tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57232685885401921982024-03-12T20:49:52.758-05:00The Adventures of Vito MarinoA Girl and Her Pug. Or should it be A Pug and His Girl?Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-75856184422868350652015-03-04T18:35:00.002-06:002015-03-04T18:35:22.619-06:00Just a Brief Hiatus...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well it's only been 2.5 years since my Mom fell off the wagon (the blogging wagon, that is...) but rest assured loyal readers, we are all just fine. Vinny still lives with us. That's unfortunate of course but when I ask why he's still here, Mom just rolls her eyes and reminds me yet again that he's my brother so he's staying. Hmph.<br />
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Mom promises she's going to try to write for me on a semi-regular basis again, and I even told her the first post back could be an update on Lolly Pug since that was the last post on my blog way back in 2012. Mom got to go to New Orleans this past November and of course that meant that she got to see Lolly Pug! Mom said she was so excited to see Lolly that she cried all over the rug and I can only assume made a huge spectacle of herself. <br />
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Lolly is visibly older and slower now, but Mom says she's really happy and even more spoiled than I am. She also has a new addition
at her house - a brother named Gretzky! (I wonder if she finds him as
annoying as I find my brother...) Gretzky is another SEPRA alum like
both Lolly and Vinny. <br />
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Gretzky does tricks. Yep, he seems like an annoying little brother to me.<br />
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Here are some more recent pics of Lolly and her sidekick.</div>
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And just so you know that I'm as handsome as ever (and that Vinny is STILL here), here's a quick one of us. That's me at the top and Vinny on the left. That dog who isn't a pug is my girlfriend (yes I have a girlfriend, I'm all grown up now!), Judy Chicago - she lives with one of my mom's friends and she comes to visit us a lot. I know I'll be back soon so hang in there! <br />
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Later friends! <br />
Love, VitoVito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-7734809575745758242012-10-26T19:50:00.000-05:002012-10-26T19:50:17.681-05:00They Needed Her More Than I Did<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This post is long overdue. Not only have I (errr...I mean VITO has) been in a blogging funk for a long time, but this? This was just too hard to write. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On September 22, 2012, Lolly Pug went to live with her forever family! Her new mom and dad drove allllll the way from New Orleans to St. Louis that Friday, slept at a hotel for a few hours, then picked her up at my house Saturday morning and drove alllllllll the way back to New Orleans from St. Louis that day/night. They. Were. Fantastic. Such nice, warm people and I immediately knew Lolly was going to be in the very best hands. You could almost see them fall in love with her immediately. Lolly however was shy and stuck to me, as I knew would happen. And of course, it ripped me apart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tq5YpBPzxcQ/UIsmtR8yZUI/AAAAAAAAC0k/rtPBk48jKjE/s1600/581570_10151081167552304_2038512756_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tq5YpBPzxcQ/UIsmtR8yZUI/AAAAAAAAC0k/rtPBk48jKjE/s320/581570_10151081167552304_2038512756_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Baby Girl Pug getting ready to go on a road trip</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They stayed for just a little while - I knew they needed to get back on the road and I also knew that I needed them to leave so that I could break down and sob in private. Her little face leaving is forever burned in my memory, just like when Louie left, and I still cry just thinking about it. This one was harder than Louie though - Louie still lives here in St. Louis and I knew I would see him again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've referenced <a href="http://vitomarinothepug.blogspot.com/2011/04/they-need-him-more-than-you-do.html">this post</a> a few times and it really does help me be able to give these fosters up. "They need him more than you do" - the words of my wise Mom. Well I knew that Lolly's parents needed her more than I did. Even though I really WANTED her. If ever there was a pug to fail with, Lolly was that pug (no offense, Vinny!). Lolly's parents adopted their pug Emma from <a href="http://www.pugrescueofmo.com/index.html">SEPRA </a>back in 2007. Unfortunately, she passed away just a few weeks before Lolly showed up on <a href="http://www.pugrescueofmo.com/index.html">SEPRA</a>'s website. They were heartbroken. When they saw Lolly on the site, they said they just knew she was the one. Something about her little face made them think so much of their Emma. Their friends and family told them they were crazy to drive all the way to St. Louis for a pug - but they said it wasn't about getting any pug, it was about getting Lolly. Emma had survived a puppy mill and had many of the same fear issues that Lolly did. I knew they had the perfect experience and patience for Lolly and that she would thrive with them, just like Emma did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lolly's Mom & Dad</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They say every foster takes a piece of your heart with them. Lolly took a CHUNK of my heart with her. She was my first girl and what a special girl she was. She came in so scared, but so grateful. She was here for just over 2 months, and the progress she made was incredible, and so fun to watch. I miss watching her snuggling with the boys and wrestling with Vito, which started a few weeks before she left, and she always initiated! She was learning how to be a pug! I miss her raspy bark telling me to hurry up with the dinner. I miss carrying her down the stairs (although her Mom tells me she now goes down on her own every time!) and I miss lifting her on to the sofa. I miss her sleeping in her dog bed on top of my bed, and sometimes migrating out of it for snuggles. I miss everything about her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The good news is her mom sends me email updates and Lolly is doing just great. She is loved and spoiled and comes out of her shell more and more every day, just like she did here. I hope that she knows she is in her forever home. My biggest obstacle when I let go of a foster, and especially in this case with Lolly and her fear issues, is that they will be scared or confused or missing me. Lolly's mom emailed me their first day home and it included this:</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"The car ride yesterday went smoothly, but Lolly was
very sad leaving you. I have never heard a pug make the sounds she was
making! She was crying and barking and HOWLING! Howling like a wolf!
It was the most adorable and the most heart-wrenching sound we've ever
heard. She was pretty much saying, "Help! I'm being pug-napped!" It
was very clear how much she loves you and how safe she felt with you.
She will never forget you and how lucky she was to be scooped up and
loved by you! We had a major breakthrough when we stopped to get
dinner. J offered her a piece of french fry and she looked at him
SO dubiously, but then she tried it and loved it! So I think after some
bites of french fries she realized we couldn't be that bad after all and
she finally settled down and snuggled up on J and she was much more
relaxed the rest of the ride."</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The bad news is that Lolly was totally won over by that french fry and is still partial to Dad! :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sbjjc0fNLX4/UIsmwFxx7cI/AAAAAAAAC00/9xCjWBGHxzo/s1600/lolly+in+no+w+blankie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sbjjc0fNLX4/UIsmwFxx7cI/AAAAAAAAC00/9xCjWBGHxzo/s320/lolly+in+no+w+blankie.jpg" width="239" /> </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lolly at home in New Orleans with her <a href="http://www.pugrescueofmo.com/index.html">SEPRA </a>blankie</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gbto8g8exoU/UIsr5_NCtiI/AAAAAAAAC1o/Y-FCbMmIHrY/s1600/lolly+and+grandpa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gbto8g8exoU/UIsr5_NCtiI/AAAAAAAAC1o/Y-FCbMmIHrY/s320/lolly+and+grandpa.jpg" width="320" /> </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lolly and her Grandpa. I could not love this picture more!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thank you so very much for letting me be your foster mom, Lolly Pug. I will never, ever forget you or stop missing you. You taught me so much. I hope to see you again some day. (And Vito and Vinny sure miss you too. Vito will tell you just how much he misses Lolly in the next post - and WHY he misses her so much! We MAY just have another pugger in our house right now...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wKK6nxnpH1c/UIsmukBRDCI/AAAAAAAAC0s/qw8U8x9P1IA/s1600/Vito+and+lolly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wKK6nxnpH1c/UIsmukBRDCI/AAAAAAAAC0s/qw8U8x9P1IA/s320/Vito+and+lolly.jpg" width="239" /> </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lolly's last week with us - Vito laid with his leg on her and she held his paw.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vito and Lolly Pug</span> </span></div>
Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-12824294739990144742012-09-03T02:01:00.000-05:002012-09-03T03:00:19.279-05:00Lolly's Photo Shoot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Quick post to share the entire photo shoot for <a href="http://pugrescueofmo.com/available/lolly.html">Lolly-Pug's SEPRA adoption bio.</a> I first discovered <a href="http://darkwoodstudio.net/">David Carlyon with Darkwood Studio</a> last year through his volunteer work for <a href="http://gatewaypets.com/">Gateway Pet Guardians</a> - a group I admire to the point of stalking! They feed the strays in East St. Louis every single day (thanks in huge part to the most amazing PJ Hightower who has done this every single day without fail since the early 2000s), and rescue when possible. They very recently were able to finally open their own emergency shelter after years of being a "virtual shelter" with only foster homes to help. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gatewaypets">Find them on Facebook</a> - they are incredible!<br />
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Anyway, <a href="http://vitomarinothepug.blogspot.com/2011/11/pictures-with-santa.html">V & V's Santa pics</a> last year were done to benefit Gateway, and David was the photographer! David also fosters for Gateway and goes on feedings with them frequently to take incredible pics of these gorgeous stray pups (and cats!). After I saw the amazing work he does, we began emailing about doing a photo shoot for Vito & Vinny. We did that earlier this year and the pics were INCREDIBLE! (And yes, they need their own blog post - again, LAZINESS!) But David also mentioned that he does free photos for rescue pets' adoption bios. I took him up on that offer and he took these awesome pics of my Lolly-Pug for her bio. Enjoy!!!<br />
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<br />Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-68897047208931819262012-09-03T00:33:00.001-05:002012-09-15T00:23:29.543-05:00Lolly-Pug<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Vito is MAD, y'all. I know you are shocked. He's been trying to get a blog post up forever now and I (Mom) have just been too busy/overwhelmed/really-none-of-those-things-just-lazy. One day I promise I will let him write his own blog post again. But it won't be tonight!</div>
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We have a lot of catching up to do and as I've mentioned, Vito is horribly slow at dictating his posts to me to type for him, so I'm going to have to take on this massive post for him! And if we have another incident like a few months ago where Blogger cuts it off mid-post and I have to break it up after already writing and posting a ton of pics - then I will just have to throw my hands in the air and walk away! So fingers crossed we get this whole blog post done in one clean shot!</div>
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Alrighty then! I can't believe it's already September! Back in July(!) - Friday July 6 to be exact - I got an email from another <a href="http://pugrescueofmo.com/">SEPRA </a>foster mom/volunteer, asking if any of our fosters could help with a little pug girl who was dumped at the high-kill/animal control shelter in Springfield, MO. This was her picture:</div>
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Look at that tiny, scared baby. Unfortunately, even though she was brought there by someone, she had to be kept on a "stray hold" for 5 days in case someone was looking for her. Our theory is that a breeder dumped her there and claimed to have found her so they didn't have to pay the surrender fee. This is so common. And so sickening. So I immediately said I would take her, but had to wait the 5 days - knowing that no one was looking for her - and knowing that this tiny girl had to be absolutely terrified in that place. I couldn't sleep or think about anything else while waiting for those 5 days to pass.</div>
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On July 11, she was finally able to be sprung from prison! The awesome volunteer/foster mom went to get her out of there. She said she was adorable, but as I suspected, terrified. She was also filthy. </div>
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That night they took her to a very pug-friendly vet in Springfield to spend the night in her own quiet dog-run until we could get her to St. Louis the next day. She also got a bath and nail trim, flea treatment, etc. I had planned to meet the volunteer/foster mom in Rolla, MO (about an hour and a half from St. Louis) to get her the next day, but then got a call that an incredible volunteer who works with the <a href="http://www.rescueroadwarriors.org/">Rescue Road Warriors</a> could bring her all the way to St. Louis from Springfield! You guys - this group is AMAZING. This volunteer brought back my little pug-girl plus I believe 7 other dogs that day. She does this every single week - drives from St. Louis to Springfield, MO - saving dogs from kill shelters and other horrible situations and getting them to rescue groups. That is a 3.5 hour drive - one way!! </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> All packed up and ready for her ride to safety!</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">She got to be the transport driver's co-pilot! She was very happy to be on the road to freedom! And you can see, her teeth were NOT in good shape!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Turning on the charm by resting her chin on the arm-rest. The transporter said it was a good thing she was so cute because she nearly stunk her out of the car with her gas! Her gas continued for a few days after she arrived! Luckily good food and no more fear of that awful shelter got the gas under control (but she IS a pug)! </span></div>
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Before Baby Girl Pug (as I named the album on my laptop in which I stored her Animal Control picture) even arrived, I named her Lolly. And so, she made her way to our house. And I fell in love.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Just arrived!</span></div>
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Lolly is a tiny pugger - only 14 pounds. She came in smiling and happy that day. But she was absolutely EXHAUSTED. She laid on the sofa with me, Vito & Vinny within 30 mins of arriving and slept as hard as she possibly could. She had obviously been through a lot in the 5 days she spent in the shelter. I would find out how much she had been through before that, in the coming days.</div>
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The first time I fed her (away from Vito and Vinny in my bedroom) was the first time I realized how scared she was. I put her food bowl down and proceeded to do other stuff in the bedroom while she ate, like hanging up clothes, etc. She jumped a mile and/or cowered ever time I made a movement. It was both horrifying and heartbreaking to me at the same time. What had someone done to this tiny adorable girl in the past to make her so scared? As weeks went by, she still did this, as well as jumping any time the tags on her collar hit her stainless steel food bowl. She also cowered in fear when I reached down to pick her up. </div>
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A few days after she arrived, I had an unplanned get-together at my house, and Lolly got to meet some of my friends, including the V&V's best friends Kyle, Paul, and their Aunt Becky. She was scared at first, but showed how starved she was for affection because it only took a few pets for her to just melt in to anyone.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Kyle and Lolly</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Paul and Lolly </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Lolly on my lap :)</span></div>
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We all assumed that Lolly had been dropped off by a breeder/puppy miller but the one thing that doesn't add up is that she is seemingly 95% housebroken. She may have been a "backyard breeder" - i.e. possibly living in someone's house but just pumping out puppies for profit and being mistreated/abused. She has definitely had puppies, which again broke my heart. This tiny 14 pound girl. She's estimated to be about 6 years old. She was spayed the week after she arrived, and had to have a dental and lost 4 more teeth - in addition to the many she was already missing, her breathing was just horrible, and she was even coughing & gagging at times. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Foster mama had never been through a spay and boy, is it different from neuters! So much more invasive and sad! But Lolly-Pug was feeling good enough by Day 2 to play with her much-loved Nylabone! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Vito the photo-bomber!</span></div>
