Funding Nemo

Curly Tail received an emergency call about a scared little pug named Nemo. Nemo had "escaped" from his home and was hit by a car. His owners couldn't find him for 24 hrs. When they finally did, he was scared and shivering under the front porch. He was not able to walk....he was whimpering in pain....his owners couldn't afford to take him to the ER. So they called us.

In the middle of the night, we drove out to LI and brought whimpering little Nemo to our 24 hr vet care facility, Center for Veterinary Care. Nemo would be safe and Curly Tail would fund his ER medical treatment.

Our vets strongly suspect abuse when they examined his current injuries and a past injured eye. As you can see from the images, Nemo's eye is sunken and "pushed/punched" in. It has already healed however, he must have suffered terribly when he 1st suffered the injury and then had to wait out the healing with medical care. They also suspect that Nemo was kicked based on the damages to his pelvis (rather than hit by a car) b/c he does not have any injuries elsewhere on his body and b/c of the nature of his previous injuries.



Initially upon intake, Nemo was whimpering in pain and had not gone to the bathroom in almost 24hrs. We weren't sure of the extent of his injuries. Nemo spent 3 days in our ER facility at CVC under Dr. Solomon's Care. He was cared for around the clock where they had him catheterized and on fluids to stabilize him. His pelvis had been shattered and broken in several places.

He slowly started eliminating outside while in the doctor's care. They patiently carried him out gingerly every 2 hours and Una waited and waited until he went. At 1st he was terrified about eliminating, not realizing he had done something good until Una smothered him with love and affection for his good behavior! Now while in foster care, his foster mom Strummer is doing the same thing and he has fully come to realize that eliminating outside is a good thing.

Our vets had suspected abuse when they examined his current injuries and a past injured eye. As you can see from the images, Nemo's eye is sunken and "pushed" in. It has already healed however, he must have suffered terribly when he 1st suffered the injury and then had to wait out the healing with medical care.

Nemo is healing and even though he has been through so much & suffered tremendous pain, Nemo is one of the sweetest and gentlest pups in our care and everyone absolutely LOVES him.




Please consider even a small donation to help us get little Nemo back on track.

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Pixie Update Summer 2009

You all remember Pixie, the emaciated pug we rescued this past winter.
We are happy to share some new photos sent from Pixie's forever family.

These pictures really tell the story of why we do what we do.


As you can see, Pixie is thriving and looking better and better with each and every update. We love you Pixie!!

Pixie Rock Climbing in New Hampshire


Pixie Swimming


Pixie enjoying ear scritches!

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Bryant Medical Testing Update

Thank you to everyone who helped us fund Bryant's much needed diagnostic testing. The good news is that Bryant is feeling great and the more time he spends with his foster mom, the more comfortable and loving he is. Such a sweet boy who has no idea that he has any health trouble at all. Bryant is just happy to be loved.

The bad news is that the collective data including definitive needle biopsies of all six tumors have diagnosed Bryant with Mast Cell Tumors which are indeed cancerous. To evaluate an option for treatment we took several xrays to determine whether the cancer had metastasized and it has NOT!!! His lungs and chest are completely clear and at the moment, the cancer is completely localized meaning Bryant has a generous amount of quality life time ahead of him!



The one area we were suggested to operate on was the largest of the six tumors on his back right leg. It hinders his walking and poses the greatest growth danger and lymph node involvement so we have scheduled Bryant to have that cancerous tumor removed next week. We couldn't have done this without all of you generous donors and the same will ring true for his surgery next week----anything you can donate is literally helping us offer this guy a happy and healthy life.

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Plum Medical Update

Plum's allergies are out of control and she has become so uncomfortable that she is literally tearing into her neck! She had pus and blood oozing from her neck and after some slides of the affected areas the vet has now confirmed her infection & sores on her neck are bacterial, not yeast based.

Poor Plum has to wear a neck sock and Bitenot collar to keep her from further damaging the skin on her neck and feet.
We need to stop the bleeding. We need to switch gears and treat her condition even more aggressively than before.


Plum received 2 injections today: Convenia, an antibiotic that lasts up to two weeks, and Vetalog, a steroid that also lasts up to 2 weeks.
We are confident that the injections should give her the fast relief that she needs as we work to stabilize her under a new aggressive plan of attack:

* Weekly baths of Oxydex - this will more aggressively treat & heal her neck sores and open skin wounds related to her allergies.
* Weekly baths pf Malesab - this will help calm and keep her skin under control while she is being treated and possibly for life.
* She is now on a strict diet of Canine IVD duck and potato wet and dry mixture - we will try this for a period of time and see how she does on it.
* Continue Benadryl every 4 hours - to try and keep her histamine level as under control as possible.
* Switch from salmon oil to flax oil for Omegas (may be allergic to fish) - to keep her skin conditioned from the inside out but from a different source.
* Add Quercetin, a natural antihistamine - every little thing that can help, we will try!

