The Jake and Betsy Story

There may be some folks on here who don't know the story. This all took place on Pug Village in 2007. It was one of the most remarkable things I've ever seen, much less participated in.

The Jake and Betsy Story, March 27
On March 5, 2007, Roxane, a volunteer with PugSavers Rescue in California, got a call from someone wanting to dump Jake and Betsy, their two senior pugs, because they were moving and didn't want to take them. Sadly, PugSavers did not have any open hospice or foster homes and the other local rescue had already turned them down. It became apparent that Jake and Betsy had a death threat hanging over them. Roxane asked her contacts on an internet pug forum for prayers.

The hearts of many people were touched and within about three hours, a plan to help these pugs started gathering momentum. Volunteers with pug rescue organizations across the U.S. and independent pug lovers around the world offered to drive long distances, or to chip in for gas money and accommodation to help others transport Jake and Betsy to whatever rescue could take them. The same night, volunteers from Pugalug Rescue offered their services if transport across the continent could be arranged. Jake & Betsy's people agreed to hold off putting them down for a day while Roxane could figure out how to get them to Toronto. Another lady, Kendie from California, jumped in and was very instrumental in pulling the logistics together.

The next morning Peg in Reno, Nevada, asked her son Byron if he would drive them during his spring break from school. Byron graciously agreed. First he drove to the San Francisco area to pick the pugs up and took them home to Reno (700 km round trip) where he and Peg fostered them for ten days until their Great Adventure began on March 19. While in Reno, they were vet checked, had their shots updated, were microchipped and tested negative for heartworm. They also got new harnesses, tags and seat belts, and won the love of everyone they met. What a change to live indoors and be spoiled rotten instead of being kept outdoors and sleeping in a doghouse!

Byron, accompanied by his friend Ashley, had volunteered to drive them right through to Ontario, but when the logistics were sorted out he had time to get them only as far as Chicago (return driving time of about 60 hours) in order to get back home in time for class the next week. Mary and Kent from near Cleveland, offered to pick them up in Indiana and bring them through the border and on to Toronto, total travel time of about 20 hours. En route, the pugs and their transporters were accommodated at the homes of pug lovers in Utah, Nebraska and Ohio. The people (and there were many) who offered their homes and contributed to gas and food along the way had never met Byron or Kent and Mary, but were brought together by their common love of pugs and the urge to save the lives of these two pugs in particular. The love, generosity and effort of so many caring humans has just extended the lives of these two lucky pugs and proven that animal lovers are among the best in the world!

Jake and Betsy are adorable. They traveled happily and well and have had no problem adjusting to the many changes they've undergone or integrating into their Pugalug foster home. Sure, they need to work on potty-training and bedtime manners, but that is understandable given their past life of living outdoors. They love human interaction and give kisses and cuddles without reservation. Both have their tails up all the time, with much wagging. They are clearly happy to be given some loving attention.

They have just been vet-checked in Ontario and were pronounced in quite good shape for their ages. Jake just turned 10 and Betsy is 11. They are remarkably energetic and spry but also love to settle down and snooze at your feet or on the couch. Betsy can actually jump onto the couch with ease and they both use the doggy-steps with no problem. Jake has an interesting rolling gait, like a horse cantering, which is due to two fused vertebrae and arthritis in his front right leg. He will have to be given glucosamine for this. The vet says he is completely blind, although his behaviour would suggest otherwise and he blinks when I wave my hand in front of his eyes. At 15.6 lbs, he needs to gain a couple of pounds, which should be no problem now that he's eating twice a day, as he as a good appetite, to say the least. Betsy is a good weight at only 13.2 lbs.

Although Betsy has a moderate heart murmur (3-4 level on a scale of 1-6), the vet says this is not something to worry too much about. She has a bad cough which manifests when she is excited, under stress or at bedtime, probably caused by a collapsing trachea. The vet says that she should be kept quiet and stress-free as much as possible although this condition "won't be what does her in" when her time comes. Other than that, Betsy is quite healthy. Jake has a very mild heart murmur and has heavy breathing when he plays or gets excited. He did have a yeast infection in his ear but it seems to have cleared up. Both pugs' teeth are in bad shape, Jake's more than Betsy's. He has gingivitis and will probably have to have 4 teeth removed. Betsy has a couple of fractured canine teeth which won't be treated as it would be too risky to put her under anesthesia with her heart condition.

Edited- I just saw we lost Betsy, and I already knew Jake was gone.

Thank goodness their remaining years were happy ones.Full of love and comfort.

Thanks for re-telling the story, Blanche.

Thank you for posting this Blanche. That was such a magical time with people in two countries working together to rescue this special pair of seniors. Actually, people from all over the world helped out. Truly magical.

Truly the greatest rescue ever. I am glad their last years were so wonderful. Thanks for posting this Blanche. It's a good thing for people to know how, when people work together, miracles happen.

I loved that story then and I still love it now. That was better than reading "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" for sure! Thanks, Blanche.

What a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing. I never did know the whole story until now.

Thank you for posting the story.

Truly, shows that there are good people in this world. Thank You.

How lovely to be able to re-read this truly inspirational rescue story. Thank you for posting it, Blanche.

Thank you was re telling that wonderful adventure. I was there for it and it seems like it was just yesterday. That story is truly inspirational in more ways than one.