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While under for her spay, her trachea and soft palate were checked. Her trachea was fine but her palate is elongated. The vet didn't recommend surgery, but we sought a second opinion from a specialist. In between those appointments, her breathing improved though, and the coughing & gagging all but ended entirely. The specialist also did not recommend the surgery at her age - he said it is too risky and she has adapted. I agreed, I hated the thought of putting her through it. He also said she has likely stopped the coughing and gagging because she is now breathing clean air and has a good diet, compared to whatever hell she was living in before (and likely eating slop).</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SGac1sA0W98/UEQhpROEjcI/AAAAAAAACu4/dw0YVOn1l0M/s1600/lolly+first+vet+visit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SGac1sA0W98/UEQhpROEjcI/AAAAAAAACu4/dw0YVOn1l0M/s320/lolly+first+vet+visit.jpg" width="239" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_F9j2F6OpE/UEQhgEh-kQI/AAAAAAAACt4/plwk_gc28og/s1600/431426_10151034883632304_83977873_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">First vet visit!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rGPILxV3nGs/UEQhe4AdgFI/AAAAAAAACtw/DPwQYMEVpZc/s1600/388143_10151024013452304_328929245_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rGPILxV3nGs/UEQhe4AdgFI/AAAAAAAACtw/DPwQYMEVpZc/s320/388143_10151024013452304_328929245_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cXF936i6Ado/UEQhhVdWurI/AAAAAAAACuA/tX2ARABePpI/s1600/528060_10150953869742304_865875944_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Lolly at the specialist where she was an excellent ambassador for <a href="http://pugrescueofmo.com/">SEPRA </a>and made lots of friends! I was even able to give out two <a href="http://pugrescueofmo.com/">SEPRA </a>business cards to people who had no idea that pug rescue exists! When we walked in to the vet's office, poor baby just splayed out on the floor in fear and I had to pick her up and she clung to me. But I think she might have known what she was doing - b/c that is what got so many people's attention in the waiting room and she ended up sitting on many people's laps and they got more information on pug rescue! I think Lolly is really a smart cookie! ;)</span></div>
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So! Now that we have all of that technical history out of the way (this is what I get for not posting a blog in so long!) - let's talk more about Lolly-Pug as a PUG! And how she gets along with her foster-brothers. This little girl is so wonderful. I can't believe she's been here for almost 2 months! She immediately got along with the boys and they have been exceptionally nice to her - even letting her snuggle in to them and rest her chin on them. Lolly is my first foster-girl, and I think there is some truth to the "opposite sexes get along better" because I swear it's like they look after her and take it easy on her.</div>
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She and Vinny seem to have especially bonded. I think it's just because Vinny is so laid back. He lets her lay wherever she pleases.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vHK0zmE9qbo/UEQhmQWs6QI/AAAAAAAACug/n1Aj3XEKego/s1600/lolly+and+vinny+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vHK0zmE9qbo/UEQhmQWs6QI/AAAAAAAACug/n1Aj3XEKego/s1600/lolly+and+vinny+2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YCP4hDN69zY/UEQypmyHnhI/AAAAAAAACxQ/qpu_qv6QZgM/s1600/vinny+and+lolly+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YCP4hDN69zY/UEQypmyHnhI/AAAAAAAACxQ/qpu_qv6QZgM/s320/vinny+and+lolly+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But Vito has also really taken to her - and more importantly, her dog bed. You might recall about a bazillion posts about Vito tearing open the dog beds I have so generously bought for him over the years to try to pamper him and make him comfortable - only to have them torn up like stuffies. Well Miss Lolly got spayed as I mentioned, so I brought out a donated dog bed for her to sleep on so she would not try to jump on/off the furniture. And whattaya know? Vito loves dog beds!! Therefore he snuggles with Lolly pretty frequently.</div>
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Also during Lolly's stay, I went to visit a friend for 4 days so Lolly went to stay with another foster mom. Here are the before/after pics - the after being the ONLY picture I've ever gotten of Miss Lolly-Pug "really" smiling! I think she missed me? And HOLY PUG, did I miss her (and the V's of course)!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Where exactly are you going??</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2gtIk_eGSVE/UEQhqLD8k7I/AAAAAAAACvA/pBshjjHi-AI/s1600/lolly+happy+im+back+from+vaca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2gtIk_eGSVE/UEQhqLD8k7I/AAAAAAAACvA/pBshjjHi-AI/s320/lolly+happy+im+back+from+vaca.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Oh yay! You're back!</span></div>
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So, long post very long, Miss Lolly is an incredible little girl and we just adore her (yes, her foster brothers too!). She has come a long way. Not only is she my first girl-foster, but she's my first foster to have any sort of fear/possible puppy-mill issues. So she has especially tugged at my heart in watching her progress. She is like a different puggie since she's been here and especially in the last 2 weeks, compared to her arrival. Having never experienced a pug with these issues, I expected her progress to be faster, but I know that's ridiculous considering what she must have been through. But watching her conquer fears every day is an experience like no other. She has now gone down the back porch stairs about 4 times on her own. She no longer jumps when her tags hit her food bowls. Her tail is up and curled and wags more than it ever has before. She only rarely cowers now when I go to pick her up. She makes huge strides every day.</div>
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She is now <a href="http://pugrescueofmo.com/successful/lolly.html">officially up for adoption through SEPRA</a> (and I will share her entire photo album in a separate post soon!), and has a very interested potential family. They recently went through a little storm called "Hurricane Isaac" though so we are all on hold for a bit (hint: they live far from St. Louis)! ;) Whatever happens, this little girl is going to make someone very happy and I will only let her go to the most perfect home, because I'm so in love with her. She has taught me so much during her stay with us. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Day 2</span></span></div>
Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-43337672845915661982012-07-01T00:27:00.001-05:002012-07-06T19:40:00.822-05:00Special Visitor Edition: LOUIE!!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In May we had a super special visitor. Yes, even I, Vito, the pessimistic pug who doesn't like to share ANY ATTENTION, had to admit that this visitor was special. It was... <a href="http://vitomarinothepug.blogspot.com/2011/03/surprise-meet-hamilton.html">LOUIE</a>!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hnrtMrTApvs/T-5rEA4iXcI/AAAAAAAACtE/rjnLjaIaHao/s1600/tiny+louie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hnrtMrTApvs/T-5rEA4iXcI/AAAAAAAACtE/rjnLjaIaHao/s320/tiny+louie.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He's still tiny! (Louie in our kitchen - he's gained 2 pounds since he left us, so now he's at 17! But look how little the bugger is!)</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TgfpUCjviOk/T-5q3-tm2CI/AAAAAAAACrs/qjhVOdEUNU4/s1600/louie+doesnt+want+to+leave.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TgfpUCjviOk/T-5q3-tm2CI/AAAAAAAACrs/qjhVOdEUNU4/s320/louie+doesnt+want+to+leave.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
Louie was my very first pug playmate and foster brother. You
might remember <a href="http://vitomarinothepug.blogspot.com/2011/04/shut-up-sticks-for-everyone.html">when he lived with us as a "foster" last year</a> for almost 2 months.
While he lived here, I wasn't as keen on him as I am now in looking
back. Oh I am so much older and wiser now. If only I knew then, what I
know now.<br />
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Now I have a PERMANENT brother and, if
given the choice, I'd take Louie back in a heartbeat! Sure he was
annoying. He wanted to play all the time. But he was also <a href="http://vitomarinothepug.blogspot.com/2011/04/alright-alright.html">kind of a good snuggler</a> - and my brother now? Not so much. He just wants to
steal all of my Nylabones.<br />
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ANYWAY, Louie's Mom and my Mom have kept in touch and his Mom contacted my Mom to arrange a puggie playdate! My Mom was so ridiculously excited I
can't even tell you. It was seriously embarrassing. I knew Mom missed
Louie. She even occasionally told me about dreams she had about him -
that she would see him again. He was her first foster pug and he meant so
much to her. He was her "trial foster" - and after Louie left - it was
so hard on both of us that <a href="http://vitomarinothepug.blogspot.com/2011/04/they-need-him-more-than-you-do.html">Mom even told the Pug Rescue that she couldn't do it again</a> - she didn't think she could
take in another pug and cry that much again when they left. But as you
may remember, it only took less than a month before Mom changed her
mind and <a href="http://vitomarinothepug.blogspot.com/2011/06/prayers-for-pippa.html">took in Pippa</a>. Mom just realized there are too many pugs out
there like me and Louie that need her. Even though I'm spoiled rotten
and am pretty possessive of my Mom - even I realize that fostering is a
wonderful thing and I am okay with sharing my house with pugs on their
way home to their forever homes. (ALTHOUGH THAT <a href="http://vitomarinothepug.blogspot.com/2011/06/colonel-has-arrived.html">WASN'T THE CASE WITH VINNY</a> BECAUSE HE ENDED UP STAYING HERE FOREVER AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REMIND MOM OF THAT - NO MORE VINNYS
PLEASE!)<br />
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So on a Saturday in May, Louie showed up at our house, with his Mom, Dad, and Human Brother Jonah! WHAT A REUNION!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ERXQen89FAQ/T-5qy9o-QpI/AAAAAAAACrE/VZr1bztM5A0/s1600/bye+louie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ERXQen89FAQ/T-5qy9o-QpI/AAAAAAAACrE/VZr1bztM5A0/s320/bye+louie.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Mom smothering Louie!</span></div>
Mom had a whole prediction of how this would go. She was wrong. She imagined that Louie would run in to her arms, having missed her for a whole year. Instead - you know what he did? He ran straight for ME! Oh Louie - remember when I wanted you to go away? Now I'm so happy to see you!!!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fv9BhMbyzHE/T-5q1xr2lXI/AAAAAAAACrc/ZUabDk1w3HU/s1600/jonah+thinks+he+is+a+pug+-+louie+and+vito.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fv9BhMbyzHE/T-5q1xr2lXI/AAAAAAAACrc/ZUabDk1w3HU/s320/jonah+thinks+he+is+a+pug+-+louie+and+vito.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Little
Louie Boy all up in my grill! He had clearly missed me! (That's
Louie's dad and human brother Jonah - Jonah wants to be a PUG! Who
doesn't???)</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tkC30spgIo0/T-5q064FPtI/AAAAAAAACrU/pY8mdyUDwa8/s1600/jonah+louie+and+vito.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tkC30spgIo0/T-5q064FPtI/AAAAAAAACrU/pY8mdyUDwa8/s320/jonah+louie+and+vito.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Louie and his human brother Jonah are best friends! That made Mom SO happy to see.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span> </div>
And Louie's brother Jonah also found <a href="http://vitomarinothepug.blogspot.com/2010/12/silent-george.html">SILENT GEORGE! </a> Grandpa would be proud. :)<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1AOWTNY9CZY/T-5qz2dRkII/AAAAAAAACrM/FTUAL-0x9OE/s1600/jonah+and+silent+george.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1AOWTNY9CZY/T-5qz2dRkII/AAAAAAAACrM/FTUAL-0x9OE/s320/jonah+and+silent+george.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ETb946amC6Q/T-5rGKWB37I/AAAAAAAACtU/ggAQiLRdtQE/s1600/vinny+sniffs+silent+george.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ETb946amC6Q/T-5rGKWB37I/AAAAAAAACtU/ggAQiLRdtQE/s320/vinny+sniffs+silent+george.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Vinny sniffing Silent George</span></span></div>
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Mom says the very best part of the visit, other than actually snuggling on Louie - was that she got the best gift EVER. Louie's family gave Mom a photo book filled with Louie's entire journey as a foster pug, and now with his forever family.</div>
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Want to know what I think is the best part? It also includes MY STORY with Mom! <br />
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Mom thought that Vinny would really love to play with Louie,
since Vinny always tries to get me to play with him and I am NOT
INTERESTED. Wrong! Vinny had no interest in Louie. Vinny just wanted a
nap.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yWgMYLWpFA4/T-5rFDG-HaI/AAAAAAAACtM/oKyTxfjvx6Q/s1600/vinny+and+his+bone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yWgMYLWpFA4/T-5rFDG-HaI/AAAAAAAACtM/oKyTxfjvx6Q/s320/vinny+and+his+bone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Or to chew on his big Nylabone</span></span>.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jNo703LnxwE/T-5q5LUsYyI/AAAAAAAACr0/4Tz1E42rjNY/s1600/louie+hello+to+vinny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jNo703LnxwE/T-5q5LUsYyI/AAAAAAAACr0/4Tz1E42rjNY/s320/louie+hello+to+vinny.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Louie introducing himself to Vinny. Vinny was unimpressed.</span> </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwsZseGocxk/T-5rBt1YzHI/AAAAAAAACs0/DBJejg6zyLw/s1600/photo%2854%29.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwsZseGocxk/T-5rBt1YzHI/AAAAAAAACs0/DBJejg6zyLw/s320/photo%2854%29.jpg" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" width="320" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Louie tried hard.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oDFCSatbzkg/T-5q6Ft6_LI/AAAAAAAACr8/AG28_KHaTA0/s1600/louie+hi+to+vinny.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oDFCSatbzkg/T-5q6Ft6_LI/AAAAAAAACr8/AG28_KHaTA0/s320/louie+hi+to+vinny.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Vinny on the left.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ikZ_sRAnbJ8/T-5q7FblQ5I/AAAAAAAACsE/SE6UD4EUKEk/s1600/louie+in+my+lap+-+vinny+ready+for+a+nap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ikZ_sRAnbJ8/T-5q7FblQ5I/AAAAAAAACsE/SE6UD4EUKEk/s320/louie+in+my+lap+-+vinny+ready+for+a+nap.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Mom with "her boys" as she says. Louie is on her lap. I'm on her right (and look, I'm</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> even okay with that!!!). Vinny is on her left - I told you he was ready for a nap.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cqA9m_LTruQ/T-5q8CqyUSI/AAAAAAAACsM/uCz3Xvw9Ff4/s1600/louie+says+mom+please+dont+leave+me+with+vito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cqA9m_LTruQ/T-5q8CqyUSI/AAAAAAAACsM/uCz3Xvw9Ff4/s320/louie+says+mom+please+dont+leave+me+with+vito.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Louie with his Mom in our kitchen. That's me harassing him. I didn't want him to leave!!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-beGPsQcyEf8/T-5q9B1k2GI/AAAAAAAACsU/jWyDMW8fWkA/s1600/me+and+little+louie+boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-beGPsQcyEf8/T-5q9B1k2GI/AAAAAAAACsU/jWyDMW8fWkA/s320/me+and+little+louie+boy.jpg" width="261" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mom didn't want Louie to leave either.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eKtBTU8BdWY/T-5rHtG4QgI/AAAAAAAACtc/sWPx_TG-YaM/s1600/vito+jonah+and+louie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eKtBTU8BdWY/T-5rHtG4QgI/AAAAAAAACtc/sWPx_TG-YaM/s320/vito+jonah+and+louie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Me, Louie and Louie's Best Friend!!!</span></span></div>
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It was a really great day.<br />
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Later friends!</div>Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-56742924241946392232012-06-25T14:11:00.000-05:002012-06-25T14:31:55.610-05:00Meet Ollie...and...Farewell Ollie!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So very much catching up to do! Therefore, Vito is out of luck on writing this post (he is so incredibly slow at dictating this blog to me.) I have lots of other posts to do but I needed to get this one out because I was feeling so guilty for my shoddy chronicle of our most recent houseguest.<br />
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Meet Ollie!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Piv6AhLJMI/T-O8n_5W-SI/AAAAAAAACnQ/xJFejBa1dMs/s1600/ollie+in+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Piv6AhLJMI/T-O8n_5W-SI/AAAAAAAACnQ/xJFejBa1dMs/s320/ollie+in+bed.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ollie on Day 1!</span></div>
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Ollie came to stay with us on June 1. He was estimated to be three years old, and was found as a stray by some people in Illinois last fall. He had heartworms, and they got him treated. The story goes that they had too many pugs of their own, therefore surrendered him to SEPRA. As always, we never know what the truth behind these pugs are, but that's what we were told. Anyway - Ollie was a GEM!!!!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v4nRJbZSqAo/T-O8mcsbo5I/AAAAAAAACnI/GaGXcLX9FF4/s1600/ollie+chunkalicious.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v4nRJbZSqAo/T-O8mcsbo5I/AAAAAAAACnI/GaGXcLX9FF4/s320/ollie+chunkalicious.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">He needs to lose a few pounds! </span></div>
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He came in and fit right in our house, like he had always lived here. It wasn't even that hard to have 3 pugs, like I thought it might be. I'd had 3 before with Jax, but Jax wasn't an active guy due to his hip problems. Vito, Vinny and Ollie were all active!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0bX0Wz2dvR4/T-O8pISdjGI/AAAAAAAACnY/RkHP_4DvbXI/s1600/ollie+in+middle+-+ready+to+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0bX0Wz2dvR4/T-O8pISdjGI/AAAAAAAACnY/RkHP_4DvbXI/s320/ollie+in+middle+-+ready+to+party.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Waiting for guests to come and visit (Ollie Chunkalicious in the middle!)</span></div>
