Announcement: Baby Puggles Born

I am happy to announce that Daisy gave birth to five beautiful baby Puggles. They are now two weeks old and doing wonderful. I have been spoiling them like crazy. My kids and I have showed them so much love already. I am becoming attached to all of them. I am also excited to find families that want to adopt them. :)

Introducing My Baby Puggles-Born September 26th:




http://www.pugglehugs.com

Puggle Video-The Funniest One Ever!!

I would like to share this Puggle video with you. It is the most funniest video I have ever watched. It will make you laugh!!!! Guaranteed.

Click Here to Check it out!



http://www.pugglehugs.com

Springtime is Fun Time for You and Your Puggle

FINALLY, the cold weather is behind us, and spring is here! This is a time for opening up the windows and getting outside for some fresh air!

Not only are my kids ready for the outdoors, my dogs are too! They have been cooped up all winter long and their favorite thing to do in the entire world is play with the kids outside. At least Reece and Daisy want to play. The other two, which are older Shitzu’s, are content to just be outside and not be bothered!

We went out in the backyard for some family time and brought the entire clan, dogs and kids! My almost two year old daughter was playing out there without me hanging on her for the first time. She was having the time of her life.

Reece, my Puggle, loves to play games. We have come up with so many fun things to do with him that sometimes it is hard to decide which game we are going to play. The kids love to play hide and seek with Reece and Daisy. They love it because the dogs are always “it” and they always get to hide. And, Reece and Daisy are pretty good at finding!

Some other back yard games we have come up with are flag football, follow the leader (running style), fetch and Frisbee. Their favorite game is playing in the hose. They love to chase the water hose.

Last year, we packed everyone up and went out to the lake. They love running around and even love swimming even more! We invested in life jackets, so we would not have to worry if they fell in while we were not watching.

We have plans on going back out to the lake this year. I would highly suggest that if you plan on taking your Puggle to the lake that you invest in a life jacket. It is a stress saver and possibly could save the life of your “best friend”. Don’t take any chances. It is always better safe than sorry.

We have plans on going to the park in a couple of weeks. The important thing to remember is to make sure your dog has had enough training that he will listen to your commands. It is great to get your dog out into the world for new experiences, however, it is important for the safety of your dog that he has been trained to listen to you.

Dogs love to play, especially those energetic Puggles. They do not have to be stuck indoors, while the rest of the family is enjoying the outdoors. Let them join in your family fun and you will be surprised at how much fun they can contribute to your family time outdoors!

Just remember to watch them at all times and make sure they have plenty of water. They will be doing a lot of running and will need to be hydrated. Plus, be sure if it is pretty hot out, that you limit their playtime.
After that “fun time” outside, they will be ready for a long nap, inside!

OPRAH TO DO A SHOW ON INVESTIGATING PUPPY MILLS! WATCH THIS FRIDAY!

Oprah Winfrey’s dog of 13 years, Sophie, died of kidney failure last month. Because of this, she has dedicated an entire show to her dog. Although her dog was not adopted from a puppy mill, this show has completely changed her outlook on puppy mills and she says that she will adopt her next dog from a shelter.

I just wanted to let you all know to watch this as I just told you about my Puggle Peanut, which we adopted from a puppy mill. I truly am shocked at what I learned about puppy mills, and I wish I had known this before I brought Peanut into our lives.

After watching this show, I believe we will all have an even better understanding of why we need to stay away from these places and make it our responsibility not to contribute to the income of these places.

Lisa Ling has investigated puppy mills, and she tells us her findings, which are shocking and disgusting.

Please take some time to watch this show and find it in your heart to pass this information on. And, whatever you do don't purchase a Puggle from a pet store or over the internet, because these Puggles are most likely from a puppy mill and we don't want to help with puppy mills profit!

The Life of My Puppy Mill Puggle

During my research, I found out a lot about puppy mill puppies. I wish I had known this information BEFORE I drove six hours to another state to pick up my cute little 6 month old Puggle and six hours back the next morning with my four kids, my sister and her two kids.

