Dubai: It's around 7am on October 12 when a park at Springs 2 comes alive with a pack of pugs. Eight perky, snub-nosed canines are clowning around as their owners look on, exchanging notes on what makes them tick.
"There are 17 pugs on board," said Laura Marr, a final-year psychology student and resident of the area, on whose initiative they are meeting. It's a warm-up to the actual launch of the Dubai Pug Club on October 15, when the privileged pugs and their caretakers will begin to meet regularly on pre-set dates so that they can "socialise" with each other.
British expatriates Laura and her husband Alex, who own two pugs, said they were very excited about the launch. "Pug owners are like-minded because they are very attached to their pets," said Alex, adding that his wife had got the idea of forming the club from similar forums in the UK and US. Laura has plans to pursue a course in dog psychology.
"In Dubai, pugs need special care because of the heat," said Laura, who plans to bake special dog biscuits and cakes for the pug meetings. With word about the club getting around, pug owners from different parts of Dubai have been quick to come on board. Sarah Jane Martin from Palm Jumeirah said she had learnt about it at a veterinary clinic in Al Barsha. "I loved the idea as my pug will now have company," she said.
Sue Quinn of Meadows 7 who had brought along her three pugs said, "It's a fabulous group and I am glad to be part of it."
Similarly, Surbhi Wadhwa from Dubai Marina, who has two pugs, said she couldn't wait to part of the Dubai Pug Club after she had heard about it at a pet shop.
The 17 member-pugs are aged between 11 months and six years, said Alex. He said pug owners could also exchange ideas and have queries answered by a veterinary expert, Dr Mehdi Mzabi from the Al Barsha Veterinary Clinic, on an online forum at the website www.dubaipugclub.com.