The Writer's Right

Ode to a pug with the strongest of spirits

When I went to Toronto this past July, I met Blanche, one of my fellow PVers. And I met her 12 year-old pug named Bob. Bob was adopted by Blanche and her family when he was 10. He was a tough old pug, full of spirit. Today Blanche had to say good-bye to her faithful friend. Bob’s time to run pain free at the Rainbow Bridge. A candle will burn bright in Connecticut for this hero of pugs.
We love you Bob.

Below are some one of Bob’s infamous stories, as told by Blanche, as well as a picture of this handsome boy:

Bob and the Geese: I sometimes walk the dogs on the beach of Lake Ontario. Bob loves it there as the garbage pickings are top notch. He became offended upon spying geese eating HIS garbage and attempted to put the run to them. He reversed direction when one of the geese extended about ten feet of neck in his direction and started hissing. Sadly, Bob didn’t retreat quickly enough and got his bottom pinched by the enraged goose. Bob is now goose-a-phobic.

Bob and the Sandhole: Again at the beach--just me and Bob. Walking along nicely when I spotted a pug puppy playing up ahead. I callously abandoned Bob to see the puppy. In an effort to catch up to me, Bob picked up the pace but didn’t see a sandhole dug by dog or kid and he fell in and couldn’t get out. When I looked around for Bob, all I could see was a pug head poking out of the sand--a very mad pug head. I went back and got him out and he refused to walk any farther.

Bob and the Pit Bulls: Bob is always my ambassador pug for events where we man the rescue booth. He loves it and has fun. We were manning the rescue booth at the Sprotsman’s Show here in Toronto. The pug booth was next to the Pit bull booth. None of the pit bulls were there, just their owners, but they did have hot dogs so Bob decided to stop being a pug and become a pit bull. He spent the entire time we were at the Show sitting with the pit bull people gorging on hot dogs. He sat right in front of their sign “hate the deed. Not the breed”. Many funny comments were heard as people passed the Pit Bull booth with Bob front and centre.

Bob and the ice cream: At the same show, Bob was being Mr. Personality and a little girl (I mean LITTLE--maybe three) leaned down to pat Bob. She had an ice cream cone in her hand and Bob stretched his neck up and stole it while she was patting him. She, of course, cried, but then started laughing when Bob started to lick her face. Her parents thought Bob was being sweet, but I knew he was just getting the rest of the ice cream. I had to shell out $5 to replace her ice cream cone.