I have always had dogs over the years, a border collie, King Charles spaniel, German shepherd and 3 pugs. I couldn’t imagine life without a dog in it, they enrich our lives so much, and a pleasure to care for, a best friend!
My first encounter with a pug was about 12 years ago, a new neighbour had two who were siblings named Pickle and Onion. I loved them, such a unique breed…excitable, friendly and very cute!! I longed to own a pug so much, and then a miracle happened, Pickle fathered a litter from where I had my first gorgeous pug puppy called Charlie-Pickle.
I adored him, we were so bonded and everyone in our village knew him by name and nature. A few years later, I adopted a six-month-old pug from a woman who had a mastiff and Frenchie too, his name was Ollie. Charlie and Ollie were best friends apart from when food was involved… Ollie had challenging behaviours with food guarding, which I think came from competition living with two large dogs. He was quite an anxious dog but lovely.
After Charlie passed in January 2023, by now I knew about PDWRA through a close friend who had adopted Lenny and Meg, two adorable black pugs. I contacted PDWRA who came to visit me at home, to give me information about the Pug Welfare Association, and home check, to make sure any dog would be homed in a suitable environment. I was then put on an adoption waiting list… and waited!
A month later, I had a call from PDWRA to say there was a one-year-old dog called Leo in need of adoption that might be a suitable match. I was told he had some behavioural challenges, mainly that he was very reactive, that previous owners could not cope with. Poor Leo’s first owners lived in a flat and could not manage him, his second home was with a family who again could not manage his reactivity.
I adopted Leo on the 9th of May 2023. He was inquisitive, friendly and so beautiful, his personality ‘typical pug’ and I was besotted with him immediately. He gelled well with Ollie and as weeks passed, I was questioning why anyone would see him as a problem and being unmanageable. I came to the conclusion that many see pugs as lapdogs (which there are!) and not the feisty, funny and ‘stick to you like glue’ breed that they are, who also need good walks, social inclusion and enrichment.
Additionally, we lived in a rural area in North Wales, I think the peacefulness suited his personality as there were very little triggers for him. Yes, he barks at cars at times, at the postman, wants to jump on visitors… but people who are used to dogs of any breed are used to this. Leo has settled with us so well from the first day he came into our lives, he loves attention, Lenny and Meg, our cat Burrito and roast dinners. His favourite place is with me on the sofa or running in the nearby woodlands. He has the best food, best collars and coats… my husband does say that I spoil him… how could I not?
Pug-cafe is a must, a meet-up, pop-up event in various parts of the country where pug owners and their dogs have a great time. It is Pug heaven, so many pugs, and their little faces all look so different, although non- pug owners usually say they can’t tell the difference.
PDWRA have been amazing during the adoption process, and they are always available for guidance and any advice if needed. There are so many pugs needing homes, I would highly recommend adoption, and I will undoubtedly adopt again from this wonderful association… thank goodness for PDWRA!
Alfie came into the care of PDWRA just before Christmas 2025. Sadly, Alfie’s long-term, elderly owner had passed away, leaving him in need of a very special home. Alfie was due to turn 15 years old in the January, and with old age comes many things, ill health being just one.
Alfie needed a home where he could be given a lot of love, attention and one to one care, a home where his many years could be celebrated and respected. Luckily for Alfie, one of our amazing volunteers, Arlene, jumped at the chance to foster him, and so Alfie spent Christmas 2025 with Arlene, her family and her 2 other PDWRA foster pugs Elsie and Ella.
Alfie visited the vets quite a lot to start with, as we needed to understand his medical and welfare needs. Arlene and the area coordinator overseeing Alfie’s care, worked closely with his vet to ensure Alfie could be as comfortable, healthy and as happy as possible. It was discovered he had allergies, meaning his skin and ears were very itchy and scally. He was found to be faecal incontinent; he also has Osteoarthritis and an old injury to his spine that caused some discomfort and weakness. He had very little muscle, all of which meant he was wobbly on his paws and unable to walk for long. He also needed assistance to get up and down steps or lifting onto the sofa. He has a very long tongue and at some point he’s had surgery on it, so it doesn’t always do what he needs it to do! But despite all of Alfie’s ailments, he was bright, alert, funny and full of life, mischief and love.
Alfie’s welfare and ailments are now all being managed and monitored. He has medication, which has drastically reduced his itchy skin and ear problems, and injections for his Osteoarthritis, enabling him to move comfortably around. Every now and then, he does a mini pug run (at the speed of a tortoise). He’s had lifestyle changes, new food, 2 daily massages from Arlene, he has his teeth brushed and face and ears washed.
