Curly Tail Golden Pugs

The Beauty of Seniors


Please visit our Curly Tail Golden Pugs page for more information.

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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: 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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Success Story: Fiona

Fiona the little puglet that was diagnosised with Megasophagus has been placed in her new forever home where she will receive all the extra love and care that she needs.

Congratulations to Fiona and 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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Butter continues to struggle

Sad news: Butter lost the eye we had performed surgery on 2 times to try to save it from the severe ulceration he had which was not responsive to topical medicine & progressed to the last possible layer of tissue just before rupture.

We had to enucleate his eye on Wed, 4/8/09. The conjunctival graft was healing perfectly but the eye suffered too much trauma, developed glaucoma and was no longer visual. The pressure in that eye was soaring higher by the hour.

Even more so, his remaining eye (which had a superficial ulcer but was originally healing) ruptured that morning and then 3 more times that same night. We rushed to the AMC emergency medical center but were not able to receive care on site. We were beyond lucky that Yasmin who has been working with us on Dr. van der Woerdt's team - was there to help. She helped contact every possible opthomologist in the tri-state area and was prepared TO FLY to North Carolina to help Butter.

Yasmin was able to reach Dr. La Croix of the VMCLI who was on call and came in from home to see Butter. We hopped in Yasmin's car and were in West Islip in the middle of the night.

While performing surgery on the newly ruptured eye, Dr.'s enucleated the other eye suffering from glaucoma. For the surgery on the remaining eye, Dr. La Croix chose to perform a corneal conjunctival graft where she plugged the ruptured site with a piece of his cornea. This is a more aggressive form of graft. He has pulled through his 3rd surgery succesfully...and now we wait. We are doing everything we possibly can to try and retain some vision for this amazing little 14 week old puppy.

More to come when he comes home from the hospital....Please send some good thoughts out for Butter. As always your donations are unbelievably appreciated!

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Success Story: Ivy

Here is Ivy with her new Pug brother, Jake!

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Success Story: Sprinkle (now Archie)

Sprinkle was one of the Black Christmas pugs who was rescued from a puppy mill in December.

Sprinkle has now been named Archie by his new forever family! We hear the little guy is doing well at potty training and is quite the sweet snuggler too. When Artchie is not running around like a little firecracker he just wants to be in his new mama's lap.

Archie has also become good friends with his new pug brother Clark who even lets Archie steal his toys!

Adorable!

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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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Puppy Mill Awareness

Friday March 27 at 11:PM, ABC's Nightline will be investigating puppy mills!

Dear Friends,

We at Curly Tail Pug Rescue hold a very strong philosophy that we maintain the short term goals of saving the pug(s) and the long term goal of terminating all forms of irresponsible breeding, specifically, Puppy Mills. We strive everyday to work against the function of Puppy Mills and have a truly attainable goal of making such horrifying places history.

Being committed to this goal makes Education a huge component to Curly Tail Pug Rescue's mission.

It has been almost a year since the Puppy Mill story first aired on the Oprah Winfrey show and it received the highest viewer response of any Oprah Show in years.

Now we need to spread the word about this very special Nightline. Only by educating as many people as we can, will we be able to help these animals. And after you watch the program, please do not hesitate to contact ABC and Nightline to thank them for casting such a strong light on the plight of our nation's puppy mill dogs.

We need everyone to help to spread the word about Puppy Mills and the absolutely deplorable conditions that these dogs live in. The more people spreading the word, the more of a fighting chance we can give to these undeserving animals, not just Pugs, but all dogs who are being bred this way. Any grand movement in history has been made by education so please do your part and forward this on, cross post on your blogs, and continue to raise awareness.

Gratefully,
Kristin and Drea



This Friday night 11:00pm, March 27, ABC's Nightline will be investigating puppy mills!
ABC Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi and investigators from Nightline travel the byways and back roads of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania - visiting numerous puppy mills and filming Main Line Animal Rescue's volunteers as they rescue breeding dogs and puppies from Lancaster County's notorious Amish commercial breeding facilities.