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What struck me the most about him, and probably why I got so attached to him so quickly - was how much he reminded me of Vito. Their looks, their personalities, their habits (such as the way they lay down next to me in the same position for their belly rubs), and their need to be the center of attention - on my lap at all times!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ollie beat Vito to my lap and Vito was NONE TOO HAPPY ABOUT IT!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pRvCX9lGjOs/T-i40Zfy4oI/AAAAAAAACq4/X91TxyPAMHA/s1600/vito+on+left+ollie+on+right.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pRvCX9lGjOs/T-i40Zfy4oI/AAAAAAAACq4/X91TxyPAMHA/s320/vito+on+left+ollie+on+right.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Vito on the left, Ollie on the right</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ppV0TCmKNBw/T-O8rYLoDnI/AAAAAAAACno/Zrw7dpm6A64/s1600/ollie+post-bath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ppV0TCmKNBw/T-O8rYLoDnI/AAAAAAAACno/Zrw7dpm6A64/s320/ollie+post-bath.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ollie post-bath</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ollie loved to lay on my side on the sofa - very reminiscent of little Louie, but Ollie was significantly heavier!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OBLqgKS4rj4/T-O85vk7_1I/AAAAAAAACn4/fbIOGE6yPFk/s1600/P6060052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OBLqgKS4rj4/T-O85vk7_1I/AAAAAAAACn4/fbIOGE6yPFk/s320/P6060052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo shoot for Ollie's adoption bio - this picture looks like a curmudgeonly old man!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">SAY CHEEEEEEESE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Love this smile!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ollie was looking at the neighbor in the next yard</span></div>
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The day after he arrived, June 2, was my birthday! I had already planned a big birthday BBQ before I knew Ollie was arriving. I felt guilty for him having just come in to my house and then throwing this big bash - but he had fit in so easily that I kept the party going. And he had a great time and of course got lots of attention!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ollie begging for pasta salad</span></span></div>
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Ollie immediately took to Kyle - who along with Paul re-named Ollie
"Sherman" for the night. It took me 2 days after that to remember his
name! Ollie snoozed on Kyle's lap most of the day/night.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ollie on Kyle's lap</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They were dancing, probably to Britney Spears</span></span></div>
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Well, I knew that Ollie wouldn't be with us for long because he was too perfect. He did have a few issues - very dirty & infected ears, and a bit of a cough. But just a few days after being put on the <a href="http://pugrescueofmo.com/available/ollie.html">SEPRA website</a>, we got a PERFECT application for him. Of course, I spent the next few days, while the references were being checked, snuggling on him to the point that I think he was sick of me.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Perfect shmooshie face!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ollie's last night with us</span></div>
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On Saturday, June 23, just 3 weeks after he arrived with us, we went to do the home visit on Ollie's potential new family. The wife had adopted her pug Wally from SEPRA in 2002, so the home visit was really just a formality at that point. Unfortunately Wally passed away a year ago, and she grieved for so long. She teared up several times talking about him, and I couldn't help but tear up too. Their home was absolutely beautiful and I knew Ollie would be so very happy, loved and spoiled. They loved him right away and he made himself right at home!! We ended up doing the adoption on the spot, so I left Ollie there that day. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ollie's new family!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He made himself right at home, and he got to be reunited with his alien that he came with.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> How perfect is this??</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ollie immediately took to his new dad! Check out those windows - they overlook a lake - which Ollie loved looking out!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Goodbye Ollie Chunkalicious!! I love you and miss you!</span></div>
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No matter how short the time is that you have a pug in foster, or how perfect their new home is - it doesn't stop the tears when you leave them! I always worry that they are confused and missing me. That's the hardest part for me. Ollie's mom emailed me Saturday night and said he was doing just great, and she remarked several times how impressed she was and what a good boy he is! (Luckily Vito & Vinny's bad habits didn't rub off on him!) :)</div>
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As I said, I know we have a lot of catching up to do! Including Vito's 5th birthday, which was this past Friday June 22 - the day before Ollie left! And Vinny's first Rescue Day - which was Saturday June 23 - the very day that Ollie left us! So much happening around here! We'll get back on this blogging horse one of these days!Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-66365057775073984732012-06-15T19:49:00.000-05:002012-06-15T19:49:19.978-05:00Cheers to Our Friend, Hank<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week we lost another friend. Another friend who had been to our
house! Mom, Vinny and I are so sad. Our buddy Hank went to the Bridge
last week, in his sleep, where he was sleeping in between his mom &
dad. He had been diagnosed with Lymphoma recently, and he just got very
tired very quickly, and he decided it was time to go.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Hank checking out our backyard</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Hank telling me some dirty jokes.</span></div>
<br />When I first came to live with Mom at the end of 2009, she was
pretty clueless about pugs. So she spent a lot of time on the ol'
"interwebs" reading about pugs, and she came across a whole bunch of pug
blogs! One of the very first, was Hank's. It was also one of Mom's
very favorites. Hank was a very special, very funny guy and he made Mom
& I chuckle all the time. We were so excited when, last summer,
Hank's mom Sarah contacted my mom and said she would be driving through
St. Louis on her way from Indianapolis to Oklahoma. You might remember
some of this from my very recent post in memory of Sweet Payton. Vinny
had just come to live with us, and boy did we have a good time bossing
Hank around! <br />
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You see, Hank always claimed to have been a 'Nam vet (he
and my Grandpa would have gotten along just great for a whole bunch of
reasons). Well I was suspicious of this story from the get-go (I may or
may not have had Grandpa make some calls to some high-ranking officials
to try to clear up this story...). So I put him through the ringer
(and was of course assisted by my soldier Vinny!) - making him do
plyometric pushups, army crawls through the mud, and we were just about
to send him up in a chopper to prove that he could really parachute,
when Mom intervened and told us to give it a rest.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Watching with pride as Soldier Vinny questioned Hank</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KYv_wF3vt-s/T9vPkjlyP5I/AAAAAAAAClY/AMfCq4cbBsY/s1600/P8120038.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />After that, we still weren't sure if we believed Hank's military
past (sure he showed us some dog tags but you can buy those anywhere!),
but he somehow won us over anyway. <br />
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Even when my Mom started snuggling
on him! <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Mom, can't you see how much he HATES that? You should pick me up instead.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zoXJtkN5_VQ/T9vPwlBG4JI/AAAAAAAAClg/TPpwBVgYZBI/s1600/P8120042.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zoXJtkN5_VQ/T9vPwlBG4JI/AAAAAAAAClg/TPpwBVgYZBI/s320/P8120042.JPG" width="284" /></a></div>
<br />
And when Payton's Mom gave him a massage that I would give my
first-born to get! <br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yx5ed220-QM/T9vQfH9sYnI/AAAAAAAACmE/3oMiOncSp8A/s1600/P8120050.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yx5ed220-QM/T9vQfH9sYnI/AAAAAAAACmE/3oMiOncSp8A/s320/P8120050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bI91rVDXQPQ/T9vQrnxTBRI/AAAAAAAACmM/75RNsMbREd4/s1600/P8120053.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bI91rVDXQPQ/T9vQrnxTBRI/AAAAAAAACmM/75RNsMbREd4/s320/P8120053.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yx5ed220-QM/T9vQfH9sYnI/AAAAAAAACmE/3oMiOncSp8A/s1600/P8120050.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
But that was Hank - he was a charmer and could even
soften the heart of a skeptic like me.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YUK4JCq6nJ4/T9vRA54mEQI/AAAAAAAACmc/uN42qQjBF-U/s1600/P8120063.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YUK4JCq6nJ4/T9vRA54mEQI/AAAAAAAACmc/uN42qQjBF-U/s320/P8120063.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">And clearly, Vinny as well!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0TVvgIVT3a8/T9vQGaoyy4I/AAAAAAAACl0/utUr8QnHDBs/s1600/P8120046.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0TVvgIVT3a8/T9vQGaoyy4I/AAAAAAAACl0/utUr8QnHDBs/s320/P8120046.JPG" width="304" /> </a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eZRxRtkUhQ8/T9vQSm-jbEI/AAAAAAAACl8/G-8nRnYR87I/s1600/P8120048.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eZRxRtkUhQ8/T9vQSm-jbEI/AAAAAAAACl8/G-8nRnYR87I/s320/P8120048.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
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<br /></div>
We were pretty bummed when Hank
left that day, and we promised to see each other again - this time in
Indianapolis. We are all so sad that won't happen now. But we will
still go and see Hank's mom because we know she is missing Hanklin and I
feel that Vinny & I would probably be the best medicine,
dontchathink??<br />
<br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n87GxH9LasI/T9vPXFOG2nI/AAAAAAAAClQ/OkxDIwDD6L0/s1600/P8120026.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n87GxH9LasI/T9vPXFOG2nI/AAAAAAAAClQ/OkxDIwDD6L0/s320/P8120026.JPG" width="233" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Me sitting with Hank's mom (and Vinny sitting on the floor where he belongs)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWElZD4NbZc/T9vQ0v8pmBI/AAAAAAAACmU/8UE9g2QlbZ8/s1600/P8120056.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWElZD4NbZc/T9vQ0v8pmBI/AAAAAAAACmU/8UE9g2QlbZ8/s320/P8120056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Sarah and me</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
We just can't believe that the 2 puggers that came to visit us last
summer, Payton and now Hank, are gone. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IE8fR8ZucOw/T9vRNAmWy9I/AAAAAAAACmk/QkglDmIAR88/s1600/P8120067.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IE8fR8ZucOw/T9vRNAmWy9I/AAAAAAAACmk/QkglDmIAR88/s320/P8120067.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
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Mom sure has been giving us lots
of hugs and we let her most of the time. Hank will be missed beyond
words by his Mom & Dad. He was such a special guy, and such a good
friend. Tonight, Vinny & I are going to get a little wild and crazy
over a sixer of PBR (Hank's drink of choice) and remember our friend.
We love you Hank, and Sarah too. There will never be another like you.
We hope that you are having such a great time at the Bridge. Now you
can parachute out of that chopper without any interference from
overprotective Moms! <br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eJ0HyFDE81I/T9vTxopzQ4I/AAAAAAAACm8/5AGvbQJkSi0/s1600/photo%252886%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eJ0HyFDE81I/T9vTxopzQ4I/AAAAAAAACm8/5AGvbQJkSi0/s320/photo%252886%2529.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The magnet that Hank brought us on his visit. PS We Love You, too. :)</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bcIzmV4NdIQ/T9vTvc-lh5I/AAAAAAAACm0/rvNa04N3aRg/s1600/100_5549.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bcIzmV4NdIQ/T9vTvc-lh5I/AAAAAAAACm0/rvNa04N3aRg/s320/100_5549.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hank, his dad, his mom, and his sister Molly O'Malley - who we know is outrunning Hank at the bridge right now!</span></span></div>
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Big hugs and lots of love,<br />Vito (and my mom & brother too)Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-18711775181761980082012-05-11T19:37:00.000-05:002012-05-11T20:18:38.089-05:00Lots of Catching Up... - Part 2 (I HATE YOU BLOGGER)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b2po5DFU_98/T62tS3yCbfI/AAAAAAAACjo/NRoLwCKxv_U/s1600/yogi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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OH MOM IS MAD. She is having to write this second post because Blogger cut it off before. Stay out of her way right now because she's about to go OFF.</div>
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Anyway, continuing the last post, Yogi hid the whole time we were there. He went behind those brooms and built himself a little fort.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b2po5DFU_98/T62tS3yCbfI/AAAAAAAACjo/NRoLwCKxv_U/s1600/yogi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b2po5DFU_98/T62tS3yCbfI/AAAAAAAACjo/NRoLwCKxv_U/s320/yogi.jpg" width="239" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Yogi's other hiding spot</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kXjAtVEhnIk/T62tULSjL-I/AAAAAAAACjw/tIAuifd4R1E/s1600/yogi+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kXjAtVEhnIk/T62tULSjL-I/AAAAAAAACjw/tIAuifd4R1E/s320/yogi+3.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Yogi asking Mom to leave and take us with her</span></div>
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Then Yogi's mom Mae played with Vinny. Imagine how poor Yogi felt about that!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/thpQqVbtt5I?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
And Kyle:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/D-vcLOoK9xg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br />
Then last weekend Mom and Vinny left me. Mom told me that she was taking Vinny to the vet. SHE LIED right to my face! They didn't go to the vet! They went to a <a href="http://pugrescueofmo.com/index.html">SEPRA </a>adoption event at Petco and Vinny wasn't even up for adoption (despite my nightly prayers)!</div>
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This guy was there:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ALI7HXz2lA/T62tY--ESPI/AAAAAAAACj4/zLehTOixi1Q/s1600/photo%2840%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ALI7HXz2lA/T62tY--ESPI/AAAAAAAACj4/zLehTOixi1Q/s320/photo%2840%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Jax</span></div>
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And so was this guy. <a href="http://pugrescueofmo.com/available/remy.html">Remy</a>. Mom fell in love with him. It would have been dangerous if his foster mom hadn't already fallen in love with him. Whew.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uE8xaMU51pU/T62tZ7bspzI/AAAAAAAACkA/VOnWDr9mMsU/s1600/photo%2842%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uE8xaMU51pU/T62tZ7bspzI/AAAAAAAACkA/VOnWDr9mMsU/s320/photo%2842%29.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Mom and Remy</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5tU25CaxaFg/T62tf5HeAMI/AAAAAAAACkg/DdfhnZxHLBk/s1600/photo%2847%29.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5tU25CaxaFg/T62tf5HeAMI/AAAAAAAACkg/DdfhnZxHLBk/s320/photo%2847%29.jpg" width="239" /></a> </div>
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And Vinny did this the whole time. He got a bully stick without me. MOM!!!!!!!!!!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_T_nXcAMDgo/T62ta29y7qI/AAAAAAAACkI/TbFYs_6WuCg/s1600/photo%2843%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_T_nXcAMDgo/T62ta29y7qI/AAAAAAAACkI/TbFYs_6WuCg/s320/photo%2843%29.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Vinny</span></div>
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<a href="http://pugrescueofmo.com/available/theodore.html">Theodore, aka Teddy</a>, was there too. We met him at the Pug Party last month. He is now heartworm free, got his bits removed, and had his dental so he is all up for adoption. Vinny told me that he crawled right in Mom's lap and made himself comfortable. It's like Mom thinks Vinny and I don't talk at all. Little does she know, he tells me EVERYTHING.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vx00jmwTjbI/T62tcMvCvGI/AAAAAAAACkQ/aiJx0sjPty0/s1600/photo%2845%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vx00jmwTjbI/T62tcMvCvGI/AAAAAAAACkQ/aiJx0sjPty0/s320/photo%2845%29.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Teddy hid under his foster mom's chair at first.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-XDNi_8jWw/T62teTJBJ3I/AAAAAAAACkY/UEW-AgqbgpA/s1600/photo%2846%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-XDNi_8jWw/T62teTJBJ3I/AAAAAAAACkY/UEW-AgqbgpA/s320/photo%2846%29.jpg" width="239" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Inching closer and closer to MY MOM'S LAP</span></div>
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I got a little scare yesterday thinking we might be getting a new foster brother, but lucky for us he found a home. I'm safe. FOR NOW. </div>
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That's all. Who knows when you'll see us again as mad as Mom is right now.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Later, friends!</span>Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-48748610100155313342012-05-11T19:06:00.001-05:002012-05-11T19:53:27.424-05:00Lots of Catching Up To Do!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z9n0Dqlo7B4/T62gBvg6RjI/AAAAAAAAChE/qlcxwAKA3C0/s1600/jax+almost+smile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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This new blogger set-up has Mom thoroughly confused but at least she can upload more than 5 pictures at a time so that's good news!</div>
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Whew! We have a lot of catching up to do! Mom had a big fundraiser at work, so that coupled with her incessant lack of motivation has left MY blog severely behind! </div>
