. Even MORE difficult to place a special needs pug in an appropriate home at all. And so Natty became ours, and I waited, wondering, worrying, hoping that her companion would find his special place too.

This story does have a happy ending. Natty's companion (brother? mate? who knows!) found a delightful home just a few weeks later, and you can read about his happy ending here. Little Mr. Raymee sure has done well for himself, wouldn't you say? :)

I think about reaching out to them from time to time. Perhaps having a little reunion. Would it be stressful to reunite them and then separate them again? I know that dogs have memories, but I also know that they are much more adept at living in the moment than we are. And they both have such happy homes to return to. Who knows...maybe one day their paths will cross again. :)
You did good, little girl.

It's Sunday.

What else would they be doing? Lazy pugs.

Flashback Friday: Natty Edition

Here's a picture of the peanut pug from her foster home. What a sad little face. She was off the streets, but how could she know just how spoiled she was to become? I'll take care of you little girl, now and always. :)

I Chose You

And all of your precious wrinkles, baby Klausie. And I'd do it again in a hearbeat!

Sunshine Girl

We'd Like to Thank da Academy...

otherwise known as Kitty + Coco for hooking us up wit dis FABULOUS award! Yeah!
K, we admits, we's not exactly sure what it means, but it we knows we gots friends in high places!

So dese is da rules: now we gotta tell you 7 things 'bout us pugs. Mama, u wanna do da honors? (I's not asking you, Natty!) No? Ok here goes.

Me, Klaus da Bean von Wrinklesworth I likes cheese. I's a tough manpug who NEVER wears a tutu. My favorite toy is me christmas loofah dog...I like dat guy da dirtier, da better. Favorite thing to do is cuddle wif mom (she needs me protections!) I loves my sister Natty (What? NO I's not talkin' bout u, Nappy!) When I gets wet in da rain, I smells like puppy shampoo. Wet grass gives me da crazies, and I like to do zoomies in circles! I can kick Natty's butt. I's a picky eater...what! I's not countin'! Ok, Natty's turn I guess:

It's me! NattyNatalieNatalooLouiebelle: I likes to watch tvs, an I reconizes animals I never eben seens before! I barks at dem to let 'em knows I gots my eyes on dem. I speaks me own language, daddy sez I sounds like Chewbacca (it's a secret language so Klausie can'ts undertands me DUH!) I love walkies SOOO much. I gets so 'cited when mama comes home dat I nibbles on her fingers. I lives for bully sticks (hear dat mama? me stash is gettin' low). I comes from da mean streetz so i's pretty tough...I can kick Klausie's butt. He tinks he's in charge, but really it's ME--Natalie!

(K, dat's enough.)

15 bloggies we like! Mebbe not new, but new to US!

Rebels With a Cause
Arlo the Pug
Chicas Libelulas
Beefy Pug
Bellatrix
It's a Pug's Life
Harry Pugalicious
Heavy Breathing
Pumpkin the Japanese Chin
The Plus Size Pug
Tales of the Great Rock Eater
Paco's Pugtails
Owned by Pugs
Pug Moon
Ladypug Mugs

We tried not to duplicate, but we think you all is da bees knees!

What's Her Story?

It just kills me sometimes that I didn't get to know Natty as a puppy. I wonder what she was like? Probably feisty and crazy and sassy like she is now, except on a smaller scale...well, physically smaller, anyway. :) Her puppy 'tude was probably larger than life!

There's so much we don't know about our girl. Where did she come from? Did anyone love her? Did anyone even care when she wandered away (or did they leave her somewhere on her own, to fend for herself?) We find small clues, occasionally, as to what might have come before...but most of our questions will likely never be answered. And that's ok.

Not having Natty as a puppy doesn't make our bond any "less." It just makes it different. I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to watch her blossom and come out of her shell. I wouldn't have it any other way.

What are you thinking about, special girl? Are you remembering your "somewhere out there?" That's ok, as long as you know that your home is here with us, to stay.

A Mom is Born

Please excuse the PJs, bed-head, and lack of makeup. These photos are from Klausie's first morning with us.

I put the little peanut to bed in a safe area on his first night in our apartment, baby-gated with some soothing toys and a soft pillow stuffed with a bit of his pug mama's fur. I do think I slept fairly well...it had been an exhausting day from start to finish, beginning with a busted-out car window and a frantic trip to the repair shop, followed by a five-hour car ride into Indiana to retrieve the little bugger. I think he whimpered softly for a bit, but it couldn't have gone on for too long...it had been an exhausting day for one tiny pug puppy, too.

When morning came, I jumped awake and darted into the living room to see how my new charge had fared the night. My boyfriend says that from that moment he could see the change in me already, as my caregiver instincts kicked in. A Mama had been born.

December 31, 2006

Oh, be still my heart. These photos make me melt.Who knew that a tiny little 3-lb bundle could change one's life in so many amazing, joyful ways? My sweet baby Klausie.

The New "Outside"

Well, it's no yard...but at least we've got a little deck upon which to enjoy fresh air and sunshine and a vantage point from which to woo woo at the neighbors. That's a pretty content pug face, wouldn't you say?

No Pug Is an Island

...except for Natalie. :)

Mr. Independence

Klausie is usually my little shadow. For the past three and a half years, if I've been home, he's been by my side--or under my feet--or woofing at me from behind a closed door. He is 100% his mama's boy. But lately...and just occasionally...you can find him chillin' by himself in a comfy spot. And then I'm the one who goes looking for him.Is my little man growing up?

Sleepy Gurl

Doesn't her little face just say it all?



I'm sorry I'm bugging you, mush. I just can't get enough of your sleepy, smushy, gushy little pug face. *Sigh.

King of His Castle...

And Ruler of the Remote.
What Mom? Can't I get a break from the flashy thing? Geeeeeeez.