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by
Karen Fetter
Superman is not the only
person who can rescue those
in danger, especially when
it comes to rescuing dogs,
-- pug dogs to be exact.
Patti Levay is the sole
owner of the pug rescue
facility “Guardian Angels
Pug Rescue,” located in
Latrobe, Westmoreland
County. No matter the
reason, Patti does not turn
away a pug dog in need. Her
facility arranges help for
any pug dog in need that
Pattie can possibly get to,
and works to place it in a
loving new home.
“I have always been a dog
lover, especially with
pugs,” said Patti. “I never
planned for this to happen
but I know that I was meant
to save these dogs.”
How does Patti do it alone?
She is not sure herself, but
it is obvious that she has a
heart of gold. All of her
time and care is given for
free and by no means does
Patti skimp. These dogs
don’t just feel rescued, but
loved.
From the time Patti saves a
dog, she gives the animal a
new place in her pug
bungalow. The bungalow is a
small building next to her
house that at one time held
up to 34 dogs! As you walk
inside she has four gated
kennels that can hold two to
three dogs each. Each kennel
has a door to the outside, a
bed, food dishes, a blanket,
and toys. On the other side
of the bungalow are separate
kennels for the other dogs
who either need special
attention or who have
trouble socializing.
Each dog receives the same
treatment including
medicine, monthly baths,
non-violent television, and
the thermostat being set at
76 degrees to counteract the
cold air from the doggy
doors. She even pays for
surgeries if needed. In
addition, Patti enrolls the
dogs in obedience classes
and spends five minutes of
quiet time in her rocking
chair each night to put the
dogs to sleep.
Patti likes to think of her
facility as an adoption
agency in addition to a
rescue shelter. Guardian
Angels is not a kill shelter
that only keeps a dog for a
short time and then disposes
of them if they are not
adopted by a new home. In
fact, her adoption process
is quite lengthy so she is
assured that the pet is
placed in a trusting and
loving home.
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Situations that Patti has
been exposed to include
abuse, neglect, divorce,
strays, and loss of owner
from a nursing home. Once
Patti receives a dog she
tries to place it within six
months. If a situation
occurs where she can’t find
a home, she just keeps the
pet as her own. She even has
had some cases where she
received “designer dogs”
that were not pure pugs, but
Guardian Angels still
accepted them. Designer dogs
occur when people mix two
different breeds such as
beagles and pugs to create a
pugle. Although Patti does
not feel such breeding is
right, she still does the
rescue. When problems arise
with a rescue, the pug is
never the one to suffer.
Patti finds out about
endangered pugs in a variety
of ways. She constantly
checks the Internet to make
sure she can rescue any pug
in need. She also gets
referrals from those in the
community who have worked
with her or know of her pug
rescue allegiance.
If you are interested in
adopting a pug dog you can
begin the process by calling
Patti at 724-537-3466 and
then completing an
application with references
from two friends, one family
member, and one
veterinarian. She also
inspects the house to make
sure that the environment is
safe. Once this process is
approved by Patti, she gives
the pug away.
“There have been times where
I had to drive five hours to
meet new owners,” said
Patti. “I will do anything
for these dogs. I never cry
while I am handing the dog
over. I save that for when I
come home.”
For more information about
how many dogs are available
check out Patti’s website at
www.guardianangelspugrescue.com.
If you are interested in
adoption, consider giving
Patti a donation for her
hard work and care for the
dog. Otherwise she does not
charge for the service. The
donation would help her
continue on with such a
caring program. She is
always in need of dog food
and bathroom carpets to put
in the kennels.
How did Patti start
something as specific as a
pug rescue? Her efforts
began 15 years ago when a
friend told Patti of a pug
in need. Once she saw the
environment that the dog was
in she knew that saving the
life of the dog was
important to her. And, or
course, Patti loves the pug
breed.
Over the years, her
reputation has grown and she
has become known for her
“pug rescues.” The most dogs
she ever took care of at
once numbered 34 and the
least amount 10. She
currently has 25 dogs and 5
puppies. The ages of her
pugs cover a wide range with
the youngest being one month
old. Her greatest goal now
is to find homes for these
five new puppies.
In addition to her rescue
service, Patti has a dog
grooming business called
Precious Pets Grooming. This
business is also a joy for
Patti and it helps her
maintain her giving
lifestyle for pugs. Consider
adopting a pug today and
call Patti Levay at
724-537-3466.
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