About Us
Welcome to AZ Pug Life! We are a volunteer-based, 501(c)(3) non-profit rescue organization dedicated to assisting pugs and other brachycephalic breeds in Arizona.

Our Focus
We are committed to rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding loving homes for pugs, pug mixes, and other small breeds. Our mission is to treat every animal and person involved with kindness, compassion, dignity, and respect.

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Our Team

​Susan Butler

Director of operations

Introducing Susan, our remarkable Director of Operations! From her humble beginnings as a volunteer, she has risen to the challenge and now leads our rescue with utmost dedication. Susan's role involves coordinating with veterinarians, managing volunteers, and overseeing various aspects of our rescue operations. We are incredibly thankful for her unwavering commitment to our cause.

At home she is surrounded by her rescue grumble including Anna, Glenda, Helios, Max & Lollipop.

​Kaitlyn Ramirez

Board Member/
​Foster coordinator 

Introducing Kaitlyn, a devoted member of our rescue since 2022. Her lifelong adoration for pugs has led her to take on various responsibilities. As our Foster coordinator, website designer, event coordinator, and a foster for special needs and hospice dogs, she goes above and beyond to support our cause. We are incredibly thankful for her unwavering commitment to the rescue.

At home, Kaitlyn is accompanied by her 3 rescue pups Tank, Lyla & Marty. As well as her forever foster pups Pompey & Marshall.

Jessi Ma

Board Member/Foster coordinator (phoenix)

Introducing Jessi, a dedicated member of our rescue since 2021. Her deep affection for
pugs led her to start as a foster. Since then she has become our talented website designer and event coordinator. We cannot express enough gratitude for all that she does for our rescue.

​At home, Jessi is surrounded by her 3 rescue pups Twix, Roscoe & Chi.

Amanda Opiola

​BOARD MEMBER/
​Event Coordinator

Sonya Michaels

​BOARD MEMBER/
​Marketing Director

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Our Foster Family
Some of their reasons for fostering.

 I started fostering in 2009 because we had Pugs of our own and loved them.  When we went to an event, we were hooked!  We adopted a Pug at that event and realized that we wanted to give back, get involved with folks we had something in common with, and (most importantly) give these little guys a chance.  Sometimes it's tough to let them go after you've fostered, but to see the joy on people's faces when they adopt is well worth the effort.
​-Bo

I just recently took in my first foster. I have always had a desire to help animals, especially dogs, but since we adopted our rescue chug a few years back and knowing the life she had living on the streets in Mexico, the first two years of her life and seeing how it impacted her, and how much she has grown just being in a loving safe household, brings us so much joy. We can’t really afford to adopt a third dog at this time in our lives but our desire to continue to help any dogs in need especially pugs and pug mixes lead me to fostering. I don’t always have time to volunteer at the shelters, so this is a way that we can help, even one dog in need by showing them love and comfort and security and how to just be a dog. And our first foster has been a joy to have, and we are excited for him to find his forever family and to continue to be able to help many other dogs in need.
​-Lyndsay

I started fostering after my pug passed away.  I was not ready for an another 15 year commitment but yet wanted a dog in the house. So I thought I would help save lives and get them off the street and into a loving home until they found their forever home. One of the best decisions I ever made. Never thought it would be so rewarding! My goal…. To save as many lives I can.
-Trudy