Ellen - Meetup Organizer of the Week - 4.21.08

We're off to Bergen County NJ for a chat with our Meetup Organizer of the Week for April 21, 2008 - Ellen and The Northern NJ Pug Extravaganza!

Definition of a Pug:
A small, chesty, hairy, shedding, snoring, four-legged creature with a bottomless pit of a stomach, train wreck of a nose, bulging eyes and a funny face, destined to receive a Northern NJ Pug Extravaganza member's undying attention and affection by pawing their way into his/her heart and remaining there forevermore.

This sweet sentiment is only the tip of the ice burg when it comes to the dedication and love shown by Ellen and her members for their beloved Pugs. They organize several highly successful fundraising events throughout the year and have been mentioned in several publications.

Read on for great tips from an accomplished Organizer in one of our most popular topics. FYI: Their "About Page" is off the hook! Thanks, Ellen!

What is it about pugs that just melts hearts and turns mere mortals into self-proclaimed "Pugaholics"?


Angela, I suppose that the one word I would use to describe what it is that a Pugaholic finds so endearing about Pugs is....Everything! Those expressive eyes, that inquisitive look, that cute, tightly wound curly tail...Pugs are social, charming, playful and clever!

They love human contact and can easily become someone's "shadow", as they always want to be where their human is. If you have a lap, there will no doubt be a Pug sitting in it! A "mere mortal" cannot begin to understand how endearing it is for a Pug owner to be listening to their Precious Pug snoring (yes; did I happen to mention that Pugs snore?!?) while they sleep contentedly. There's a Latin phrase, "Multum in Parvo"; translated it means "much in little", which is undeniably the true description of a Pug!

Which would you say is the best possible home/family scenario for a pug? (good with kids, other animals, etc)

Pugs are great dogs for people with children; they have an impish, childlike nature that immediately bonds both child and dog together. They can also co-exist quite well with other animals...I own two Pugs (or I should say, they own me!), along with two cats and a small Parrot; they all get along splendidly, and will minimal confrontation-I use the term "minimal" because heaven forbid; if the cats receive a treat and the dogs don't!

As you might have guessed, Pugs love to eat, so one needs to be prudent with their feeding, both in the quantity and quality of what is provided for them.

When did your first pug come to live with you? Do you have more than one?

Brittany, my first Pug arrived in January of 2002; uniquely enough; the first Pug I'd brought home was not the "living, breathing" kind, but yet an antique figurine! Pugs were being utilized as subject matter in both early oil paintings and sculptures alike, and many of these works had originated from Europe and Great Britain.

I had developed quite an interest in the whimsical nature of the figurines and began to collect them; of course eventually, I knew I needed to have "the real thing", hence my Brittany came about! Dippy, my adorable second Pug, was adopted from one of the rescues my group is affiliated with...Adopt-a-Buddy Pug Rescue, in August of last year. I wholeheartedly recommend having two Pugs (or more!), as dogs by nature are pack animals, and they love to keep each other (and their human!) company!

Why did you decide to start THE NORTHERN NJ PUG EXTRAVAGANZA! ?

A smaller Pug Meetup existed a few years prior, but disbanded. I was receiving emails from former participants and potential new members of whom had expressed an interest in belonging to a local Meetup but yet didn't know of any.

In time, I'd felt the need arise in the community and wanted to fulfill the void, so back in June 2006, I took it upon myself to "test the waters" by organizing a group of my own, and the Northern NJ Pug Extravaganza (a.k.a. NNJPE) was born! Less than two years and over 300 members later, we are a fully-thriving group of Pug aficionados!

Tell us about the various fund-raisers and volunteer activities performed by your Meetup Group.

Being we work with two different Rescues and there are always Pugs in need of medical attention and support, the opportunity for sponsoring fund raisers abounds. In previous months, we have held 50/50 raffles and sold merchandise in order to raise money for Pug Rescue: we've sold Entertainment books and membership discount cards (both offering products and services from various local businesses at a discount). We are also an affiliate of an online pet supply wholesaler, of whom offers our group a commission on anything purchased via our designated link, thus enabling us to earn additional revenue for fundraising.

We've just completed an event for PDE (Pug Dog Encephalitis), which is a rare and terminal disease afflicting only the Pug breed. Next month, we will be participating in the American Cancer Society's Dogswalk which is an event to raise money for the research and cure of both human and animal cancers. More fund raisers are in development for future events as well.

Could you tell us your favorite Meetup story?

Hands down; it's the one in which I became a "fugitive" of the county parks system! Our group has grown so much since its inception, that finding places in which to hold a Meetup has become a tad problematic!

Due to the restrictions at the various town parks within our jurisdiction and the fact that the number of our attendees exceeds the limitations imposed by the municipal parks, we can no longer hold Meetups without a permit and insurance (those being extremely cost prohibitive).

One day, we had an Easter Egg hunt planned at one of the parks, with a scheduled attendance of approximately 60 people (regulations are for 24 or less people without a permit). I was unaware of this at the time, and we were less than one week away from the scheduled Meetup! Fortunately, due to the kindness and hospitality of a local Best Friend's Pet Resort, we were able to utilize their accommodations to hold our event and changed the event site at the last minute.

Unbeknownst to me, there were town police and a county sheriff at the original planned site of our event waiting to speak to me and to put the "cabash" on our gathering before it had even begun (how they had found out about our event still remains a mystery...)!

Looking back, we cannot help but to laugh at the recollection of the day; thus, I am now the self-proclaimed "Fugitive Pug Meetup Organizer"...

What's up ahead for your group? Any big plans for the summer months?

Well Angela; there are many! I am always on the lookout for exciting new events! We have our first group agility event coming up in about a week, and I've just finished scheduling a day trip down to the NJ Shore, to allow our dogs to get some sand in between their toes! (Surfboarding is optional; "hang eight", anyone?!?)

We are also planning a Mexican fiesta and Fundraising Auction in the near future. Our two year anniversary is coming up on June 3 rd, and our second annual BBQ seems to be in order. Of course, in the fall, our Halloween" Boo Bash" is a staple in our event roster; it's a "gala affair" that everyone looks forward to; as a result we can have upwards of 80 plus in attendance just for that one Meetup alone! Let's face it; there isn't a breed that can don a silly costume and strut his or her stuff while doing so, better than a Pug!

Be sure to share your congrats with Ellen in the Organizer's Forum