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A couple of weeks ago we had a visitor! You might remember him.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z9n0Dqlo7B4/T62gBvg6RjI/AAAAAAAAChE/qlcxwAKA3C0/s1600/jax+almost+smile.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z9n0Dqlo7B4/T62gBvg6RjI/AAAAAAAAChE/qlcxwAKA3C0/s320/jax+almost+smile.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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It was Jax! Jax's new name with SEPRA is <a href="http://pugrescueofmo.com/special/jackson.html">Jackson</a>. His foster mom went to Florida for a few days so he stayed with us. Oh my pug, was Mom happy! I was my usual indifferent. Vinny tried to hump him when he got here but Mom put the kibosh on that with a quickness!</div>
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Jax had surgery on his hips! After a month, Mom expected to see more progress - he WAS better, but not as good as she was hoping. After his foster mom got back, she took him back to the vet and they told her to put him back on his pain meds for a little while because it will help him to stay active and continue the rehab. They are happy with his progress so that is good news!</div>
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Well after Vinny was finished humping Jax, Jax apparently forgave him because they stayed all chummy for 4 days. Look at them. Then look where I am. Right by MOM!</div>
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Seriously. Vinny and Jax, get a room already!</div>
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When Jax got to our house he was sad and missing his foster mom. He loves her a whole bunch and boy does she love him.</div>
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But Mom thinks he started to remember us because he got happier and we fell into our old routine when he lived with us for four days right after he was rescued.</div>
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And of course Mom was all sad and sappy when he left again. This was right before he left:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">She didn't cry this time though because when his foster mom picked him
up, she saw how HAPPY he was to see her. His little tail nearly wagged
off and he snuggled in to her as hard as he could!</span><br />
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We also went over to Paul & Mae's house a couple of times. We had a BLAST but their Japanese Chin, Yogi, wasn't as happy to see us as we were to see him. He spent the whole time hiding from us. We found it pretty darn funny.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jnAvkSkD6RI/T62gQFzhL2I/AAAAAAAACiU/jGFPKtVb1nA/s1600/yogi+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jnAvkSkD6RI/T62gQFzhL2I/AAAAAAAACiU/jGFPKtVb1nA/s320/yogi+2.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-49931867551954005782012-03-31T00:28:00.009-05:002012-03-31T02:50:31.982-05:00Our Friend, PaytonWe have lost a friend.<br /><br />Mom & I found <a href="http://pugnaciousp.blogspot.com/">Payton's blog</a> sometime last year (pre-Vinny), and we were both so inspired by her. She was a real-life miracle pug. <a href="http://www.pugvillage.com/pug-health/pde-just-facts"> PDE </a>is a dirty "word" in the Pug world. It's terrifying. Pugs with PDE don't survive for long. But Payton did! She fought and she not only survived, but she thrived! She amazed everyone, including her doctors. And that was thanks in huge part, we all believe, to her incredible family, including her mom, dad, and her grandparents, who we all know as Gammy and Gampy.<br /><br />We were <a href="http://vitomarinothepug.blogspot.com/2011/08/visitors.html">lucky enough to actually meet Payton</a>, her mom, and her Gammy last summer, when they came to our house at the same time as our friend <a href="http://hank-itellyawhat.blogspot.com/">Hank </a>came to visit from Indianapolis on his Summer 2011 Midwest Tour. We didn't even realize at the time how close Payton lived to us. Mom remembered that Payton lived in Illinois (we live in St. Louis), so she decided on a whim to email Payton's mom and see if she might want to make a (what we thought at the time might be a long) drive over the river and join us? We were so surprised when her Mom told us that the drive was super-short and they had actually taken Payton to the patio of the coffee shop down the street from our house just a few weeks before!<br /><br />We had so much fun that day meeting Payton. She was unsure of us at first. Her mom told us that she hadn't been around a lot of other pugs before so we were quite a test for her (because Vinny is kind of out of control, I am an angel of course... um, yeah, that's the story). But Payton held her own! She let us know when we were out of line! (Which we were!) Payton came out of her shell so much that day and it led to so many more adventures for her. She ended up going on so many travels & meeting so many of our other blog friends in the following months! We were SO proud of her!! This little girl, given such a scary diagnosis, let nothing stop her.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x2tE6YyPu5U/T3aXtYGGswI/AAAAAAAACfw/K8gGgBaFWi8/s1600/P8120033.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x2tE6YyPu5U/T3aXtYGGswI/AAAAAAAACfw/K8gGgBaFWi8/s400/P8120033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725930782066127618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Payton, her Mom, and Gammy</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">at our house</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SVI_8lSItg8/T3aXsx_O_PI/AAAAAAAACfo/hQP07nTwO5c/s1600/P8120032.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SVI_8lSItg8/T3aXsx_O_PI/AAAAAAAACfo/hQP07nTwO5c/s400/P8120032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725930771836763378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Vinny being annoying and Payton being adorable</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JsUCYUiyBpM/T3aYUbESJbI/AAAAAAAACgk/6y6IpK6cgsI/s1600/P8120067.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JsUCYUiyBpM/T3aYUbESJbI/AAAAAAAACgk/6y6IpK6cgsI/s400/P8120067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725931452878693810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Hank (and his Mom Sarah), Me, Vinny (and our Mom) and Payton (and her Mom Christy).<br />Payton was giving us the stink-eye that we deserved.</span></span><br /></div><br />Today, we learned that our sweet friend went to the Bridge. She fought as hard and for as long as she could. Payton will forever be a legend in Pugdom. Despite drawing the short straw early in life with PDE, she defied all of the predictions. And she did that because of her mom, dad, Gammy & Gampy. She knew how lucky she was to have landed in the most amazing family a pug could ever have. She could not disappoint them. She loved them too much.<br /><br />Sweet Payton - you succeeded. You not only fought, but you taught even seasoned, expert doctors new things, so that they can help more pugs like you in the future. You are a hero, Payton. And you loved every minute of your life, thanks to your family who devoted everything to you.<br /><br />We miss you already and we hope that your family can heal soon and that you can give them the strength to do that from the Bridge by letting them know that you are happy there with your friends who went before you.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nu9s6NlRFuc/T3aXuFMt7FI/AAAAAAAACgY/XaY1MkTylLU/s1600/P8120049.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nu9s6NlRFuc/T3aXuFMt7FI/AAAAAAAACgY/XaY1MkTylLU/s400/P8120049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725930794173459538" border="0" /></a><br />We love you sweet, beautiful, brave girl.<br /><br />Vito, Vinny and GinaVito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-9083494832479876012012-03-26T18:19:00.005-05:002012-07-07T00:17:16.657-05:00Pug Party 2012!On Saturday we went to a big pug party! It was a gathering of <a href="http://pugrescueofmo.com/index.html">SEPRA </a>volunteers, fosters & adopters. There were so many of my cousins there!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t_kqmgR6JkI/T3D6TcaxPeI/AAAAAAAACdk/Akzwcnklj7g/s1600/photo%252815%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nsgNpMWt5B0/T3D6TBvjYEI/AAAAAAAACdU/2JsY_SKVSMI/s1600/photo%252814%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724350331180245058" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nsgNpMWt5B0/T3D6TBvjYEI/AAAAAAAACdU/2JsY_SKVSMI/s400/photo%252814%2529.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 299px;" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%;">This is Piper. She is a tiny little pugger! Four years old and only 11 pounds! She had a liver shunt like Vinny when she was only 6 months old.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QBQ1IhSTmxE/T3D58CWf0LI/AAAAAAAACcE/i6OVDyqCupc/s1600/photo%25284%2529.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724349936206598322" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QBQ1IhSTmxE/T3D58CWf0LI/AAAAAAAACcE/i6OVDyqCupc/s400/photo%25284%2529.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 299px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Piper and her mom</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EYKjy29wty8/T3D6SuBtR0I/AAAAAAAACdA/2bR4-CtehWo/s1600/photo%252811%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724350325887682370" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EYKjy29wty8/T3D6SuBtR0I/AAAAAAAACdA/2bR4-CtehWo/s400/photo%252811%2529.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 299px;" /></a>This is Theodore (Teddy). He is 8 years old and had heartworms & was just neutered two days before! He will be up for adoption soon & you can see his <a href="http://pugrescueofmo.com/special/theodore.html">Special Needs page on the SEPRA site here!</a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--v-ClarMuTA/T3D6SkoMbiI/AAAAAAAACc0/HYhc6R87iqY/s1600/photo%25289%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724350323364752930" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--v-ClarMuTA/T3D6SkoMbiI/AAAAAAAACc0/HYhc6R87iqY/s400/photo%25289%2529.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 299px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Teddy with his foster mama.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQaTCdd7ieI/T3D58iAOsBI/AAAAAAAACck/d7TUQyeTrrU/s1600/photo%25287%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724349944703135762" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQaTCdd7ieI/T3D58iAOsBI/AAAAAAAACck/d7TUQyeTrrU/s400/photo%25287%2529.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 299px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is Julie with her dad. She is 15 years old and a parapalegic. Her parents take such good care of her!</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_3D-puWkvq4/T3D58pDJvVI/AAAAAAAACcY/TGvZ0lrrM_w/s1600/photo%25286%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724349946594442578" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_3D-puWkvq4/T3D58pDJvVI/AAAAAAAACcY/TGvZ0lrrM_w/s400/photo%25286%2529.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 299px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is Bella Joy - Mom said she was Louie's twin! She is getting adopted this week!</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZViwxf2hq_o/T3D6Swwqc1I/AAAAAAAACdM/OIXophgmKqM/s1600/photo%252813%2529.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724350326621500242" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZViwxf2hq_o/T3D6Swwqc1I/AAAAAAAACdM/OIXophgmKqM/s400/photo%252813%2529.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 299px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Pug imposter! This is Anne!</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C0jpAZa_nlU/T3D58bV2UBI/AAAAAAAACcM/IdCdKWdHScg/s1600/photo%25285%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724349942914764818" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C0jpAZa_nlU/T3D58bV2UBI/AAAAAAAACcM/IdCdKWdHScg/s400/photo%25285%2529.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 299px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I panted the whole time even though it wasn't hot. I was just so excited!</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AsPglUonQSk/T3D570-CSQI/AAAAAAAACb4/aOSbTYtuOM8/s1600/photo%25283%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724349932614338818" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AsPglUonQSk/T3D570-CSQI/AAAAAAAACb4/aOSbTYtuOM8/s400/photo%25283%2529.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 299px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Me and my brother Vinny</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1G06ljV0HHs/T3EIBTbuzAI/AAAAAAAACfQ/lyxC21InUyc/s1600/photo%252815%2529.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724365419854089218" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1G06ljV0HHs/T3EIBTbuzAI/AAAAAAAACfQ/lyxC21InUyc/s400/photo%252815%2529.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">LOOK WHO SHOWED UP AND SURPRISED MOM! It was Jax! She started crying like a little girl and it was so embarrassing. Vinny and I pretended like we didn't know her after that til it was time to go home.</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZJDDi13H8s/T3D6wNWqIQI/AAAAAAAACec/Uxft4ZTz5MA/s1600/photo%252818%2529.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724350832513261826" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZJDDi13H8s/T3D6wNWqIQI/AAAAAAAACec/Uxft4ZTz5MA/s400/photo%252818%2529.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mom and Jax (now known as Jackson with SEPRA)</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nlrl_FZ91a0/T3D6vWazpeI/AAAAAAAACeI/m-XJLRiDShU/s1600/photo%252816%2529.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724350817766712802" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nlrl_FZ91a0/T3D6vWazpeI/AAAAAAAACeI/m-XJLRiDShU/s400/photo%252816%2529.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mom swears he was smiling here. But she is often delusional.</span></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XkpSbYtKgUM/T3EKr-_yNzI/AAAAAAAACfc/VxzkGI8sfSA/s1600/photo%252817%2529.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724368352125794098" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XkpSbYtKgUM/T3EKr-_yNzI/AAAAAAAACfc/VxzkGI8sfSA/s400/photo%252817%2529.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>Jax's new foster mom took him for a second opinion on his hips last week. They are going to do surgery this Thursday! Mom is happy about that but also nervous. He also has a problem with one of his knees but they are going to do this hip surgery first to see if that helps. If you have any spare change, SEPRA could really use help with the cost of his surgery. Any little bit helps, honestly! Fingers crossed that this helps him live a normal puggie life! <a href="http://pugrescueofmo.com/special/jackson.html">You can see his page here and donate at the bottom where it says "Virtual Foster."</a><br />
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There were even more puggies there but Mom didn't get pics of all of them. We had a great time and boy were we tired when we got home!<br />
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Finally, here are some new pics of Louie and his family, taken for his brother's 2nd birthday! They are pretty cute, I must admit!!</div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WkHXFF6-ErM/T3D7CHjfcwI/AAAAAAAACes/s1G8PwllrhQ/s1600/Louie%2Band%2Bfamily.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724351140194120450" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WkHXFF6-ErM/T3D7CHjfcwI/AAAAAAAACes/s1G8PwllrhQ/s400/Louie%2Band%2Bfamily.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xREmIfpaOH4/T3D7Cns9blI/AAAAAAAACfE/2VjJBv2Fduk/s1600/Louie%2Band%2BJonah%2B2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724351148823768658" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xREmIfpaOH4/T3D7Cns9blI/AAAAAAAACfE/2VjJBv2Fduk/s400/Louie%2Band%2BJonah%2B2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4xiJZR9_Pug/T3D7Cd3M26I/AAAAAAAACe0/D3rTlceJ88A/s1600/Louie%2Band%2BJonah%2B1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724351146182368162" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4xiJZR9_Pug/T3D7Cd3M26I/AAAAAAAACe0/D3rTlceJ88A/s400/Louie%2Band%2BJonah%2B1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 267px;" /></a>We'll talk to you guys soon! Mom is planning to get caught up on everyone's blogs this week! Later, friends!<br />
