Hello everyone, my name is Phoebe. My foster mom likes to call me the Little Princess. I guess this is because I am from a royal family? Well, at least that is what she thinks, since my "bloodline" was reproduced over, and over, and over again. :0) After eight years of reproducing I was handed over to SEPRA. I'm not sure why everyone says that I am retired? At eight years old, I'm just getting started living the good life. I arrived to my foster moms, with some achy joints, and some really bad breath, but my spirits were great. I am starting a new chapter in MY life.

It has been a few weeks now, and I have been spayed, and had a non-cancerous tumor removed from my mammary chain. I had my teeth cleaned (and some loose ones removed). I had a blood profile ran (because girls my age can start to have health issues) and everything was PERFECT (like me). My bloodwork looks better and younger than my gray hairs lead you to believe I am. Since my bloodwork was good, I was able to start taking an Arthritis medication (again something that makes me sound like I am an old lady), for my achy joints. I improved immediately, and I love taking it. I will probably need to be on it long term, since Arthritis doesnt have a cure. Here is the thing though. My new potental family needs to know that my prescription will cost on average, approximately $25.00 a month for the medication, through their vet, and I will need bloodwork ran occasionally to check my liver enzymes. Sorry to be so much trouble.

Well, enough about my problems, let me tell you the good stuff. I am cute as a button, happy as a clam, and as silly as a ......well you get the picture. I am a good girl. I am housebroken, I love my foster brother pugs, I love the foster cats in the house, and I love the fenced in back yard. I love my foster mom and dad, I love belly rubs, and chew bones, and my food, and the neighbors, and ......., did I mention I love LIFE!! That word sums it up best. I have a great personality, and my foster mom says I am quite the ham. She cant believe how well socialized I am, considering where I came from. Christmas is almost here, and I know that I will have a great time with the festivities here at my FM's house, and her family, but I would like to make a New Years Resolution to get my own family to spend next Christmas with. If you think that you would like to be that family, please put an application in with SEPRA, and specify Phoebe. You wont regret it. I PROMISE! Love, Phoebe

Update: 7/19/09
Well, it has been almost 7 months since I last wrote, so I figured it was time for an update. I have been enjoying my retirement, with some great foster brothers and sisters. I am a very easy going pug, who loves to just sit with my foster parents on the couch and watch TV, or while taking a nap. I do like to remind you every once in a while to scratch my tummy.

I love my toys, and my chewies that we get on occasion, and I really love my food! Because of my weight, and my arthritis issues, I have been put on a strick diet to help me lose some weight. So far, I have not lost any, but I will keep working on it.

I have had a few trouble spots in my stay here, but nothing too out of the ordinary for any dog. I had a hot spot just recently on my cheek, that had to be medically treated, but it is gone now, and my hair has fully grown back. I also had a few accidents in the house, when I had what they call HGE (bloody diarrhea for those of us who dont speak doctor language). I was really embarrassed because I am fully house broken, but there was no time to ask to go out, I had to go! My foster mom took me to the vet where they gave me fluids, and some medicine to help soothe my tummy, and gut. After a few days, I was fine.

Other than that, life here is good. Recently, I have revealed to my foster mom, some of my quirky habits. I have a really funny one, of barking at the lawnmower and the vacuum cleaner. I seem to think that I can scare them away, if I bark at them. I guess I think I am a pretty tough princess.

I sure love where I am, and my foster mom says I can stay as long as I need to, but I would sure love a family to call my own. If you would love a girl who will give you unconditional love, and always be happy to see you, please put my name on the adoption application. I would love to be YOUR princess.

Thanks again SEPRA!
Love, Phoebe

Update 2/21/10
Hi Everyone! It is your little princess Phoebe again. I thought it has been long enough since I last wrote that I should update you on how I am doing.

I am really starting to look more like a senior pug now. The gray hairs are starting to fill in a lot more (but I have the bone structure to pull them off). I am somewhere around 10 years of age now. I am doing great in my foster home. I have had a full year of fun, and am still loving my foster mom to pieces. I am a good house broken little "butterball" as my foster mom and dad say. I have been doing great with my arthritis. The meds keep me comfortable, and I am still able to jump, and run, and play.

I know that hearing that I am on meds is kind of scary and really does make me seem older, but I am such a good girl, and I love taking my meds. I think I am getting a treat twice a day! Who doesn't love treats! It does mean that you have to be prepared financially to cover the costs of the meds, and periodic blood tests, but I truly make up for it with my personality, and I think I am worth it!

If you have ever pondered the idea of adopting a senior pug, I think I would be a great first one!! Just remember to put my name on the application.

Thanks,
Phoebe

UPDATE: 4/18/11

Ms Phoebe is sporting her summertime hair-do for this update. It has been quite a long time since we last updated you on how she is doing, so we thought we would just take a minute and do that. Phoebe is doing pretty well for an 11 year old arthritic, enlarged heart, chronic dry-eyed, hypothyroid pug girl. Shhh. Don't tell her, cause she doesn't act like she has all of that wrong. She always has a smile on her face, and a wag in her tail for you.

Even with all of her ongoing problems, she hasn't let them slow her down. She is the spunkiest little butterball around. "Butterball", or "Bumblebee girl", are her foster families nicknames for her. But, soon they will have to pic a new one! Phoebe has lost 6 pounds in a little less than a year! She is now down to 21 lbs!!! Yay, Phoebe!!

Her newer slimmer figure is helping out her arthritis a little, but she is still on two medications to help with that, plus her meds for her eyes, and her thyroid, and her heart. She makes a great patient. She is just so excited to get her meds every day. She thinks it is just another great treat. (I am certainly not going to tell her that they are good for her!)

Since it has been over two years since Phoebe entered the SEPRA rescue family, and has lived with the same foster family for the entire time, it was easy to tell that when Phoebe was to be placed in SEPRA's hospice program, she would just continue to live with the family and the pugs she has been with. She really feels like a part of a family, and loves her brother Dozer dearly. So all's well that ends well. She will stay with her foster family, and live out her final years with them, as a part of a family of pugs and people that love her.

Please continue to think about helping SEPRA, by donating, to help pay Pheobe's bills. She is currently taking 6 medications, and some of them are NOT cheap. Phoebe would greatly appreciate the donations. She really is a special kid, who deserves nothing but the best, for the remainder of her life.

TTFN,
Phoebe's foster Mom - April

Thank you to our Virtual Fosters: Holly W.