A pug lover spends a fortune on saving and caring for hundreds of dogs (4 photos)

One day, Cheryl Gow took in a homeless pug that no one wanted to take. From that moment on, the woman actively took up dog rescue, and their number in her home steadily increased.





62-year-old Cheryl Gow from the East Rand (South Africa) has dedicated her life to rescuing and caring for pugs with special needs. Together with her 71-year-old husband Malcolm, she runs a private shelter Pug Rescue South Africa, which is home to more than 200 dogs. The monthly costs of running the shelter amount to thousands of pounds, but the woman does not regret anything.

While still working in a pharmaceutical company, Cheryl once took in a homeless pug that no one wanted to take. This moment became a turning point in her life - soon she began to actively participate in rescuing dogs, and since then their number has only grown.

The publication notes that running the shelter is expensive: veterinary services alone cost about 3,400 pounds a month, and high-quality food costs 1,470 pounds. However, the couple continues to fight for animals, organizing fundraising and attracting sponsors.



According to Cheryl, pugs are one of the most vulnerable breeds. Due to the way they are bred, they often have serious health problems: respiratory diseases, skin infections and eye pathologies. Many owners give up on dogs when they start requiring expensive treatment.

Over the 16 years of the shelter's existence, Cheryl and Malcolm have saved more than 2,000 pugs. In their caring hands are dogs with various medical problems, including blindness, dwarfism, diabetes and even heart defects. Rescued animals receive a full range of veterinary services, including sterilization, vaccinations and microchipping.





While caring for so many dogs is a huge commitment and financial investment, Cheryl has no plans to stop. With the support of family, friends, and volunteers, the shelter continues to grow. Recently, a donor donated a plot of land to expand the shelter.

"We are starting to plan for succession. My dream is for Pug Rescue to have a sustainable future," Cheryl shared.