Bay Area Pug Project

06/07/2026

Nessie is adopted! ❤️

Jean is a lifelong pug lover whose family has shared their home with eight pugs over the years. After recently saying goodbye to her beloved senior pug, Lillie, the quiet in the house felt overwhelming. She knew what was missing: the love and companionship only a pug can bring.

Nessie came to us after her owner decided they no longer wanted her and attempted to give her away online. Despite being let down by people, she never lost her loving, trusting spirit. We knew she was going to make someone very happy.

When Jean came to our adoption event today in Martinez with her son, she was immediately drawn to Nessie. As she sat with her, she looked up and said, “I didn’t know I could feel happy again.” Her son thanked us and shared how much this meant to his mom. It was one of those moments that reminds us exactly why we do this work.

Nessie, now Myrtle, has found her perfect home. She’ll spend the rest of her years surrounded by love, snuggles, and more pug siblings than she could ever count.

Happy tails, sweet girl. ❤️

06/05/2026

Meet Eustace, or as we call him, Grandpa.

Grandpa was found as a stray, likely abandoned in his old age and in heartbreaking condition. His teeth are severely diseased and falling out, his vision is limited, his skin is raw from years of untreated flea allergies, his nails were painfully overgrown, and he arrived dirty, uncomfortable, and struggling with a persistent cough.

The shelter estimated him to be 14 years old. Whether he’s a panda pug or a Japanese Chin pug mix, one thing is certain: he’s absolutely adorable.

We pulled him from the Elk Grove shelter and got him into to urgent care when his cough sounded more serious than kennel cough. Diagnostics revealed that he has severe tracheal collapse. He’s been prescribed hydrocodone to reduce the coughing and airway irritation, has enjoyed a much-needed warm bath, and is settling into foster care.

His vet agrees that he’s in no condition to go under sedation to address his dental problems or do further testing.

We’ve only had Grandpa for 48 hours, but our promise to him is simple: every day he has left will be filled with love, comfort, good meals, soft beds, and people who care.

If your heart is telling you that this sweet old man belongs with you for his remaining days, we’d love to hear from you. Otherwise, he already has a foster home ready to spoil him rotten until it’s time to say goodbye.

06/04/2026

Dalton is adopted!

The Leong family said goodbye to their beloved pug, Laci, last year and had been hoping to find a playful, energetic companion for their Labradoodle, Ozzie. After meeting a few of our young and active pugs, they quickly fell in love with Dalton…and the feeling was mutual!

Dalton came to us from Tulare Animal Services after being found as a stray. With his larger-than-life personality (and the body to match!), we couldn’t be happier that he’s joining a family where he’ll have a big dog sibling to romp, play, and make memories with.

Congratulations to Dalton and the Leong family. We wish them many years of love, laughter, and adventures together.

Happy tails, everyone!

06/04/2026

Update on Wiggles!

Hooray for Wiggles! ❤️

Wiggles has made his way back home!

Wiggles was in a loving foster home with a Bay Area pug rescue but as a mix he wasn’t getting much interest from pug adopters. After a couple of months with no applications, the rescue and his foster family decided to give him a chance here at Dogwood. There were tears as he was dropped off and it was clear that his foster home loved him very much.

It didn’t take long for Wiggles’ former foster parents to realize just how much they missed him. They knew he belonged with them, and this week, Wiggles officially made his way back home!

We couldn’t be happier for this sweet little guy and his family.

Making a difference one animal at a time

06/03/2026

Meet Isla!

This beautiful girl is a lovable 1-2 year old pug with a big personality and an even bigger heart!

This sweet girl is the perfect mix of playful energy and couch-snuggle champion. Isla loves to play, zoom around, and have fun with her people, but once playtime is over, she’s happy curled up beside you for cuddles.

She’s very food motivated (treats are definitely the way to her heart!) but has a gentle nature around food and is not protective of her meals or snacks. Isla thrives on affection, attention, and being close to her humans. She also loves to play fetch!

Isla is also working on her potty training and doing well with consistency, patience, and encouragement. With guidance, regular trips outside, and lots of praise, she’s well on her way and eager to keep learning with her future family.

To help set her up for a happy, healthy future, Isla is getting spayed tomorrow with a soft palate surgery to improve her breathing and comfort. She’ll be ready to join her forever family early next week!