I was shocked at what I saw when I got to the puppy mill. I had never actually seen one, and I didn’t realize that is where I was heading to. I just knew I was going to a farm in the middle of the night, but I just wasn’t aware that it was an actual dog farm.

The lady was nice and seemed to care for the dogs. The fact of the matter is that these dogs were all born in cages. Their lives began in these cages and probably have never even seen the outdoors, let alone grass.

We picked her up and went to a hotel. She was extremely shy and literally did not move the entire night from that one spot. She was literally terrified.
We got her home, and she was very shy for a few days. She finally warmed up to the other dogs. She even started to like me a little and tolerated the kids. However, she never warmed up to my husband, and it really bothered him. But, we kept her and assumed she would finally get used to the chaos of our family life with six people and four other dogs.

Technically, we decided to on getting another puggle so that we could breed her. We had Daisy, but she was not supposed to breed for another year or two. Seeing as we care and love our dogs, we did not want to put Daisy through another pregnancy too soon, so we got our new Puggle Peanut.

Peanut just did not ever warm up to my husband, and we just could not get her house trained. No matter what we did, she would walk outside and then come back in and do her “business” in the cage. It was such a frustrating thing to have to deal with all day long, every day.

Not only was she scared of my husband, she was terrified of anyone new who walked through that door. And, it was so sad to see her want to trust people so badly, but she just couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Unfortunately, we had to finally make a decision to find a new home for her. She went to live with my sister’s family, which consisted of a mom, dad, little three year old girl and a very big dog. Peanut warmed up to the mom and big dog. She tolerated the three year old, even dressing her up and dragging her around, but she could not adjust to the dad. Sadly, the dad is the one who wanted a new dog to begin with.

They really tried to help her fit in, and they were even making headway with housetraining. However, when their other dog passed away, Peanut withdrew and became a little more aggressive with the dad. He couldn’t even give her a treat without being nipped at and growled at.

They finally had to make the decision to find her a new home. They tried to find her a new home with someone who did not have a man in the house. However, that is something that is not so easy to do! So, she finally had to take her to an adoption agency that would match her with a family that she could be comfortable with.
The sad thing is that Peanut was such a sweet dog; however, because of what happened to her in that dog farm, she was terrified of men.

As I said, I did some research for my e-book and found out some really interesting information about puppy mill farms. A lot of what I learned really made sense for what some of what was happening with Peanut, especially because she was six months old.

Her potty training problems were because she HAD never seen grass. She kept being punished for going in her cage, which really confused her, because that is all she knew. Puppies born on a puppy mill are not accustomed to the life of a home environment, like a puppy born in a home environment. Imagine coming from a small cage of only dogs and those who fed them to a home with six people and four dogs. Therefore, Peanut was probably terrified at what she was thrown into.

The most disturbing thing I found out about puppy mills and dog farms is how they treat the parents of these cute little puppies. In order to make a profit, they have to only put out as much time and money as it takes to keep the dogs alive and able to produce puggles. And, then after these dogs have produced these adorable puppies, the puppies are taken away from their mother too soon, so that they can be distributed out to pet shops, store, etc. while they are in their “cute” stage of puppyhood.

This disgusted me and I wanted to make you aware of these dog farms, and what they are doing to gain a profit. Your best bet it to find a puggle from a home breeder. Generally a home breeder is not in it for the profit. My entire idea of breeding Puggles was to share in the joy of bringing a new family member to a home.
Please remember the next time you want to purchase a puppy, think long and hard before you go to a puppy mill. Sure, you can think of it as saving a puppy from that life. However, in reality you are contributing to the vicious cycle of this inhumane treatment of innocent animals.

http://www.pugglehugs.com

Don’t Trust Your Dog Food – It Could Be What Actually Kills Your Dog

Last year something came out that was very scary for millions of pet owners. Many different dog foods were tainted with poison. Although this is scary, it is not that often that something in the news actually hits home.

No, it was not my puggles that were actually affected by this. However, a very close family friend of ours, who is very much a dog lover received the horrible news that her dog was dying of kidney failure. It was a shock. But what she found out that day was sickening and simply sad. Her vet told her that her dog was one of the dogs that were affected by the tainted dog food. Her dog still had at least five more years to be around with the family.

