Pug Hollow’s Spotlight Dog of the Week is Hugh Blackman.

 

It was December. The sun was setting over the narrow, tree lined gravel road, taking what little warmth the day had boasted with it. A small dark blue Scion left the paved highway and headed onto the deserted track, kicking up a cloud of dust to hang in the air. Far down the road, almost lost in the gloom under the close growing trees, a tiny light gleamed. It looked like the dome light of a car. Perhaps someone in need of a bathroom break was taking advantage of the remote location. Or perhaps they’d had some sort of car trouble. As the little Scion rolled closer, the vehicle’s dome light went off and the vehicle continued on down the road away from the Scion.

 A short distance later, and the driver of the Scion stomped on the brakes, bringing the car to an abrupt and slightly sliding stop. A woman in a skirt and boots jumped out. “Please don’t run. Please don’t run. I’m not going to hurt you, handsome. Come on. Let me take you home…”

She approached the little black pug who was alternating between looking at the newcomer and staring off down the road after the vehicle that had dropped him off. As she picked him up and cradled him she swore she could hear him mumbling. “But… but… that was my ride.”

 It was obvious he had been neglected, and that he had lived most, if not all of his life outside. Posters were posted. Ads were run. No one claimed the little black pug with the tongue lag, so an appointment was made with the vet. His age was determined to between 5 and 7, heartworm tests were run and found to be negative, vaccinations were given, and a growth on his testicles was biopsied and found to be benign. And so Hugh became a part of the Pug Hollow Horde.

 Two years later, and despite the trauma of surviving a tornado in 2011, Mr. Hugh has come a long way. No longer the scrawny, uncertain little pug, he has filled out and become more confident. His rough, faded coat is now sleek and blue-black. His tongue still lags, and he still won’t give kisses unless you surprise him. But he does sit in laps from time to time, and he likes to cuddle in bed or in the recliner. And most importantly he knows now that his ride left him behind so he could find his forever home at the Pug Hollow Sanctuary.