Milo The Million Dollar Puggle

The overused adage, "when it rains, it pours," turns out to be a very true statement.  This week marks the beginning of summer for me which means reduced hours thus, a further reduced income.  Any entrepreneur knows that it takes time to build a business, but the stress of business slowing down for summer is not easy.  I had anticipated my Kindergarten Readiness program growing quickly after a wonderful first year with positive customer feedback and new community connections now that we've been here a full year.  Unfortunately my in home studio is under construction with the rest of the house, so my hands are tied until we have a certificate of occupancy which adds pressure to an already stressful project.  So just to ensure I don't sleep a wink this summer, our million dollar puggle strikes again!

Meet Milo, the world's most expensive puggle!  J and I fell in love with him at first site 7 1/2 years ago and even got him for a reduced price despite the popularity of this "designer pedigree" because he was the runt of the litter, had kennel cough, and was recovering from hernia surgery at only 8 weeks old.  The first night we brought him home he had us wrapped around his sweet corn chip scented paws!  Refusing to sleep in his crate he quickly took over our bed where he still enjoys burrowing under the covers right between us every night.

The first day he was left alone in our tiny 500 square foot apartment, I blocked him into the kitchen assuming that he couldn't get into any shenanigans since there was nothing he could get into.  I severely underestimated his cunning!  I came home to paw prints on every surface of that galley kitchen and a small puppy happily covered in his own poop!

That should have sent up a red flag of things to come because he only got more creative from there.  Over the years he has jumped from the window of a moving vehicle, swallowed a razor blade which required a major stomach operation, eaten an entire pan of dark chocolate brownies including some of the glass from the shattered pan, almost drowned in a pool despite knowing how to swim, torn his ACL requiring another major surgery, eaten a tub of Crisco during a move and having a near death experience with pancreatitis, and now we have discovered that not only has he torn his other ACL likely requiring another surgery, he also has thyroid disease which requires daily supplements in addition the anti-inflammatory and joint supplements he's already on.  With all of his ailments I feel like he would qualify for medicinal marijuana!  Perhaps they make it in pill form for dogs?

 

Many people have questioned our sanity as we fork over more money for our beloved snuggle puggle, but those people don't have to answer to this sweet face!  When he's not costing us our future retirement he loves spending time at the dog beach where he is content to smell the salty air and meander around the sand for hours.  He loves to snuggle whether it's with his brother Gizmo, J, or me.  He makes noises like The Godfather, brings guests a present when they come through the door (normally toys, but there have been a few occasions where he'll dig socks or underwear out of the laundry basket!), and he uses his paws to communicate by pushing on your arm when he wants attention.  When I had ankle surgery a few years ago he didn't leave my side and when J had Lasik and slept in the guest room for two nights Milo slept outside the door. These are only a few insignificant examples of why our Million Dollar Puggle lives to tell another tale! 

I know we're not the only dog lover's out there! What extremes have you gone to keep your pup happy and healthy?