It is one thing to lose your dog from a sickness or an accident. But, this was cruel and even worse, her baby died by her hand. In her mind, she was the one that kept feeding her dog the food, and she was the one who kept trying to force it down her because she was worried that she quit eating.

Because this happened, I decided to get on the internet and look into more information. As I was surfing the web, I came across something that completely shocked and disgusted me, and I wanted to share it with all of you. I went ahead and ordered this e-book, “Dog Food SECRETS™.

Basically, what I found out was absolutely horrifying. Dog food is made from six deadly chemicals and even worse, euthanized animals. I don’t want to go into too much detail, as it was quite disgusting. However, “Dog Food SECRETS™” really opened my eyes to the dog food conspiracies that were out there. I was quite shocked. These six chemicals were actually banned from human food, but kept in the dog food. They were banned from human food because they caused the following. This is only a few.

Kidney, bladder, skin, stomach, and spleen CANCER
Leukemia
Liver dysfunction
Major organ failure
Severe allergic reactions
Blindness
And much more

I was relieved to know that not only was I being told that dog food is horrible for my dogs, but they gave me alternatives to dog food. These alternatives were pretty simple and weren’t completely out of my price range. And, with having four dogs, I had to watch what I spent on feeding them. However, my dogs are just like children to me and I want to be sure they are healthy and happy. The e-book, “Dog Food SECRETS™” inspired me to find even more “recipes” for my dogs. So, I came across this e-book called “Healthy Food for Dogs: Homemade Recipes”. It was amazing all of the recipes that I could make up for my dogs that were so healthy and did not cost an arm and a leg!

So, I decided to give this new food thing a try. So, I pulled out my new cookbook for dogs “Healthy Food for Dogs: Homemade Recipes” and found some really quick and easy recipes. I also learned what foods to watch for, because some foods can actually be toxic to a dog. I know that grapes, onions and chocolate are toxic for dogs. This e-book “Healthy Food for Dogs: Homemade Recipes” really helped me to understand how to make food that was healthy and safe for my dogs.

My dogs were extremely excited, and now they eat their food the way they are supposed to, right when I set it down, rather than just when they feel like it. And, I can just tell they are so much happier. Imagine if you had to eat the same exact thing every single day for your entire life. Pretty boring!
I just wanted to share this information with you, as I was completely shocked what “Dog Food SECRETS™” had shared with me. There are some people I have told that have heard this before. But, most of the time, I am shocking people, too. But, they ask me what are you supposed to do? You have to feed your dog. And, now I have an answer. It is not easy preparing meals everyday for your dog. But, I have found several books, especially my favorite “Healthy Food for Dogs: Homemade Recipes”, with many quick and easy recipes that make it so easy, and it really makes me feel so much better knowing that they are getting the same quality of food that my own children are getting.

I love my dogs so much, and I want the best for them. I tried to purchase the “good” food that was supposed to be healthier for my pets, however, I was so angry to find out that what I thought was good was actually the worst thing for them. Now, at least I know what goes into their bodies and that I am doing the best that I can for them.

Bad News About Daisy and her Baby Puggles

Unfortunately, I have some really bad news. During the day last Wednesday, Daisy, my beagle, went into labor. She was panting all day and I could tell she was about to give birth to her baby Puggles. Well, nighttime had come around and about 1:30 in the morning, I was going to bed and checked on her. I noticed she had the feet of one of her baby puggles hanging outside of her. I ran and woke my husband up and we began to cheer Daisy on and encourage her to start pushing. Well after about twenty minutes of doing this, we were getting worried. Daisy just wouldn’t push and was more interested in running around then on accomplishing her task at hand.

I called the Veterinarian Emergency Room and asked what to do. We were prepared for her to give birth. We had the rubber gloves, the syringe, and the vaseline. The veterinarian told us to wait ten more minutes and if nothing, start to assist her in the process. In other words, we had to pull the baby Puggle out. Once we did, we realized that the baby had already passed on. Daisy had given birth to a still birth. The veterinarian had warned us that this might be the case, but at that point we were hoping for the best.

