Hi Forever Family!

My name is Miss Lucy and I am a four year old black pug girl. I was a mess when my friends at SEPRA rescued me from the puppy mill. As you may know, we puppy mill pugs live in filthy, cramped cages our whole lives, never enjoying the freedom of romping in the grass or playing with other puggies or humans. When I first arrived at my foster home, my feet were in bad shape with a smelly infection. I was very thin and weighed only 12 pounds…my ribs and spine showed right through! My spine had (and still has) a hump and the vet thinks that could be just the way I’m made or it could be from a cage that was much too small for even little old me. I had a lot of nervous habits and anxieties too. I wouldn’t come out of my “crate” without coaxing, I paced in circles all the time, and I would shrink away when anyone tried to show me any love or affection. I lacked any potty habits and it didn’t help that I arrived to my foster mom and pop’s house in the deep freeze of winter when the snow was very deep for weeks and weeks. Foster mom and pop would take me outside every hour, even putting me in a doggie coat to help keep me warm in the bitter cold for the first time in my life, but I just could not learn to go potty outside so they kept me in a diaper to prevent accidents. One day foster mom and pop “caught me in the act” and sternly told me “NO!” Reality check!!! I really wanted to please my people so I started going outside…my foster family gives me lots, lots, LOTS of love and praise for my new manners and good behavior.

When SEPRA rescued me I went to the vet and had a good check up. My back knee may cause me future problems but you’d never know it now! I was spayed so I would never have another litter of puppies for some unsuspecting family ever again. My foster mom and pop have provided me lots of love, patience, and discipline and now my personality just shines through for everyone to see! I love to sit on laps and will enjoy hours of attention from my family. I love hanging with my foster pug brother too…he’s pretty submissive and I like that. My foster family has taken care of some other foster pugs and I do not like to be challenged for top pug in this house! My foster parents firmly believe I need to go to a home where I can be the alpha dog. My foster family also has a cat and I have always ignored him but he doesn’t really like me because I tend to be high energy and a little unpredictable (foster mom says that means my pacing round and round the house drives the cat crazy). I am housebroken and have learned to walk on a leash. I used to be carried but now I race up and down the stairs. Although I’m still tiny, I have gained a whole pound and I look much healthier with the extra weight and shiny black coat. I would probably woof down garbage (I’m a fast eater) but my foster parents really treat me to high quality kibble mixed with moist food…yummy! I just love breakfast and dinner time and now I pace with anticipation! I have learned wonderful table manners too, sitting and waiting patiently for permission to eat dinner. I look so cute, cute, CUTE when I sit!

Every morning, my foster parents used to say “every day is ground hog’s day for Miss Lucy.” That’s because it took so long to undue all of the damage from my past life as a puppy mill breeder. Every morning, I was afraid of my foster parents although I really, really, REALLY wanted them to scoop me up and hold me…I just didn’t trust anyone and refused to come out of my crate. I paced and cried every morning. Since I’m used to it and feel comfortable, I still sleep in a crate but now it’s filled with comfy bedding and it’s my own special den where I feel safe (although I don’t go inside as much as I used to—except for bedtime). Because I’m such a good girl, foster mom and pop have started trusting me enough to leave the crate door open at night so I am starting to venture out and sleep next to my foster pug brother after everyone falls asleep. Just an FYI, I’m an early bird and want everyone up at 5:30 a.m. sharp! I refuse to sleep late now that there’s so much to do and so much love to give and receive!

Foster mom and pop say I’m the CUTEST little puggie they have EVER seen and they love, love, LOVE me dearly! They want to help me find a terrific home were the struggles of my past can be forever put behind me. So if my story tugs at your heart then take a few minutes and fill out an application…be sure to ask for me by name, MISS LUCY!!!