Let the Slapping Begin!

It is a rare thing when I feel like totally bitch slapping someone; but, right now, I could totally let the fists o' fury fly.  In a rare moment of relaxation yesterday, I decided to check out Facebook.  It was then I noticed a posting from the leader of the pug group to which I belong.  (Yes, I belong to a pug group.  If you owned one, you would totally understand).  Anyhow, the leader of the group often posts about pug dogs in need of rescue.  This particular pug cutie who needed adoption was given up because its owner has a new baby and she did not have enough time to spend with the dog.

What?!

Love Me!

Considering I have two children (one is four and the other is two), there was a time when I brought home  two newborns to our pug.  Even in the midst of the chaos that children (particularly freshly hatched ones) bring a household, I would never have entertained the thought of giving up Puggie.  Even after the dog ate a poopy diaper, and I had to clean up regurgitated poop all over the house, I never would have gotten rid of her.  Albeit, she did get a time out on the back porch until I knew she was empty.  Even after rushing her to the vet after she chewed on and ingested part of a bottle of diaper cream, I would never have gotten rid of her (even after seeing the subsequent vet bill from the emergency treatment).  Getting rid of Puggie would be akin to severing a limb.

Seeing the post about the rescued pug made me think of all the things my family would have missed out on without Puggie.  She was my EPT.  She realized I was pregnant both times before I did (using the standard EPT).  Even after experiencing Alice, she still celebrated the new life growing within me when she sensed Angela.  With the birth of the girls, Puggie realized a new side of her identity- that of protector.  While I will admit that "pug protection" does seem like an oxymoron, Puggie takes her job seriously and has alerted me to a few things that needed my attention.  She is an amazing caregiver.  When Alice had pneumonia, Puggie did not leave her side.  She even acted as Alice's pillow.  Puggie is an amazing listener who seems very patient with Alice's constant chatter and Angela's prattling.  Puggie makes Angela laugh with her playfulness and patience with dress up (a Cinderella outfit on a pug is wrong yet hilarious).  Heck, "pug" was Angela's second word. 

Puggie has been my children's first lesson in gentleness as she so sweetly endured those first slaps pats of affection from her girls.  She has also been their first lessons in responsibility as they do the daily pug tasks that I have assigned them.  She kept me sane during the "baby blues" period of plummeting hormones.  Nothing gives comfort like a pug gently snoring alongside you.  She was a great nursing pillow and book prop (pre-Kindle days).

I wish I could find that woman and have her reconsider her choice.  But, perhaps, her pug is better off without someone so uncaring.