When 22-year-old twin sisters Crystal and Christine T. of Far Rockaway, New York, received a wiggly Beagle/Pug mix named Mugzee from their uncle last May, their lives were transformed. They grew up with a beloved Chihuahua but hadn’t had a dog since their teenage years.

“From the moment that Mugzee moved in with us, we connected,” says Crystal, who lives with her sister, parents and cousin. “He's so important to us and has changed our lives in the best way possible. We all consider Mugzee a family member; we'd do anything for our sweet Puggle.”

Anyone who’s ever had a dog or cat understands just how powerful the bond between human and animal can be. So when Mugzee’s life was suddenly endangered after he was hit by a car, the sisters were forced to contemplate what their family life would be like without him.

“It literally hurt us to see him in pain,” says Crystal, recalling how Mugzee had darted out their back door and into the street. “We hated to see him suffer,” adds Christine.

They rushed Mugzee to a nearby veterinarian, who stabilized him and referred the family to the ASPCA Animal Hospital (AAH).

At AAH, X-rays revealed no broken bones, but an abdominal ultrasound revealed serious injuries in the area of Mugzee’s bladder and colon. During emergency surgery, ASPCA Veterinarian Dr. J’mai Gayle discovered his left ureter (the tube carrying urine from the kidney to the bladder) had torn, most likely when he was struck by the car, and had sealed over by scarring down to his colon. This caused an obstruction and dangerous backup of urine into his left kidney. Dr. Gayle performed a nephrectomy, removing the damaged kidney, and took out the damaged ureter.

“While he was in the hospital, the house was filled with an empty feeling like someone was missing,” says Crystal. “We do everything together, from eating, sleeping and playing. He follows me everywhere I go and is always the first to greet me when I come home.”

Christine echoes how Mugzee’s joyful antics help ease the challenges of everyday life. “As soon as I walk through the door he jumps up to have me cuddle him. He will even grab his leash to go on walks. I can’t imagine life without him.”

When Mugzee returned home from the AAH, “we felt complete as the feelings of love and happiness filled our house,” says Crystal. “Somehow, through the pain, he kept on being that happy little Puggle whom we all know and love.”

“You know the saying, ‘dog is man's best friend?’” Crystal asks. “Well Mugzee is our best friend.”