Arlene has adapted her home to enable Alfie the ability to move freely and safely inside and out. He has several little jumpers, keeping his old bones warm and protecting him when he wobbles into things. Due to his tongue not always behaving itself, Arlene quite often needs to help him at mealtimes, something Alfie has grown to love. He sleeps in Arlene’s room so that he can be monitored during the night, as his breathing can be a little wheezy during the early hours. He has a pushchair, meaning he can walk until he’s tired, and then still be part of the adventure with Elsie and Ella. He’s even put some weight on, and we think a little muscle too! Having the company of 2 lovely girl pugs has also helped Alfie, he loves the girls and is always by the side of one of them, if not squashed in between both. Now that it’s spring, in between sunbathing Alfie has started sneaking over to Arlene’s veg patch, where he eats vegetables straight from the ground, something we know he loved to do with his previous owner.
Alfie is full of life, he’s happy, bright, charismatic, so funny and handsome. He’s a wonderful little chap and he is now living his best life with Arlene and the support of PDWRA.
Arlene’s Story of a Day with Alfie and his Foster Friends Elsie and Ella
Movement has been detected. The anticipation and excitement is starting to build. I take a deep breath and brace myself as I step out of bed and into the eye of the storm. A frantic foot circling hyper-pug (Ella), a bunny hopping finger-grabber (Elsie), and a cross between Keith Richards and the honey monster who is performing a wonky figure of 8 with his skinny little tail popping up and curling over itself, whilst wiggling his bottom and trying not to fall over. Everyone is very happy to see each other. With my hands above my head (to protect my fingers) I feel like I’m being taken hostage as I’m escorted directly to the kitchen, grabbing a poo bag on the way – the carefully orchestrated journey from the bedroom to the kitchen (just along the hallway) has become an award-winning accomplishment as I manage to pick up poos along the way without them being whipped up into the tornado of pugs. It’s always handy to keep some poo bags close by to collect Alfie droppings, as he’s unaware of what’s going on back there.
We somehow manage to reach our destination without any collisions, and breakfast is served. Immediately. Everyone has their own dining areas – to keep the peace and harmony. Alfie loves his food, although due to previous surgeries, his tongue doesn’t have much movement and he has very few teeth, so he struggles to eat. Alfie also has problems with his spine, due to an injury when he was younger, and he has Osteoarthritis, so he gets a little tired and achy when standing. I watch what looks like the Cookie Monster from Sesame Street eating and start hand feeding him when the kitchen floor begins to look like the end of a children’s dinner party. By this point, Elsie and Ella have already inhaled their breakfast and are peaking over the top of the partition in hope that they can help with the ‘clean up’. A little wipe around Alfie’s face and neck, then we proceed to the garden.
One step down onto the grass, Alfie has a helping hand and support. He enjoys a morning snuffle around the garden, mainly looking for fallen bird seed from the feeders. As Elsie and Ella are continuing with their toilet training, Alfie has learned that going to the toilet in the garden results in a reward, so he pretends to pee with the girls just to get a treat. He has responded really well to his daily toilet routine and has very few accidents indoors, unless they happen during the night when he’s asleep.
Prior to Alfie’s morning nap, it’s time for a pampering session. Alfie has medication for his skin allergies, so it’s really important to keep him clean and dry, especially after eating, drinking and going to the toilet. His face and neck are cleaned, ears and eyes are checked and wiped, his bottom is cleaned and all five of his teeth are brushed. Once freshened up, he has a relaxing massage as he drifts off to sleep.
Walk time. Alfie loves going out for a little walk. He will try putting his own harness on, along with everyone else’s too. He wears a padded jacket for protection in case he loses his balance, but I’m always there to prevent him from wobbling over. A local meadow is always a firm favourite, but it’s a little far for Alfie, so he watches the world from his pram and travels in comfort when he’s had enough of walking.
Helping in the garden. Now that spring has sprung and the days are getting warmer, Alfie likes to wander around the garden with me and especially enjoys helping to ‘maintain’ the vegetable patch. He has his daily brush in the garden, and when he allows me to stop brushing him, we watch the birds fly down and collect his donation of fur for their nests. Then it’s time for a sunbathe and snooze on his garden bed with Elsie and Ella.
Every four weeks we visit the vets to get Alfie’s Librela, which really helps improve his mobility and reduces any pain. He gets lots of fuss and attention from all the staff and likes to have a nap on the receptionist’s lap while we are waiting to be seen.
Cozying up on the sofa to watch a film in the evening, with a massage after a long day. It’s very tiring being a retired pug. There’s a particular kind of facial expression that Alfie puts on which works on me every time. Even though he has his own step to get up onto the sofa, he pretends he can’t quite manage it and pulls this face that just melts my heart. So, he gets a carry up and snuggles down ready for his evening massage.