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PS from Mom: look at my new pug print! I LOOOOOOVE IT! <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/77642970/pug-wine-company-original-illustration?ref=sr_gallery_8&sref=&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=pug+wine+art&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade">You can get one too, with any background color!</a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ONKUOh9mGbE/T3D6vE-huYI/AAAAAAAACd4/NgBpaQrg360/s1600/pug%2Bwine.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724350813084694914" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ONKUOh9mGbE/T3D6vE-huYI/AAAAAAAACd4/NgBpaQrg360/s400/pug%2Bwine.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 299px;" /></a>Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-70143341630715647002012-03-12T21:05:00.006-05:002012-03-14T23:02:54.801-05:00Yep, We're Still AliveNot much going on in this neck of the woods. Except that it's super warm so we've been getting to play outside a lot in the evenings! Our favorite thing is to root around in the grass with our non-existent snouts.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rAtpNjZ92Rw/T16rq1WEKPI/AAAAAAAACbc/rrgWoR_c424/s1600/Vinny%2Band%2BVito%2Boutside.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rAtpNjZ92Rw/T16rq1WEKPI/AAAAAAAACbc/rrgWoR_c424/s400/Vinny%2Band%2BVito%2Boutside.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719197329169590514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Mom had actually wiped off our faces before this picture - she missed some.</span></span><br /></div><br />Mom made us put on flea treatment a little earlier than normal because it's been so warm. I wish flea treatment came in food form. But alas, it just comes in some wet stuff that goes on my back after I get Furminated. I looooove getting Furminated. Vinny DOES NOT. And he's the big shedder! That's what Mom gets for getting me a brother! Karma, lady.<br /><br />Mom got us some new collars. Do you hate having your collar taken off? WE DO! And I especially hate having it put back on. Mom hates putting the little tags back on the collars. I say we all lose. But oh no, she thinks we need to have clean sparkly collars like we are some kind of show-ponies instead of PUGS.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-obwYfaoJj4c/T16rqm0PqbI/AAAAAAAACbQ/9qncpImSEr0/s1600/Vinny%2Band%2BVito%2Bnew%2Bcollars.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-obwYfaoJj4c/T16rqm0PqbI/AAAAAAAACbQ/9qncpImSEr0/s400/Vinny%2Band%2BVito%2Bnew%2Bcollars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719197325269641650" border="0" /></a>Here's Vinny telling Mom it's time to go to bed. She stays up way too late on weekends. This was her signal on Saturday night that it was time to hit the hay.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hnXC4anBtVc/T16rrHj2fYI/AAAAAAAACbo/Dw2io8UPVgE/s1600/vinny%2Bsleeping.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hnXC4anBtVc/T16rrHj2fYI/AAAAAAAACbo/Dw2io8UPVgE/s400/vinny%2Bsleeping.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719197334059253122" border="0" /></a>And just because, Mom says we have to throw in this picture of <a href="http://vitomarinothepug.blogspot.com/2011/05/goodbye-little-louie-boy.html">Louie </a>because it's "so so so cute." Whatevs!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rapxoumYdNI/T16rqUfcE8I/AAAAAAAACbI/1hk_BddF87s/s1600/louie%2Bclose%2Bup.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rapxoumYdNI/T16rqUfcE8I/AAAAAAAACbI/1hk_BddF87s/s400/louie%2Bclose%2Bup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719197320350536642" border="0" /></a><br />That's all, folks! We'll write again when we have something exciting to say. Who knows when that will be.<br /><br />Later friends!<br /><br />PS From Mom: I still can't post on most of your blogs! Those that have a "pop-up" comment box work just fine! But those that don't - I can either see others' comments but there is nowhere for me to comment (and yes I'm signed in) OR I click on "comment" and it just goes to a white screen! Ugh! I'm even mostly caught up on reading but can't leave you fun little notes! Don't take it personally! Hank, Payton, Payton's Gampy, etc. etc. miss you all! And shout-out to a blog we just discovered - <a href="http://misterbeanalittlepuginabigworld.blogspot.com/">Mr. Bean</a>! TOO incredibly cute and funny!<br /><br />PS Again: Payton's awesome Mom just told me how to make our blog have the "pop-up" comment box! You should try it too so we can comment on your blogs again (even though I don't know why we suddenly can't when we used to able to)! Go to your dashboard, select Settings, then Comments, then scroll down to where you select how your comments appear, i.e. Imbedded, Pop-Up, etc. Choose Pop-Up!Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-72271770382022865132012-03-05T19:09:00.008-06:002012-03-05T20:35:53.579-06:00Playing Catch-Up (and Stupid Vets!)I'm back! Since I last talked to you, Mom took me to the vet. Usually I like going to the vet but this time I knew something was... DIFFERENT. First of all, I DIDN'T GET BREAKFAST. And you better believe I barked my head off the WHOLE time Mom was getting ready! Then we went to the vet's office. I was suspicious. Then some crazy lady came out and tried to take me from Mom. Mom just handed over my leash! This was unusual! So I went ahead and tried to follow Mom out but Mom just walked away! (Full disclaimer: she didn't walk away happy, she was kind of teary. Oh cry me a river, lady!) Finally that crazy lady just picked me up and whisked me away! I don't remember a lot after that, until Mom picked me up later that day. I was WOOZY and I wasn't even excited to see her.<br /><br />Turns out, I had my teeth cleaned - and they pulled two of them right out of my mouth! Mom wasn't happy and neither was I! The vet said my teeth in the back were super crowded and had caused some gross-ness. (Apparently smush-faces equal smush-teeth!) Also while I was under, they removed this gross bump from my side. (I blogged about it <a href="http://vitomarinothepug.blogspot.com/2011/07/need-advice.html">here</a>.) I have seven stitches! It was zero fun and I was pretty sad on Friday night.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bzqtD4fQS38/T1Vj-rHxq7I/AAAAAAAACZ8/EZDi5Wdvrfk/s1600/vito%2Bafter%2Bsurgery%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bzqtD4fQS38/T1Vj-rHxq7I/AAAAAAAACZ8/EZDi5Wdvrfk/s400/vito%2Bafter%2Bsurgery%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716585230395091890" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nHA2cXt7u1M/T1VkXpJKPEI/AAAAAAAACaY/p9VPuQGYhtw/s1600/vito%2Bafter%2Bsurgery.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nHA2cXt7u1M/T1VkXpJKPEI/AAAAAAAACaY/p9VPuQGYhtw/s400/vito%2Bafter%2Bsurgery.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716585659360754754" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sCDcYTavEQc/T1Vj--bCtjI/AAAAAAAACaI/yvII8ebrWro/s1600/vito%2Bincision.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sCDcYTavEQc/T1Vj--bCtjI/AAAAAAAACaI/yvII8ebrWro/s400/vito%2Bincision.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716585235576174130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">No more gross skin tag!</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hxYd_vm2PV0/T1VkX79MtzI/AAAAAAAACao/pARtmtUKW10/s1600/Vito%2Bsleepy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hxYd_vm2PV0/T1VkX79MtzI/AAAAAAAACao/pARtmtUKW10/s400/Vito%2Bsleepy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716585664410859314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I was sleepy. (Mom's note: "and precious!")</span></span><br /></div><br />But don't you worry, I was back to my bossy spirited self on Saturday!<br /><br />Now for some catch-up, not only for Mom being lazy but for Mom's stupid iPhone and how now she only takes pictures with her phone & is super...wait for it...LAZY about getting pictures from her phone on to MY BLOG! So here is some eye candy for Vinny's and my admirers.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9oag5neT6lU/T1Vj9wb7WWI/AAAAAAAACZc/vrHKuNYQkpA/s1600/vito%2Bvinny%2Bbed.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9oag5neT6lU/T1Vj9wb7WWI/AAAAAAAACZc/vrHKuNYQkpA/s400/vito%2Bvinny%2Bbed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716585214641920354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Night-night!</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Iir-axZstoc/T1Vj93vdV-I/AAAAAAAACZo/8snwZB5tOPQ/s1600/vinny%2Bbed.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Iir-axZstoc/T1Vj93vdV-I/AAAAAAAACZo/8snwZB5tOPQ/s400/vinny%2Bbed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716585216602888162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Vinny</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l6d0p_lJluM/T1VnNpFqzsI/AAAAAAAACaw/gSIKWJvIgcY/s1600/vinny%2Bbed%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l6d0p_lJluM/T1VnNpFqzsI/AAAAAAAACaw/gSIKWJvIgcY/s400/vinny%2Bbed%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716588786082303682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Vinny after getting his belly rubbed. He only likes his belly rubbed in bed. He's weird.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PydIhjMmwWo/T1VnN_FIXOI/AAAAAAAACa4/mUubxDb2Q-I/s1600/vito%2Bbed.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PydIhjMmwWo/T1VnN_FIXOI/AAAAAAAACa4/mUubxDb2Q-I/s400/vito%2Bbed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716588791985626338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">That's me and I would like Mom to turn off the lights so I can burrow in to my usual spot under the covers slammed in to her stomach.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_QTetUqIVSQ/T1Vj-cFkrzI/AAAAAAAACZ0/jiHryi5ZAzs/s1600/vinny%2Bthank%2Byou.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_QTetUqIVSQ/T1Vj-cFkrzI/AAAAAAAACZ0/jiHryi5ZAzs/s400/vinny%2Bthank%2Byou.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716585226359320370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Random picture of Vinny after likely stealing that Nylabone from ME.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M4aw9gU4ixg/T1Vjw3lutSI/AAAAAAAACZQ/uiJ3i6TvnUA/s1600/vito%2Bsnuggled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M4aw9gU4ixg/T1Vjw3lutSI/AAAAAAAACZQ/uiJ3i6TvnUA/s400/vito%2Bsnuggled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716584993223783714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Me being extremely comfortable. Don't you sleep with your foot in your eye?</span></span><br /></div><br />Alright, I have some laying around to do now, so I must say: Later friends!<br /><br />PS Jax Update: he was neutered last week and had a dental - he had to have SEVEN teeth removed! So Mom says I should stop whining. ;)Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-85142984379184288672012-02-29T19:39:00.006-06:002012-02-29T20:15:05.932-06:00Back Again!I'm back! That's right, I finally wrestled the Chardonnay out of Mom's paws (hands? whatever) long enough to make her do some dictation for me.<br /><br />Don't worry, you haven't missed much. Well except for some "excitement" over Vinny being in some kind of contest for a COVER SHOOT for a MAGAZINE. Mom entered him in a contest for a local pet magazine's "rescue dog" edition. He made a pretty good run at it (with a LOT of help from our blogger friends over on that "Pug Sluts" - you heard me - page on Facebook). But he ended up coming in third place and instead just gets a little write-up and his picture in the magazine as opposed to a fancy photo shoot and the COVER. I say it's Mom's karma for not entering me (even though I was an "unofficial" rescue) because I think we all know who is better looking - ME, NOT VINNY. Here's the shot that they entered and will appear in the March issue of TAME Pet Magazine here in St. Louis:<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jgl51bqVV6w/T07Wly-jbMI/AAAAAAAACYU/jD-j-zGQ_oE/s1600/P7090012.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jgl51bqVV6w/T07Wly-jbMI/AAAAAAAACYU/jD-j-zGQ_oE/s400/P7090012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714740922007383234" border="0" /></a>NOW that we got that out of the way (is anyone else sick of talking about Vinny?), let's get on to the excitement that's been happening around here. Well, to be perfectly honest, I use the word "excitement" loosely. We did get some Kongs though.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KIZafmt0KB0/T07WmWcRyRI/AAAAAAAACYc/CRx2skReQuo/s1600/PB110001.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KIZafmt0KB0/T07WmWcRyRI/AAAAAAAACYc/CRx2skReQuo/s400/PB110001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714740931527297298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">ME!!!<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DH7kenD8dlg/T07Wmlfm6XI/AAAAAAAACYs/m0a_qt3Sid4/s1600/PB110010.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DH7kenD8dlg/T07Wmlfm6XI/AAAAAAAACYs/m0a_qt3Sid4/s400/PB110010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714740935567796594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Vinny</span><br /></div><br />We've also done "exciting" stuff like be SUPER lazy. Like this:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1JfWcxvSO0w/T07Ueu88Q3I/AAAAAAAACX8/0_XhdNX4y8w/s1600/PB240005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1JfWcxvSO0w/T07Ueu88Q3I/AAAAAAAACX8/0_XhdNX4y8w/s400/PB240005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714738601644540786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Vinny</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v3akwtLQWJ8/T07WmyYuSlI/AAAAAAAACY4/GQDVYJgEol4/s1600/PC050003.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v3akwtLQWJ8/T07WmyYuSlI/AAAAAAAACY4/GQDVYJgEol4/s400/PC050003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714740939028580946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I can barely keep my eyes open from all of the "excitement."</span></span><br /></div><br />Oh in case you were wondering, I'm still peeing in the house. Hooray! But stupid Mom has really been making me wear that belly band WAY more often than she was. But if she relaxes it for a SECOND, you better believe I pee all over the furniture! Yes! I still win Mom!<br /><br />I think that's all. OH and just so you know, Mom is REALLY mad at Blogger because she has been trying to leave comments on some of your blogs for a couple of weeks now and it just spins & spins & she can't! I don't have thumbs so I can't help, but Vinny does and even he couldn't make it work. The blogs that have a "pop-up" comment box work, but the others don't. :( We are sorry!!! Mom says she will keep trying.<br /><br />Oh and remember Jax? His foster mom sent Mom this picture last week. He seems to be getting along with his foster sister Peggy just fine. The vets still say that surgery won't help his hips. It's super sad. They are trying diet & supplements for now. :(<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NyZzJ65IQrA/T07Ud4XgpKI/AAAAAAAACXY/sL5q31J6M5s/s1600/Jax%2Band%2BPeggy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NyZzJ65IQrA/T07Ud4XgpKI/AAAAAAAACXY/sL5q31J6M5s/s400/Jax%2Band%2BPeggy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714738586992026786" border="0" /></a>That's all for now folks! Later friends!Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-68379899180485604352012-02-10T19:04:00.004-06:002012-02-10T19:17:07.327-06:00That was too fast...I took Jax to his new foster Mom on Wednesday. Boy was it sad for only having this guy since Saturday! He is such a love. The sweetest, snuggliest boy ever. Yes, you heard me Vito and Vinny. You could take some lessons. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PZmXLeRWrD4/TzW-1T-bANI/AAAAAAAACW0/bdW7TVOehkg/s1600/jax%2Band%2Bvinny.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PZmXLeRWrD4/TzW-1T-bANI/AAAAAAAACW0/bdW7TVOehkg/s400/jax%2Band%2Bvinny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707677925866406098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Vinny: "Who, me?"</span></span><br /><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--SBEfZCAcAA/TzW_GGh9v7I/AAAAAAAACXM/3CPQ8_jWjmA/s1600/vito%2Bjax%2Bbelly%2Bbands.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--SBEfZCAcAA/TzW_GGh9v7I/AAAAAAAACXM/3CPQ8_jWjmA/s400/vito%2Bjax%2Bbelly%2Bbands.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707678214315163570" border="0" /></a><br />Just like when Pippa was here and she was so sick, Vito was really good with Jax. He seemed to know something was wrong with him and he laid on the floor with him a lot (note the belly bands). Jax seemed most comfortable on hard surfaces, and I'm happy his new foster Mom has carpet throughout her house because it's much easier for him to get his footing on carpet than on my hardwood floors.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-toX1gmYMKJU/TzW_GDEBsoI/AAAAAAAACXA/XCeGgUXcN_Q/s1600/jaxy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-toX1gmYMKJU/TzW_GDEBsoI/AAAAAAAACXA/XCeGgUXcN_Q/s400/jaxy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707678213384286850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:85%;" >How precious is this baby? And if only you could snuggle him!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">But his new foster Mom came back from vacation so I met her at her work on Wednesday afternoon for the handoff. She instantly loved him and was so sweet with me, who as you can imagine, was a crying mess. <br /></div></div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VzYHhcBPkYo/TzW-1CsAmuI/AAAAAAAACWo/oODDbauNpzE/s1600/bye%2Bjax.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VzYHhcBPkYo/TzW-1CsAmuI/AAAAAAAACWo/oODDbauNpzE/s400/bye%2Bjax.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707677921225775842" border="0" /></a>She gave me a hug and assured me she would take great care of him and I know she will. Jax and I got some snuggle time in the Jeep while we waited for her and that's when the tears came. It's a really good thing I had him such a short amount of time because I can't imagine getting more attached to him! I just wanted to cry looking at him most times because his walk is so sad and it's so unfair for such a perfect pug.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sTpXdfCkQc4/TzW-0m3uyvI/AAAAAAAACWc/emRI6C2zJ2w/s1600/bye%2Bjax%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sTpXdfCkQc4/TzW-0m3uyvI/AAAAAAAACWc/emRI6C2zJ2w/s400/bye%2Bjax%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707677913758747378" border="0" /></a>He was shaking as we were in the Jeep - I know he knew he was leaving me. Ugh! But his new FM called me that night and said he was doing just great. And I just realized I never updated you all - the vet called on Monday morning and said the orthopedic surgeon did not recommend surgery based on the x-rays alone "because he seems to get around and doesn't seem to be in much pain." I disagree with that and so does his new FM, so she is going to see about getting a second opinion. I do hate the thought of him going through such an invasive surgery - but at four years old, it's heartbreaking to think of him hobbling around with so much of his life left.<br /><br />The best news is that his FM said I can pug-sit him when she has to travel for work! Hooray!<br /><br />Hope to have some posts from the Double V's soon! "Hope" being the key word! Miss you all and thank you for still reading as I struggle through this blogging slump! I "hope" to use some of this weekend to get caught up on your blogs too!<br /><br />Later friends!Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-66230298591816661682012-02-04T18:49:00.004-06:002012-02-11T01:41:15.790-06:00Jax is HereVito's Mom making another guest appearance. I went to pick up Jax this morning an hour and a half from St. Louis. Pippa's mom rescued him last night and she called and recommended that he see a vet right away, so I took him straight there after picking him up. He is pitiful.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2xD4teYZ9fk/Ty3SOGcixqI/AAAAAAAACVY/8GtvuwT91Dg/s1600/Jax%2Bfirst%2Bpic.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2xD4teYZ9fk/Ty3SOGcixqI/AAAAAAAACVY/8GtvuwT91Dg/s400/Jax%2Bfirst%2Bpic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705447442638620322" border="0" /></a>He walks like he's drunk, and falls to the side. He's tiny and his ribs are visible (16 pounds). His back end is much smaller than his front end. His breath is atrocious and Pippa's mom found an ear infection. He sheds like a beast, likely due to his poor diet.<br /><br />The doctor found a lot of things. He thought at first after visual observation that his walking-problems might be neurological, but after doing a few manual tests on him, he decided to do x-rays. The results showed what the vet called "the worst hips I have ever seen." :( He has hip displaysia and secondary arthritis. He said the hips aren't even in the sockets - and he couldn't really see any sockets for them to be in. He's going to send the x-rays to an orthopedic surgeon to see if anything can be done surgically.