helping families track down original pug beginnings?

[keep on pugging]

Deb:
Microchipping at events is usually done only at the events we do with K9 Rescue Me--the bigger trade shows, or some of the joint events at the PawsWay.  We haven't offered chipping at a Pugalug yet that I'm aware of and likely won't in the near future.

ALL pet store dogs are from either puppy mills or backyard breeders.  Most pet stores tell you that their dogs are from "local breeders" which may be true--but those breeders aren't producing quality dogs and generally aren't doing any kind of health testing, etc.  If you need to sell your dogs via a pet store, then that is just one of many indications that you aren't a good breeder.

My question: Are you doing this history search for help on his health conditions or just out of curiosity?  I have found that doing a history check doesn't help resolve or understand health issues unless you can actually get a pedigree and a history on sire/dam and health of the various litters.  And even then it doesn't always help as you can get a "fluke" health issue pop up even in the best bred dogs.

If it's simple curiosity, I understand that.  I just wanted to warn you that you may not get any resolution to health issues from doing a search

Actually both, but was told health records may have helped establish history of illness and/or prior treatments, so helpful for the vet to know.

[blanche]

No question, old vet records can help alot.  We only have vet records for Tank going back two years before he came to me.  Unfortunately, the previous records were never forwarded to his last owner's vet so we have no way to follow his history.  I know his breeder as he's CKC registered, but he was sold as a puppy so that's not really helpful to me.

When I really wish we had old records is with a dog like Emi where there's been a trauma--but since she was in the shelter as a stray (I think), we don't have any way of accessing old records. 

Good luck with your search.

[DarwinandAdasmom]

Don't get your hopes up for finding the original breeder being helpful Deb because you could end up with a case like ours.  We KNOW where Darwin is from, I know the names of his parents and where the owners live.  But we were idiots who didn't know better and we got him from a BYB.  When Darwin started having allergy issues and separation anxiety as a puppy I tried to get in touch with them a number of times, to get more background info for our vet.  They refused to respond to any and all requests and even hung up on me.  Once they had our money and we had the puppy they cut off all contact.  So even if you find your guys original place the "breeder" may not want to help and legally there is nothing you can do to compel that kind of information from a private citizen.  I hope though that if you do find the origins of your guy that the search is fruitful and the people are helpful.  I'll have my fingers crossed for you.

[blanche]

Sadly, Anna's experience is pretty typical.  And you weren't idiots, Anna.  You didn't know then what you know now.

I tried and tried to get information from Jem's breeder as did the original owners.  They have a fancy-schmancy website and everything.  Got absolutely NO response.

[SpeedyPug]

...really though...would YOU wanna own up to the Jemmers? 

[blanche]

...really though...would YOU wanna own up to the Jemmers?  

GASP!!! I cannot believe you said that!!  I hope he poops in your shoe!!!

But don't send him back here.  He almost killed me with his energy......

[Pug-Mummy]

When I adopted my first pug, I took it upon myself to find as much information about him as possible; primarily for interest.  I was pretty certain the information I had been given by the rescue group was inaccurate (no worries; it WASN'T Pugalug!) and felt if I could put all the pieces of his puzzle together, it would somehow help.  Yep; it didn't!

Due to an oversight on behalf of the rescue, I was able to track down his 2 previous veterinarians.  Thanks to my winning charm (!) and some insider 'know how' I had the content of his medical records released to me.  The history revealed standard, preventive care; vaccines and HWT, nothing more.  The only item of interest was the discrepancy in his age; one report indicated he was a senior, the other only aged 3.  I had been told Pugsley was 3 years old, but I was fairly certain he was at minimum 6-7 years of age.  It was a moot point; he and I were meant to be and I knew that the moment I met him.  He could have been 14 years old and he still would have been coming home with me!

Having hit a dead end road with medical records, I turned my attention to the almost illegable tattoo in his ear.  Clearly the staff and I had a little too much time on our hands at work one day, and began swabbing his ear with alcohol to blanche his skin and make the tattoo appear more clear.  Armed with a few clear numbers and letters combined with a great deal of guess work, I contacted the CKC.  The only part of the tattoo which was by any means accurate (so much for my guess work!) were the last 2 digits (or maybe 3?).  From this, the CKC was able to at least tell me the year of his birth.  As it would happen, Pugsley was not 3 years old as I had been led to believe, but 9!  This information was helpful with respect to his dietary needs and preventative care, but certainly not crucial. 

What's the moral of the story??  All my best efforts aside, the information I was able to garner about Pugsley's history was not particularly helpful, and truth be told I probably wasted more time working on it than it was worth.  In hindsight, I should have realized this before undertaking the task.  Here's why: most people who choose to re-home their pets are apt to bring them to the vet for primary care only; this is particularly applicable in a case where the pet has had multiple homes.  The history is typically littered with vaccines, HWT, faecal tests, comments about weight or teeth, etc. but that's all.  If a pet has had multiple homes before coming to you, it is unlikely anyone has been as emotionally invested in them as you are now.  If they were, how come the pet is working on their 4th or 5th home?

Finally, I'm GLAD I didn't have a full history on Puggy when I adopted him.  I am a firm believer in pet insurance - I had Puggy vetted and insured within 48 hours of adopting him.  Had I have known what a little lemon Puggy really was, the insurance company would only have laughed at me before hanging up - insurance would NOT have been an option!  Despite a sparse medical history, here is what was REALLY wrong with my fella:

Obesity
Skin Allergies
Heart Disease
Cervical Pain
Arthritis
Seperation Anxiety

I think that's the short list anyway!  So, Puggy spent his golden years with me, and thanks to insurance was able to have all the diagnostics and treatments necessary for his myriad of problems.  I was somewhat surprised when PetCare accepted my as a client again when I enrolled Reilly and later, Rosie.  I was certain my name was mud with them, and at minimum I was blacklisted!   