Time had passed, an hour, and then Daisy was ready to have her next Puggle. We were again prepared, encouraging Daisy, and praying to ourselves that all would be alright this time. The baby Puggles feet were coming out and they were moving! However, again, Daisy wouldn’t push. We waited for not very long and then decided to assist her again in the process. As we tried to very gently pull the baby out, Daisy was getting restless and upset. We finally got the baby out and thought the puppy would be alive, because its feet were moving. As soon as it came out, one last breath, and sadly the baby was gone.

At this point, my husband and I were in utmost shock and disbelief. We couldn’t believe this was happening and would never have expected it. I left the room crying as my husband, Jed, held the baby Puggle in his hands, for about a good hour. Nothing! I went and held the puppy and was hoping maybe that it was just weak. My eyes kept tricking me, because I kept thinking that I saw the puppy’s belly move up and down. I held the baby, prayed it was just weak, but it was too late. The second puppy was gone as well.

After this, Daisy had no more puppies. I was so relieved that there were only two that she had in her litter. I didn’t want Daisy or us to have to go through this again. The puppies were buried and Daisy rested.

In the morning, my four children woke up and my husband and I had to explain to them what had happened. I was actually amazed that my children handled the horrible news so good. Yes, they were upset and disappointed, we all were, but they understood.
I don’t understand what happened. Last time, Daisy had baby Puggles she did so well. I am not sure why she wouldn’t push and why they passed on like they did. It will be QUITE a while, if ever, before I would let Daisy have babies again. She is such a good mother and I think she is in shock. She has been running around the house looking for her babies. I let her lick her babies after they were born. I don’t think she understands and I think she thinks I did something with her baby Puggles. The reason I say this is because she doesn’t normally pee on my furniture and she peed on my chair, not the couch and not my husbands, three times in a row. How can you punish her for this? I am hoping this will improve. However, in the meantime, I am letting her rest and heal.

I will keep you all updated about her healing process. The baby Puggles were so ADORABLE. They looked just like Reece and actually like twins. They were both brindle and one had a white paw. I have had a lot of people ask how the puppies were doing and so I thought I better post what happened on the blog.
Thanks for all of your prayers and concerns. It is a pleasure to know that my family and Daisy are in your thoughts.

Reece- From Monster to Angel

My cute bundle of joy that now lies on my lap and snores louder than my husband, looks so peaceful while he is sleeping, and loves to be loved, used to be a monster! Yes, a crazy, hyper monster! I could not even believe how fast he could run in circles, jump up on the couch, and run all through the house like something just bit him in the behind! I literally wondered what I got myself and my family of six plus three dogs into!

My Story:
My husband decided he wanted a hunting dog. So, I made it happen. I called around and found the perfect Beagle. So, we got in the van, drove to the place where our Beagle was, paid for her, with the intentions of bringing home our new hunting dog – and ended up with two dogs!

There Reece was staring out of that cage. I just couldn’t leave him. He was so cute and so sad looking. So, there we were on our way home, with our hunting dog, Daisy and our new puggle, Reece. Daisy was the calmest, sweetest dog. She was very reserved, at first, but with four kids under the age of nine, she was bound to warm up. Now, Reece had no problem at all warming up. He was like a tornado, right there in my living room!

I thought that after a few days, he would get used to our house and settle down. After all, I have three other dogs, and they are all pretty calm and actually rather lazy. I just was not used to this tornado!

Not only was he a spaz, he also liked to eat out of the garbage, poop in my living room and literally steal my food right off of my plate. Boy, he was amazingly sneaky about that. Anytime anyone came in through that door, he was on them and biting at them. Of course, he was only playing, but those claws and teeth do hurt, no matter how much he is playing! Although these things are rather annoying, nothing compares to the fact that he was always sneaking out the front door, and he would run and run- right into the street. One day, he ran right out the door along with Daisy, and didn’t come back. I was so heartbroken.

