PugHearts of Houston Pug Rescue

09/11/2026

🌟🐾 FRIDAY FOSTER SPOTLIGHT: CHERYL MARIE! 🐾🌟
This week we are shining the spotlight on the wonderful Cheryl Marie, whose PugHearts journey all started because of a T-shirt! 👕🐶
Years ago, one of Cheryl’s former patients came in wearing a PugHearts shirt. Cheryl asked about it, heard so many wonderful things, and the rest is history! When her family decided they wanted to adopt a dog, her kids requested a pug. In 2022, they adopted Mocha Latte, followed just a few months later by Maverick. 💕🐾
And now Cheryl wears her own PugHearts shirts proudly, hoping that maybe someone else will see one, ask a question, and begin their own PugHearts journey too. ❤️
After joining the Facebook group, Cheryl kept seeing the calls for help and the need for fosters. She admits she was nervous about adding another dog to the house, whether her pugs would get along with a foster, and even the drive to the pet hospital. But after talking with Carrie and getting all her questions answered, Cheryl finally took the leap and has now been fostering for a little over a year!
Her first foster was Lena, a tiny 5-year-old black pug who had been through so much after being attacked by another dog. Cheryl and her family quickly fell in love with this sweet little Velcro pug. In fact, her husband, who had originally worried Cheryl would foster fail, had an even harder time saying goodbye when Lena found her forever home! 😂❤️ Thankfully, Lena went to a wonderful family in Louisiana and still sends Cheryl updates and pictures.
Cheryl says one of the best surprises about fostering has been realizing just how much support there is. The Southside foster group is always there to offer advice, help pick up supplies, or lend a hand when needed. She has also experienced that support personally while taking a temporary break from fostering to focus on her family. ❤️
Of course, fostering always comes with a few adventures! Her most recent foster, Randy, apparently decided his first order of business was to inspect the backyard pool... by launching himself straight into it! 🏊😂 Cheryl had to jump in after him fully dressed, shoes and all. Luckily, Randy learned quickly because that was both his first and last pool dive!
As for Mocha Latte and Maverick? Well... let's just say they may enjoy being the center of attention a little too much to fully appreciate fostering. 😂 Maverick is especially particular about his bed. If a foster sleeps in it, he refuses to use it again until the bedding has been properly washed!
And saying goodbye? Cheryl admits she has cried after every foster. 💔 But those tears come with the incredible feeling of knowing she helped a dog take the next step toward their forever family. She has been lucky enough to have amazing adopters who continue sending pictures and updates, and she loves watching her former fosters thrive. 🥹❤️
Cheryl's message to anyone thinking about fostering is simple:
If you are thinking about it, even a little bit, take that first step and reach out for information. Bring all your questions and concerns. Nobody will pressure you, and you may discover, just like Cheryl did, that you have an entire village of PugHearts people ready to support you.
Thank you, Cheryl, for opening your heart and home to pugs in need! 🐾❤️ We are so lucky to have you as part of the PugHearts family!

09/09/2026

09/06/2026

✓ Foster Pringles is 6 years old and around 20 pounds
✓ He’s sweet, affectionate, and loves his people
✓ He gets along with every dog in the house
✓ He’s a pro at crate time and goes right in when asked
✓ He loves being outside and enjoying the great outdoors
✓ He’s easygoing, lovable, and just an all-around great guy
✓ Much like a Pringle chip,
you won’t want just one day with him—you’ll want a LIFETIME with him! 🥔💙

He’ll be ready for adoption mid-October after his heartworm treatment. Apply now to stake your claim! Www.pughearts.com

09/05/2026

Behind Bars Babies: Holiday Edition...

Our inventory knows
no end, and our current foster homes are full. The need is great, just look at his face...

This is Van. While Van has roof and grub, and his immediate needs are met, he very much needs (toofs for likes) an *albeit fake* family to show him the daily ways of a loved pet, and heal from his crappy life start. Van would rather spend this Labor Day weekend in a home, and you have till noon today to spring him.

Sweet Van looks to be 2-4 years old, is already neutered, and sadly, also heart worm positive. This means a 3-4 month minimum and well-coached foster commitment, barring complications.

Van has at least a dozen boarder buddies, because we simply do not have enough temporary homes. Even as summer comes to a close, we continue to tread water with the inflow of pugs. Money spent on boarding impacts others we could be helping. This is where you come in!!!

Here are the rough foster requirements:

• Live in the Houston metro area

• Willing to make vet visits to Sugar Land as needed

• Have space on your couch and in your heart

• Dog meals to share

• Try marketing posts; the more the better

• Attend adoption events

*DID YOU KNOW?? If you are a previous local PH adopter, you are automatically approved to foster!!

We provide direction, moral, and medical support. We provide access to a large network of veteran and newer fosters to consult, all hours of the day and night. We provide a detailed and wildly informative Foster Handbook to refer to and guide you. There will be acronyms 🤠.