Thank you to all who have contributed to Plum's medical fund. We truly appreciated every donation whether large or small, monetary, or supplies.
We could not help needy pugs like Plum without your help!

Please Help Plum

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Puppies Aren't Products Campaign - Volunteers needed!

Curly Tail is looking for some volunteers in the NYC area to help with our Puppies Aren't Products campaign, in conjunction with the Best Friends Animal Society as we take a stand against puppy mills.

Please note these are peaceful pet store protests.

Curly Activists are involved in the lobbying for legislation that would regulate large-scale dog breeders and pet stores with the goal of cracking down on abusive puppy mills. We support legislature that proposes the following:


•Create a Dog Breeder License Act, which would prevent breeders from having more than 20 unaltered (not neutered or not spayed) dogs.

•Prohibit people from obtaining a dog-breeding license if they have been convicted of a felony animal-cruelty crime, including dog fighting.

•Require dog breeders to keep dogs in buildings without wire flooring and with sufficient heating, cooling and ventilation.

•Require pet stores and breeders to provide potential pet buyers with the dog’s full medical history, information of spaying and neutering and information about any prior medical care. Humane Society officials said many dogs from puppy mills end up having substantial medical problems because of interbreeding and exposure to disease in cramped environments.

•Establish penalties starting with fines and escalating to having animals seized and breeding operations shut down.

Curly Tail has become apart of the Best Friends Network through the Best Friends Animal Society in order to lobby against pet stores that sell puppy mill puppies.

Best Friends is a grassroots effort stepping up to reduce the number of pets bought and sold, and to increase adoptions from shelters and rescue groups. Together we can help millions of dogs living in breeding facilities around the country.

If you live in the NYC area and would are interested in participating with Curly Tail in the PAP campaign, please contact: jeaniner@curlytailpugrescue.org

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Meet Plum

Poor little Plum was scared and sickly sitting in the ACC of NYC when we found her. She couldn't imagine what she could have done so terribly wrong to end up there?!

She has been terribly neglected for a very long time and her body shows the painful signs to prove it. Her body is covered in sores, it is painful for her to be picked up by her loving foster mom, she can barely walk on her paws, she flinches in pain if her foster mom tries to put her medicated drops in her ears! Everything just hurts so much!

We don't know the full extent of Plum's illness yet....we know that her surface and most immediate medical needs must be treated 1st and then we can take it from there. As always, we will do what is needed to get Plum to be happy, healthy & pain free!



Please consider helping poor little Plum!

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Success Story: Curly (now Marlon!)

Curly was pulled from an area shelter and was fostered by Curly member Adrienne. It didn't take long for foster mom Adrienne to fall completely in love with Curly.and adopt him! Curly has been renamed Marlon! From the pictures below it is easy to see why. We just love the Froggy pose!!

Congratulations to both Marlon and Adrienne!!!

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Curly Tail @ the PAP protest in NYC

Curly Tail was on hand at the Puppies Aren't Products protest at American Kennels on Lexington Ave in New York City last month:

The staff at American Kennels will tell you that their puppies come from breeders they’ve been working with for many years, but in reality, their puppies come from inhumane puppy mills. A reputable breeder would never sell their puppies through a pet store.

The peaceful protest provides information about puppy mills and rescue organizations where puppies are available. The goal of the protest is to educate the public, which will in turn help end the cycle of homeless pets.

Educating the public on what "USDA Licensed" really means:


Signs are posted to make people think that the dogs are purchased from reputable breeders instead of mills:


The Curly gang represents:


People are lined up to make signs viewable to both sidewalk and street traffic:


The littlest protesters stop for a water break:


Click here to learn more about the Puppies Aren't Products campaign.

--> Learn how you can start a peaceful protest in your area
http://puppiesarentproducts.com/startaprotest.cfm

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Success Story: Tiger

As you can see Tig is doing very well in his new home. His new adoptive family is Still working on his allergy issues but they are getting better. We hear he is getting a lot of outdoor time and loves to eat dandilions. Every day is something new to discover. The girls are loving him and the little neighbor girl looks forward to seeing him every morning at the bus stop.

Congrats to Tiger and his new forever family!

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Puppy Mill Pugs Update

All four pugs needed sulfur baths and shaving immediately to rid the bugs including a nest of spiders?!?!?!? found in the groin area of one.


All dogs have inter-digital cysts on their paws from wrapping around the wire crate bottom for years.


All pugs have minor scars, bite marks new and old and clearly display signs of being in a pen style mill.