Boy, although he could be annoying, he sure had a presence in our home, and I missed them both so much. Luckily, a truck driver found them on the highway, and turned them in. I was so extremely blessed that day. God was looking out for them and my family. It was amazing they did not get hit crossing that highway.
Once I got my babies back, I was determined to find a way to control Reece. It was now crucial that I find a way to contain him, for his own safety, and for my own heart.

So, I got online and tried to find information on how to train a puggle. There were so many things to choose from, but it was imperative that I find a training program that I could do at home, and that could tailor to my dog specifically.

Finally, I found an e-book called SitStayFetch. I was skeptical at first, because it said something about dog whispering. But, that is what caught my eye to begin with. I had tried everything, and being in a family of six with four dogs, I needed some control without any more screaming than was needed! Learning the dog whispering technique has truly made a difference in my household. And best of all, the techniques I learned in this e-book changed my house from crazy to calm. One thing that I did not realize is how important it was to show Reece who is boss. And, he was able to learn this by a couple simple techniques, like making him sit before he could have his food. I learned a lot of dog behaviors that I never even realized, and learned to look Reece right in the eye.

The best thing I learned was how to train him not to run out that front door, and how to stop him from jumping and lovingly bite people who walk through that door!
Because I took the time to learn how to connect with Reece, our lives are much calmer, and I can enjoy my time with Reece, rather than frustrated! He is so much fun, and such a joy to be around. I am so glad I came upon this e-book, SitStayFetch.

Please take time to help your puggle become the best friend he can be. They cannot do it on their own. They need guidance and love. It is your responsibility. And with a little time and effort, your little monster could turn into the sweetest, loving member of your family.

***************ANNOUNCING THE BIRTH OF DAISY AND REECE’S PUGGLES*****************

Wow, it is hard to believe that I am going to have more babies in my house again! I am so excited to see those cute little puggles. It is such an exhilarating feeling to see them being born, and I can’t wait to see whether they look more like Reece or Daisy.

My last batch, most of them looked like Reece. He is such a cutie. Of course, Daisy is cute, too, especially with that big round belly!

Reece knows something is up. He is always sniffing around her belly. With his last batch of puppies, he was SCARED TO DEATH of those little puggles! It was so cute. Reece is such a spaz; I was scared he would crush them. But, instead, he was very cautious and really just stayed away, until they started moving around and then he wanted to play.

Daisy was very protective of her babies. She was such an attentive mother. I was so proud of how she took care of her babies. When people came over to see them, she was okay with it; however, she made sure she was right up there in their laps, making sure her babies were okay.

Daisy and Reece’s puggles are due on February 29th. Although, it will be very hard for me to part with these cute little puggles, I have found that I get such a special feeling in my heart when I do put them in the arms of someone I know is just as excited about bringing a new baby into their home. I am very particular in where my puggles will end up. It is such an amazing feeling to be a part of bringing in a new member to someone’s family.

Since my baby is having babies, I thought it would be a good time to share a little of facts with you pertaining to pregnant Beagles! I know I was pretty much in the dark on what to expect while my beagle was expecting.

What to expect when they are expecting!
The average gestation is 63 days, but can vary from 57 to 65 days
Provide her with a safe, warm and fairly isolated area where she can deliver and raise her puppies once they are born.

A whelping box of some kind would be beneficial in keeping the puppies contained. This box should be large enough for her to be able to stretch out with some extra room for her litter. I would try to find something that is almost three times her size. You can purchase prefabricated ones online or you can have one built. It would very wise to have puppy guard rails that are about an inch in width and place around the inside of the box about two to four inches from the bottom to help prevent a puppy from getting smothered.

Get her used to her whelping box at least a week before delivery.
Begin taking her temperature at least twice daily about one week before her due date. A normal temperature is 101 – 102.5. When her temperature reaches below 98 degrees, she will likely be in labor with 24 hours.

Signs of labor include: shivering, rapid panting, refusal of food and occasionally vomiting. She will probably begin a nesting behavior, such as digging at bedding, etc.