If you’re searching for a fun-loving, affectionate companion who will happily alternate between playtime and cuddle time, Isla can’t wait to meet you. We pulled her from a pug up north in Yuba City, where she had been turned in as a stray.

www.bayareapugproject.org/dog/isla

06/03/2026

Thank you Feral & Fab Photography for donating your time and skills to capture the event 💜 https://www.feralandfabphotography.com/pug-prom/

06/03/2026

Need some pugs in your weekend plans?

Join us this Saturday at California Adopt-a-Pet Day at Contra Costa County Animal Services in Martinez! We’ll be there with adoptable pugs, fellow rescue groups, vendors, and plenty of wagging tails.

The shelter will be waiving adoption fees for all of their adoptable animals during the event, so if you’ve been thinking about adding a furry family member, this is your sign.

Come meet some adorable dogs, support local rescue, and spend the day surrounded by animal lovers.

📍 4800 Imhoff Place, Martinez, CA�🕙 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

06/02/2026

Meet Twiggy!

If you’re looking for a fun-sized adventure buddy with endless love to give, Twiggy may be your perfect match.

This adorable pug mix is packed with personality. She loves toys, bones, kids, and other dogs, and would happily spend all day zooming around the backyard if given the chance. The world is an exciting place for Twiggy, and every walk is an opportunity for a new discovery. With her longer snout, she’s always busy taking in all the sights and smells around her.

We rescued Twiggy from Solano County Animal Care after she was brought in as a stray. We estimate she’s about a year old and weighs just 15 pounds. The shelter guessed she may be a Miniature Pinscher-Pug mix, and we can definitely see it in her ears, athletic build, and energetic spirit.

Twiggy is being spayed this week and will be ready to head home shortly afterward. She’s still working on her potty training and would thrive with a family committed to continuing her basic training, providing regular exercise, and helping her become the best dog she can be.

In return, you’ll get a loyal, affectionate little companion who is always ready for the next adventure and even more excited to curl up beside you when the day is done.

Think Twiggy could be your gal? Apply today! Www.bayareapugproject.org/dog/twiggy

06/02/2026

Theo is adopted!

Madison and Tyler had been dreaming of adopting a dog for quite some time. Madison has loved pugs ever since growing up with one, so she started volunteering with us to get her pug fix. After spending months helping at adoption events, they kept finding themselves asking the same question: why was Theo still waiting for a home?

The more time they spent around him, the harder he was to forget. When they finally moved into an apartment that allowed dogs, they knew it was time to make it official.

We rescued Theo from Stockton Animal Services in February after he was transferred in from another rescue. He came to us with a severe eye injury that ultimately required removal of the eye, and he has limited vision in his remaining eye. None of that has slowed him down. He’s spent the past few months living happily with his foster family, patiently waiting for the right people to find him.

Now he’s settling into his forever home. Like many visually impaired dogs, he’ll need a little time to learn his new surroundings, but he’s already well on his way.

As Madison puts it, “People need to give pugs like him a chance. Senior or disabled doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a home.”
Thank you, Madison and Tyler, for seeing Theo for exactly who he is and giving this wonderful boy the happy ending he deserved. They celebrated his adoption with an epic party: Pug Prom!

06/01/2026

A little over a week ago, we received a heartbreaking call from someone who had run out of options after her puppy Theo suffered a serious fall from the couch.

She did everything right. She rushed him to the vet, where imaging revealed a complex elbow fracture that required specialized orthopedic surgery. Faced with a cost she simply couldn’t afford, she made the difficult decision to surrender him to rescue so he could receive the care he needed and have the best chance at a full, active life.

Securing an emergency orthopedic consult is tough, but we heard back immediately from asking us to bring him in. After a CT scan of both front legs, their team discovered not only a severe fracture, but also a congenital weakness in both front limb joints that likely contributed to the extent of the injury.

Theo underwent surgery on both of his legs the very next day. Thanks to UC Davis’ Compassionate Care Fund, we received a $2,500 grant toward his treatment, reducing his surgical bill to $5,900.  We’re incredibly grateful for the grant and ongoing donor support that make it possible for us take on cases like this

Now begins the hard part. Theo faces 6–8 weeks of strict crate rest, pain medication, and limited activity while he heals. Please keep Theo in your thoughts as he starts his recovery journey; we’ll be sharing updates along the way.