Deb Long & Stella Rose and Sam

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Deb Long and I am a legal assistant to the County Attorney in Iowa. I am holding Stella Rose Long, who is a little black pug. She is a female puggie who is 2 1/2 years old. She was born on February 15, 2010.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We are having coffee down in one of the Villages here in Van Buren County. This village is called Bentonsport and is a small village with different artisans’. Right now we are setting on the deck of the new fudge factory drinking a cup of coffee. I like it with a little cream in it. If you look over our shoulder you will see the Des Moines River flowing by.

What's brewing?

We usually just drink plain ole black Folgers coffee, with International Delight in it. I like Almond Joy the best.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

No, treats today for me, but Stella just ate a little “cream and berry bone” that Goose’s mom sent her and Sam.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Stella Rose’s name just came to me on the way home after I decided she was going to live with us forever. She was laying in the car seat looking up at me with her trusting eyes and I decided she needed a really pretty name to make up for her before life. Her brother Sam's name is what his dad picked out.

How were you and your dogs united?

Stella and Sam came from a breeder’s kennel. I went with a friend to drop off some papers (not knowing what it was) and the owner gave us a tour. It was smelly, and dirty and appalling. I just wanted to run back to the car and leave, but I just kept looking. In the basement she showed us a pen with 4 large dogs in it, and one little black dog. She handed me the little dog and told me she wasn’t able to sell her cos of her eyes. I didn’t know anything about pugs, but just knew she looked like a baby gorilla. I laughed when I was holding her. She was dirty, and smelled really bad, and I ended up carrying her while we looked at the kennel. When it was time to go home the breeder told me I could just take her if I wanted if not they would have to do something to her cos she wasn’t worth anything. We had just lost our little min pin a few weeks before after living with us 12 years, and I didn’t think I was ready for another furry kid, but I couldn’t put her back in the pen. Stella Rose went home with me that night. The first 6 months were pretty hard, cos she came with a lot of rescue dog traits. Finally though she started to realize we were never gonna let anything happen to her, and we were really her forever home. Down the road we also went and brought back her little brother and later her aunt. Trudie (her aunt) went to the rainbow bridge a few weeks ago. Rescue dogs are the most loving, thankful little creatures you will ever meet. I often wonder tho who rescued who.

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

Stella’s best pal was Trudie. They played all the time. She plays with her brother Sam also, but he is a bit of a grump so they play differently. Mostly he steals her treats, and toys.

Rabbit, postman, cat....?

Cat. At our house lives “mean ole cat Dietzman” He has lived with us for fifteen years. He is the Alpha pug at our house!!

What is Stella's best quality?

Stella has the most loving kind heart. She loves when we have company and loves all our grandkids. She has made it her mission to help rescue pugs. She started a treat contest a month ago, and all the treats we have received will be sent on to SERPA, a pug rescue in Southern Missouri.

If your dogs could change one thing about you, what would it be?

If Stella could change anything about me it would be that I would never have to go to work. She and Sam wish we could just stay home all the time with them.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which your dogs could speak, which actors should do their voices?

Sam would be grumpy Walter from Jeff Dunhams comedy review and Stella would be Audrey Hepburn.

If your dogs could answer only one question in English, what would you ask them?

The question I would ask them is about all our furry kids at the rainbow bridge. I would want to know just what they know about seeing us and being together in the future.

Visit the Three Little Pugs website.

--Marshal Zeringue