THE DELIVERY:
Finally the day you have been looking for! Your puggles are on their way! Although the mother instinctively knows what to do, there are still a few things to look for during delivery. Contact your vet ASAP if she is straining yet no puppies appear within an hour or two, at the most. This could indicate that the babies are too big, and a C-section is necessary. During a natural delivery, a half hour between puppies is the average time it takes for delivery, a longer time could indicate a problem. Unfortunately, it is very common for her to deliver several puppies and have difficulty with the last one or two. Delivery is extremely exhausting. However, all she may need is a simple injection of oxytocin, which is a drug that helps the uterus to contract, to finish the delivery.

Thanks to a man who saved my Beagle and Puggle on the highway!

After reading the news story about the stolen Puggle and some comments from my readers, I remembered an incident that I forgot to share with all of you. Actually, I can’t believe I didn’t share it with you back when it happened. It all happened one evening back in the fall of last year. I had let Reece, my puggle, and Daisy, my beagle, out to go “potty” in the backyard, keep in mind I have a pretty decent size yard and a privacy fence. When I went to let them back in, to my surprise, they were both missing. I about had a heart attack!

I drove all over the neighborhood looking for them and could not find them anywhere. I live on a dead-end street and off of a very busy road. At the end of my road, there is a fence with holes in it that lead to a highway. So not only did I drive around the neighborhood looking for my puggle and beagle, but also drove on the highway to see if they had gotten through the holes. Nothing! I came home empty handed as well as empty hearted.

My house that night was so different. Although I have four kids and two other dogs, two of my babies were missing and I felt like my life had come to a complete stop! For those of you who know, puggles are very excited dogs and Reece was always adding excitement to the house by running crazy and constantly jumping up on me as well as others. He also loves to play with Daisy.

My husband kept telling me that they could possibly be running around and show up on the front step in the morning. Well, morning came and went, and my babies were not on the front step. Then, my husband gave me the idea to call the local pound to see if maybe they got picked up. Sure enough, when I called they stated that they had a Puggle and a Beagle dropped off last night. I was so excited and so relieved. The operator said that some man was driving a semi on the highway and noticed my two dogs roaming together. He told the pound that he knew that they had to belong to someone because they were roaming together and had collars. (Unfortunately, collars with no name tags) What I found out that day was that God was watching over my babies and that there was compassion in the world, even on the highway! :)

Interesting Story

I felt that this story was important and very interesting to share with all of you! It amazes me how the community came together to find a stolen puggle. It really gave me a little bit of hope that their is still compassion out there in our world where things seem to be falling apart! :) Enjoy.

Little Dog Lost - And Found


It was every pet lover's worst nightmare.

When Elizabeth Zagarino's six-month-old Puggle Bella went missing from their Laurel home recently, she was devastated.

But a story that could have turned out badly had a happy ending, and Zagarino believes it was the outpouring of support and concern from her North Fork community that brought her beloved little dog back home.

Zagarino's nightmare began over a week ago, when she let out Rascal, her pit bull mix, on a wire line. Bella and Rascal, said Zagarino, "are the best of friends." And so when Rascal wanted out, "Bella got upset and wanted to go out, too." After scratching at the door, Zagarino let her out and Bella bolted off to join her buddy.

But that's when things went horribly awry. After heading upstairs to talk briefly with her husband Frank, who was renovating the bathroom, Zagarino ran right back down to let the dogs in. "Rascal was right there," she said. "Bella wasn't."

Zagarino realized a dog napper had grabbed Bella, pulled into a neighbor's driveway, and hastily backed up, hitting the mailbox.

And so began an odyssey of fear and despair that had Zagarino waiting and hoping fervently for a miracle.

"I called for her. Usually, if she's not in sight, I can hear the little jingle from her collar and there was just deafening silence. Immediately, I panicked. I just knew. I began yelling for her and yelling for her. My husband came right out and we went frantically looking everywhere for her."

Soon, the whole family, including Zagarino's sons, Frankie, 14, and Tanner, 9, were desperately searching for their lost dog.

The following days were dark for Zagarino, who was wracked with guilt. "She's my daughter," she said. "This little dog is so nervous – all she wants is her mom. She's always near my feet, always right next to me."