<br /><br />On top of that, he needs to be neutered (oh the marking!), have an infected tooth removed, and he has a yeast infection in his ears. I'm so curious to know the story of what happened to this little guy's eye, and who cared enough about him at one point in his short life to actually take him to a vet to get it repaired.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fx8VttCr7lU/Ty3SN4PVfII/AAAAAAAACVI/gkM6wwxhgJo/s1600/3%2Bpugs%2Bliving%2Broom.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fx8VttCr7lU/Ty3SN4PVfII/AAAAAAAACVI/gkM6wwxhgJo/s400/3%2Bpugs%2Bliving%2Broom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705447438825127042" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-my8x8E3Q1SA/Ty3SOM0whMI/AAAAAAAACVQ/cFL7xBJZgpE/s1600/3%2Bpugs.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-my8x8E3Q1SA/Ty3SOM0whMI/AAAAAAAACVQ/cFL7xBJZgpE/s400/3%2Bpugs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705447444350796994" border="0" /></a>The good news is that he is absolutely precious. He is so sweet and loves to be held and snuggled, and just nuzzles in to your neck. We just hope something can be done for him.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ysb8_E286qE/Ty3SOcXbp2I/AAAAAAAACVw/IVnsxyz2b5c/s1600/vito%2Band%2Bjax.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ysb8_E286qE/Ty3SOcXbp2I/AAAAAAAACVw/IVnsxyz2b5c/s400/vito%2Band%2Bjax.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705447448522762082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Vito is alarmed.</span></span><br /></div><br />He goes to his permanent foster Mom on Wednesday, so I'll just love on him until then. Vito & Vinny are being pretty good to him although Vinny is currently in time-out for barking at him too much. He's 3 years old so he's in for 3 minutes. Isn't that how it works?<br /><br />We'll keep you updated on Jax's journey.Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-1631925639360542862012-02-03T00:36:00.008-06:002012-02-03T03:47:55.794-06:00What's a Blog?That's the question. I remember what a blog is. But my Mom clearly DOESN'T. And since she's the one who knows how to type, Vinny & I have been totally screwed!!<br /><br />But don't worry, faithful followers, it's not like we've been doing anything too exciting around here.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EdLPW3wIJ6M/TyuDGZ84QPI/AAAAAAAACUY/gHcDy29Lzs4/s1600/PB110002.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EdLPW3wIJ6M/TyuDGZ84QPI/AAAAAAAACUY/gHcDy29Lzs4/s400/PB110002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704797499063550194" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >I discovered a new perch instead of the ottoman.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2bkmJ4xvmZk/TyuIsrT026I/AAAAAAAACU8/E1Zt0R6XaSo/s1600/vito%2Bstretched.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 378px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2bkmJ4xvmZk/TyuIsrT026I/AAAAAAAACU8/E1Zt0R6XaSo/s400/vito%2Bstretched.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704803654116367266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">And I stretched out a lot. Usually on Mom's lap.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JQhCz-wFkrI/TyuIschlC9I/AAAAAAAACUs/Qy0gndPtCUg/s1600/vito%2Bheat%2Bvent.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JQhCz-wFkrI/TyuIschlC9I/AAAAAAAACUs/Qy0gndPtCUg/s400/vito%2Bheat%2Bvent.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704803650147519442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">And then there were a few cold days where I remembered where the heat vent is.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zh7WQKHvvzk/TyuCNhw54KI/AAAAAAAACUA/oPeTQBqY0CE/s1600/PC120005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zh7WQKHvvzk/TyuCNhw54KI/AAAAAAAACUA/oPeTQBqY0CE/s400/PC120005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704796521908265122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">And I got a Shut-Up Stick or five.</span></span><br /><br /></div>And we've discovered that Vinny freaks out whenever any animal is on tv. So much for the theory that dogs don't see clearly b/c this weirdo senses an animal on tv even when it's on "Mute."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zFA0gdy5Gd0/TyuIsaFzI2I/AAAAAAAACUk/HjZhYGa8y78/s1600/vinny%2Btv.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 355px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zFA0gdy5Gd0/TyuIsaFzI2I/AAAAAAAACUk/HjZhYGa8y78/s400/vinny%2Btv.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704803649494131554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Mom clearly has no interest in discipline. And that's fine by us.</span></span><br /></div><br />Seriously, even when it's just a cat or a chicken, he does this. Really - when there is no sound on at all! Or even just Cesar Millan's face!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KT3Jz-mvXXk/TyuCOK1KZKI/AAAAAAAACUM/tPtu_W6I_wA/s1600/PC030014.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KT3Jz-mvXXk/TyuCOK1KZKI/AAAAAAAACUM/tPtu_W6I_wA/s400/PC030014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704796532931978402" border="0" /></a><br />Obviously Mom has been neglecting us as usual. She went to a fundraiser a few weeks ago. She told Vinny & I it was a fundraiser for dogs so we didn't squeal TOO much when she left (but we were secretly skeptical). It was a fundraiser for <a href="http://gatewaypets.com/">Gateway Pet Guardians </a>who feed the strays in East St. Louis every single day (PJ hasn't missed a SINGLE DAY since 2003!) and they also rescue when they can, but they don't have a shelter so they rely strictly on foster homes - so they need lots of fundraisers like that one! And Mom "fell in love" (GROSS!).<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ykD7ZX5QO74/TyuCMxtz0pI/AAAAAAAACTc/6pVRuint4oY/s1600/gina%2Band%2Brex%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ykD7ZX5QO74/TyuCMxtz0pI/AAAAAAAACTc/6pVRuint4oY/s400/gina%2Band%2Brex%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704796509010383506" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iJP3YjkQDCk/TyuCNZO5BEI/AAAAAAAACT0/adTObfrsC9g/s1600/gina%2Band%2Brex.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iJP3YjkQDCk/TyuCNZO5BEI/AAAAAAAACT0/adTObfrsC9g/s400/gina%2Band%2Brex.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704796519618118722" border="0" /></a>Now, my instinct tells me to hate those pictures. But I know that puppy didn't have a home and he was found wandering alone away from his Mom & his brothers & sisters and that sounds kind of sad. His name is Rex. Mom says now that she thinks he's found a home but she was dangerously close to bringing him home to live with Vinny & me that night because he "melted into" her.<br /><br />Before you go and start thinking I'm a softie, I'm NOT! Because I've caught wind that Mom is doing something Gawd-awful Saturday morning. She's going on a road trip (and not taking me with her!) and bringing someone back with her from Rolla, MO (about an hour and a half from us in St. Louis).<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SM4H-SyBnL8/TyuCNErdgFI/AAAAAAAACTo/HQpscz3eaB8/s1600/1-30-12jax.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SM4H-SyBnL8/TyuCNErdgFI/AAAAAAAACTo/HQpscz3eaB8/s400/1-30-12jax.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704796514100805714" border="0" /></a><br />Meet Jax. Pippa's Mom (you remember <a href="http://vitomarinothepug.blogspot.com/2011/11/shes-home.html">Pippa </a>right??) found Jax in one of those crazy "free to a good home" ads and she contacted <a href="http://pugrescueofmo.com/">SEPRA </a>to see if they could save him. There was an open foster home (NOT MINE THANK GOODNESS!!) but that home is on vacation right now, so my own Mom is going to get him on Saturday and Jax is going to stay with us until next Wednesday when my Mom takes him to meet his permanent foster Mom at the vet. The people who have Jax now say he has "hip issues" and as you can see, he's missing an eye, so he's got some things to over come. Vinny & I have agreed to take it easy on him while he's here. We DO have hearts SOMETIMES. If it's on a limited time frame. Yeah!<br /><br />Alright, I'll TRY to make Mom post something this weekend and since Jax will be here, I'm sure she'll be allllll over it. She loves posting about dogs that aren't us. She's a real jerk that way.<br /><br />And I will MAKE her get caught up on your blogs too, if I have to sit on her to do it! Later, friends!Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-52546549504823549762012-01-11T20:57:00.006-06:002012-01-11T22:40:32.109-06:00Welcome to the FamilyYep, you read that right. I just acknowledged that Vinny is officially part of our family. He has to be I guess because now he has a <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360320777915">Puppia harness</a> that matches mine AND a St. Francis tag to protect him, just like mine. (PS if you follow that link, you'll find our friend Sue at My Doggie's Closet on Ebay - that is where Mom gets our harnesses and St. Francis tags which she has also bought as gifts for other canine friends! AND you'll see a pic of Yours Truly and my little brother. Disclaimer: this is not a paid promotion! We just happened upon Sue when Mom was looking for my first harness back in the day, and she was so great about making sure it was the right size! PLUS, she has lots of other doggie goodies!) <br /><br />ANNNYYYWAAAAYYY, I guess that means Vinny's here to stay for good, so I have decided to embrace it (maybe temporarily? We'll see...).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j2v-7WoDrQw/Tw5MM_nch-I/AAAAAAAACSg/2nnQ6F1eRd0/s1600/Vito%2BVinny%2Bharnesses.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j2v-7WoDrQw/Tw5MM_nch-I/AAAAAAAACSg/2nnQ6F1eRd0/s400/Vito%2BVinny%2Bharnesses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696574364789278690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Vinny in blue, me in green. Who's better looking? YOU BETTER SAY ME.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WXarC_kdvek/Tw5MMxdJWjI/AAAAAAAACSU/9ditmzhBoQY/s1600/Vinny%2Bharness.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WXarC_kdvek/Tw5MMxdJWjI/AAAAAAAACSU/9ditmzhBoQY/s400/Vinny%2Bharness.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696574360987982386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Since I'm embracing him, I will say Vinny looks pretty good in blue.</span></span><br /></div><br />I decided since he's staying, that he & I should band together and slowly drive Mom insane. Boy has it been FUN! We've been marking on every spot that would stand still in the house! And that is a lot of spots!<br /><br />But then Mom got wise that it wasn't just me doing the marking. She caught Vinny in the act. (He is still a rookie after all, he has a few things to learn about not getting caught.) Little did she know, months ago I had showed Vinny how much fun it is to pee indoors, and since I'm his big brother, he followed along and has done an amazing job! I'm so proud I could almost cry.<br /><br />I didn't think this completely through though because something called a "belly band" exists. Mom had tried it on me before but got lazy - imagine that! And Vinny had to wear one til he was neutered and he peed right through those suckers like a champ! But after his neuter he didn't pee inside anymore. Until I decided to get him on my side. :)<br /><br />But look at this:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KIEaoTcCTKI/Tw5N-fT3WhI/AAAAAAAACS4/1Uw05jm5pJ8/s1600/belly%2Bbands.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KIEaoTcCTKI/Tw5N-fT3WhI/AAAAAAAACS4/1Uw05jm5pJ8/s400/belly%2Bbands.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696576314622302738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">DRAT!</span></span><br /></div><br />We were caught completely off guard with the belly bands. We didn't think Mom would actually go through with it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jl4Ymz6BB1o/Tw5N-ij5w3I/AAAAAAAACTM/yzAx6U3gDzQ/s1600/vito%2Bbelly%2Bband.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jl4Ymz6BB1o/Tw5N-ij5w3I/AAAAAAAACTM/yzAx6U3gDzQ/s400/vito%2Bbelly%2Bband.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696576315494876018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I immediately sank in to a deep depression.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RvdNiYnExwk/Tw5N-dgyc6I/AAAAAAAACTA/os0yv3_Lvdo/s1600/vinny%2Bbelly%2Bband.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RvdNiYnExwk/Tw5N-dgyc6I/AAAAAAAACTA/os0yv3_Lvdo/s400/vinny%2Bbelly%2Bband.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696576314139636642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">And Vinny didn't fare much better. He only lifted his head for the camera.</span></span><br /></div><br />Well they made us stop marking. But we figured out how to wiggle out of them pretty quick - Vinny was a pro and actually gave me some pointers. Who knew younger brothers were good for anything? And as predicted, Mom got lazy again, and wouldn't you know it? We started marking inside again immediately! Serves her right for trying to outsmart pugs! She keeps threatening us with something called "Craigslist" but we know she's all talk about that too.<br /><br />Update: just thought you all might want to see my former foster-sister Pippa - in the middle of a fawn pug sandwich, with her brothers Otis and Stuey. And today is her mom Stacey's birthday - so Happy Birthday Stacey!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KIEaoTcCTKI/Tw5N-fT3WhI/AAAAAAAACS4/1Uw05jm5pJ8/s1600/belly%2Bbands.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-abcAknGs5oY/Tw5MNOaM7OI/AAAAAAAACSo/LDiAf26OAIA/s1600/pippa%2Bsandwich.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-abcAknGs5oY/Tw5MNOaM7OI/AAAAAAAACSo/LDiAf26OAIA/s400/pippa%2Bsandwich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696574368760261858" border="0" /></a>That's all for now! Happy peeing-indoors, Friends! Winter is here and that's the best time to leave your mark. :)<br /><br />Later!Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-87328397202765145072012-01-05T20:37:00.021-06:002012-01-08T00:24:52.051-06:00"So This is Christmas & What Have You Done?": 2011FINALLY, I have whined enough to get Mom to do a Christmas post! Seriously, this is the laziest lady you would ever have the misfortune of meeting. Yeah, yeah, she feeds me and my brother, but that's about the extent of it. Sometimes she gives us water and lets us go outside to see the light of day but those are only rare treats.<br /><br />We went to see Grandma & Grandpa in the Ozarks as usual for Christmas and it was Vinny's first time there. He seemed to like it okay. But since Christmas fell on Sunday this year - we were there from Thursday through Monday and we were ALL (especially MOM!) ready to get back home.<br /><br />Here goes:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IxJgXgbnaWY/TwZ9JPWqzhI/AAAAAAAACQo/ozcg2MC_YXg/s1600/PC240035.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IxJgXgbnaWY/TwZ9JPWqzhI/AAAAAAAACQo/ozcg2MC_YXg/s400/PC240035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694376376550477330" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-25a5ReaHHrw/TwZoEIuhdII/AAAAAAAACQY/SJCt5E44vPw/s1600/PC240034.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-25a5ReaHHrw/TwZoEIuhdII/AAAAAAAACQY/SJCt5E44vPw/s400/PC240034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694353199127950466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Vinny</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RoOWSq-uzZ8/TwZ9KXR7QfI/AAAAAAAACRY/-pC020VJPH0/s1600/PC240045.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RoOWSq-uzZ8/TwZ9KXR7QfI/AAAAAAAACRY/-pC020VJPH0/s400/PC240045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694376395857936882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Snoozing on Mom's lap</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yw2fOVR4s6o/TwZ-i-50UQI/AAAAAAAACRw/UPfsUkcwRHo/s1600/PC240047.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yw2fOVR4s6o/TwZ-i-50UQI/AAAAAAAACRw/UPfsUkcwRHo/s400/PC240047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694377918322725122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">This is my Great-uncle Bobby - he had never met me before so I had to make myself comfortable of course. Great-Uncle Bobby is kind of a miracle and my Mom loves him a whole lot (he's SUPER funny apparently). He has had a liver transplant and TWO! kidney transplants in the last 20 years or so. He wasn't feeling good this day either and went to the hospital again the day after Christmas and just got out yesterday. We all pray that he will be okay for a long time.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-706XmLL1tms/TwZ-im6sY0I/AAAAAAAACRk/3i3VihZOcsc/s1600/PC240046.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-706XmLL1tms/TwZ-im6sY0I/AAAAAAAACRk/3i3VihZOcsc/s400/PC240046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694377911883948866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">See? Great-uncle Bobby liked me. It's clear. :) When Mom was 12 years old, Great-uncle Bobby had his liver transplant at the hospital in St. Louis (where we live now! But is 3 hours away from where Mom & Great-uncle Bobby lived). And my Grandma (his sister) basically lived in the hospital with him for almost a year as he had setbacks and recoveries, so my Mom remembers that year very clearly since Grandpa isn't a great cook.</span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RoOWSq-uzZ8/TwZ9KXR7QfI/AAAAAAAACRY/-pC020VJPH0/s1600/PC240045.JPG"><br /></a>OK, back to the pictures:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4gGP-fA5fRQ/TwZ9KBNwjCI/AAAAAAAACRM/lP19YRdKMtM/s1600/PC240042.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4gGP-fA5fRQ/TwZ9KBNwjCI/AAAAAAAACRM/lP19YRdKMtM/s400/PC240042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694376389934877730" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Vinny in Grandpa's chair. Look how much Grandpa doesn't like him compared to how much he likes me!!!</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WH3fEfCi8kw/TwZ9JuWafTI/AAAAAAAACRA/3pNjgHTUnnU/s1600/PC240040.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WH3fEfCi8kw/TwZ9JuWafTI/AAAAAAAACRA/3pNjgHTUnnU/s400/PC240040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694376384870907186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Me and my BFF Trey</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ipolfAR-_rg/TwZoDtKB6EI/AAAAAAAACQQ/709p3_vPjXQ/s1600/PC230033.