life & style // no. 16 es | 2 by ey — ™“s Pug-alicious! » The changing face of man’s best friend Christine Beylevedit dace Capilano Courier (Gpilano University) ccording to one-time New York Times columnist Margo Kaufman, pugs are “.12-pound package[s] of pug charm and pugnacity with the face of an imp, the heart of a ham, the seductive skills ofa slut and the deductive gifts of a genius.” These creatures are much loved by all who have had the pleasure of knowing one, despite their decidedly wrinkled appearance and what appears to be crinkled Saran Wrap for a nose. Pugs are clearly the dog in fashion, though, oddly enough, no one cares to admit it. The number of pug-owning celebrities should already pinpoint why we love pugs so much. Celebrities often influence our choices, because North America is utterly consumed by celebrity culture. The trends set by stars are the ones that are followed—so, naturally, when Paris Hilton gave up her iconic chihuahua for a pug that goes by the name of Mugsy, the message was Clear: pugs were in style. Many pop culture legends such as Chris Pratt and Hugh Laurie have joined the pug- crazed bandwagon, followed by astounding numbers of the public. There was once a time when owners valued their pets for their heartwarming personalities and steadfast loyalty, though it appears pop culture now has a massive influence on the animals we chose for companions, and more often now pet owners are selecting their animals as a fashion accessory. One wonders why the pug finally usurped all others : as man’s most adored pet, : considering that the pug gained : : its name from the old English : word for goblin, or small : monkey. Perhaps pet owners : simply feel sorry for the poor : animal. Pugs have protuberant : eyes that are consistently : becoming ulcerated. They also : have poorly formed knee joints : that make walking painful : anda flat snout that makes : breathing difficult. Pugs have : a hard life, but they have no : trouble exacting sympathy : and adoration from would- : be owners. But what is it : that makes pugs so loveable? : According to Lisa Sun, a : certified master trainer who : owns three pugs : of the breed at first sight.” “ ...it was love The relationship between : humans and dogs is unlike any : other. It’s not often that we : are able to bond so completely : with another species, and while : many families love their dogs : wholeheartedly, there are some : truly heart wrenching incidents : involving the dogs that aren’t : considered family members. Unlike the silverware that : came as part of an inheritance, : animals are not meant to be : tossed out once they have : gone out of style. According : to the American Society for : the Prevention of Cruelty to : Animals (ASPCA), shelters : pick up 7.6 million cats and : dogs in the United States every : year. Some will be adopted, but : the rest are often put down. : Many pets don’t even make it : to shelters, and are abandoned : on the side of roads or in the forest. Canada has a similar : problem, and shelter workers : can attest that it isn’t : necessarily even breeds that : have gone out of style that end Photo via Thinkstock : up in shelters. The number of animals : appearing in shelters across : North America is alarming. : Sadly, those numbers are due in : part to the short attention span : of new owners. Pets end up in shelters for : a variety of reasons, among the : obvious being a lack of facilities : to care for the animals and : the cost of maintenance. Many : more are dropped off because : owners simply lack the time or : the energy. Often, owners cite exhaustion as the main reason : for giving up a new puppy, : although many dogs that are : kept on by owners beyond the : first few months may still find : themselves homeless because they simply lose their appeal : over time, Shelters are facing a : problem of their own, because : Many aspiring pet owners : overlook them for the fact : that the animals are “second- : hand,” and they would rather : purchase a pup from a pet store. : Shelters receive animals in such : astounding numbers that they : don’t have the resources to care : for them all, and often, if an : animal isn’t adopted within a : few days of turning up at the : shelter, it will be euthanized. It : is estimated that over half of all : dogs in animal shelters are put : down. Just like their owners, : dogs happen to come in many : shapes and sizes. A pug may : be wrinkled and constantly : wheezing, but they’re rolled in : layers of fat that just ooze love and affection. It seems the old adage rings : true—a dog really is man’s : best friend, even if a particular : breed happens to be a little ruff : on the eyes. theotherpress.ca le- Photo via Pixar Listed: Underrated monster jams version 2.0 » Music to make you monster mash : “Halloween” by Aqua Brittney MacDonald : Life & Style Editor : © lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca “This is Halloween” by Marilyn Manson 3. “Spooky” by Dusty anting to get yourself a: W:: the mood for some ; See Halloween fun? Like it or : 4. “Ghosts” by Michael not, nothing gets you in the : Jackson mood for everyone's favourite : 5. {puta Spell on You” by spooky holiday more than some serious monster jams. : Sound familiar? That’s because : last year I created a list of : my favourite underrated : Halloween themed musical : 7, numbers—from I was a : Teenage Monster to Dragula, the list was vast and wondrous. : But it’s been a whole year, : Bette Midler 6. “Nightmare on My Street” by Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff “Monster’s Holiday” by Buck Owens 8. “Boris the Spider” by The Who and, needless to say, you 9. “The Wobblin’ Goblin” by might be needing some more: Rosemary Clooney inspiration. So here we go: : 10. “Transylvania Twist” by Monster Jams version 2.0! Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers wW #DOUGLIFE Share your photos with us on Instagram using the hashtag #DougLife, for a chance to be featured in the paper! a [2] < Tweet Jeanette Ashe Thanks | -dsu for engaging dougiascollege students & hosting an all candidates forum. The student vote will count in “elxn42 #DouglasCollege This week's tweet is by @JeanetteAshe