My husband and I fell in love with pugs in 1992 with our first pug Bubba.

A few years after Bubba, we started searching for a pug to join our extended family and came across a breeder who turned out to be a horrible puppy mill living in a kennel without proper veterinary care. The last pug on the property quickly came home with us where we gave her vet care, TLC, and found her a perfect home.

I began volunteering with Pug Partners in 2009 by helping at an event. I volunteered to take home a pug that had been at the vet awaiting a foster home. Bubby never left and we had 10 great years until his passing in 2019. Since that time, I have made it my mission and passion to help pugs in need. Starting with Pug Partners in 2009 as a volunteer, Adoption Coordinator in 2011, President in 2016, and Treasurer in 2018 has been nothing but a blessing. I have been given the privilege to lead Pug Partners in a quest to help as many pugs as possible. I am very proud of this rescue and its many dedicated volunteers that I not only call volunteers but friends/family. To be owned by a pug is a privilege and that is why do our absolute best in selecting new homes for pugs in need.

I live in Lincoln with my wife LuAnn and our dogs and cats. I work at UNL in the libraries and LuAnn is an RN. Both LuAnn and I help in other areas (events, transportation, etc.), when our schedules allow, as needed. I first fell in love with pugs in June 2007. After the death of one of our Pekingese (she was hit by a car), we were looking for another Pekingese and came across a pug. Although we did not get that particular pug, I was smitten by the look of the pug and we ended up getting Bandit (a PekePug) who was 10 weeks old at the time. I became totally enamored with Pugs at that point and Bandit became totally spoiled. My wife, LuAnn, grew up with a pug and was already a fan of the breed. We started the Lincoln Pug Club in June 2008 (and joined the Omaha Pug Club as well). We now have a 2nd pug, Adrienne, who we got from Pug Partners and a corgi mix (Molly) plus 2 cats. We became involved with Pug Partners, having met many of the Pug Partners people at the Omaha Pug Club meetings, in January 2010 when we fostered our first pug for Pug Partners. We have become more involved over the years, leading to my current position. Both LuAnn and I really enjoy working with Pug Partners and all the dedicated volunteers who have helped Pug Partners save so many pugs!

In 2012 I began looking for my first dog.  I had developed a love for Pugs since I had a good friend who had one and their mentality and behavior fit me so well.  That search for a pug led me to my pug Grace who was 5 months old when I rescued her from a puppy mill in Kansas. 

During this search I had gone and looked at another breed of dog and found the living conditions at this house to be horrible.  There were hundreds of dogs in a double wide trailer.  Shortly after rescuing Grace I also found out that my former neighbor a few doors down was a Co-owner of a pet store and involved with Pug Partners.  As I began frequenting her store and learning more about PPN and Puppy Mills it reminded me of the home I visited in my search.  It was at that time I decided I wanted to dedicate some of my time to helping the cause for these great dogs.

I began working with Pug Partners of Nebraska in 2013.  I started out trying to assist with online needs, events, and donating items I could produce to raise funds.  I have continued to help in anyway possible since then.  In 2020 I accepted the role of Volunteer Coordinator.  I continue to try and learn more about the role and its functionality.  I am hoping the next 6-12month to be able to grow this role and find way to make it more efficient and effective.

I am now also engaged to be married and have had the joy of watching Grace win over her new mama and her step brother and sister(humans), as well as step brother cat(not sure he has completely given in to her love….but they are making progress).  The changes in my work and life the last 2 years we are hoping to try fostering soon.

I never imagined the impact a “Dog” would have on my life.  Looking back at it now……..Grace has changed me far more than I her!  I am a far better person because of her.  I look forward to doing as much as I can to help other pugs experience the joy of family, as well as giving other families the chance to learn what I now know!  

Jessica and Matt fell in love with pugs when they got their first pug puppy Rocky in April 2005. Later that year, they became active with the Omaha Pug Club and their love for pugs grew exponentially. In 2008 the opportunity to foster a pug in need came and they took in their first foster pug, Lily. Lily was a puppy mill survivor who didn’t know anything about ‘real’ life. Grass, stairs, the TV were all new things to Lily. Within a month of fostering, they knew that their life would be the same without Lily in it. So they adopted her. Soon they learned about more and more pugs in need and with the help of Megan and Si Hollibaugh, started up Pug Partners of Nebraska.

Since then with the help of our amazing volunteers, Pug Partners of Nebraska has rescued over 600 pugs. For Jess and Matt the most rewarding part of doing rescue work is seeing families cherish the joy of owning pugs. Pugs are such caring, loyal, funny dogs that they believe everyone’s household would be happier with pugs!  Without the support of our wonderful donors and volunteers, Pug Partners wouldn’t be able to help so many needy pugs and make so many families happy. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU for all your support!

I helped co-found the rescue in 2008 with my sister (Jessica) and love helping Pug Partners rescue pugs in need.