And the Winner Is...

OK all...here is the winner of the November Contest "Why I'm Thankful For My Dog". This dog owner and her "girls" were 3rd place winners last month. I wanted to let someone else win this contest this month...but as you can see, this story is amazing! So when you read it you will see why Chloe's owner wins this month's contest!
I am thankful for my dog Chloe. My mother died unexpectedly on 11/12/00. My son was a senior in high school and my daughter a sophmore, so there was a huge hole in my life. I had seen or spoke with my mother every day. She lived right around the corner from me. I saw these cute little Pug dogs on tv. I was entralled with them and started reading everything I could find on them. We had had a bad experience with our previous dog, a lab, and my hubby said NO MORE DOGS! I begged and pleaded, but no luck.

In October of 2002 I dragged my husband to Pug-O-Ween, he couldn't believe he was in a room full of these little Pug doggies and they were all getting along, loving each other and all the humans. A couple of them came over and sat by us and one jumped in my hubby's lap. He was hooked now too! We asked around about breeders and contacted several of them. One was about 40 minutes from our house, we called and were told to call back around the end of November. When I called back the litter had already been born and all puppies were taken! I was devastated. I chatted with the breeder and told her all about how lonely I was and about my mom. She asked when my mom had died and I told her 11/12....she couldn't believe it...the puppies had been born on 11/12. She told me she was moving my name to the "top" of the waiting list. Well, Christmas came and went and no calls. No pug under my tree!

On January 2 I listened to my phone messages and there was a call from the breeder. The people who were taking the last available puppy had come out to pick her up and changed their minds! The puppy could be mine! I ran through the house yelling, screaming and crying. I took the following day off work and we drove out to see if we wanted her. One look and I was all done! From that day on my life has changed. I joined the group that organized Pug-O-Ween. I have made tremendous friends through all of this. I have met people through our events, Pug Meetups, websites and blogs! I have made great new friends and discovered a lot of us have a commons thread of sadness, yet can have so much hope and happiness too. I have become a huge supporter of pug rescue and met the most caring individuals you could imagine. I have assisted in rescue placements and cried for happiness when things go right!!

My Pug, Chloe opened up a whole crazy new Puggy world for me. She became my best little four-legged friend. I am so thankful for her for allowing me to be her owner. I feel she was sent from above by my mom to give me a reason to be thankful for 11/12...not sad about that date. She has shown me unconditional love. She was with us when we traveled to the hills of Pennsylvania to our second baby, Zoey and in December of this year our third baby will be born! For this I am thankful.

Our honorable mention this month will have a Cage Cozie (pet blanket) donated to our local animal rescue in their dog's name. We wanted to do something that followed with the "Thanksgiving Theme" of the contest. Plus it's the holiday season, and it's getting colder. The shelters all over the U.S. need extra blankets for their animals. So here's the honorable mention...
I'm up at midnight again--watching TV, wasting time online. I've always been a night owl. It used to be a really lonely time for me, but not tonight. Tonight, I've got one dog curled up next to me on the couch and the other snoozing at my feet. Two warm furry bundles of life to keep me company as the night wears on.

And tommorow morning--after Sweet Husband leaves early for work--those same two pups will curl up in bed with me to snuggle for an hour before I have to go to school. And I'll make little Moe's day first thing, just by turning on the shower and letting him play in the water for a few seconds before I get in myself.

I'll come home from lunch, and they'll be happy to see me. Even though I left them alone all morning, they'll be bouncing up and down with excitement before my key even hits the lock. And when I come home in the evening, they'll race to the door to greet me with kisses and wagging tails, even though it means getting up off a comfy couch or Sweet Husband's lap. No matter how bad the day has been, they always make me smile.

Long walks at the dog park...an excuse to make friends with strangers on the street...wet noses...keeping my feet warm...unconditional love day in and day out. The question isn't, "Why am I grateful for my dogs?" The question is, "How could I live without them?"

Congrat's to those two!
Pugley had a good birthday, but the real fun is this weekend at his "party". So you'll see those photo's later this weekend. Unfortunately, little Sophie next door can't come over 'cause she's in heat. And pugley's not fixed yet. So you can see the dilemma there. :) But we'll still have a fun birthday!!!

December contest details on the left sidebar!!! That is where I will always list the contest details from now on. The winner receives a $25 gift certificate from www.mypetique.com. Don't forget that all readers of this blog are priveledged to receive free shipping on your orders of $25 or more! Pick something special up for your pup for Christmas! **Enter the coupon code PUG**

Have a Pugrific Day! (No news scoop today...I figure you've done enough reading already!!! LOL)

::PawsOut::