南非女子已救援逾2500隻巴哥犬

Source:
VOA | AFRICA
South African woman has rescued more than 2,500 pugs
February 01, 2025 2:01 AM

來自南非的謝麗爾．高（Cheryl Gaw）與丈夫成立南非巴哥犬收容中心（Pug Rescue South Africa），多年來已救援逾2500隻巴哥犬。一切都從謝麗爾的丈夫麥爾坎（Malcolm）送給她的生日禮物──一隻巴哥犬──開始。漸漸地，夫妻倆也暫時收養其他巴哥犬，然而隨著狗狗的數量越來越龐大，他們決定成立收容中心，盡其所能幫助這些像小丑一樣帶來歡樂的巴哥犬。由於巴哥犬天生的構造讓牠們容易有健康問題，大多數的狗狗來到收容中心，都是因為主人無法支付昂貴的獸醫費用。此外，大量落毛也是常見的棄養原因。謝麗爾力勸所有想養巴哥犬的人，都應該三思而後行。

Lots of hair shedding, tons of fun, and a constant invasion of your personal space.

That's what you're going to get with a pug, according to Cheryl Gaw, who has seen more than a few of the squashed-nosed pups in her time.

Gaw has rescued more than 2,500 pugs in South Africa over the years after she and her husband sold their house, lived in a trailer home for a while and generally reset their lives to help as many dogs in need as they could.

They eventually established their Pug Rescue South Africa in Johannesburg in 2010 because of an overflowing number of dogs in their house. It was "never part of the plan" when they looked ahead to their retirement, said Gaw, who is 63. "Of course, the pugs won," she added.

The center is currently home to nearly 200 pugs, the latest batch who have hit hard times and need a helping paw. Some of them were abandoned, some sick, and many were given up by owners who couldn't look after them anymore.

Gaw's pug life started in 2008 when her husband, Malcolm, gave her one as a gift. At a pug club, someone asked if they'd be interested in providing a foster home for "a couple" of pugs. In the first year, the Gaws provided a temporary home to 60 pugs and had 19 in their home at one point — too much fur for one small house.

"They are known as the clowns of the dog world, and they can make you laugh," said Gaw, giving her own breed guide. "Always in your space. They're just an amazing, lovable breed. And you always have hair on you."

The rescue center's staff do their best to keep order. The routine is: 5:15 a.m., the dogs wake up and come out of the cottages where they sleep in groups according to their "age and personality," said Gaw. Then there's breakfast, medication for those who need it, bathtime, playtime, grooming time, midday snacks, afternoon rest, more playtime, evening meal, more medication, and all pugs back in their rooms between 6-7 p.m.

Fights occasionally break out. The veterinary bill for the center is nearly $40,000 a year, and it's a constant process of rescue, rehabilitation, and trying to rehome them, with more pugs arriving all the time.

"The operation doesn't stop," said Gaw.

There is a reason why so many pugs need a new home. Their short muzzles, a mark of the breed, give rise to breathing problems and other health issues such as eye and ear infections, she said. A pug's vet costs are not to be sniffed at and Gaw warns prospective owners to do their homework and get a good pet insurance policy: "You're going to need it."

Many of the pugs have come to the Gaws because their owners can't afford those vet bills. Be prepared for their problems, she said, and also the hair, which she can't stress enough.

"They shed an enormous amount of hair," she said. "You can brush them all day long, they still shed."

Language Notes

overflowing: （場所、人或事物）擠滿；滿得容不下。 ⬆
foster: 收養；代養。⬆
medication: 藥物；藥劑。 ⬆
prospective: 預期的；潛在的。 ⬆
shed: 掉落；脫落。 ⬆

Check your comprehension!

Choose the BEST answer to each of the questions below. After you finish, highlight the parentheses to reveal the hidden answers.

1.( B ) Which of the following is NOT part of the pugs’ daily routine at the rescue center?
A. Receiving breakfast and medication
B. Visiting a nearby park
C. Bathing and playing time
D.Having an evening meal

2.( A ) According to Cheryl Gaw, which characteristics best describe pugs?
A. Fun and adorable
B. Calm and distant
C. Agile and intelligent
D. Timid and shy

3.( C ) Which of the following statements regarding the rescue center is TRUE?
A. Veterinary expenses are low and easily managed.
B. The center is operated solely by volunteers without professional staff.
C. The center currently houses approximately 200 pugs, with more arriving regularly.
D. Pugs swallow most of their shed fur, so hair is rarely visible at the center.