Evening toilet shenanigans. As Alfie has cataracts in both eyes it’s difficult for him to see, especially in the dark, plus he has the added challenge of not being able to hear very well. With the light coming through the patio doors, I carry Alfie into the garden and down the step, I make sure he’s got his balance then point him in the direction of his favourite spot. Despite being a bit achy by the end of the day, he still tries his newly learned trick of ‘pretending to pee’ so he gets a treat, but eventually gets the message after a few gentle 180 degree turns pointing him back towards his favourite spot again.
We all have a drop of raw honey before bedtime as it helps soothe Alfie’s wheezy cough, and other ailments. He loves his honey, so I have to buy it in bulk. Then we head to bed. With a choice of four different beds, from orthopaedic to doughnuts, Alfie just loves to sleep on a bundle of pillows covered with a duvet and his special blanket from home. Elsie and I lay with Alfie until he’s found a comfy position and falls asleep, a few kisses on the head and we say goodnight. And I’m always close by to collect any bowel movements during the night.
What will tomorrow bring..? Although Alfie loves his retirement home comforts, he has enjoyed a few trips to the Suffolk countryside, where he gets spoiled by his new friends (my parents) and gets lots of attention in the local country pub. We are back there at Easter for more fun and adventures in the slow lane.
Our Volunteer Area Coordinators are at the forefront of the charity and perform one if its most important roles. They are at the receiving end of calls from people looking to surrender their pugs, they guide and counsel them through the process and ultimately oversee the rehoming of their surrendered pug.
Pictured above is Jackie, one of our most experienced VACs. She not only manages the West Midlands and South East regions, but also regularly fosters pugs while they are looking for their new homes. She also helps out with training for new volunteers to help them develop the tools they’ll need to be a successful Vac!
We currently have vacancies in some of our areas throughout England and Wales and would welcome applications from anyone who thinks that they might have the relevant skills and experience to get involved. Being a Volunteer Area Controller is a demanding yet rewarding role, being an integral part of helping a pug in need to go on to live the life they deserve is a wonderful and fulfilling experience.
What’s it like to be a Volunteer Area Coordinator?
If your application is successful, you‘ll be assigned to a specified area of the country to work alongside some of our most experienced VACs. In most cases, the VAC role is performed remotely, so it doesn’t necessarily matter which particular area you live in. As part of our team, you’ll be helping to coordinate pug surrender and adoption activities, as well as other volunteers who are supporting the rehoming of surrendered pugs in your allocated area.
This could include:
Being available to receive or return calls as a matter of urgency, to advise and reassure anybody looking to surrender their pugs
Managing adoption, foster and volunteer applications for your region, providing support once new people come onboard
Working with all other resources within PDWRA according to PDWRA guidelines and legal requirements
Organising the demands of the role, with commitment, responsibility and flexibility
Ensuring all necessary forms are completed
Helping to promote the pug rescue work and achievements of the PDWRA
Find out more…
If you’d like to get more of an idea of what the Voluntary Area Coordinator role is like, why not have a look at a selection of interviews we’ve posted in the past from some of our wonderful VACs:
7 weeks and 4 days. I didn’t really know what to expect when we took on our first foster Pug. What I wasn’t prepared for was how strong I would feel about caring for this tough little guy, and how in less than 2 months he would have such an impact on us.
We got the call from PDWRA on 22nd December, and young Bertie’s situation was such that we knew we needed to go and collect him immediately. Despite being quite poorly, he was in OK spirits and settled in quite quickly with our 4-year-old female pug, Yoyo.
The first 4 weeks were all about getting him treated for a bad UTI and a swollen prostate, as well as a potential hip issue. The vet explained that neutering him would sort the prostate problem, so as soon as he was clear from the UTI he was straight back in for his op. Bertie had to wear a very fetching blue recovery suit for 2 weeks, but this was great as we found he loved dressing up. What quickly became evident once he felt better, was how energetic he was. Even just seeing me pick up his harness resulted in huge amounts of excitement to get out of the door. It didn’t matter what the weather was doing, he just needed to be out there.
I was nervous about how our existing pug, Yoyo, would take to him – and initially there was some jealousy, but they soon started to settle. The main game at night was they switched beds repeatedly, and one always wanted what the other one had. Sure enough, over the weeks they began to bond and would play well together. Bertie was very strong, but always the gentleman, with Yoyo ultimately calling the shots.
Bertie’s teeth weren’t in great condition, so we had to try a few different approaches with food to get him eating properly. Yoyo loves her blueberries and green beans, but at first Bertie would just spit them out. I got him eating again with wet food and as he improved, we moved him back to dry food and also some more vegetable treats. It was a huge win when he started to really enjoy his green beans, to the extent they are now his favourite treat!
