Are you considering adopting a pug? 

Before you make the important decision to adopt, ask yourself these questions: 

• How many hours am I home? Will that be enough time to feed and exercise my new pug, in addition to my other activities? (Pugs need lots of attention. They love people, and want to be near them, when possible. Adding a pug can sometimes be as time-consuming as adding another child.)

• How many animals do I currently have?  Can I reasonably expect to give enough attention to each one on a daily basis?  (Pugs love their people, and demand considerable attention, frequently misbehaving if they don't get it.)

• Do I have new carpet or furniture? Will I be upset if they get ruined by chewing or housebreaking problems? (Pugs of all ages love to chew, and will happily chew furniture in addition to remote controls, electrical cords, and other expensive toys. They are also notoriously hard to housetrain.)

• Do I make enough money to provide yearly vaccinations and two or three vet visits per year, assuming the pug I adopt remains healthy? Can I provide quality food, chew toys, a bed, and other assorted necessities? (Most vet visits with vaccinations or medication run in the neighborhood of $60 to $100, but can quickly go even higher when there is a health problem.)

• Is my home situation stable? Am I planning to move soon? Am I starting a new relationship or ending an old one? Am I expecting a [human] baby? (These are not good times to bring a new pet into a home.)

• Am I willing to take on all responsibilities for the life of the pug, including special care as the pug ages? (Pugs have been known to live past 15 years, but 12 to 13 is more common.)