This promises to be a very special program. If you are involved in rescue, advocate on behalf of the millions of puppy mill dogs interned in our nation's commercial dog breeding facilities, or if you just simply love animals, you will not want to miss this.

Sharyn Alfonsi interviewed, on camera, an Amish breeder while touring his facility - a first for network television. With approximately 500 dogs housed on his property, this commercial breeder speaks openly about an cloaked in secrecy and suspicion - the cruel factory farming of man's best friend.

Additionally, you can learn how to take more action in the stand against Puppy Mills here: http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/puppy-mills/

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Pixie and Sophia Update!

We wanted to show you the great progress Pixie is making. As you can see in the video she is already putting on weight and flourishing in her foster home!

Little Miss Sophia is also doing well and loving life in her new wheels.

Please visit our Curly Tail Pug Rescue website for more updates on all the pugs in our care.

Thank you so much for your support, we would not be able to do it without you!

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Success Story: Rocky

Our adorable little black pug Rocky, now named Fudge by his new family is really loving life in his new forever home. And especially enjoying all the attention from his new Bulldog brother!

They take naps together


Eat together


Beg for human attention together


And most importantly.....snuggle together!


These two are already BFF's! Another happy Curly ending!

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People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets

Chocolate, Macadamia nuts, avocados…these foods may sound delicious to you, but are actually quite dangerous to our animal companions. ASPCA nutrition experts have come up with a list of top 10 people foods that you should not feed your pet. If ingestion of any of these items should occur, please note the amount ingested and contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately.

Chocolate, Coffee, Caffeine
These products all contain substances called methylxanthines, which are found in cacao seeds, the fruit of the plant used to make coffee and in the nuts of an extract used in some sodas. When ingested by pets, methylxanthines can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death. Note that darker chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate. White chocolate has the lowest level of methylxanthines, while baking chocolate contains the highest.

Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages and food products containing alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death.

Avocado
The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Birds and rodents are especially sensitive to avocado poisoning, and can develop congestion, difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation around the heart. Some ingestions may even be fatal.

Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts are commonly used in many cookies and candies. However, they can cause problems for your canine companion. These nuts have caused weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and last approximately 12 to 48 hours.

Grapes & Raisins
Although the toxic substance within grapes and raisins is unknown, these fruits can cause kidney failure. In pets who already have certain health problems, signs may be more dramatic.

Yeast Dough
Yeast dough can rise and cause gas to accumulate in your pet’s digestive system. This can be painful and can cause the stomach or intestines to rupture. Because the risk diminishes after the dough is cooked and the yeast has fully risen, pets can have small bits of bread as treats. However, these treats should not constitute more than 5 percent to 10 percent of your pet’s daily caloric intake.

Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones
Raw meat and raw eggs can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to pets. In addition, raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin that decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), which can lead to skin and coat problems. Feeding your pet raw bones may seem like a natural and healthy option that might occur if your pet lived in the wild. However, this can be very dangerous for a domestic pet, who might choke on bones, or sustain a grave injury should the bone splinter and become lodged in or puncture your pet’s digestive tract.

Xylitol
Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, including gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste. It can cause insulin release in most species, which can lead to liver failure. The increase in insulin leads to hypoglycemia (lowered sugar levels). Initial signs of toxicosis include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. Signs can progress to recumbancy and seizures. Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days.

Onions, Garlic, Chives
These vegetables and herbs can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage. Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk if a large enough amount is consumed. Toxicity is normally diagnosed through history, clinical signs and microscopic confirmation of Heinz bodies. An occasional low dose, such as what might be found in pet foods or treats, likely will not cause a problem, but we recommend that you do NOT give your pets large quantities of these foods.

Milk
Because pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other milk-based products cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset.

news source: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/people-foods.html

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Pounds for Pixie Campaign!

Thanks to so many who have already responded to our story about Pixie and who have contributed monetarily.

We need all the help we can get to rehabilitate this sweet pug and get her back on track. To aid in this effort we have set up the Pounds for Pixie Campaign!

How can you help?

Donations are always the most effective way but you could also consider promoting the Pounds for Pixie widget on your Myspace, blog, or website and help spread the word!