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ipolfAR-_rg/TwZoDtKB6EI/AAAAAAAACQQ/709p3_vPjXQ/s400/PC230033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694353191727130690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Begging for Trey's food</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cYc28bJXfJU/TwkuwOPzBzI/AAAAAAAACSI/r7E_Slev8TM/s1600/PC230008.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cYc28bJXfJU/TwkuwOPzBzI/AAAAAAAACSI/r7E_Slev8TM/s400/PC230008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695134609779656498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Begging for Grandma's food</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W0N4F2rfpH8/TwZ9JZEQJ0I/AAAAAAAACQ0/R3yXueUrTtA/s1600/PC240038.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3bJ3f0R6ro/TwZfVFDaz0I/AAAAAAAACNk/rPuRANaXFRk/s400/PC230009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694343594594979650" border="0" /><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W0N4F2rfpH8/TwZ9JZEQJ0I/AAAAAAAACQ0/R3yXueUrTtA/s400/PC240038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694376379157587778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Vinny begging for Grandpa's food</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6LbXxWZQaM/Twke1jgbbzI/AAAAAAAACR8/dCK42hneplc/s1600/PC230031.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6LbXxWZQaM/Twke1jgbbzI/AAAAAAAACR8/dCK42hneplc/s400/PC230031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695117109199859506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Mom's cropper isn't working for some reason so she hates this picture because of all of the mess but we have to have a picture in front of the tree every year so there ya go.</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">(She also hates Jay Leno but that is another story entirely.)</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Taxr66a-3zw/TwZoDOU5HvI/AAAAAAAACP4/j8r_I5OsZCE/s1600/PC230027.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Taxr66a-3zw/TwZoDOU5HvI/AAAAAAAACP4/j8r_I5OsZCE/s400/PC230027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694353183451193074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Oh yeah. And Jack was there. Mom loves when he sits like this (which is a lot). But look how fat he is! He's so fat! Ha ha ha ha, Fatty Magoo! (Any "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" fans out there?) Fatty Boombalatty! Fatty McFatterstein! Oh, sorry, Mom - you say he runs like 2 miles a day with Uncle Michael and apparently is just a big ol' beagle according to the vet? And I lay around like a slug every day? Whatever.</span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C7YrGWH1eTU/TwZoC6fx-aI/AAAAAAAACPs/I0RDY152xzs/s1600/PC230025.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2PXwYzUOlNw/TwZlv7noHAI/AAAAAAAACPc/WBa5Sex_UJ8/s1600/PC230023.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2PXwYzUOlNw/TwZlv7noHAI/AAAAAAAACPc/WBa5Sex_UJ8/s400/PC230023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694350652988726274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Grandpa, Jack, me & my day-glow eyes & Uncle Michael</span><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4es7PhvgOh0/TwZlvt1pASI/AAAAAAAACPU/HjuSRflerww/s1600/PC230022.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4es7PhvgOh0/TwZlvt1pASI/AAAAAAAACPU/HjuSRflerww/s400/PC230022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694350649289408802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Man I'm handsome</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-frcX2sbwIqc/TwZlukjL16I/AAAAAAAACOw/WPOYmF1vCic/s1600/PC230017.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-frcX2sbwIqc/TwZlukjL16I/AAAAAAAACOw/WPOYmF1vCic/s400/PC230017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694350629616211874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">One of Vinny's strange bark-at-the-carpet fits</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ozhJ8dOkmKQ/TwZlu3i688I/AAAAAAAACO8/IkNK_nzq7M0/s1600/PC230018.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ozhJ8dOkmKQ/TwZlu3i688I/AAAAAAAACO8/IkNK_nzq7M0/s400/PC230018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694350634715378626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I try to pretend like I don't know him when he does this</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NVU7E-T1y0M/TwZlvcKsRMI/AAAAAAAACPI/l5x7jQ9BMtU/s1600/PC230019.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NVU7E-T1y0M/TwZlvcKsRMI/AAAAAAAACPI/l5x7jQ9BMtU/s400/PC230019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694350644545864898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">He's just weird!</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ShaZ7tp7fVg/TwZgckUBvbI/AAAAAAAACOY/zOizmKXsUWg/s1600/PC230015.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ShaZ7tp7fVg/TwZgckUBvbI/AAAAAAAACOY/zOizmKXsUWg/s400/PC230015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694344822756851122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Jack must have been really tired from those 2-miles-a-day runs because he pretty much spent the whole four days right here.</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Including when Grandma had to sleep on the sofa one night because Grandpa snores and they had run out of beds what with us all being there. Grandma said she tried to move him but he's...wait for it...TOO FAT.</span></span><br /><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TCxgy9jvZZM/TwZfUpZKIuI/AAAAAAAACNc/GJrAhbwXIh4/s1600/PC220006.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TCxgy9jvZZM/TwZfUpZKIuI/AAAAAAAACNc/GJrAhbwXIh4/s400/PC220006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694343587169968866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Ah. All to myself. Me and Grandpa.</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NS3v5M-2v2U/TwZgbwtdo9I/AAAAAAAACOM/VUI1WidCC10/s1600/PC230013.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NS3v5M-2v2U/TwZgbwtdo9I/AAAAAAAACOM/VUI1WidCC10/s400/PC230013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694344808904893394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I was okay with Vinny coming on Grandpa's lap then because we were engrossed in this awesome tv show that Grandpa introduced us to on the Hunting Channel called "Arkansas Outlaws." </span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gJcX_mcZKt0/TwZgdMCGMNI/AAAAAAAACOk/aPxakJCMR6U/s1600/PC230016.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gJcX_mcZKt0/TwZgdMCGMNI/AAAAAAAACOk/aPxakJCMR6U/s400/PC230016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694344833419063506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">And then there was Jack. </span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rvgrYvjQSLM/TwZgbukisKI/AAAAAAAACN8/rM94UFt7dUM/s1600/PC230011.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rvgrYvjQSLM/TwZgbukisKI/AAAAAAAACN8/rM94UFt7dUM/s400/PC230011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694344808330604706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Hanging with Uncle Michael and The Jerk.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iJv0vqM5UjA/TwZgba8O7xI/AAAAAAAACN0/Jqm6EVzUnkE/s1600/PC230010.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iJv0vqM5UjA/TwZgba8O7xI/AAAAAAAACN0/Jqm6EVzUnkE/s400/PC230010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694344803061264146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Uncle Michael and my brother and my cousin</span></span><br /></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t9NFM70cMao/TwZfULofmJI/AAAAAAAACNA/-AXO_TjEt8I/s1600/vito%2Band%2Bvinny%2Bbow%2Bties.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t9NFM70cMao/TwZfULofmJI/AAAAAAAACNA/-AXO_TjEt8I/s400/vito%2Band%2Bvinny%2Bbow%2Bties.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694343579181226130" border="0" /></a>We hope you all had a great holiday! <a href="http://kittypluscoco.blogspot.com/">Kitty & Coco</a> sent us those super-sweet bow ties! I really liked mine b/c it wasn't a sweater or a hat, and it didn't bother me a bit. And Mom said I looked handsome. She said Vinny looked stupid. Or at least that's what I heard.<br /><br />Later, friends!Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-26028942752519825932011-12-28T19:39:00.004-06:002011-12-28T20:00:14.943-06:00Happy One-Day-Late Birthday, JerkJack's 4th Birthday was yesterday. So I'm late. Whatever. Now get off of me, Jack.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VrA43P_Adwo/TvvE4NNUidI/AAAAAAAACMs/NFQIrVsRQkI/s1600/jack%2Bloves%2Bvito.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VrA43P_Adwo/TvvE4NNUidI/AAAAAAAACMs/NFQIrVsRQkI/s400/jack%2Bloves%2Bvito.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691359024010004946" border="0" /></a>We'll be back with a Christmas post whenever Mom decides she's out of her blogger funk/laziness.<br /><br />Oh and Happy Birthday Today to Uncle Michael! I really mean that one - I like him a whole lot more than Jack. Weird how their birthdays are a day apart, huh?<br /><br />Later, friends! Hope you all got more treats than I did!Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-26210104042636466612011-12-16T20:25:00.002-06:002011-12-16T20:36:17.204-06:00Mom's Busy......trying to figure out how to work this blasted thing.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2xHfL8WoN9Y/Tuv9_H-5BCI/AAAAAAAACMg/LQIHgL4IDbY/s1600/PC150002.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2xHfL8WoN9Y/Tuv9_H-5BCI/AAAAAAAACMg/LQIHgL4IDbY/s400/PC150002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686918215401800738" border="0" /></a>We will see you in about a year at the rate it's going.Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-88113393197198455492011-12-11T01:28:00.016-06:002011-12-12T18:37:49.773-06:00HAPPY 2ND GOTCHA DAY, BABY BEAR!: Novel AlertEdited: I started this post on Dec. 11 but Vito's Gotcha Day is actually today - Dec. 12! 12/12 - how lucky. :)<br /><br />Vito's Mom taking over on VITO'S GOTCHA DAY!! Two years ago today, I went to pick up Mr. Vito Marino to come and live with me forever. It was sort of a long drawn out saga that brought him to me, which I wrote about in my <a href="http://vitomarinothepug.blogspot.com/2010/06/vito-marino-enters-my-life.html">1st ever post on Vito's blog</a>. I can't believe it's already been two years since that day, but I also can't believe this boy has only been in my life for two years. It feels like he's been here forever! In a wonderful way of course. :)<br /><br />So this post is going to be chock full of pictures you may have already seen, or maybe not!<br /><br />The first picture is the very first picture taken of Vito by anyone I know - it was taken on my parents' deck by my cousin (the Mom of Vito's BFF Trey!) on her phone - she emailed it to me to see if I wanted him. Ha! IF I wanted him! Can you imagine? Looking at this picture reminds me of how long ago it was & how far we have come. :) The caption was added by Vito's Aunt Becky ("The Treat Whisperer") as she was convincing me that I could handle him and his housebreaking issues. I'm blown away by how uneducated I was - especially thinking now that he still pees in the house on a regular basis 2 years post-neuter. And I could not care less. OK, that's not entirely true, but I could not love him any less. :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4lS6ftY2RBU/TuRjU0Hr-tI/AAAAAAAACMI/zRl5W8jOQNI/s1600/12843_184104912303_728332303_3132332_7235548_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4lS6ftY2RBU/TuRjU0Hr-tI/AAAAAAAACMI/zRl5W8jOQNI/s400/12843_184104912303_728332303_3132332_7235548_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684777838887828178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Look how teeny & precious he was! The vet would not be happy at how I have "fattened him up" in 2 years.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This next picture was within 5 minutes of him entering my old apartment for the first time. He just plopped down and thank goodness I had my camera ready because it is still my very favorite picture of him EVER.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DuAPpHCfr28/TuRjT_mzN8I/AAAAAAAACLY/9EV4fnqNi54/s1600/12843_199628462303_728332303_3227230_1387385_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 395px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DuAPpHCfr28/TuRjT_mzN8I/AAAAAAAACLY/9EV4fnqNi54/s400/12843_199628462303_728332303_3227230_1387385_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684777824791246786" border="0" /></a>He arrived on December 12, 2009 and I ordered my Holiday cards the next day - using that picture!<br /><br />He then sprawled out displaying the infamous frog legs - which I was unfamiliar with and spent the next year documenting. It still makes me smile and when he burrows up next to me on the sofa like that I still can't resist giving a good massage to those chunky thighs (which he appreciates).<br /></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FKB4yOKtXj4/TuRjUQVNZaI/AAAAAAAACL8/WPSQ-rIzB70/s1600/12843_199628432303_728332303_3227227_5647074_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 357px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FKB4yOKtXj4/TuRjUQVNZaI/AAAAAAAACL8/WPSQ-rIzB70/s400/12843_199628432303_728332303_3227227_5647074_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684777829280867746" border="0" /></a>The next one is still Day One. This was the first picture I took where I figured out the "dog alien eyes" are hard to avoid without a fancy camera or a smarter photographer than me. I thought there was something wrong with him when I saw this picture!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zbZm2KgeNws/TuRjUN8qwmI/AAAAAAAACLw/o0VCCg7rKOk/s1600/12843_199628442303_728332303_3227228_8079855_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zbZm2KgeNws/TuRjUN8qwmI/AAAAAAAACLw/o0VCCg7rKOk/s400/12843_199628442303_728332303_3227228_8079855_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684777828641063522" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AL1-B4B6E5U/TuRjUNh0hzI/AAAAAAAACLg/XIGN7_TzcG8/s1600/12843_199628457303_728332303_3227229_6519548_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AL1-B4B6E5U/TuRjUNh0hzI/AAAAAAAACLg/XIGN7_TzcG8/s400/12843_199628457303_728332303_3227229_6519548_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684777828528457522" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >I can't imagine what he was thinking - he had been in 4 homes in less than 2 months. :(<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Aunt Becky came to visit after we had been home for only a couple of hours. It probably wasn't the best plan but I didn't know any better. I should have let him settle in - but as you can see, he loved it.</span><br /></div><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jFygFZLo9eU/TuRjG6SpANI/AAAAAAAACLQ/NXwL9dLy1tw/s1600/12843_203251872303_728332303_3243800_7247379_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jFygFZLo9eU/TuRjG6SpANI/AAAAAAAACLQ/NXwL9dLy1tw/s400/12843_203251872303_728332303_3243800_7247379_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684777600026214610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4_S3jVdKP7o/TuRjGpwZIFI/AAAAAAAACLA/w4f3xVVmuTc/s1600/12843_203251882303_728332303_3243802_2633022_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4_S3jVdKP7o/TuRjGpwZIFI/AAAAAAAACLA/w4f3xVVmuTc/s400/12843_203251882303_728332303_3243802_2633022_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684777595587600466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3P-upG8ZMQY/TuRjGeoVtPI/AAAAAAAACK0/NFHS1hFgRXo/s1600/12843_203251887303_728332303_3243803_2125034_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3P-upG8ZMQY/TuRjGeoVtPI/AAAAAAAACK0/NFHS1hFgRXo/s400/12843_203251887303_728332303_3243803_2125034_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684777592601031922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JsbEHqciBbc/TuRjGUE7FmI/AAAAAAAACKk/iFgy1hWkUR0/s1600/12843_203251892303_728332303_3243804_4624313_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JsbEHqciBbc/TuRjGUE7FmI/AAAAAAAACKk/iFgy1hWkUR0/s400/12843_203251892303_728332303_3243804_4624313_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684777589768132194" border="0" /></a>Becky had a Pomeranian all through our college years (and way beyond) who passed away at about 15 years old, about a year before Vito came along. It was hard for all of us to say goodbye to Ziggy but hardest for Becky of course. The day she met Vito, she said how much she missed having a little dog. She especially bonded with Vito that first day because of that. (Now she has <a href="http://vitomarinothepug.blogspot.com/2010/06/spring-is-here.html">Rojo and Cracker Jack.</a>)<br /><br />The night Vito came to live with me, I got very sick. I think it was actually stress - it's so crazy to think about it now - but I really did stress so much about getting him. I was single and very set in my routines - and my routines consisted of not having any routines. Other than happy hour about 3 times a week. ;) I knew he was going to be the biggest commitment I had ever made - I was committing myself to something for at the very least (hopefully!) TEN YEARS! I was going to have to come home after work every single night and let him out - no more carefree impromptu happy hours, no more vacations with no-worries or dogsitters (thank you Uncle Michael!).<br /><br />So that night, I woke up vomiting at 2 am. And again at 4 and 5. And for 3 days after that. I had to miss work. With this strange little creature who I wasn't sure I even liked and who smelled funny (partially explained below by the ear & wrinkle infections I was unaware of at the time - & partially just classic FRITO PUG!), and who wanted on the furniture.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZYppZOjIUo/TuRgkgjyDnI/AAAAAAAACJ0/JOv4xE42qxo/s1600/12843_203251947303_728332303_3243810_2651683_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZYppZOjIUo/TuRgkgjyDnI/AAAAAAAACJ0/JOv4xE42qxo/s400/12843_203251947303_728332303_3243810_2651683_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684774809979981426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Look at him!!</span></span><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_loQ8Z389Q/TuRgkfKkPnI/AAAAAAAACJo/kt2NFSdF60w/s1600/12843_203251957303_728332303_3243811_6106781_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_loQ8Z389Q/TuRgkfKkPnI/AAAAAAAACJo/kt2NFSdF60w/s400/12843_203251957303_728332303_3243811_6106781_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684774809605783154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQkeYxauLsE/TuRgkXbNpqI/AAAAAAAACJg/TatN5sgWy6k/s1600/12843_203251982303_728332303_3243812_4779287_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQkeYxauLsE/TuRgkXbNpqI/AAAAAAAACJg/TatN5sgWy6k/s400/12843_203251982303_728332303_3243812_4779287_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684774807528122018" border="0" /></a>And yes - that's how naive I was. I thought I could keep a dog off the furniture. What?? I KNOW! And certainly not a pug. I knew nothing. But I learned it all in a matter of about a week. Why would I NOT want a dog on the furniture??? Lucky for Vito that I was sick, and that I consequently looooved having him snoring on my feet on his first few days in the house - it makes me sad to think about him being in a new environment after so many changes and someone not allowing him on the furniture!