5/14/005 - Rancho is doing beautifully. He is a social boy who is always sitting on my feet, or on a nearby
bed where he can keep track of us. He has been enjoying the back yard since the weather has
improved, and we still walk down to the corner fire hydrant (his favorite place to poop). He knows he
needs his leash if we are going past the front of the house, and will wait patiently for me to put
it on. He walks beside me, rarely pulls on the leash, and comes when called. He has absolutely
no interest in playing with toys, fetching, etc. He just wants to enjoy the love & companionship.
He hasn't bitten since the "ear drop incident", but he has had a few episodes of growling for no
apparent reason. We give him some space, and then he seems fine. These incidents are rare, and
generally he is a very gentle boy. We've reached a compromise regarding his urinating in the house.
We keep paper down in the kitchen at night & when we are out, and he has stopped peeing on the
furniture. It is something we all can live with. Healthwise he is doing well. His orthopedic
problems won't improve, but he seems more comfortable. Sometimes he even gallops through the house
when we come in from outside! He still has his cough, but it is much improved on his current
medication, and usually noticeable only when he wakes up from a sound sleep. He is a darling boy, and we
treasure him dearly. He, and we, send our love gratitude to his foster family. Thanks for
helping Rancho to join our family!
 

2/7/05 - Rancho has made himself quite at home. He is truly a family dog. He loves to be around the kids, will follow them around the house, and will whine if they leave the room. Being an older boy, I thought Rancho would have a lower tolerance for the activity level of teenagers, but he always positions himself right in the middle of the action. He goes on short walks to the corner of the street, weather permitting, and appears to feel some ownership of the block. He barks whenever a neighbor comes out of a house on "his block". Rancho's ear infection seems to have resolved, and we've had no recurring problem with aggressive behaviors. Rancho has recently been urinating in the house (something his foster family had told us about, but we didn't see this behavior initially). It seems to happen during the overnights and when we are at work, so Rancho is now confined to the kitchen during those times. It began when the really cold weather hit. He has a winter wardrobe now, and seems to stay warmer with a coat on. Besides, he looks adorable in his little red coat!  Overall, he appears to be quite happy, and we are thoroughly enjoying this sweet boy!

1/7/05 - Rancho is a very special boy. He's not interested in toys, and will play only a little when he is excited to see us. His only desire is to love and be loved. He enjoys "cuddle time" on the couch with us, and is otherwise always nearby on a blanket, pillow, or bed. His appetite remains good, and he isn't shy in letting us know when he thinks its tme for dinner. He is more active since he's been on supplements for "joint health" from the vet. His coughing has significantly decreased as well. The vet feels its is a chronic bronchitis rather than a structural problem. He did not like having his nails clipped at home, so we took him to a groomer and Rancho behaved like a
gentleman. He even fell asleep after his bath & brushing. He must have felt like he was at the day spa. Recently, he started scratching at his ear, and the vet prescribed ear drops for a mild ear infection. He did not like this at all. He has typically been the most gentle & loving dog, but he turned into Mr. Hyde for the few minutes it took to get the drops in his ears. My hand accidentally got in the way of his teeth during one of these episodes, and I think Rancho was as surprised as I was. The vet said we could stop the ear drops early, and we were both happy about this. Rancho hasn't shown any other aggressive tendencies, so we focus on the positive. He is a wonderful
little guy who makes us smile, and he seems quite happy too (as long as we don't put drops in his
ears)! We wouldn't trade him for the world!

12/7/04 -Rancho is doing beautifully! He has adapted very quickly to his new home and family. Aside from just a few initial "accidents", he has us trained to take him out and is now sleeping in the kitchen area with his crate door open at night. He loves our two teenage daughters, and won't let them out of his sight when they are here on weekends! We have settled into a daily routine which includes lots of brushing (this puts him into a trance :)) and cuddling. Rancho is picky about the kind of treats he likes, but he cleans his bowl at most meals. He will bark occassionally when his dinner isn't ready fast enough, or to let us know if something out of the ordinary is happening. He loves to sit in front of the open refridgerator door (hoping for some roast beef?), and is content just to be near (or on) us. We love him dearly, and can't imagine life without him now. Thanks to all who helped bring us together!

