Be A Buddy

Miss Piggy..."I Need A Buddy!"

Good news! Miss Piggy is being cyberfostered by Emily Falterman and Brian Radake! Thank you for caring about this lovely ladypug!

Miss Piggy is a 4y/o Pug x who was rescued from some abhorrent backyard breeders in the St. Charles, MO area. Miss Piggy has probably had two litters a year since she was six months old, and her pups were undoubtedly sold as purebred. Miss Piggy is heartworm positive. She will be a longterm foster here, as she'll need to have the heartworm treatment, then wait 30 days for her spay and dental. This beautiful girl's veterinary care will cost around $500. Would anyone like to help Miss Piggy through this difficult time?

Linus..."I've Got A Buddy!"

Linus is being cyberfostered by Juliann Budde, who responded to our pleas for help! Thanks, Juliann, for having faith in Linus. With your help, he'll make it to pethood in no time!

Linus is an 8y/o puppymill survivor with a deep fear of humans. Linus came in with numerous growths that will need to be surgically removed, systemic infection from rotten teeth, and an eye injury. Linus is breaking our hearts - he runs whenever we come near him. Linus will need a lot of help, both medically and emotionally. Will someone please buddy up with Linus and let him know there are caring humans in the world?

Rocky..."I Need A Buddy!"

Rocky is being cyberfostered by longtime rescue advocate Susan Robb. Thank you, Susan, for helping a used-up old man who still has a lotta heart!

Rocky is an 8y/o puppymill survivor with terrible teeth and little eyesight remaining. Rocky is  a prisoner of human greed in the worst way. He has been used for breeding all his life, and that's all he knows. Once Rocky has his dental and neuter done, and the hormones have left the building, we'll be working to teach him about pethood and the proper way to relate to other pugs. In even the best case scenario, he'll still be a tough placement.

UPDATE: Rocky is heartworm positive. We'll have to treat him for hookworms and whipworms before doing the heartworm treatment in two weeks.

Evan..."I Need A Buddy!"

Evan is a 9m/o pug with a horrible case of demodectic mange, the result of a lowlife backyard breeder from West Memphis who persists in breeding demodex pugs, despite knowing that it's an hereditary problem. She must have simply tossed Evan and his brother Gabe outside and ignored their misery, because both are practically feral. Their skin is infected, pyotic and crawling with yeast. Can you imagine the suffering in temps over 100?These pugs are so terrified of us, we have to force medicine down their throats. Evan and Gabe will both be longterm and expensive. These puppies are on the first step of a lengthy journey -  friend beside them would make the traveling so much better!

Gabe..."I Need A Buddy!"

Gabe is a 9m/o pug with a horrible case of demodectic mange, the sibling of Evan (see above). Gabe is even more fearful of humans than Evan. He watches us warily and, if we take a step in his direction, he is out the pet door or under the table. He will not take food in human presence or make eye contact, and we must force pills down his throat. This morning, as he cowered against the back of a kennel, I cleaned the muck out of his eyes, speaking gently to him in a soft voice. For the first time, he looked at me and seemed to really see me. If Gabe can find a buddy to help with his expenses, we'll provide the patience, love and kindness he has missed in his short life.

To be Gabe's buddy, contact beabuddy@ilmorescue.org.

Lucy..."I Need A Buddy!"

Lucy's first cyberfoster, Jennifer Mills, has stepped up! Thanks, Jennifer, and keep thinking good thoughts for our Lucy!

Lucy is a breeder pug who was retired from a particularly foul puppymill. Lucy is in horrible condition - rotten teeth, tumors, bad eyes and undoubtedly two litters a year from her first heat until now. Poor Lucy has one large mass on her backside that worries us. A biopsy is need before we proceed any further. Lucy has never been in a home or yard. She spends her days wandering lifelessly around both with a confused expression. In time, we hope Lucy can be saved. Lucy will need multiple buddies  to get her the care she needs and put some zip in her step!

To be Lucy's buddy, contact beabuddy@ilmorescue.org.

Penny..."I Need A Buddy!"

Penny is the second dog being cyberfostered by longtime rescue advocate Susan Robb. Penny really appreciates your help!

We cannot imagine what Penny's life must have been like. She is terrified of everything - us, the other dogs at the rescue house...there's no place Penny is comfortable.  Penny hugs the floor most of the time. Penny is only about 2y/o. She was picked up from a rural shelter, we have no history on her at all. Penny sometimes tries to bite when she is especially frightened. Working with fear-biters is always a longterm endeavor, but we think have a pretty good chance of reaching Penny. Penny needs a cherry eye repair and a spay. Then begins the long journey that, we hope, will end in a happy home. We'd like someone to sponsor her veterinary care so we can proceed with the emotional repair.

Happy..."I Need A Buddy!"

Happy has his first buddy - Damiana Alejandre! Thank you, Damiana, and sloppy pug kisses from this little fellow!

Happy is a joyous little 7m/o pug puppy. His name certainly fits him! Unfortunately, Happy came to IMR with a grievous eye injury. Our vet has recommended that Happy's left eye be removed, and has placed him on a course of pre-operative antibiotics and pain meds. The quote we received for Happy's eye enucleation and neuter is over $800. Happy is a great little fellow whose family surrendered him because they could not afford this surgery. We're asking for several buddies for Happy to help him get the treatment he needs, so he can put this behind him and go on to a terrific forever home.

To be Happy's buddy, contact beabuddy@ilmorescue.org.

Mitzi..."I Need A Buddy!"

