Stewie's Story

Pet's name: Stewie
Adopted by: Erica
From: Hillside SPCA, Pottsville, Pa.

Erica (who blogs at For the Sake of Cake) sent the story of Stewie, who is a great example of the purebred dogs who can be found at shelters!

I had always grown up around dogs. My family was what I would consider "big dog people," who had a soft-spot for boxers.

I moved out of my parents' house in July of 2009, and it wasn't long before I started yearning for the companionship of a pooch of my own. Having always grown up with dogs, not having one just didn't feel right. However, since I was living in a one-bedroom apartment, I knew a "big dog" wouldn’t be the smartest choice.

I started looking online at several local shelters, and even visited a few with my mom, but I couldn't find a dog that was the perfect fit for me.

Then, late one night as I was completing my "daily rounds" of various shelter websites, I stumbled upon Stewie’s "advertisement" on the Hillside SPCA website. Hillside was about an hour drive from me, but I couldn't believe my luck—a pug was one of my "top choice" breeds, and he was black, too, which I thought made him extra special.

First thing the following morning, I called the shelter to inquire about Stewie. The woman on the phone asked if I could pick him up the following day. The shelter was crowded, so they wanted to move dogs out as quickly as possible. I happily obliged and agreed to pick up my new pug, "sight unseen."

My then-boyfriend (now husband), parents, and I all made the hour drive to go pick Stewie up the following day. To our surprise, we were greeted by a timid, sad-looking dog (nothing like how he appeared in the pictures online). He had a significant amount of hair missing from his back, which the shelter attributed to a flea infection they had just treated him for. He was also complete skin and bones; you could see each and every one of his ribs. I remember looking at my parents and my mom asking me if I was sure I wanted to take him. To be honest, I wasn't sure, but I felt like I had no choice but to rescue this dog.

As we were leaving the shelter, one of the women who worked there told us we were getting a sweet dog, and I vividly remember him wanting to follow the worker back into the shelter; it was clear he wanted to be with someone who was "familiar."

Happily, he's never looked back! He's wiggled his way into each and every one of my family members' hearts. We were able to improve his health quickly, and now he frequently gets complimented on his "beautiful coat." He is such a good dog and is perfectly content to cuddle on the couch, or play with one of his many toys.

My family and I often talk about how hard it is to believe that Stewie ended up at a shelter. He's a purebred pug and has always been well-behaved (no training necessary with this guy). Whatever the reason though, we are happy to have given him a nice home and feel so lucky to have him, and all the joy he brings, in our lives!

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If you adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue group and you'd like to share his or her story, please email me. I'd love to hear from you!