The three females are being treated for severe urinary tract infections.


Penelope, has a severe form of jaw displacement and the most extreme form of dental disease we have ever seen which includes a naturally formed drainage sight just under her chin which is the only reason this infection hasn't killed her.


Romeo has one "dead" eye from untreated infection and as a result, the eye muscles have atrophied leaving nothing to support it in the socket, giving the eye a sunken look. Romeos other eye is also severely ulcerated.


For more updates on the Spring 09 Puppy Mill Pugs - please visit our website www.curlytailpugrescue.org

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Success Story: Rocky

Rocky was adopted yesterday by a lovely woman from Massachussetts who was completely smitten with Rocky before she even met him. Rocky's new mom just lost her husband to a tragic death and was practically in tears when she looked at Rocky and felt the instantaneous companionship. They are going to be the sweetest pair and will spend their days romping around in her daycare center (Rocky is sooooo gentle with kids) and the nights will be spent relaxing side-by-side.

Congrats to Rocky and his new mom!

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Success Story: Hurly

Congratulations to Hurly who was adopted by a lovely woman from NYC who drove the whole way up to Boston because she was so excited to get her boy home!

Hurly was a three year old shelter pull that came to us morbidly obese with a severe eye ulcer. Thanks to curly care foster home Keiran for nursing Hurly back to tip top shape.

Congrats to Hurly and his new forever family!

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Curly Tail Flip Video Camcorders now available!

Check out the Flip Mino Camcorder now available in the Curly Tail Cafe Press Store!

Help Support Pug Rescue while capturing your favorite videos quickly and conveniently with the Curly Tail Flip Mino Camcorder! We've gussied up the standard white flip with some images of your favorite Curly Tail rescue pugs: Butter, Sophia, Pixie, Gidget, and more!

Making and sharing great video has never been easier. Or more fun. The ultra-thin & pocket-sized Flip Video Mino camcorder has a handy USB arm that flips out and hooks up to your PC or Mac. This charges the battery, plus lets you use its built-in software to easily view, edit, and upload video and photos to favorite sharing sites.

Records 60 minutes of VGA-quality video

Built-in rechargeable Lithium Ion battery

Also now available - the Curly Tail Military Cap!
Show your love of pugs and support our cause while sporting this very flattering and fashionable cap, available in Olive Green, Black, and Khaki!


Have fun and look great this summer! And remember 100% of the proceeds from the Curly Store goes directly towards the medical needs of our rescued pugs in Curly Care.

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Puppy Mill Rescue - Spring '09

Curly Tail Pug Rescue worked for weeks with Help Save One to pull these 4 dogs from some of the worst mill conditions. These pugs are terrified of human hands. They were severely infested with fleas and other insects. Their bodies are covered in cuts, open wounds and scars. Their journey towards recovery begins with us.

Look for their full stories, slide shows and videos to be posted shortly. As usual, we will provide you with updates as we go along...as we learn...as the healing begins.

The following video is of Romeo, the only male of the four. The video was taken on day three. The 1st days the mill dogs spent in Curly Tail foster care was simply spent trying to bond. Their foster mom would lie down on the floor with food in her hand and speaking in a high yet quiet voice. All four mill dogs are petrified of human hands so teaching them that our hands will only offer love and food is very important in gaining trust.

Romeo does well with the consistency but after several hours of being alone, he quickly forgets what we are teaching him and becomes petrified at the sight of humans all over again...even his foster mom. What you see in this video is utter fear and a true struggle with fight or flight for Romeo. This video is sad but also heartwarming. You will see strong fear but by the end of the video, you will see him suddenly remember his foster mom by scent and slowly he welcomes her touch, eventually coming right in with great trust to lick her face. The fear they have is profound but the progress they are making and the forgiveness they are showing is beautiful.


The next video is of Wendy who is hugely overweight and has the most profound yet non-vocal fear of humans. This video was also taken on day three and although she is still clearly terrified, she has made remarkable progress. When Wendy first arrived and her Curly mom tried to reach out to her, she would immediately run away and try her best to melt into the floor to avoid being touched.

Most times, she would roll on her back/belly up in a fit of submission and fear. By day three, she still runs from hands and and avoids contact at all expense but she will no longer roll onto her back in "I give up" mode



Stay tuned for more updates and slide shows of the Puppy mill rescues, as we record their 1st weeks in Curly Care.

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Puppies Aren't Products!

We support the Best Friends Animal Society Puppies Aren't Products campaign:

Each year, millions of Americans buy new puppies from pet stores or on the Internet. Meanwhile, millions of dogs suffer on the "production line" in America's puppy mills - living in tiny, wire-bottomed cages, in squalid conditions with little to no human contact.