The code will be provided at the link above and the widget is available in many sizes and colors.



As always thank you for your support in our mission to help pugs!

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Pixie

Curly Tail received an urgent call for help about an emaciated pug named Pixie. Apparently her owner was very very ill and Pixie was dying along side of him. Her owner was not able to take care of himself, let alone poor little Pixie. Friends pulled Pixie from the situation and into informal foster care. Everyone meant well but were in over their heads b/c Pixie needs a tremendous amount of care. That is when CTPR received the call. Thank goodness Pixie was able to get safely into our rescue and receive care within 2 hours of getting that call!


Pixie is a very sweet baby girl. She is only 3 y/o. She has a great energy level considering how emaciated she is. She weighs in just under 10 lbs.......all skin and bones. Even though she is ravenous, we have to feed her small amounts of food on a regular basis b/c overfeeding is very dangerous. She has an Rx wet food combined with various baby foods and nutritional supplements to help get her stable. So far she has been holding down food in small increments.


Pixie's ears are terribly infected, her nails were overgrown and curled into her paws. She has multiple cuts and infections that we are treating all over her paws. We cleaned out her wrinkle which was heavily caked with crusted dirt & yeast infection. Her teeth are cleanShe knows to go potty outside and tried to hold it even though she has been having severe diarrhea. She has had a preliminary exam and an X-Ray. She will need much more medical testing & care to find out what really happened to Pixie & hopefully get her healthy again.


Pixie has an adorable face and will be a beautiful little puglet if we can get her back to a normal weight again.

Stayed tuned for updates on this little baby.

***Update 3/26/09***
Pixie is currently thriving thanks to the love and special care of foster mom Drea and to all who responded and have supported Pixie and Curly Tail!

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Curly Tail Meet Up at Happy Paws in NYC 2/21

Join us in NYC 2/21/09 (12 - 2pm) at the Curly Tail Pug Meet Up at Happy Paws

*Please click the link above to register and RSVP*

We will be raffling donated items and will have lots of fun extras! There will also be a collection box for used harnesses, leashes, beds, bowls, blankets and anything else you have laying around your apartment! All money raised & donated items will go to the medical & daily care of our rescued pugs.

Pug festivities will take place in the ultra hip Happy Paws Jungle Room:



Please help us make CTPR's meet ups a success! Lets have a blast with our pugs and help rescue more and more along the way! We look forward to seeing you there! (Remember to RSVP for the # of pugs that are attending, not humans.)

Featured Items

- Nail Trimming Station (from 12:30-1:30pm) by Jodee (Happy Paws Professional Head Groomer)

- Professional Pug Grooming Informational (15 min.) to discuss how to clean pugs, products to use for their sensitive skin or allergies, special wrinkling cleaning products/ techniques that are safe for their eyes and we will review anal gland expressing (to keep your pug comfortable and save some trips to the vet!)

- Lola's Birthday Party with special doggy bags to take home with you!

- Curly Guests receive 15% coupons for products in the Happy Paws Boutiques
NYC March 21, 2009 (12 - 2pm) - Curly Tail Pug Meet Up at Happy Paws

We hope to see you here!

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Successful Adoptions

Great news Puggie has been adopted this past weekend and has gone to his forever home!


We have also stopped accepting applications for most of our dogs due to the already long list of pre-approved homes. This is great news for all of these wonderful pugs who have been given a second chance.

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New Pugs for Adoption

Here are the latest Pugs to come into Curly Tail. They are in need of loving forever homes. Please visit our adoption page for more info.

Buddy

Buddy is our little 2.5 year old piece of black licorice! He is as silky as ever and has a spark like no other. He trots arond his foster house witha bounce in his step and a youthful playfullness. Buddy is healthy, up-to-date on vaccines, and neutered. He is quite the agility dog and can easily be mistaken for a cat with the way he thinks nothing of jumping from the floor onto counters, tables, and couches. If you are looking for the most handsome black pug who has the sweetest disposition and perfect young adult activity level, this is the dog for you. Buddy would love to have a family who will take him everywhere and keep active during the day, then come home and get coozy with him on the couch at night.