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-icGBZRUWzqk/TuRgWygg66I/AAAAAAAACJU/klSmWNnbPKY/s1600/22434_220102262303_728332303_3308611_40404_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-icGBZRUWzqk/TuRgWygg66I/AAAAAAAACJU/klSmWNnbPKY/s400/22434_220102262303_728332303_3308611_40404_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684774574279945122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ir0aj6hh0pI/TuRgWlFJWhI/AAAAAAAACJE/XdOHgJxVd-U/s1600/22434_220102267303_728332303_3308612_5575977_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 328px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ir0aj6hh0pI/TuRgWlFJWhI/AAAAAAAACJE/XdOHgJxVd-U/s400/22434_220102267303_728332303_3308612_5575977_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684774570675493394" border="0" /></a>This baby was NOT sitting or lying on the floor. He kept me company and kept my feet warm while I was so sick. And shedding? It took me about 48 hours to get over that too. Now I judge people who DON'T have pet hair on their clothing.<br /><br />Look how emaciated he used to be!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OUPHG9n7GdU/TuRgWVm0vAI/AAAAAAAACI8/qx5WTKZ-0qY/s1600/22434_231985227303_728332303_3377069_3457729_n.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zu10s4Xp9k0/TuRgWMueG_I/AAAAAAAACIw/mKp4Z9gy9XI/s1600/22434_231985237303_728332303_3377070_927243_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zu10s4Xp9k0/TuRgWMueG_I/AAAAAAAACIw/mKp4Z9gy9XI/s400/22434_231985237303_728332303_3377070_927243_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684774564137933810" border="0" /></a>That first week he came to live with me forever - while I was so sick - I got him neutered. If you read the first post linked to earlier - you'll see that the people he went to initially gave him back to me because he was still marking in the house. They promised me when I gave him to them that they would get him neutered. Again - so naive back then - now I would never give an un-neutered dog to someone for fear of them breeding him. But all was meant to be in Vito's case and he came back to me.<br /><br />When I took him to the vet at 7:30am to drop him off for his neuter, as mentioned before - I wasn't even sure I liked him! It was cold out - I was sick - he wasn't housebroken and I had to take him out every 2 hours on a leash in my apartment backyard - he was still peeing on the furniture in those 2 hours while I was sleeping. But when that nurse took him from me at the vet's office and I had to LEAVE HIM THERE - I started sobbing in the lobby. That was when I knew - everything in my life had changed. Vito had changed me and I officially loved him. :)<br /><br />Just three weeks after he arrived, I took him to Beginner training at Petsmart. He didn't know how to Sit, or Stay, or Leave It or aaaaaaanything. He had lived in a crate his whole previous 2 years of life. He was the underachiever of our class - but was the favorite of all of the other pet parents. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XZOka_ufKiU/TuRdFE7yYUI/AAAAAAAACGU/0PsCmBCgibE/s1600/25123_337628512303_728332303_3748610_8363377_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 379px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XZOka_ufKiU/TuRdFE7yYUI/AAAAAAAACGU/0PsCmBCgibE/s400/25123_337628512303_728332303_3748610_8363377_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684770971453645122" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VbYLqulFmEc/TuSRdNT_sAI/AAAAAAAACMU/MYwpWYo7e3w/s1600/25123_337628552303_728332303_3748612_1773766_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 391px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VbYLqulFmEc/TuSRdNT_sAI/AAAAAAAACMU/MYwpWYo7e3w/s400/25123_337628552303_728332303_3748612_1773766_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684828560624168962" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z1Ga-imcaO8/TuRdFHd3M7I/AAAAAAAACGE/lyO9i_MRIYw/s1600/25123_337628617303_728332303_3748618_4542041_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 383px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z1Ga-imcaO8/TuRdFHd3M7I/AAAAAAAACGE/lyO9i_MRIYw/s400/25123_337628617303_728332303_3748618_4542041_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684770972133438386" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lOcTxbscE0w/TuRdE917heI/AAAAAAAACF4/8IeFhyo6HgQ/s1600/25123_337628677303_728332303_3748624_1410042_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lOcTxbscE0w/TuRdE917heI/AAAAAAAACF4/8IeFhyo6HgQ/s400/25123_337628677303_728332303_3748624_1410042_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684770969550030306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Judy the St. Bernard</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1X00j7hdfiA/TuRdFp8YKmI/AAAAAAAACGc/1EfP4V3aLqE/s1600/25123_337628467303_728332303_3748605_5691719_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1X00j7hdfiA/TuRdFp8YKmI/AAAAAAAACGc/1EfP4V3aLqE/s400/25123_337628467303_728332303_3748605_5691719_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684770981388233314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Proud Graduate!</span><br /></span></div><br />He did learn to Sit and Lay Down and Stay and Leave It eventually (and has since forgotten Stay and Leave It) and was rewarded with a dragon which supposedly was protected with something called "Chew-Guard Technology" - well, Vito should have been a test-pug on that technology because it only withstood about a day of chewing before he ripped it open. Goodbye $17! I learned quickly to not invest money on stuffed toys for Mr. Marino.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LanmnFpy7e0/TuRgWF-xyYI/AAAAAAAACIk/s5AqXw_VIu8/s1600/22434_260320262303_728332303_3504589_1735937_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LanmnFpy7e0/TuRgWF-xyYI/AAAAAAAACIk/s5AqXw_VIu8/s400/22434_260320262303_728332303_3504589_1735937_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684774562327284098" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-D2DmBgKrI/TuRgHTIBnQI/AAAAAAAACIY/TLY4YA2cUkA/s1600/22434_260320272303_728332303_3504590_740366_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 364px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-D2DmBgKrI/TuRgHTIBnQI/AAAAAAAACIY/TLY4YA2cUkA/s400/22434_260320272303_728332303_3504590_740366_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684774308157693186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">He had ear & nose wrinkle infections chronically after coming to me as evidenced by these greasy-ear pictures! All was eventually cleared up after a lot of vet visits!</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQVBY3ERCEc/TuRgG5oriFI/AAAAAAAACII/LZtjrke3tcs/s1600/22434_260320282303_728332303_3504591_6600488_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQVBY3ERCEc/TuRgG5oriFI/AAAAAAAACII/LZtjrke3tcs/s400/22434_260320282303_728332303_3504591_6600488_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684774301315336274" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YXqTpBp2AVY/TuRgG37fEYI/AAAAAAAACH4/F5H6EQFHeGw/s1600/22434_260320292303_728332303_3504592_3434627_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 360px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YXqTpBp2AVY/TuRgG37fEYI/AAAAAAAACH4/F5H6EQFHeGw/s400/22434_260320292303_728332303_3504592_3434627_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684774300857340290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Pick it up, Mom!</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zjoRSoAaQ9U/TuRgGrIRVAI/AAAAAAAACHw/4ydIK2KeefI/s1600/22434_260320307303_728332303_3504593_6338033_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zjoRSoAaQ9U/TuRgGrIRVAI/AAAAAAAACHw/4ydIK2KeefI/s400/22434_260320307303_728332303_3504593_6338033_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684774297421304834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Action shot!</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VnVOTsd9okM/TuRezRaFpAI/AAAAAAAACHc/JyWjeuwMExo/s1600/22434_260320342303_728332303_3504595_695114_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VnVOTsd9okM/TuRezRaFpAI/AAAAAAAACHc/JyWjeuwMExo/s400/22434_260320342303_728332303_3504595_695114_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684772864587572226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LPOo51Vp1is/TuReyxfh9nI/AAAAAAAACHU/nRTyEZbjrwA/s1600/22434_260320347303_728332303_3504596_848130_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 350px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LPOo51Vp1is/TuReyxfh9nI/AAAAAAAACHU/nRTyEZbjrwA/s400/22434_260320347303_728332303_3504596_848130_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684772856020465266" border="0" /></a>He was also an excellent guard-dog in our apartment his first year. Since then "we" have bought a house without such an excellent front window for his watch-dog talents, but don't worry, he is still on high alert for every siren or voice or twig-dropping outside. We are safe, thank you, Vito.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WbpaCimJygI/TuReypVgyGI/AAAAAAAACHE/iTxM9s8DgfI/s1600/24958_373730002303_728332303_3853675_7609497_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WbpaCimJygI/TuReypVgyGI/AAAAAAAACHE/iTxM9s8DgfI/s400/24958_373730002303_728332303_3853675_7609497_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684772853830961250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LR1ff5YAYQA/TuReycICdFI/AAAAAAAACG0/FVFEwJFd_Js/s1600/24958_373730007303_728332303_3853676_2997358_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LR1ff5YAYQA/TuReycICdFI/AAAAAAAACG0/FVFEwJFd_Js/s400/24958_373730007303_728332303_3853676_2997358_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684772850284786770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2dKORRVjYsA/TuReyc_jrxI/AAAAAAAACGs/Al5VBmdSz5A/s1600/24958_373730017303_728332303_3853677_354585_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2dKORRVjYsA/TuReyc_jrxI/AAAAAAAACGs/Al5VBmdSz5A/s400/24958_373730017303_728332303_3853677_354585_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684772850517651218" border="0" /></a>Here's a flashback to <a href="http://vitomarinothepug.blogspot.com/2010/12/happy-1st-gotcha-day-to-me.html">Vito's 1st Gotcha Day</a> - thank goodness there's no snow on the ground this year. He told me he did not appreciate the snow that I ordered for him last year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1yFZWjokOn4/TuRb4UdL27I/AAAAAAAACFY/lJhigkiUwU4/s1600/155894_468344417303_728332303_5868060_3704296_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1yFZWjokOn4/TuRb4UdL27I/AAAAAAAACFY/lJhigkiUwU4/s400/155894_468344417303_728332303_5868060_3704296_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684769652770331570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jyiozk9AVxM/TuRb4M-o7aI/AAAAAAAACFI/jMzv8qiesyM/s1600/157034_468344547303_728332303_5868064_7710401_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jyiozk9AVxM/TuRb4M-o7aI/AAAAAAAACFI/jMzv8qiesyM/s400/157034_468344547303_728332303_5868064_7710401_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684769650763165090" border="0" /></a>I hope my Baby Bear is as happy living here with me as I am with him. I can't imagine loving anything as much as him. (Please don't tell Vinny. Because I love him a whole lot too!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1HN4SckT84/TuRdE7gK2lI/AAAAAAAACFw/r83Xjt0twk8/s1600/46603_424667882303_728332303_5128862_7929517_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 328px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1HN4SckT84/TuRdE7gK2lI/AAAAAAAACFw/r83Xjt0twk8/s400/46603_424667882303_728332303_5128862_7929517_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684770968921889362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Happy? Or maybe just comfortable.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F-RcHZ_s6RQ/TuRb4NL77yI/AAAAAAAACE8/G_fz3sK2AKE/s1600/254609_10150264409222304_728332303_7805364_1993329_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F-RcHZ_s6RQ/TuRb4NL77yI/AAAAAAAACE8/G_fz3sK2AKE/s400/254609_10150264409222304_728332303_7805364_1993329_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684769650818936610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Happy. :)</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mYzpgh8LsVo/TuRb36Z81pI/AAAAAAAACE0/HExHn9v2j4w/s1600/301614_10150328100667304_728332303_8234140_1586215603_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mYzpgh8LsVo/TuRb36Z81pI/AAAAAAAACE0/HExHn9v2j4w/s400/301614_10150328100667304_728332303_8234140_1586215603_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684769645777442450" border="0" /></a>DEFINITELY HAPPY. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I LOVE YOU BABY BEAR, VITO MARINO! HAPPY 2ND GOTCHA DAY!<br /></div></div>Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-73020405084859007472011-12-07T18:49:00.003-06:002011-12-07T18:57:10.343-06:00Blogging Blahs...Mom says to tell everyone she's been really busy and that is why she's not updating my blog or reading anyone else's.<br /><br />But between us...she's just really lazy and uncreative. She's having the blogging blahs and is threatening to go in to hibernation for the winter. I will try to prevent that.<br /><br />So because of Mom's pure laziness, this blog will be pretty boring and she will use it as an excuse to not post for me again for another 8 years. Don't think that I haven't connected the dots and realized that Mom's blogging blahs came along RIGHT at the same time as Vinny decided to live here forever. We had such a good thing going before he got adopted. He has ruined everything I tell you!<br /><br />So Thanksgiving night Mom put up the Christmas tree. Vinny had never seen one before. He pretty much didn't care a thing about it. But Mom did force us to pose in front of it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iOffpDBch_Q/TuAKO4XCIYI/AAAAAAAACEQ/aADJKJgHDZU/s1600/PB240007.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iOffpDBch_Q/TuAKO4XCIYI/AAAAAAAACEQ/aADJKJgHDZU/s400/PB240007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683553980505006466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Because it had just gone up Mom hadn't yet spent a week rearranging all of the ornaments to be symmetrical so don't judge!</span></span> <br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And here's my stocking - it's super cool and Mom got it on sale after Christmas last year at Target.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mBRkUMVs9bA/TuAKPGH2OKI/AAAAAAAACEc/bXc7SjP0Vrw/s1600/PB240003.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mBRkUMVs9bA/TuAKPGH2OKI/AAAAAAAACEc/bXc7SjP0Vrw/s400/PB240003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683553984199407778" border="0" /></a>But she couldn't find another one this year so Vinny got stuck with a stupid snowman. HA HA HA!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nw9UX9-wI0I/TuAKPknc5MI/AAAAAAAACEo/EwoV-toU0v0/s1600/PB240005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nw9UX9-wI0I/TuAKPknc5MI/AAAAAAAACEo/EwoV-toU0v0/s400/PB240005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683553992385029314" border="0" /></a>Alright Mom says this blog has exhausted her. I think she needs to see a doctor or something for her laziness.<br /><br />Later friends! Hopefully I won't be gone for too long!<br /></div></div>Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-14192828791168466442011-11-24T00:01:00.003-06:002011-11-24T00:12:05.498-06:00Fun Christmas Puggie Stuff!My Aunt Stacy (again, not really my Aunt but Mom makes me call all of her best friends Aunt So&So...) sent us a present in the mail yesterday! LOOK at this ornament!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cIykV23Fz6w/Ts3eoJYbVVI/AAAAAAAACEE/YFUi25ElvKU/s1600/PB230009.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cIykV23Fz6w/Ts3eoJYbVVI/AAAAAAAACEE/YFUi25ElvKU/s400/PB230009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678439486478570834" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cZ3w4tA-9Zg/Ts3enaflNuI/AAAAAAAACD8/NSmYBK5fH-M/s1600/PB230011.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cZ3w4tA-9Zg/Ts3enaflNuI/AAAAAAAACD8/NSmYBK5fH-M/s400/PB230011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678439473892112098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Clearly Mom is a terrible photographer & doesn't really know how to work her camera especially for close-up shots. But that puggie is trying to scratch his ear!</span></span><br /></div><br />She got it at Hallmark. It's pretty cute, I must admit. I shall name him..."Vito."<br /><br />And Grandma sent Mom these gift bags!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3KcFMpzFI9w/Ts3enNhP1FI/AAAAAAAACDs/ogL4ymxF_yQ/s1600/PB230016.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3KcFMpzFI9w/Ts3enNhP1FI/AAAAAAAACDs/ogL4ymxF_yQ/s400/PB230016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678439470409438290" border="0" /></a>I mean, that pug is cute too, but clearly not as cute as Yours Truly. I mean, it might be as cute as Vinny but I think we all know that Vinny falls below me on the Cuteness Scale. Agreed? I thought so. Mom looked on the tag and apparently Grandma got these bags at a store called Alco where she lives - it's like a discount Dollar Store kind of place. (PS again displaying Mom's shoddy camera work - this Not-As-Cute-As-Me-But-Maybe-As-Cute-As-Vinny pug's Santa hat trim is all glittery!)<br /><br />Do you guys have fun Christmas puggie stuff?<br /><br />Later, friends!Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723268588540192198.post-21699478151235077292011-11-22T18:51:00.002-06:002011-11-22T18:54:03.231-06:00Happy Pugsgiving!I think someone is glad to be home.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21MOaO7gTn4/TsxD7pMUnSI/AAAAAAAACDg/lIsUDg-V_DQ/s1600/pippa%2Bpug%2Bpile.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21MOaO7gTn4/TsxD7pMUnSI/AAAAAAAACDg/lIsUDg-V_DQ/s400/pippa%2Bpug%2Bpile.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677987922156231970" border="0" /></a>And Pippa's brothers don't seem to mind that she is back either.<br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving all!!Vito and Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302897528492604675noreply@blogger.com5