Throughout this time, PDWRA were fantastic with support from our Area Co-ordinator. I kept a steady stream of photos and updates, and they were on hand with advice, guidance and reassurance. The first few weeks were full-on, but that was mainly due to getting Bertie’s various issues treated, and regular trips to the vet. One thing that really stood out was what a battler he was. He never showed any sign of holding back and was always keen to be a part of whatever was happening. We slowly built up to two walks per day, and he would always be out front, leading the way and loving life.
It was impossible not to feel uplifted by watching him power forwards each day. I should add that Bertie has hip dysplasia on his right hip, and had a distinctive hopping gait. We initially thought this would hold him back, but then started to see just how quick and nimble he could be. Nothing was going to stop Bertie.
One of the standout aspects of Fostering was seeing Bertie improve each day, bit by bit. I hadn’t anticipated the bond this would form, to the extent he would wait behind doors for me whenever I left the room and watch my every move when we were together. He quickly became a fixture in everything I did. The mornings were my favourite time. I would come into the kitchen to be greeted by two very excited pugs, both leaning hard into me for cuddles. It was incredible how quickly Bertie became part of the family – he just slotted in perfectly.
I lost many nights sleep wondering if we should adopt him and keep him permanently. I knew deep down he would be much better suited as a solo Pug. He just craves attention and would gladly walk two or 3 times a day. Yoyo is more genteel, and whilst she was very gracious in sharing her home, Bertie could take over at times and needed to be the centre of attention. Throughout this, PDWRA were hugely supportive, with wise advice and guidance, and plenty of practical support.
Handing over Bertie to his new family was a really emotional time. Fortunately, our close friends had also fostered Pugs before and reiterated how we have played our key part in helping him live his best life, and a key part in his journey. They were right, when I met his new adoptive parents, I could immediately see the joy he would bring to them, and there was no doubt he would be treated like the superstar that he is. He is just the perfect soul for a wonderful family who recently lost their long-term beloved Pug.
So yes, 7 weeks and 4 days with Bertie as our first foster was incredibly rewarding. His strong, determined and unbeatable spirit left an impression on those who got to know him. A close friend and fellow Pug fanatic who got to know him wisely suggested that maybe that we could all ‘Be more Bertie’.
A devoted bonded pair, both aged 8, searching for their happy ever after home 🏡
These two may not be littermates, but they’ve shared their whole lives side by side… and where one goes, the other follows 💞
They sleep curled up together, finding comfort in each other – their bond is truly unbreakable.
🌿 After a quiet and sheltered start in life, they are now discovering the world for the very first time…
And what a journey it’s been! From country walks to village strolls and vet visits, they are blossoming beautifully in foster care in rural Devon 🌼
What Makes Them Special?
🐶 Loving, gentle, and affectionate
🐶 A perfectly bonded pair
🐶 Enjoy exploring the countryside together
🐶 Full of quiet charm and loyalty
Boots & Socks Introduce Themselves!
‘Hello! My name is Boots and my best friend is Socks. We’ve been together since puppies and sleep cuddled up and go for walks together. I’m really enjoying the garden and my waistline is reducing! I’m quite the handsome chap. When I slim down a little more I need to have some dental work, the lovely people at the PDWRA will be covering the cost. I’ve pretty much remembered my housetraining now with only an occasional lapse when things are extra exciting. I’m very lovable and loving, but I can be shy with strange men until I get to know them. I’ve met children here and they’re ok! I like lots of attention and cuddles so would prefer to live with just Socks. My foster family think we are both adorable!’
‘Hello! I’m Socks and I’d be really pleased to meet you! I’ve led a bit of a sheltered life up until now but a few weeks ago I came into foster with my best friend Boots. I have 5 more new friends and a garden, which was a bit overwhelming to begin, with but now I’m blossoming! I’ve remembered my housetraining, lost a few pounds and learnt how to live with others. I quite like to be top dog really and prefer to only share the attention with Boots. I like my humans to be around mostly and sometimes I can be vocal but I’m getting better with that. I’m in good health, lively, enjoy walks with Boots and meeting new people! And I’m still only 8 yrs old! Could we both come and live with you?’
A Few Things To Know:
They’d love a home with plenty of human company
Socks is a chatty girl and may bark when left
Boots can be a little unsure of men at first, but settles with time
Best suited as the only dogs in the home
Boots will need a dental once he’s shed a couple of kilos – this will be fully covered by PDWRA 🩺
Could you give these two the loving home they’ve never truly had? 🏡 They’ve spent their lives side by side… now they just need someone to share it with.