Don't worry about where your dog came from; just be thankful they did.  After all, that's the road which led them to you!

[blanche]

Did you even ask if they would insure Leila?

I haven't insured my dogs as they aren't really insurable.  I've been fortunate to have enough medical history to know what's likely going on and unfortunate enough to have enough medical history to make the insurance companies roar with laughter when I apply.

[SpeedyPug]

Hey Blanche...no poop in the shoe but Jem did lick me to death with his unholy breath last night.  Close enough? 

[keep on pugging]

When I adopted my first pug, I took it upon myself to find as much information about him as possible; primarily for interest.  I was pretty certain the information I had been given by the rescue group was inaccurate (no worries; it WASN'T Pugalug!) and felt if I could put all the pieces of his puzzle together, it would somehow help.  Yep; it didn't!

Due to an oversight on behalf of the rescue, I was able to track down his 2 previous veterinarians.  Thanks to my winning charm (!) and some insider 'know how' I had the content of his medical records released to me.  The history revealed standard, preventive care; vaccines and HWT, nothing more.  The only item of interest was the discrepancy in his age; one report indicated he was a senior, the other only aged 3.  I had been told Pugsley was 3 years old, but I was fairly certain he was at minimum 6-7 years of age.  It was a moot point; he and I were meant to be and I knew that the moment I met him.  He could have been 14 years old and he still would have been coming home with me!

Having hit a dead end road with medical records, I turned my attention to the almost illegable tattoo in his ear.  Clearly the staff and I had a little too much time on our hands at work one day, and began swabbing his ear with alcohol to blanche his skin and make the tattoo appear more clear.  Armed with a few clear numbers and letters combined with a great deal of guess work, I contacted the CKC.  The only part of the tattoo which was by any means accurate (so much for my guess work!) were the last 2 digits (or maybe 3?).  From this, the CKC was able to at least tell me the year of his birth.  As it would happen, Pugsley was not 3 years old as I had been led to believe, but 9!  This information was helpful with respect to his dietary needs and preventative care, but certainly not crucial.  

What's the moral of the story??  All my best efforts aside, the information I was able to garner about Pugsley's history was not particularly helpful, and truth be told I probably wasted more time working on it than it was worth.  In hindsight, I should have realized this before undertaking the task.  Here's why: most people who choose to re-home their pets are apt to bring them to the vet for primary care only; this is particularly applicable in a case where the pet has had multiple homes.  The history is typically littered with vaccines, HWT, faecal tests, comments about weight or teeth, etc. but that's all.  If a pet has had multiple homes before coming to you, it is unlikely anyone has been as emotionally invested in them as you are now.  If they were, how come the pet is working on their 4th or 5th home?

Finally, I'm GLAD I didn't have a full history on Puggy when I adopted him.  I am a firm believer in pet insurance - I had Puggy vetted and insured within 48 hours of adopting him.  Had I have known what a little lemon Puggy really was, the insurance company would only have laughed at me before hanging up - insurance would NOT have been an option!  Despite a sparse medical history, here is what was REALLY wrong with my fella:

Obesity
Skin Allergies
Heart Disease
Cervical Pain
Arthritis
Seperation Anxiety

I think that's the short list anyway!  So, Puggy spent his golden years with me, and thanks to insurance was able to have all the diagnostics and treatments necessary for his myriad of problems.  I was somewhat surprised when PetCare accepted my as a client again when I enrolled Reilly and later, Rosie.  I was certain my name was mud with them, and at minimum I was blacklisted!  

Don't worry about where your dog came from; just be thankful they did.  After all, that's the road which led them to you!

Thank you for posting this, could relate to much of it.

[keep on pugging]

Sadly, Anna's experience is pretty typical.  And you weren't idiots, Anna.  You didn't know then what you know now.

I tried and tried to get information from Jem's breeder as did the original owners.  They have a fancy-schmancy website and everything.  Got absolutely NO response.

It's in the best interest of the dog though, you'd think they'd send you something, even if it's sent to your vet? 

[keep on pugging]

Did you even ask if they would insure Leila?

I haven't insured my dogs as they aren't really insurable.  I've been fortunate to have enough medical history to know what's likely going on and unfortunate enough to have enough medical history to make the insurance companies roar with laughter when I apply.

No question, old vet records can help alot.  We only have vet records for Tank going back two years before he came to me.  Unfortunately, the previous records were never forwarded to his last owner's vet so we have no way to follow his history.  I know his breeder as he's CKC registered, but he was sold as a puppy so that's not really helpful to me.

When I really wish we had old records is with a dog like Emi where there's been a trauma--but since she was in the shelter as a stray (I think), we don't have any way of accessing old records. 

Good luck with your search.

Thanks I'll need it!

[blanche]

Hey Blanche...no poop in the shoe but Jem did lick me to death with his unholy breath last night.  Close enough? 

Hee hee.  Works for me.

[blanche]

It's in the best interest of the dog though, you'd think they'd send you something, even if it's sent to your vet? 

That presumes that their primary interest is the health and welfare of the dog and my experience with "greeders" is that it's money, not the dogs, that matters.

[Pug-Mummy]

I second that motion Blanche!

As for insuring Leila Bean... I didn't waste my energy on the call!  Keeping in mind that virtually any metabolic disease would be considered a pre-existing condition and would therefore not be covered by an insurance policy, I thought there was little point in parting with the monthly premium.  I felt I would be better to put the money towards her medications and regular bloodwork; more 'bang for my buck' so to speak.