Happy Endings - Bernie

Bernie was recently adopted from PROS by Sandy Pollock and his wife Diane. Sandy wrote the following article to the S.F. Chronicle in regards to a recent article they did on Pugs and Pug Sunday events in the Bay Area.

Dear Mr. Whiting:

I'm writing about your column on Pugs and Pug Sunday in the Sunday Chronicle Magazine.

Pugs are delightful companion animals that are endlessly engaging, amusing, affectionate and devoted. Thus, Pug Sunday always draws many people curious about the breed. Interest in pugs is likely to increase after " Men In Black-II" (as did interest in dalmations after the film "101 Dalmations"), but there is a down-side to this exposure. Peaks in public interest and large-scale purchasing of pets as novelties are invariably followed by a surge of these same animals brought to shelters or simply abandoned by owners whose enthusiasm has long since faded in the face of animals with definite personality quirks and health needs. Less than totally scrupulous breeders responding to market demand while ignoring animal health and good breeding practices are part of the problem.

If your readers are suddenly moved to buy a pug, or any other breed made temporarily famous by mass media, I would urge them to go to Pug Sunday (or other breed-appropriate venues) and speak to owners about the features, quirks and needs of the breed before impulsively running out to get one. This would lessen the work of the pug and
other animal rescue organizations as well as the hardship on both disappointed pet owners and abandoned pets. Our ownership and treatment of pets, particularly the more helpless breeds, reflects on our humanity as well as our vanity.

AS Pollock, M.D.
San Francisco
(Pug owner!)