"My husband realized when he went out front that our mail was all over the ground. Someone crashed into our mailbox."

Indeed, a rash of robberies across the country has been reported as thieves pilfer the pricey designer puggles – a mix between a pug and a beagle – hiding them in purses and in one case, a man's pants, as they pull off the heist. Because the dogs are small – Bella is only 15 pounds – they're easily stashed and are often stolen from pet stores and off the streets.

"When I told them what kind of dog I was looking for, every single person said, 'Oh, you have a hot ticket,'" said Zagarino.

The situation appeared even more dire when Zagarino's husband read an article in the paper about puggles being one of the most commonly poached pooches – thieves often steal and resell the designer dogs. Part of the impetus for peeling off with the pooches? Their pricey pedigree – most puggles fetch between $600 and $800 and up to $1000 when purchased.

"Any small dog is at risk. No dog should be left outside. It's like leaving a child alone," said Peg Gugliotta of the Kent Animal Shelter.

Determined to find her dog, Zagarino got serious. Her friend Danielle Cardinale helped her to plaster the North Fork with over 400 flyers, and soon, concerned neighbors and residents were calling Zagarino with news of prayer groups and search parties. Zagarino even got in touch with an animal communicator to help guide her to an answer. "I didn't care what I had to do," she said. "The whole neighborhood was looking."

Soon, though, the dedication of an entire community paid off when Bella was returned home, safe and sound, last Wednesday.

As soon as her husband turned on the kitchen light to get ready for work at 4:45 a.m., there was a tap on the door – Bella was scratching at the door, eager to get home.

"It's pretty self-explanatory that someone waited until there were signs of life in our house until they let her loose so she could get in," said Zagarino.

Whoever had brought Bella was already gone when Zagarino's husband went running to investigate.

And then, the most joyful of reunions unfolded. "I couldn't breathe for a minute," said Zagarino. "She just ran into my arms, I was crying so hard. I told my kids, 'Please tell me I'm awake right now.' I felt like I'd been in a nightmare for five days."

Once home, Bella was one tired pup, snuggled up to Rascal. "She's skinny and thirsty, but she doesn't seem traumatized. She came home with her collar and tags."

As for why she was swiped, Zagarino has her suspicions. "Maybe it was some teenagers who thought she was cute. Maybe it was someone who wanted to steal her but then saw all the flyers and thought, 'This town's way too small and too proactive,' and they had to abort the project."

What brought her dog home, believes Zagarino, was her refusal to give up – and a community that rallied behind a family in crisis.

"I just literally could not stop putting the word out there," she said. "I kept talking, kept driving, and I had everyone talking. People were praying and searching. There were over hundreds of e-mails sent out."

Now that her ordeal is over, Zagarino, who moved to the North Fork from California four and a half years ago, has a newfound appreciation for the community she now firmly believes is home. "I just want to thank everyone for the outpouring of prayers, help and concern," she said. "All those people praying, grabbing flyers and putting them up, helped to get my baby back."

For years after moving from Los Angeles, Zagarino was homesick. "I wanted to go home. But after this I realized this is my home. These people are really great. I learned something valuable – this is a really special place, these people are so special. The outpouring of support and love speaks volumes. It's been an amazing lesson for me."

lfinn@indyeastend.com

The Independent

Caring for Your Puggle

When you bring your Puggle home, whether you’ve adopted an adorable, wriggly puppy or a slightly calmer but just as adorable adult Puggle, life changes. It’s like adding any new member to your family; Puggles need special attention and care.

The first priority, before you bring your Puggle home with you, should be to Puggle-proof your home. This includes removing anything from the floor that might look like food or a dog toy, but could be dangerous.

Children’s toys can be particularly hazardous to Puggles because they love to chew on things, and small parts or small toys can choke them. Some toys may also have chemicals in them that could be toxic to a Puggle. Shiny batteries are a particular danger to these inquisitive dogs.

Also make sure all household cleaners and substances are put away, and spills are cleaned up. Anything spilled on the floor looks like a tasty beverage to a Puggle, who could get very sick as a result.