While puppy mills attempt to maximize their profits, churning out as many litters as possible, roughly 11,000 animals are euthanized in America's shelters every single day.

The Puppies Aren't Products initiative seeks to help people understand the link between puppy mills and pet stores. Our goal is to shine light on the truth behind the puppy in the pet store window, so that American consumers no longer unknowingly support puppy mills. Our goal is to see that America's dogs no longer live in these cruel conditions.

We believe that together we can change the industry. We can reduce the number of puppy mill dogs sold in the community, and increase the number of homeless animals adopted into loving homes.

Join Best Friends Animal Society in the fight against puppy mills and help create a day with No More Homeless Pets. Working together, we will see a day when all of America's dogs have what they deserve: safety, good care, happiness, and love from a family of their own.

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Pixie's new home!

We know you have all been anxiously awaiting the good news on Pixie and her updated condition. Well we are very happy to report that Pixie was healthy enough to be adopted by her new forever family last month! They sent us the following update with pictures which we are thrilled to share!

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Pixie is settling in nicely. She naps on the bed with us, curls up on the couch with us to watch TV, and is now playing the "chase" game with our other pug, George. She is almost completely yard trained and loves to bask in the sun. Thanks again to Curly Tail Pug Rescue. Pixie is a wonderful addition to our family.









Hooray for Pixie! This precious girl deserves all the best her new life has to offer!

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FDA Confirms Probe of NUTRO Pet Food Deaths, Illnesses

April 20, 2009
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that the agency is investigating NUTRO pet food, following a series of unexplained illnesses and deaths. Consumers have been complaining for more than two years that their pets have become ill after eating NUTRO products; many have recovered when they were switched to other foods. The company has steadfastly denied that its food is to blame.

Until now, the FDA has been mum about whether it was actively investigating the company. Today, the FDA’s Division of Freedom of Information confirmed the agency has an ongoing investigation into NUTRO — and said that investigation could be criminal or civil in nature. The office did not elaborate on the nature or focus of that investigation.

The investigation came to light when the FDA denied a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by ConsumerAffairs.com seeking a list of complaints and lab results the agency has collected regarding NUTRO pet food. The agency denied the request and said that releasing the information could hamper “prospective or ongoing” action by law enforcement.

“The document(s) constitute record(s) compiled for law enforcement purposes, the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings,” wrote the FDA’s George A. Strait, Jr., assistant commissioner for public affairs.

Click here to read the rest of the article

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Success Story: Daffodil

Sweet Puggle Daffodil has gone to her forever home!

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Success Story: Gidget (now Tess)

You may remember Gidget who was rescued from an Ohio Puppy Mill in December where she was used to breed over and over again.

We are VERY happy to report that she has now been placed in her forever home!

Gidget was the mother of the 3 black Christmas pups, including Butter. She has been named Tess by her new forever family, a beautiful name for a beautiful girl.

They also sent this picture of Tess along with the following note:

To the folks at CTPR--thank you for sending Tess (formerly known as Gidget) into our lives. She is the perfect addition to our family, and we couldn't imagine life without her. I appreciate your thoughtfulness and thoroughness in making sure we had the perfect match. An extra special thanks to Kristin in Massachusetts--you are an amazing animal advocate!

Sincerely, Laura J., Tess' adoptive parent



We are so happy that this sweet pug is finally getting the life she deserves!

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Sophia's Blog moves to Curly Tail Pug Rescue!

~ a message from Curly co-founder Drea ~

I have run into so many people that recognize me from my work with sophia, the spina bifida pug puppy. So many people are incredibly supportive and follow our experiences blogging about Sophia. Lots of people have written asking for information and updates.

Since sophia has come into our lives, I have launched a pug rescue with my partner, Kristin Balch. Our rescue is called Curly Tail Pug Rescue. I run the NYC branch and Kristin runs the Boston branch....we work together as great partners and friends. With our 2 main branches so spread out, we are able to effectively cover several states (NY, NJ, CT, MA and parts of RI / NH). Sophia was definitely a huge source of inspiration to us and has become a Curly Mascot if you will. She is an important symbol of our work and attitude towards rescue.

Developing & running the rescue, fostering lots of ill & special needs dogs, building the website AND posting on her blog is a bit much to say the least!

I created a page on our website expressly for her called Curly's Saving Sophia. We want to keep people posted on her progress, using her cart and upcoming surgery (happening this summer). We also do not want to detract from the many other dogs who come into Curly care that truly need lots of medical attention as well. There are so many that need so much. Moving her blog to a page on the website seemed to be the best solution.

Please continue to follow her story and the story of many others at www.CurlyTailPugRescue.org.

Thank you for supporting us, Sophia and all of the needy pugs out there!
drea, kristin & the gang at curly tail

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