There’s something about a pug that captures your heart the moment you meet one. Maybe it’s the round, soulful eyes or the way their entire body wiggles when they’re happy. Maybe it’s that they love so big without asking for anything in return. Whatever it is, the team behind Pugville has felt it from the very beginning. Located inside Creekside Pet Care Center, one of the area’s most trusted veterinary clinics and a proud partner of Southlake City Lifestyle, Pugville has grown into a haven built on compassion, community, and second chances. What began as a few friends helping a couple of pugs in need has become a rescue operation rooted in love and purpose.
Over the years, Pugville has become a place where pugs receive not just medical care and rehabilitation but also love—the kind that heals what medicine can’t. “We’ve learned so much since those early days,” the team shares. “Every pug teaches us something new about patience, resilience, and what it means to truly start over.”
Their focus on pugs was never really a decision; it was more like a calling. “Honestly, we just love them,” they laugh. “Their quirky personalities, smooshy faces, and huge hearts; it’s impossible not to.” But behind that laughter is a deeper mission. Many of the pugs who arrive at Pugville are in rough shape. Some suffer from untreated eye problems, skin infections, obesity, tumors, and severe dental disease. Others have been neglected so long they’ve forgotten what it means to be loved. Each one is met with gentle hands, medical attention, and time to remember that people can be kind.
Once the medical work begins, the emotional healing follows. DFW Pug Rescue partners closely with Creekside Pet Care Center to place each dog in a foster home where they can decompress, build trust, and rediscover joy. “Our fosters are the heartbeat of everything we do,” they explain. “They give these pugs safety, structure, and the chance to bloom again.”
Among the many stories that have come through Pugville, one stands out. His name is Leonidas, a tiny pug with a fighter’s spirit. When he arrived, he was four months old, hairless from mange, battling infections, and too weak to lift his head. He’d been found wandering the streets, scared and alone. But with medication, good food, and endless love, Leonidas began to heal. His foster poured her heart into his recovery, and soon his coat grew back, his confidence returned, and his puppy energy came bursting through. “The day he came back for his neuter, we could hardly believe it was the same dog,” they say. “He was jumping, wagging, and full of life.” Leonidas has since been adopted into a loving forever home with a family that adores him completely.
Life at Pugville is busy, messy, and full of heart. Days start early with feeding, medications, and check-ins on medical cases. In between are socialization walks, playtime, and plenty of pug cuddles. “They’re little clowns,” one volunteer says with a smile. “No matter how hard the day gets, they always make us laugh.” That laughter carries the team through long days and the heartbreak that sometimes comes with rescue work.
As the holidays approach, the team is especially mindful of the message they want the community to hear. “Around the holidays, we always remind people that pets aren’t presents,” they share. “A pug isn’t a gift to unwrap; it’s a life to love. They depend on you every day. They’ll snore next to you, make you laugh, and fill your heart in ways you never expected. But they deserve forever, not just a season.”
Still, for every challenge, there’s a moment of joy that reminds them why they keep going. Donations, fosters, and volunteers are always needed, especially for seniors or pugs with special needs. “Medical costs can be overwhelming, but every dollar makes a difference,” they explain. “Even sharing our posts on social media helps get these dogs seen.”
Looking ahead, the dream is to keep expanding their foster network and growing Pugville into a place where no pug is ever left behind. “We cry with them, laugh at their silly little snores and toots, and celebrate every milestone,” they say. “Each pug that comes through our doors becomes part of our family. They teach us that love can heal, hope can grow, and second chances are always worth fighting for.”
Because at the end of the day, Pugville isn’t just about rescuing dogs—it’s about the joy of watching a broken heart learn to love again.