Emma the pug was surrounded by close friends and family when she passed away last week.
Because Emma hated the doctor's office, her owner, Leona Green, made arrangements for the doctor to come to her house and put the pug to sleep.
"She had four of her closest doggie friends with her when she passed away - Luke, Theo, Munchie and Tiny," Green noted. "They were oddly calm during the procedure. When the doctor said that her heart had stopped beating, I think mine did too for a sec. She was a great little dog and brought a lot of pleasure to me and others. She will be missed."
The longtime New Westminster resident is grieving the loss of her beloved pet pug, Emma, who recently had to be put to sleep.
"Her spirit was willing, but her flesh was weak," she wrote in an email to The Record. "She stopped being able to walk a few weeks ago and everyday has been a struggle for her, so it was the right thing to do."
When Emma's back hips gave out, Green borrowed her grandson Isaiah's wagon and took her for walks. As her quality of life diminished, Green made the tough decision to have her put to sleep.
During her life, Emma led a somewhat unconventional lifestyle for a pug; she was "married" to her partner Luke, and she was the star of several fundraisers on behalf of the Royal City Humane Society.
"She has touched a lot of lives," Green said. "I would like to let people know that she is gone - and that in lieu of flowers it would be wonderful if people could make a donation to the Royal City Humane Society in her name."
Donations can be mailed to the Royal City Humane Society at PO Box 401012, New Westminster, V3M 3J7. Alternatively, they can be dropped off at Greens and Beans Deli Café (143 East Columbia St.) or Central City Animal Hospital (7834 Sixth St. in Burnaby) where the society has an account for animal care.
"She had a birthday party a few years ago and invited all the little dogs to come," Green noted. "About a dozen little dogs came - and because Emma didn't need anything, they were asked to donate to the humane society. We made over $300 that day."
Emma would have celebrated her 10th birthday in September - likely with some sort of fundraiser for the Royal City Humane Society.
Emma was also the calendar girl in the first Royal City Humane Society variety show fundraiser, donning various outfits for the different months of the year.
In 2007, Emma wore a wedding gown when she and Green's other pug Luke were "married" at a Royal City Humane Society fundraiser. Coun. Lorrie Williams, a licensed marriage commissioner, officiated over the ceremony and deemed the duo to be an arf-ully (rather than lawfully) married couple.
"Emma spent one year as the mascot for the Senior Salmonbellies. I had a little jersey made for her with her name and number, much to the embarrassment of Matt," Green said about her lacrosse-playing son. "She would stand by him during the national anthem. It was so funny. "
Emma also used to visit the rest home in Burnaby, where Green's mother lived prior to her death four years ago.
"She would visit with all the seniors there," Green recalled. "They all looked forward to seeing her."
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