All about Augie

                   

I wanted to take a moment to introduce everyone to Augie (Augustus).  He is 15 1/2 and a "smutty" pug.  He has been gray since I rescued him at 6 months.  They call this type of gray pug "smutty", which I don't think is a very nice name to described him...his coat is lovely and soft and salt & pepper.  His face was pure black, but now it's almost all gray.  He is the man, the Buddha pug, my baby.  He has been with me for so long.  This picture above was taken about 4 years ago, when we was 11 1/2. 

Augie was rescued from Little Angeles Pug Rescue here in Los Angeles.  He was 6 months old when I got him.  He had been thrown from a car and picked up on the street, he came with the name Dino, but I changed it to Augustus (Augie for short).  He had pneumonia and was malnourished (patches of his hair were gone).  He was skinny and scared.  But he soon realized that he was safe and became my shadow.  He has followed me to every room I went to since I got him.  But that's changing a bit because he is so old and can't hear anymore.  Because he is getting older I wanted to do a post about him.  I'm not sure how much longer he'll be with us.  The average life span for a pug is 13 years.  Augie is something like 107 years old in human years.

This picture above was taken a while ago too...notice the black his face, not pure black but not completely gray.  Right now Augie is deaf and is loosing his site.  He doesn't produce tears (which is common with pugs) and so he has developed scarring on one of his eyes.  I have to give him drops, 2x a day.  The prescription says "1 drop 2x a day...FOREVER".

5 years ago we dressed him up as a Bee for Halloween.  He wasn't too happy about it.  He didn't like the costume too much, but he was a trooper and went to the studio so the kids could see him. 

This is a typical scene these days.  He's an old man...and he falls asleep either sitting down (this picture was taken about 2 years ago) or now he falls asleep standing up.  When you are tired your tired!

This was our Christmas card in 2007.  It took a while to take the picture, Augie can't hear so we had a hard time getting him to stay.  Stella is young and moves all the time.  Dashell was great - he sat there with this bow on his head for about 10 pictures, never moving a muscle.

This is Augie at the dog park.  Every day we take all the dogs to the park.  Dashell plays with his cone, Stella plays with her Frisky frolic and Augie roams around.  I have to keep a close eye on him, because he can't see well and can't hear and sometimes he wanders off...not sure he knows where he is going.  Sometimes you come up behind him to grab him or tap him on the shoulder and he takes off like a deer - just running away from you...it's a pretty funny site.  I think going to the park keeps him young.  He has a great time there.

These 2 pictures above are typical Augie when I'm in the kitchen cooking.  He is either alert and waiting for a snack or he's sound asleep.  Either way he's happy just being where I am...and I'm happy with him at my side.  I have never loved an animal so much in my life!

This picture was taken a couple weeks ago.  Notice the gray face.  Augie sleeps a lot and has aged very fast over the last 3-4 months.  Sometimes he seems very anxious and agitated...we think maybe because he can't hear and just can't relax, we are not sure.  He won't lay down, just paces around the house.  Other times he's out...and I mean out!  When we come home and he's sleeping we have to see if he's breathing because he continues to sleep while we are making a ruckus with the other dogs...but he's sleeping, he just can't hear us.

He also just won a cutest dog contest on the internet.  I had all of our customers vote and he won.  Stella won 3rd place! 

Thanks for letting me introduce you to my little man.  Well, not so little, he's 24 lbs and solid as a rock.  He's so healthy, I have never had to take him to the vet for a medical problem.  His teeth are horrible but other than that he's going strong.  I hope he'll still be with us in September so he can go to France.  I know that he'd love it there.  I am getting prepared...I know the time isn't that long away, but for now, I just cherish every day this handsome guy is around.

Comments

[Megan]

how cute! And how funny that he falls asleep sitting or standing. I also love golden retreivers- we had two when I was younger. Hope you are able to take all your dogs to France!

[Becky]

Ok, now that I've dried my eyes... that was just beautiful. What a tribute to the little man.

[Colleen]

Hello. I came to your blog from BettyC and just had to comment on this post.

First, let me say that it is awesome that you are going to France. I, too, am moving there because I just bought a house. (I'm in Seattle now)

Secondly, I know how you feel about Augie. He has a sweet face and looks very kind. I just lost my 17 year old dog a few weeks ago, Sammy. He was my soul mate. It hit me incredibly hard.

[Becky]

He's so sweet!

[Katherine]

I love him! I too love the falling asleep photo. He and my Billy the one eyed pug would be a team. I'm so glad you shared these wonderful pics of the Buddha dog. My pug is on my lap as I type [passing gas of course]...I should have pue in one of my 'gassy boy' items for you in my order to you...

cheers from the farm-