And of course anything a Puggle could get tangled in, from an electrical cord to a curtain pull-cord, should be placed so your new baby can’t get into it.

Once you have baby-proofed your home, it’s time to think about bringing your Puggle home, and what will make her comfortable.

You will want to have food and water bowls available for your pet, and make sure there is always fresh water available, and that food is in the bowls at predictable feeding times. Puggles, like all dogs, love routine, and they particularly need fresh drinking water available constantly.

If your Puggle uses the bathroom inside on newspapers, make sure the papers are changed regularly, as this can create a health risk to both pets and humans in the family. Your Puggle also may refuse to go on soiled papers.

Because Puggles have short hair, they don’t need to be groomed in the sense of being trimmed on a regular basis, like a poodle. But they do need to be bathed on a regular basis to maintain their skin and coat. Use a hypoallergenic pet shampoo, and try to make bath time as brief and enjoyable as possible. Many Puggles don’t enjoy bath time, but if you make it as pleasant as possible, they’ll get used to it.

After your Puggle is dry and has recovered from the indignity of the bath, use a brush with coated bristles to comb through her coat and remove all the loose hair. She will definitely enjoy being brushed, and the longer you brush, the less likely she is to shed later.

The most fun and enjoyable part of caring for your Puggle is, simply, playing. Puggles love to play and interact with their people. They are very spirited and energetic, and are a naturally playful breed. As you make training a part of play time, you will find that you have a pet who is loving and fun to play with and whom you enjoy having in your family.

The most important thing to remember about caring for your Puggle is that she needs the same things you do: a safe environment, fresh food and water, and lots of loving attention.

5 Reasons to Consider a Puggle

If you’re considering a new pet, you may be looking at a variety of dogs, including Puggles. Choosing a dog is a big choice, as you hope to have this new member of your family for many years and develop a close relationship with your pet.

As a hybrid breed, Puggles are different and fun. They are not quite like either the beagle or the pug from which they are bred, and second generation Puggles are particularly unpredictable. But as a breed, Puggles have a lot of great characteristics, and there are several reasons you might want to consider a Puggle for your new pet.

1. Uniqueness: Among the reasons for choosing a Puggle are its uniqueness. Hybrid dogs are raised by a limited number of breeders, and Puggles are a relatively new breed. They became a very popular breed in 2005, and are still in great demand. Still, for a newer breed, they remain affordable, with puppies usually available for under $1000. If one of your goals in finding the perfect pet is to have an unusual dog which will attract attention and be a conversation starter, going with a hybrid breed such as a Puggle might be perfect for you.

2. Strong Personality: Puggles have very strong personalities. While some people want a quiet dog to cuddle on the couch and be a companion, Puggles are more likely to become true members of the family. Puggles are definitely individuals. They’re great at developing their own place in a family and becoming a much loved “person” around your home.

3. High Energy: You want your dog to be an extension of you and of your family, and Puggles are great at this because they’re so spirited. Puggles are very adventurous and fun-loving dogs. Because they’re so energetic, Puggles do well in families who are interested in having a puppy, and later a dog, to play with. Their high energy levels and delightful personalities make Puggles great, fun pets.

4. The Cute Factor: When you see Puggle puppies, you may find them irresistible. Puggle puppies are among the cutest puppies available, and breeders often have people on a waiting list to adopt Puggle puppies. Adult Puggles are also adorable, with their long, floppy ears and short noses. They are very cute dogs, and will steal your heart immediately.

5. Low Physical Maintenance: Puggles have very short hair and do not need to be groomed on a regular basis, like some of the smaller breeds such as terriers. Puggles do shed, but they are a short-haired breed, and do not start looking like a tangled mop when not brushed. As for the shedding, your vet may have a treatment to put on your Puggle’s food to reduce shedding.

There are a lot of factors to consider in buying your new pet, and the various qualities of Puggles, including their energy and spirit, as well as their low grooming requirements and small size, may make them the perfect dog for your family. When you choose a dog, whether it be a Puggle or another breed, knowing the personality and expectations for your puppy can make all the difference in finding the perfect dog to become a new member of your family.