Jake

Jake is a two year old boy who is healthy, up-to-date with vaccines and scheduled to be neutered in just a week. Jake is a nice boy who prefers to be the king of his house. He gets along well with his foster siblings but has a strong preference for being in a single dog household. He does very well on a leash and socializing with all dogs and cats but when it comes to being in his home with his mommy and daddy, he doesnt want any competetion. This isnt to say he wouldnt be fine with many of other animal friends, just prefers to have short term visitors! He is spoiled and here at Curly Tail, we honor that and do our best to keep our puglets happy so a single dog household is where this handsome king will go!

Harvey

Harvey is the victim of a puppy mill in the mid-west. He is 8 y/o and clearly displays signs of having been in a mill since puppy hood. Although he has arrived emaciated and reveals a sorrowful bony physique, his spirit is very much alive. He is for the first time experiencing the loving touch of a human hand. He does not show any signs of having been abused, but the neglect is pronounced in all areas.

Everything is new to him - right down to the feel of the carpet on his paws and the freedom of being able to walk around outside of a crate! His paws are gnarled from years of winding around the wire bottoms of the puppy mill crate and skeletal. His spine and hip area appear slightly curved (most likely from never being able to grow appropriately due to constant space confinement). He has little muscle tone but his daily walks are sure to increase that! He is already thriving in his foster home. He has learned quickly (by show of his waggily tail) that when his foster mom walks in the room, he is going to receive the touch of a loving hand.

Harvey is scheduled for a neuter, vaccines, and several dental extractions. We are confident that with hearty meals, some TLC, and daily exercise, Harvey will learn to be like all other eight year old pugs. In fact, he has already learned to jump on the couch like his foster siblings!

If you want to feel the ultimate adoption reward and have the time and patience for Harvey, we encourage you to submit an application. We can assure you, any love you offer him is certain to be reciprocated ten-fold....for what he knows of humans, it is a miracle to see him put forth such an unconditional love so readily.

Harvey is being fostered in MA.

Otis

Otis
is a handsome teddy bear of a boy, Otis, came to us as an owner surrender. Otis has been with the same mom and dad since he was a 9 week old pup and has been very well cared for.

Circumstances & medical issues have made it very difficult for them to continue giving Otis the love and care he is used to. With heavy hearts they decided to entrust Curly Tail with finding Otis a home that can continue to love him they way they do.

He is very mellow and gets along with kids, dogs and cats famously. He actually like cats better than dogs! Otis is healthy and UTD on all of his medical needs. He does get daily eye drops to help keep his eyes moist. If you are interested in this cuddle bug a loving forever home, please contact us!

Otis will be fostered in NYC.

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Adoption Update Beau and Tammy

We have two more adoptions to report this week:

Tammy is the second to last puppy mill pup to be placed in a permanent home. Tammy now resides in a loving home in Staten Island with 2 women who adore her and are working with her to ensure a quick and smooth transition from puppy mill prisoner to pampered pug princess.



Beau Owner-surrendered Beau is a energetic, charming little guy who has been with Curly Tail for quite some time after his first adoptive family surrendered him back to us because hey were unable to give him the exercise and structure that a active pug boy needs. Beau was lucky enough to find a new home in Massachusetts with a large fenced in yard to run in and an older brother/mentor to help show him the finer points of pottying outside.


Congrats to Beau and Tammy!

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4 Pugs Rescued from Kill Shelter in South

Curly Tail received a plea from a rescue contact who knew of 4 pugs in a kill shelter in the South. We are working with Help Save One to get these dogs out of the shelter and fully vetted and safely into foster care.

Help Save One is a non political, humane, and caring organization with volunteers who work regular jobs and then spend countless hours every week into the wee hours of morning promoting these dogs. They work on pulling the dogs of North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia.

The dogs they save are scheduled to be gassed in various kill shelters. Click here to learn more about 'gassing'. It is not a humane way to euthanize an animal. It is not peaceful, it is violent and terrorizing....and completely unnecessary.

More details on these puglets to be posted soon!

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