Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-26443838-20150910175157/@comment-5679696-20170420130240

Nightlily wrote: As seen in 217, he came to Storybrooke when the curse was created in 1983, so I doubt that XD But I guess you were joking? I don't think that's necessarily true. Without knowing the full extent of the curse's power, we can't be sure that Pongo isn't a mere creation of the curse, just like Archie's umbrella, desk, and everything else he owns.

Or maybe he's one of many little signs that hope still exist. The pixie flower, a loving dog, the Book in MM's closet, Graham's wolf, etc.