Author: Lea

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the news that our beloved Sanctuary resident, Sassy has gained her Angel wings. 

Although she suffered from countless medical issues, the timing was completely random. When it happened, she had a very bad seizure and passed in Sanctuary Mom’s arms knowing kindness, compassion, love, and dignity. 

Our little Miss Sassy Pants was truly one of a kind! While she was sweet, her sassiness is what earned her her name. The second she pranced through our Sanctuary doors, we knew she’d be trouble – but in a good way. 

Sassy arrived at our Sanctuary in October of 2023. She was a medical mess but you’d never have known it as nothing seemed to bother her. Like all incoming residents, upon arrival she was placed into our quarantine area and scheduled to be there for about a week to ten days to be sure she wasn’t carrying any illness with her from the shelter that was contagious. 

Well, this precious girl figured out fairly quickly how to escape her room and we would suddenly discover her walking around exploring, without a care in the world. And every time we put her back and made sure things were what we thought was more secure, there she was again – she just always wanted to be where the action was. We just couldn’t help but laugh as she would complain to us about being quarantined and just about everything else.

Baths, Vet visits, cardiology appointments, she’d complain about it all. At a mere 4 pounds, this tiny senior was very demanding and had a lot to say about everything; she was the true definition of sassy and we loved her for it.

We never really knew anything about Sassy’s prior life since she came in stray to the shelter and only had glimpses based on her behaviors and the neglectful condition she was abandoned in. She was a powerful little force and was respected by all the other dogs in her little clique. 

She wanted what she wanted when she wanted it, and wouldn’t keep quiet until we got it right. From food, to blanket choices, she kept us on our toes. She was our spoiled little old lady who’d waddle around the room with a smirk like look showing herself off for all to see as if to say “look at me, I got what I wanted”.

We gave Sassy her best life, loved her unconditionally just like every dog that walks through our Sanctuary doors and we indulged that sassy side of her too – after all she had been through, she truly deserved a wonderful second chance. 

We would like to acknowledge Sassy’s generous Sanctuary sponsor Cristina for assisting us with her care and helping give us the ability to provide her with everything she ever needed and then some. On behalf of little Sassy we thank you from the bottom of her little heart and ours.

Navigating loss is always difficult here at the Sanctuary because so many people and dogs are affected; although we may know that a dog’s life will be short from the start, it never gets easier. Every heart here is broken without Sassy; she had engraved her little heart on to all of ours and we will always carry her with us. 

Thank you Sassy, for sharing your strength and powerful nature with us all! We were blessed to have known and been able to love you with our whole hearts. 

Little Miss Sassy Pants 2010-2024 

Pictured here is Rosita, and she presents with many medical issues; however, she has shared with us her desire for life, love, and to live this second chance to the fullest.

As a Sanctuary for senior, special needs, hospice, and difficult to adopt dogs, a major part of what we do is provide ongoing medical support and treatment for the dogs in our care.

Asking for money isn’t easy for anyone to do, but what is even more difficult is asking when so many are struggling themselves. We have no choice but to ask as the reality is that our expenses greatly outweigh the donations we receive.

Our mission is to provide a bridge of care that supports these dogs in need so they can live their lives to the fullest.

We give these precious souls a life — a chance to be loved, cherished and to learn that not all humans are unkind. And when it’s time, the dignity they truly deserve.

Help keep our doors opened to those in need; give us the ability to continue our work and give all these precious unwanted souls their best lives unconditionally.

Venmo: @PAWSGIVEMEPURPOSE-INC

PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=RKUHNPAA3ND3C

By Mail:
Paws Give Me Purpose Inc.
2 Jade Lane
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

Directly toward our Vet bills:
House Paws Mobile Veterinary Service
(856) 234-5230

From the moment she walked through our doors, her smile lit up our Sanctuary. Since that very first day, it was as if she had always lived here. She was home and made herself comfortable immediately; it was almost as if all the dogs already knew her and she knew them.  

Now that Cannoli has gained her angel wings, her smile lights up the heavens over our Sanctuary; she passed peacefully while taking an afternoon nap and has left behind many heartbroken two and four legged friends. She left this world peacefully knowing love, kindness, compassion, dignity and with a smile on her face.

Cannoli’s spirit never wavered, she was always happy, and her will to live and enjoy life was amazing. You’d never even know she wasn’t 100% healthy as she never let anything bother her. She wanted to enjoy every minute of her second chance at life, and she did! 

After suffering the ultimate betrayal of abandonment and stress of sitting in a shelter, she arrived at PGMP Sanctuary in September of 2023. Due to her medical issues, we knew from the start that her time with us would be short and we showered her with whatever her little heart desired. She wanted what she wanted and there was no denying her anything; after all she deserved to enjoy her golden years to the fullest. 

True to her breed, Cannoli was full of personality, friendly, affectionate, playful, intelligent, with a tiny hint of stubbornness rolled in. Her happiness was literally contagious making everyone else in her presence as bouncy and excited as she was. 

Her favorite activity was laying in a lap snuggling and getting picked up like a baby for hugs. She was THE BEST snuggler and hugger earning her the nickname of the Squish, because she was so squishable. Her most important role here at the Sanctuary, of course, was food taster, sampling everything to make sure it was just right. She never left Sanctuary moms side especially when she was in the kitchen because she didn’t want to miss an opportunity to have a snack. 

She has left behind a great deal of sadness; her bubbly personality had an impact on everyone and she is greatly missed. Most of all, her best friend, and fellow Pug, Pumpkin, is very lost without her. They bonded instantly the moment they met and were inseparable. 

There are always lots of changes here at the Sanctuary when a resident passes; change in dynamics, change in routine, schedules, friendships of pairs or even entire groups and it never gets easier even though it is a part of the nature of the work we do. We only hope that Cannoli’s time here with us was able to wash away her awful past and leave her with only the good memories. 

Cannoli, you will always live on in our hearts – you were taken way too soon. We feel truly blessed that your beautiful spirit has touched our lives, our hearts and we were blessed to have known you.

Thank you to Cinder & Bella’s A Pug Fairy Tail Auction Group for believing in our mission and helping raise funds for Cannoli’s medical care. Thank you to each and every one of our followers and supporters for your kindness, prayers and donations; we know you are all mourning Cannolis passing with us. We truly could not do any of this without you.

Pugs do everything with a little extra wiggle and Cannoli’s wiggle was the most delicious of them all. 

Cannoli 2013-2024