The popularity of Pugs has been on the rise since the late 1980’s. Long a well-kept secret, Pugs were seldom seen except perhaps in large urban areas where they have been ideal apartment dogs for decades. Today however, Pugs have proliferated and can now be spotted in most every town, from your average suburban community to rural areas clear across America.

The rise in the popularity of Pugs can be reasonably connected to many factors. Media appearances in movies such as Men in Black, Television shows such as Friends, in entertainment magazines portrayed as celebrity pets of Jenna Elfman and Alec Baldwin…and so on and on. The internet, and the broad global exposure generated has played a role too, as Pug enthusiasts and owners created web sites about their Pugs which could be easily viewed by anyone surfing the web. Of course, the single greatest reason for the popularity of Pugs is the plain and simple fact that Pugs are great dogs. They’re cute, fun, friendly and great with kids, to name just a few reasons why the Pug is a wonderful breed.

Unfortunately though, all this popularity is taking its toll on the Pug breed and consequently on Pug Rescue organizations as well. Stated quite simply, there are too many too many disreputable Pug breeders out there making too many Pugs which are being purchased by people who didn’t research the breed or breeders before buying a Pug. As a result, Pug Rescue organizations are fast becoming overwhelmed by the sheer number of Pugs being given up to Rescue organizations or simply abandoned.

We at PugVillage.com urge every Pug person to get involved in Pug Rescue and lend a hand to any of the many organizations currently working to provide suitable, loving homes to Pugs in need. There are a variety of ways you can become involved, and we’ve written this article to illustrate just a few of ways in which you can help:

Donations: Pug Rescue organizations always need money to help pay for the veterinary care, food and often transportation of the Pugs they rescue. The endeavor of Pug Rescue is one that generates no profit, and often leaves those involved with large out of pocket expenses. At this most basic level, PugVillage.com urges you to donate to your local Pug Rescue organization.

Spotters: Pug Rescue organizations, like all rescue groups often use “spotters” as a means to finding Pugs in need of rescue. These spotters periodically check local animal shelters in search of homeless Pugs, and will also attempt to find foster care for the Pugs they find. A successful spotter is a person who is good at networking, working to develop a positive relationship with local shelter employees and within the community.

Transporters:Rescued Pugs need to get from one place to the other and this is where transporters come in. Transporters may take a rescued Pug from the shelter to a foster home, from a foster home to a vet, or from a foster home to a new home.

Foster Homes: Providing a foster home for a Rescue Pug isn’t just giving a Pug food and shelter until it is adopted. There’s more to it than that, and being a foster home provider can be both demanding, rewarding and even heartbreaking. As a foster home provider, you could be assisting in the dogs recovery from injury or illness, involved in housetraining or behavioral training or even simply evaluating the dog to help match it to a suitable home.

Outreach: Pug Rescue organizations can always use someone to help establish relationships with others who work with dogs in some fashion. Outreach workers can solicit food donations from pet food suppliers or grocers, make arrangements with shelters to donate kennel space or enlist the help of veterinarians and dog trainers who may provide low cost, or even no-cost services for rescue groups.

Promotions: If there’s an inner-salesperson within you, then consider helping Pug Rescue organizations by helping to promote their cause. Raising money, enlisting the help of the media for promotion of the rescue group and just plain making the local community aware of the groups existence are some of the many ways a person can help.

So, what are you waiting for?