Weekend Whimsy: Veronique, la Pug Fantastique!

As many of you know, I have four pugs.  Our oldest pug, Veronica, turns 15 years old this month. I'd like to tell you her story....to be honest, I can hardly believe she is still with us.

Jessica with her snuggle pug, Veronica

 Veronica was our first pug.  We got her during our "Archie's Comics" phase.  We already had a Golden Retriever named Archie.  Soon after that we acquired two turtles and named them Betty and Jughead.  This naming phase extended to the acquisition of our second pug, a black one we named Sabrina (the Teenage Witch) but that's another blog.

Jessica is trying to look like a pug!  Veronica does not seem amused.

 I remember when we first got Veronica.  She was fearless against the giant Archie!  She would jump and play and grab his under belly hairs in her mouth until they both collapsed in an exhausted, yet satisfied, pile of canine playfulness.  Archie would look at me and pant.  I swear I could hear him say about the puppy Veronica, "Thanks Mom!  She's the best toy you've ever gotten me!"

We decided that owning a pug was a very satisfying experience.  She was playful yet loved to relax and nap with us.  It seemed the pug personality totally reflected our lifestyle.  Veronica was fitting in just fine.

She got the name "Veronique la Pug Fantastique" from this Mardi Gras dress up session.

I was on a business trip when I got the phone call.  Veronica had been hit by a boat trailer and was paralyzed from mid-back on down.  I was heartbroken!  I cried all the way home from my business trip.  When I got home, we had to make the decision whether to put her down or not.  Although her spinal chord was severed, she was in no pain once we healed the minor injuries.  After conferring with our veterinarian, we decided to become the primary caregivers for a paraplegic dog!

The trauma of the accident caused Veronica's metabolic system to go whacky.  She is diabetic and we have to inject her with insulin twice a day.  We also have to express her bladder 2-3 times a day as she cannot urinate herself.  She frequently gets bladder infections which must be treated with antibiotics.  Throughout all this, she remains spunky, loving and dominates the other 3 pugs!

About six months after the accident, we had her fitted for a "wheelchair".

She gets around quite well with her wheelchair, in fact, maybe we should call it an ATV!

Veronica's accident happened when she was 4.  As I previously stated, Veronica turns 15 this month.  I have noticed some changes in her recently and seeing these photos makes it even more clear to me that she is becoming frail.

She's had an interesting life and her resilience and fortitude are qualities that many of us would do well to emulate.  Happy Birthday to Veronique, la Pug Fantastique!

Have a Great Weekend!