I brought home my late, great Pekingese Mr. Chubbs from the city pound on May 10, 1996. At my apartment, I placed him on a new dog pillow and put a chew toy next to him. We contemplated each other for a while.
Mr. Chubbs, wondering, “Who are you?”
I’m always nervous on the first day with a new pet. I can’t help thinking, “Is this thing going to bite me?” But I adjust pretty fast. During Chubbs’s first week, he had an epileptic seizure. I brought him to a jaded vet who said, “So! You got yourself a small purebred from the pound. This is probably the first of many problems. It could get very expensive. You might want to exchange him for another dog.” I was like, “Noooooooo!!! I LOVE HIM!”
I was so outraged I never went back to that vet. But years later, having lived with two other rescue dogs who had very expensive health problems, I realize the guy had a point. When you think about it, in New York City, where we don’t have a lot of space but do love prestige things, it is possible (though not inevitable) that there is a good reason a small purebred needs a new home.
This cartoon dog is actually a pretty good depiction of Henry the Peke. Click to read more.
Anyway, nothing was going to make me part with Chubbs. I quickly discovered he’d been neglected: His fur was matted and his nails were so long they’d grown around in a circle and back into the pads of his paws. I brought him to a nearby pet store where I picked out another toy for him while he got a buzz cut and a manicure. I literally didn’t recognize him when they brought him back out.
“I’m still not sure about you,” thinks Mr. Chubbs.
I’ve always liked this photo of us, taken June 3, 1996, on the crazy rug at my aunt’s house in Long Island.
I know he still doesn’t look very thrilled with me, but I swear that’s just because he had bitchy resting face.
I previously posted a photo from that day here. While I was looking at these pictures again, I was surprised to realize they’d been taken in June because I was wearing a mock-turtleneck and a cardigan. It turns out, that that day was about as cool as it was today in New York City, with a high of 61°.
I had no particular interest in the Pekingese breed before I got Mr. Chubbs, but, ever since, I’ve been obsessed with Pekes and other flat-faced animals. The late Henry was a Peke, Gigi is a Tibetan spaniel, and FitzRoy and Purrkoy are both Exotic Shorthair cats.
It still kills me that in June 2010, I had to pass on an adorable Pekingese. I spotted him or her inside Social Tees Animal Rescue when I strolled by one night.
OMG. So cute.
At the time, MrB and I already had Henry and Gigi (Mr. Chubbs had died in 2006). Because both our dogs had special health needs and we don’t have tons of space, I felt that I couldn’t take on another dog. Plus, going for walks was already challenging because Henry walked slow (or not at all, if he wasn’t in the mood) and Gigi walked fast (when she wasn’t challenging bigger dogs to fights). I decided that I would be sensible and that I wouldn’t go back to visit this pooch in the daytime. I knew that if I spent any time at all with that dog, I’d never be able to say no.
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!
I wish I didn’t take these pictures because I can’t get over how cute this dog was and how s/he is looking at me in the second photo! Aaugh! I have to remind myself that this was for the best because with three dogs, I certainly would never have gotten my cat friends in 2012 (Fitz) and 2014 (PK). But still! Look at the little face! I hope this doggy went to the best home ever.
There’s another rescue peke that you forgot to mention, Midnight Molly. And that wasn’t just a stroll down the street.
Well, she wasn’t my personal Peke but I did go a long way for her! She was a cute doggie.
That ’96 photo of you and Mr. Chubbs. Wuv! The other cutie pie Peke reminds me of Annie. Sweet face.
Yeah, such a sweet face!
i fell in love with the smoosh face when I adopted Miss Lilli. She is a Japanese Chin, and she turns ten in a few weeks. I have had her for just over a year. She was a breeder in a puppy mill and had not been outside or had any kind of fun. It has taken a long time, and she is afraid of a lot of things. But she is the funniest cutest best friend anyone ever had. She loves Easy Cheese and Barb que chips, and danced in a circle when she first tasted peanut butter. She does not mind wearing dresses and sweaters, but refuses all attepmts at grooming. I love her so much it hurts.
Ugh, why do my animals refuse to wear clothes and be cute that way!
I remember how hard it was to just keep walking that night… leave the dog… just keep moving! I don’t think I realized you snapped such close-up photos, I seem to recall it being hard to see into that place at night. I’m sure he went to a good home — he’s probably in the Hamptons this weekend!
I like to think that!
I’m sure such a sweet pooch went to a forever home.
I got my cat almost seven years ago, but he lived at my mom’s apartment until she died in January. My father-in-law – whom I consider the best father in my life – who SWORE UP AND DOWN he would NEVER EVER let a cat live in his house, has allowed my baby to move in with us.
It’s such a little thing, you think. But when you live with an animal, it saves you as much as it saves them. I’ve never gotten an animal from a breeder in my life. All my fur-bbs have been rescues.
I got my two cats from breeders because I was tired of my broken-down pound dog situation. It would be one thing if I could say no to a sick dog, but it’s been proven I can’t!