Please help us by helping Van!! Our vet is open till 7 Monday-Friday and 8-noon Saturdays.

09/04/2026

🐾 Friday Foster Spotlight: Vickie Tamayo🐾

This week, we’re shining the spotlight on someone whose love for senior dogs, rescue, and Pugs has made such a beautiful difference — Vickie Tamayo!💜

Vickie’s PugHearts story began back in 2008, when she adopted her very first Pug, Milo. At 10 years old, Milo was already a senior, but Vickie has always had a special place in her heart for older dogs. Milo quickly showed her just how wonderful Pugs are. He was the ultimate velcro dog — sweet, snuggly, and always by her side. Vickie was blessed with four wonderful years with him. 🥰

In 2011, Vickie adopted another senior, Gladys, who was 9 years old and went on to live to the amazing age of 14. ❤️

Vickie eventually began helping PugHearts by dog-sitting for fosters who were traveling and then decided to try fostering herself. That’s when she discovered one tiny problem…her family was WAY too good at falling in love with the fosters!😂

One foster in particular, Bea, a little winky Chug, completely stole Vickie’s mom’s heart. When Bea was adopted, Mom was heartbroken — and Vickie quickly realized that perhaps her family was not quite cut out for fostering. 😂💔

Years later, after retiring in 2023 to care for her mother, Vickie found herself with a little more time. She saw the need for fosters on Facebook and decided it was time to give fostering another try. And this time, everything fell into place. 💜

Vickie is also a nurse, and she sees a beautiful connection between nursing and fostering. She loves her patients like family, cares for them with her whole heart, and then has to let them go, trusting that the next person will care for them just as she did.

She approaches fostering the same way. She loves every foster as if they were her own and then sends them off with a little piece of her heart, hoping and praying their forever family will love them just as much. 🥹🐾

As Vickie says, “Each foster takes a little bit of my heart when they leave, but each one adds to my heart in the time I was blessed to care for them.”❤️

Vickie is amazed by how much PugHearts has grown over the years and is especially grateful for the incredible support among the foster family. She says you never feel alone — and that’s exactly what makes this rescue so special.

We are SO thankful that Vickie decided to open her heart and home again. Thank you, Vickie, for loving the seniors, the winky ones, the ones who need a little extra patience, and every Pug who needs someone to believe in them. 🐶💜

We’re incredibly blessed to have you as part of the PugHearts family!🐾💜

09/01/2026

Rescue. People ask how we do it. The truth is: because it needs to be done. It’s a double-edged sword. We save lives. We complete families.

But there’s a side we don’t share, because we absorb it so you don’t have to. We harden ourselves, over and over, for the sake of these Pugs.

Please meet Erling. Erling IS PugHearts. He’s skin and bones, battling tick-borne disease, intestinal parasites, and heartworm. You can tell by his extra skin that he was once loved and well-fed. This is how he came to us. Literally carried like trash. Erling’s a medical mess — and yet also the sweetest boy. He’s one of the ones who broke my heart.

Please consider a donation for Erling and every Pug in our care. We currently have 150+ in foster care. Let them know: we see you. You matter. Your life is worth saving.

PayPal.me/PugHearts
Venmo PugHearts of Houston
CashApp $PugHearts

08/30/2026

PUGS ON THE BAYOU ~ LAST CALL!



The deadline of Friday, Sept. 4th is rapidly approaching for space in the 2026 PugHearts Yearbook. If you want to submit a Yearbook ad, please get in touch ASAP at [email protected] (or send me a message Jackson). POTB Sponsors, this is also the deadline for your submissions.



We are still accepting items for the Silent Auction. If you have donations, please reach out so we can make arrangements to get them. And we still need Volunteers on the day of the PugHearts Fever event (Sat., Oct. 17); please get in touch! Thanks for all of your support for POTB and the PugHearts pugs!

08/26/2026

Meet Betsy. I am introducing her because her life mattered. We were able to pick her up from a Shelter in the Valley today. I knew she was critical, but I also knew that she deserved a chance. Unfortunately, we were just too late and she passed away before the doctors got a chance to try.

Please send hugs to Jordan Boling. She picked her up and she was with her when she took her last breath. We may not have been able to save her, but at least she knew that she mattered and that she was loved before she closed her eyes forever. 

08/24/2026

Imani Update!!!

She is holding on strong. The blood transfusion made her PCV go from 6% to
27%. Still below normal but much better!

Imani still has ticks that are on her but actively dying. She is a fighter and needs you to fight with her!

Please consider making a donation to her medical bills. ER visits are necessary but not cheap! Any amount, no matter how big or small, is greatly appreciated! As always, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

PayPal.me/PugHearts
Venmo PugHearts of Houston (last four are 0942)
CashApp $PugHearts