The Heartwarming Story of Percy the Dog & His (Food52-Fostered) Adoption

Valentine’s Day is next week, and whether or not you like the holiday, you’re sure to be charmed by our Food52 Love Connections: All week long we'll be sharing one heart-warming story a day about connections (romantic and otherwise) fostered through our site.

Percy the pug’s story begins with em-i-lis, who wrote a blog post last year about this time, telling the tale of Percy’s life with her family:

Eleven years ago, when Tom and I were newly married, just out of graduate school and in our first home, we decided to get a dog. I’d lived in New York City for years before I met Tom, and there, because they are good apartment dogs, pugs are ubiquitous. They are infinitely charming little animals, like velvet-eared, pig-tailed casks on stubby legs, and I had fallen in love with them. Or at least the idea of them.

Neither Tom nor I had ever had a dog but thought a pug would be perfect because, I believed, they don’t shed and are couch potatoes. Pugs are popular so we had a hell of a time finding one to adopt. Finally, we came across a breeder, Joyce, in rural Maryland whose mother pug, Peaches, was soon to have a litter. We hoped for a female and planned to name her Penelope.

When the puppies were born, Joyce called us to come meet them and pick one. By the time we arrived, the females had been claimed, and just one little male was left. On unsteady legs through the unfamiliar grass, the little pup came towards us, and our hearts melted. He weighed only a few pounds, and if you held his soft ears down against his head, he looked exactly like a baby harp seal.

“Yes,” we told Joyce, “we definitely want him.”

“Come back in a month,” she said. “He’ll be old enough then.”

During those next four weeks, we readied the basement and chose a name that felt like the male equivalent of Penelope: Percy. “Percival Ulysses,” we laughed, for then his initials would spell “PUG.” I bought wooden letters that spelled Percy, glued them to a board, and painted the nameplate in colorful hues. We hung it on his crate and waited eagerly.

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Take the time to read the full story on em-i-lis’ blog (Editor’s note: Be prepared to turn into a puddle of mush), but long story short, though Percy is a kind and patient dog, over time it became clear that Percy wasn’t a good fit for the family any more. As em-i-lis explains, “We have tried our very best to love and care for Percy. He is a sweet soul and the picture of health, but we aren’t able to provide for him emotionally in the ways he needs.”

Which is why, when em-i-lis’ family bought a new house and were gearing up for the move, they realized it was time to find a new home for Percy, too:

Tom and I agreed to start looking for a home worthy of our pup, a place where he would be adored and cherished and live out the rest of his years as happily as possible. I hoped to find a local home, so we could still visit him, but I couldn’t. And so in tears, I reached out to my friend, Suzanne (Editor’s note: A.K.A. sdebrango).

She writes the food blog, A Pug in the Kitchen, and we met several yeas ago in the online food world. We spent a day together last time I was in New York, and I know that her heart has felt a definite void since her pugs died last year.

With all the love and enthusiasm and graciousness in the world, Suzanne said she adopting Percy would fill a hole in her heart. I realized, then, that it would also fill the hole in Percy’s heart, the one we haven’t been able to.

Em-i-lis’ husband drove Percy to sdebrango’s on February 13th, because, as she says, “I wasn’t strong enough to do so. Watching them leave was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I love him and miss Percy's sweet face already. But he will be so happy with Suzanne, and I know she will love him and treat him like gold. They will be each other's Valentine tomorrow.”

The next day, on Valentine’s day, sdebrango shared her side of the happy re-homing on her blog:

A few weeks ago, I got an email from my good friend Emily, she and I have known each other for quite some time now, we met on Food52, where I have met and am friends with some amazing people. Well, Emily lives in DC with her husband T and two children, their cat Nutmeg and pug Percy. I follow her blog Em-i-lis, reading it every day—it’s part of my morning routine. She is an amazing writer, a great cook, and the sweetest person.

In the email Em asked me if I would consider adopting her pug Percy, he is 10 years old and a real sweetheart but she just can’t give him the attention he needs with her busy life. I said yes, of course, I would.

After losing Izzy first and then Nando shortly after I was grief stricken but at the same time I needed some time to recover from the trauma of their deaths, I had always said that although I was not looking for another dog, at least not now, I thought that if the situation presents itself I will do it. So it did, and yesterday, Saturday February 13, they brought Percy to live with me in Brooklyn. There is once again a pug in my kitchen and I couldn’t be happier. I am grateful to Em for giving me this sweet gift and I know she will miss Percy but she can be certain that he has a good and loving home.

Their replies to each other in the comments of sdebrango’s post are enough to make anyone melt:

em-i-lis: Look at my sweet boy! I am so grateful that he is there with you, Suzanne. What a loving gift you have given him and us. Thank you for loving him and welcoming him into your home. I was lucky to meet you years ago. I love you, Percy! And you too, Suzanne. Happy Valentine’s Day!

sdebrango: He did great Em, cried for a little while at bedtime but I made my bed on the floor last night and slept with him. He did really well, slept through the night is eating well and seems to be ok. Sometimes he jumps on the day bed and has a far off look and I know he is thinking of you but he seems to be happy now. Thank you for the gift of Percy.

It's abundantly clear that Percy is one lucky pooch, and Food52ers are one special bunch.

Don’t miss any of our Love Connections! Catch up on Monday’s, Tuesday's, Wednesday's, and Thursday's.