Mitzi is being cyberfostered by my old friend Lisa Farrell from Midwest Pug Rescue. You know a rescuer has a HUGE heart when they help other rescues, too.

Mitzi is a tiny 1y/o Japanese Chin from a puppymill. Mitzi and her mother, Gracie, were dumped at a rural shelter along with a number of other dogs from the same mill. Rescues took all except for Mitzi and Gracie. The reason? Both are so traumatized by their treatment in the puppymill that they are quite feral. They would cower in the corner whenever they caught sight of a human being. No one could approach them or touch them. If anyone tried, Mitzi's bowel and bladder would let go, so great was her terror. Death appeared to be the only option for Mitzi and Gracie, when a very dear friend and former adopter asked IMR to take them.  Mitzi has been here one month. She now plays with other dogs, takes food from human hands, sleeps on the bed with foster mom and lets foster mom pet her. An outstanding groomer in town was able to shave the mats from her tiny frame (it took 5 1/2 hours, because she was so fearful).  Mitzi is making progress, but she still has a long, long way to go. A buddy to help defray some of her costs would allow us to continue accepting "last resort" dogs like Mitzi.

Millie..."I Need A Buddy!"

Millie finally has a buddy!! Millie is being cyberfostered by Cathi Losavio. Thanks, Cathi, for giving a paw up to this old ladypug!

We were told Millie is 10y/o. On her records, it says 8y/o. We suspect she is at least 12y/o, and it's a hard 12 years, at that. Millie is quite obese and has a hard time walking. She appears to have some rear-leg paralysis and has some lessened bowel control. Millie's tail still wags, and we have her on a diet to help with the walking and bowel control. We hope to help her achieve a better quality of living in her old age, but Millie is not adoptable. Any pug angels out there who wish to help an old lady?

Buddy Boy..."I Need A Buddy!"

YEAAAAHH, JEN!! Jennifer Mills is also Buddy's first  Buddy! <smile> Buddy Boy sends sloppy puggie smooches to you!

Buddy Boy is a 2y/o blind fawn pug who was dumped in a rural shelter. A woman looking for her own missing pug saw him and called us. Buddy Boy is as sweet as the day is long. He hasn't a mean or angry bone in his entire body. Buddy Boy loves attention and is doing well at housetraining, too. He adores other dogs, and follows voices amazingly well, leading us to believe he has been blind since birth or shortly thereafter. A buddy to help cover his vet costs would help us to continue taking is pugs who no one else will help.

Ada..."I Need A Buddy!"

Ada is the second dog being cyberfostered by my old friend Lisa Farrell from Midwest Pug Rescue. Ada has a long way to go, but the journey just got a bit better!

Ada is a 2y/o schnoodle from a rural puppymill. She was named for the heroine of "The Piano" who withdrew from the world and stopped speaking. Ada has likewise withdrawn. Ada's world is populated with cruel, loathsome humans and is governed by all-encompassing fear. It's nothing short of amazing that a dog can be this traumatized in a mere two years.  Of all the dogs we've rescued, Ada is the most emotionally devastated.  We considered euthanizing her. But deep, deep inside her, we believe exists a tiny spark of hope. We see in those terror-filled eyes a yearning to trust - to be held and petted, to play with toys and accept treats from a human hand. If we can get Ada to just open her heart a little bit...if her mind can imagine the concept of a human who is different from the ones she has known before, Ada can possibly be reached. Ada's rehabilitation will take months, if not years. We have made a commitment to try our very best. If anyone else cares and would like to be her buddy, that would offset the financial burden. We'll take care of the rest.

Retiree: Tessa..."I've Got A Buddy!"

Tessa is being cyberfostered by our friend, Brenda Jordan. Thanks, Brenda, for caring about dear, sweet Tessa!

Tessa is an older pug who lived her entire life in a puppymill before coming to IMR. Tessa is totally blind and has few remaining teeth. She also has kidney disease and requires a special diet. Tessa is not adoptable - she will never have a real home, and that saddens us. But we're glad she is here with kind and loving humans, and no longer in the mill. Tessa sleeps alot. She curls her tail up when you talk to her and pet her. She knows her name well. Tessa loves to eat and get very excited at dinner time - she does the four-paw shuffle for us. We love her. Her food is expensive and any donations to help offset our cost are appreciated.

Retiree: Bess..."I've Got A Buddy!"

Bess is being cyberfostered by Kim, Cinnamon & Morgan Sommer!

Bess is a sad case. She is supposedly 6y/o, but appears older, possibly because she is so grey. Bess spent all of her life in a puppymill until just a few months ago. She has whelped who-knows-how-many litters and made someone a lot of money. In December of 2006, she was rescued and placed by an area all-breed group. The lady who adopted Bess really tried to understand her, but was not prepared for the behaviors of puppymill survivors. "She doesn't want anything to do with me," said the lady.  Who can blame her? All she has known of humans is pain and neglect. When the owner wanted to return Bess, the original rescue kindly granted us permission to take Bess home with us for rehabilitation. We are so happy to have her! The puppymill pugs are our heart...we love them the most and are set up specifically FOR them. All of Bess's injuries are on the inside. Healing will take a long, long time and will never be 100%, but she is in the right place now. A buddy will us offset the costs of Bess and all the other mill pugs who come here.

UPDATE: Bessie is now officially a retiree. She will never leave IMR. She still runs to avoid being picked up, but if we are seated, she will come to us for petting and love. That's MAJOR progress!