My love for pugs began when I was just 18, starting my family right after high school. During those early years, I shared life with three pugs—Squish, Squash, and Blackie—who were right there as my kids grew up. After we lost our last pug, Squash, we welcomed a beagle mix named Joe and a cocker spaniel mix, Pebbles, who lived an amazing 20 years.

After moving to Texas in 2011, I followed DFW Pug Rescue simply because I loved those sweet pug faces—and honestly, who doesn’t? After a few career changes, I was finally able to start volunteering in 2022 alongside my spouse, Vaughn. We jumped in helping with transports, donation pickups, home visits, fostering, and eventually I stepped into the role of Fund Development Director.

In 2022, I adopted my sweet Alice, who unfortunately earned her wings far too soon. In her short time with us, she reminded me just how much I love the joyful, loving personalities of pugs—and she officially brought my spouse into the wonderful world of pug love. That same year, in November 2022, we adopted Hazel (planned) and Willow (a transport fail).

I strongly believe that giving back helps create a brighter world, so I choose to give to the things that bring me joy. Being part of DFW Pug Rescue is incredibly rewarding—from seeing perfect pup-and-family matches, to sharing foster stories, to witnessing all the smiles at events. We’re all so lucky to enjoy these beautiful, sweet pups who give back just as much love as they receive. I’m truly blessed to be part of this amazing community.

Interested in volunteering with DFWPRC?

Questions about volunteering?

We have gathered our most common questions over on the volunteering FAQ. Check it out here.

I have three passions in life: surgery, travel and pugs. I was able to combine two of those passions into a career and now I am getting to serve the other passion, making my life very full and complete. I started my medical career as a Certified Surgical Technologist (20 years) and then advanced to a Registered Nurse (14 years and counting) in the Operating room and as the Database Coordinator RN for Surgical Services. I was able to combine my love of Surgery with traveling as I became a Travel CST (14 years) and a Travel RN (10 years). I have lived in 19 states, visited all states (except Guam, Washington and Oregon), and worked in 29 hospitals across the United States. I love cruising and immersing myself in other cultures (I have visited 18 countries and always looking to go to more).

I got my first pug in 2011 and Roco was the love of my life. He was from a backyard breeder situation and over his lifetime I learned all about the many pug issues and had many visits to vet offices across the US. But, through it all, Roco showed such courage and never held a grudge. He taught me so much about unconditional love and saw me thru the many dark times in my life (divorce and my parent’s death) and was my constant travel companion. The fact that I get to help a pug rescue organization is my greatest accomplishment and I am honoring Roco’s memory every day.

I found my current husband, Will, in Lubbock, Texas on a travel assignment. He was not a dog person, much less a pug person but Roco taught him the pug life. He will never say no to anything that I want to do whether it is fostering, adopting, or an event! Roco was my first pug but not my last, he was followed by Dallas (a chug) and Perry (whom I lost during routine dental cleaning after only 1 year of adoption). After Perry, I adopted a mother daughter pug duo from Tennessee (Frankie and Bella). Both girls needed dental, and I was scared to take them to a vet. But on a recommendation of another pug owner, I visited Westcreek Animal Hospital and Dr Arnoff put me at ease about dental surgery and recommended I check out DFW Pug Rescue.

From there it is all history, I became a transporter, a volunteer at events, a foster (14 pups last year), Pug-O-Ween 2024 main chair, a foster failure (Tidwell & Rockefeller) and currently Director of Community Events.

I love working with vendors and venues and I love working with my event team to come up with fun pug events. It makes me so proud when the pug community comes out to our events and has a great time. I love knowing that I am playing a small part in fulfilling the mission of DFRPRC’s motto: No Pug Left Behind.

If you see me, Will or my crew (Frankie, Bella, Dallas, Tidwell, Rockefeller and whichever foster I have) at an event, please say hello. I truly love talking about pugs, my pups and the events. I appreciate the opportunity I have been given to serve the pug community.

Interested in volunteering with DFWPRC?

Questions about volunteering?

We have gathered our most common questions over on the volunteering FAQ. Check it out here.

I got my first pug back in 2012. The people giving her up did not know her age or any medical history, so it was a lot of figuring things out as we went. I think she was around six or seven. I named her Pooka. And she was perfect. My sweet girl loved clothes, and she would genuinely get excited anytime she got a new dress, sweater, or costume. I discovered an event called Pug-O-Ween and knew it was made for her. We went, and that is how I found DFW Pug Rescue. I was immediately obsessed (obviously). I went for a few more years before Pooka passed away, after about eight years together. Complete devastation is an understatement and I knew the only thing that would help me is another pug. I had given Pooka the best second half of her life, but this time I wanted to give a pug a full, happy life from the very beginning.

A week later, I got Corbin Dallas, also known as Squeaker, a tiny black 8-week-old puppy with big opinions. We took road trips, and he loved destroying toys just to get to the squeaker inside. He was not as into costumes, but we still took home second place one year at Pug-O-Ween dressed as sPUGhetti and Meatballs. In 2021, I adopted another dog. Cow. He was a seventy-pound boxer and pit bull mix and Corbin loved him. They were BFFs. After losing Cow unexpectedly and way too soon, both me and Corbin felt the loss really hard. I knew Corbin wanted a friend and I knew I was nowhere near ready to adopt again, so in late 2023, I opted to try fostering, something I always wanted to do. 

Now, nearly 30 fosters later, I can’t imagine having made any other choice. I’ve loved every single pug who has come through my home, and it’s been especially sweet watching Corbin “mentor” them and teach them proper pug etiquette and all the best behaviors. It has also taught me so much patience and brought so much joy.

Then I saw an email about the Rescue needing a Director of Communications, I really took time to think it through. With 15 years of professional experience in design, communications, and marketing, I knew I had the skill set and passion to give back in a bigger way. Now I’m in the role, and I’m loving every bit of the chaos. I’ve always loved pugs, and I now I love being able to use my talents to help them even more in a big way. 

Interested in volunteering with DFWPRC?

Questions about volunteering?

We have gathered our most common questions over on the volunteering FAQ. Check it out here.

My life started out as a child with a family always having Pugs and Boston Terriers as pets; I have never not had a pug in my lifetime. I have 3 beautiful daughters that also have volunteered and are pug lovers. As a young adult, I always rescued animals and had a passion for helping them. I owned a florist shop and even had a pug at my florist shop. I started a meet-up group where my pugs could have payday 20 plus years ago. That is when I met a lady that was a volunteer for DFW Pug Rescue. She asked me to join in the rescue, which I did immediately. After fostering hundreds of pugs, I still remain in this wonderful Rescue 20 plus years later. I love everything about the rescue and helping all the little unfortunate pugs that enter in this rescue. After retiring, I dedicate my time and energy to help however I can.

Interested in volunteering with DFWPRC?

Questions about volunteering?

We have gathered our most common questions over on the volunteering FAQ. Check it out here.