11/13/04 - Rancho's new mom and dad called in to report how this little sweetie is doing...and the news is all wonderful, just as we expected. The little guy has just stolen everyone's heart there. He is soaking up all the love that is given and is returning it exponentially. They could not be any happier with him. He is exactly what they expected and wanted. He had a total of 2 accidents in the home in the first week (which was a lot better then my experiences when he 1st came here :o))), but seems to have that under control. He is also eating very well. I had to laugh when his new mom told me he has not barked there yet. Mr. Rancho was known as the "barking instigator" here. When a meal was being prepared, he would bark, NON STOP for like 5-10 minutes, right up to the time he was served, and several of the dogs would join in the "bark fest". So, you could see how we could get a chuckle that Mr Rancho has lost his "bark" in his new forever home. So, as the torch is passed, and Rancho makes himself at home with his new forever mom and dad, and 2 legged siblings, we could not be any happier for this little guy. I for one will be watching for updates on how our sweet little guy is doing with is second chance :o))

11/6/04 - Well, our little old guy Mr Rancho has gone home today. His family came down to pick him up all the way from Rochester, 400 miles away. They loved him to death, from 1st sight, and in typical Rancho style, he just sat on their laps the whole time just being th cutest, most wonderful dog there could be. We spent quite a bit of time together, talking about him and what we have learned during his 5 months here.
They are the greatest people, very special to say the least, and have no unrealistic expectation of him. They just want a dog to keep them company, and for them to care fore for his remaining years. Like i said, spacial people.
Like one of our volunteers once said "another unwanted animal that nobody wanted, brought into rescue". Yes, Rancho was on the pet scrapheap, brought into the city shelter to be put to sleep, and now the circle has been completed. He has found his forever home.
Jackie, thank you so much for completing this circle. You were right about these people, we could not have wanted any more for Mr Rancho. I know you will love him as much as we do once you meet him. Thank you again!!!

11/2/04 - Rancho is pending adoption

6/10/04 - Rancho continues to do very well. He is such a sweetie. He now has a new habit of barking if
I do not make his meals fast enough. And once he starts, he doesn't stop until he is served. He is in good health. His eyes are clear, belying his age. Heart is strong. He has a bit of a cough from the shelter, but has been taking antibiotics and seems to be clearing up nicely.
Rancho really can not do steps very well, so we pick him up and take him out in the yard, and bring him back when he has done his business. He walks fine (although he looks awkward) and gets around fine. He just needs help with steps. And he is so light; it's no bother at all. This guy has a great temperament (don't all pugs?) and will give kisses every so often. His teeth have their fair share of tartar on them, but they do not seem to have any deterioration.
If you are looking for a dog that you can just love in your lap, this is the guy for you. He really is not demanding at all, and gives so much, and asks very little. Keep your eyes open for further updates on Mr. Rancho.

6/5/04 - Rancho is all settled. He is eating very well. He likes American cheese slices and turkey slices mixed in with his Pro Plan chicken and rice, mixed with vanilla yogurt. He empties his bowl at each feeding. He is being crated when alone, as he seems to have no issue peeing on some of the things I have downstairs. He has not had any accidents in his crate, and his crate is dry from the time I put him in at nite (10PM), till he goes out in the morning (8:30AM). He has not issues with the dogs, big and small, but does not really play with them. I would say he is "co existing" with them. Hey, at his age, he is entitled, I guess.
Because of Rancho's preference for a quite environment, we will be looking for a home where the activity level is low. So, a home with young children will not be a great match for him. Keep your eyes on further updates on this great little guy.

6/1/04 - We got a call from one of the shelters we work with to tell us that they had a "older" pug that was brought in by its’ owners because he was "old". People, ya gotta love em:o(((
We went to the shelter to pick this guy up, which would be the 1st step in him getting a new life. When I 1st met Rancho, I thought this old guy had a bad case of arthritis. He walked very stiff, and I felt pretty sorry for the old guy. We brought him right to the vet, who explained what was actually going on. Seems that over Rancho's many years, his kneecaps "shifted" a bit, more to the sides of his legs, which now prevents him from bending his hind legs in a natural way. He kind of hunches over and his front legs kinda turn out to the sides. The vet explained that Rancho does this to keep his balance since he walks stiff legged because of his kneecaps. Now that he explained it, it makes perfect sense. Of course, at Rancho's age, it is not recommended that any corrective surgery be attempted.
We brought him and he quickly met all the dogs. He was fine with them, but seems t want to be without all the activity the dogs seems to make. He likes to just hang out and watch the world go by. Stay tuned for further updates on this sweet old guy.