by PDWRA | 16 Jun, 2026 | Blog, Volunteering
PDWRA Fosterer and Transporter Helen Talks about her Experiences of Volunteering
Our fosterers are a hugely important part of the work we do as a charity. When pugs are surrendered to us, they will usually need to be placed in a safe temporary home so that they can be assessed and any medical needs can be addressed. This is where our fosterers come in.
Fosterers like Helen deal with all kinds of situations and pug temperaments, and during their stay will compile a comprehensive report of a pug’s character, quirks and any special needs. Helen also often helps out with collecting the pugs that end up in her care, or transporting them to their new forever homes. Sometimes, they even come with surprises, such as having an unexpected litter of puppies…
These are Helen’s thoughts on her role…
How did you first get involved with the PDWRA?
I first got involved 3 years ago. I had lost my little pug to diabetes and really missed him but wasn’t quite ready to own one again, so thought about fostering and found PDWRA online. I first approached another rescue but was very disheartened by their lack of enthusiasm when on the video call for my home check. Then I found PDWRA who were so thrilled that I had approached them for fostering and in the home check they loved my garden and couldn’t wait for me to foster, totally different approach!
How long have you been a volunteer?
This is my 3rd year and I’ve fostered 21 pugs. We’ve had bonded pairs, we’ve had singles, we’ve had traumatised ones and we’ve had ones that have had babies. So yes. 21 in total!
What role do you perform?
I’m a foster carer and also help out with transport where I can.
What does it involve?
Being a foster carer of a pug involves providing a safe and loving temporary home while we assess them ready for adoption. Many pugs come into rescue because of illness, neglect, changes in family or from families that were just not aware of their needs. We provide love, stability, medical care and reassurance, preparing them for a permanent home. As a fosterer we help the rescue learn about each pug’s personality and needs, so that they can find the best possible match for adoption. Every foster reminds me of how resilient dogs are and how much a little bit of kindness can change their lives. I cry every time that I say goodbye to them when they have found their new home but when I see the photos of them settled, my heart bursts and that’s why I do it.
Why pugs?
I just love the breed and their personalities, they are needy, affectionate, stubborn, attention seeking, hilarious, loyal and make the best facial expressions as they understand every word you say to them.
Do you have any stories that stick in your mind?
Definitely Maisie and pups! It’s the one that sticks out because it was a surprise. And then you’ve got to make a makeshift whelping box out of a draw from a double bed until you can get your partner to rush into work and make one for you. Bless her, that was a big surprise but it was lovely. We had a lot of sleepless nights, a lot of tag teaming sleep, but she was a beautiful mum and she did really well
What’s your thoughts on the PDWRA?
Their work often goes beyond simply rehoming, they help dogs recover physically and emotionally, which I have experienced recently. In simple terms, they genuinely put the dog’s wellbeing first. The level of time and care that they put into matching dogs with suitable adopters, supporting foster carers and transporters, is hugely commendable.
Jackie has been my coordinator since I have been fostering and she has been a huge support with every dog that I have fostered, her passion and empathy toward each pug is evident in everything she does. As a coordinator, she goes above and beyond to ensure every pug feels safe, loved and cared for, as do the whole of the PDWRA. Her dedication, patience and constant support make the fostering process smooth and reassuring for everyone involved.
Really, I don’t think of it as a charity. I think of it more like an extended family, because we’ve all got the same views and it’s really nice that everyone can come together and do so much good.
Why should people volunteer?
Volunteering to foster is the most meaningful way to change a dog’s life without needing to adopt permanently.
If people were looking to foster, then I would definitely think about fostering for the PDWRA. The group of supporters that have been built up by the rescue feels like a true family, built on compassion, teamwork and their love for pugs. We all feel connected, valued and supported, and when you see the photos of the pugs in their forever home it makes me burst with pride that we all did that together.
If you would like to apply to volunteer for the PDWRA, please click here.
by PDWRA | 16 Jun, 2026 | Blog, In Memoriam
To our Floofy Handsome Boy Bo
We’ll never forget the day you came to us, this little nervous floofball!! Your new little brother and sister, Reggie and Lola, so eager to meet you. Within a few hours you were all sniffing your way around the garden and flipping pillows off the garden furniture! You’d chomp your jaws when your dinner wasn’t served quickly and instead of barking, you’d “abba jabbah”, which would crack everyone up. By this point we knew you were going to be a failed foster and be our cheeky little Bo-Bo.
You were the most loving, gentle boy who was just so happy all the time, either it being cuddles on the sofa or out on adventures. Especially so when out on adventures. You’d skip your way around the park, ears bouncing, taking in all the smells, double checking every sniff Reggie and Lola would do and not straying too far from us.
Then your little partner in crime was born and it was instant besties as soon as we brought Florence home. You watched over her when she slept, had all the patience and gentleness when Florence would cuddle you and shared the biggest smiles together, as well as toys!! Particularly the ball pit!
You gave so much heart and love to all of our family and friends and you always knew how to melt our hearts with that beautiful stare. Even though you only had the one eye, it glistened with love.
There’s not a single day we don’t miss you Bo-Bo,
rest easy little man, we’ll love you forever,
you are the definition of a good boy!!
by PDWRA | 16 Jun, 2026 | Blog, Rescue Stories
I first started fostering dogs in a casual way, by taking in a friend of a friend’s dog when they had to have an extended hospital stay. At that time, we had two pug crosses – a mother-and-son duo called Ruby and Bear – both of whom had never been an “only” dog and, as a result, were not particularly phased by the appearance of a long-stay visiting pooch. My husband, Paul, and I found looking after our little foster friend so rewarding that, once we handed her back to her owner, we decided to seek out another opportunity to foster. As our dogs were pug crosses, we thought it would be a good idea to find a foster dog with a similar temperament, so we googled “foster a pug” and the PDWRA popped up on the screen. We applied straight away.
That was in 2023, and after a vetting phone call from Jackie, the VAC, and a virtual home check, the first pug that swaggered through our doors was a handsome brute called Teddy, who was then 10 years old. We quickly shortened his name to Ted to give him the gravitas his age and bearing demanded. We collected him on November 5th, which made for a challenging first night with fireworks going off all around, but after that initial hurdle he settled in well.
Teddy had found his way into care quite late in life. Having been a much-loved pet, his former family found that he couldn’t adapt to their very young children and, after a couple of incidents in which he showed possessive behaviour, the decision was made that he could no longer live with kids and had to be moved. Paul and I initially expected him to be very sad and pining for his family, but amazingly he settled in immediately and we got the feeling that he was relieved to be in a dog-centric environment rather than a child-focused one. He basically started to kick back and enjoy his retirement.
In fact, he settled in so completely that the discussion quickly turned to adoption. As always, there were pros and cons to be considered and, at the top of the cons list, was the fact that our older dog Ruby had started to become really bad-tempered – not just around Ted, although it did seem as though his introduction into the home had been the catalyst. This left us weighing up whether it would be fair to both dogs to make Ted’s stay permanent. Sadly, the decision was taken from us when Ruby unexpectedly died.
Jackie was brilliant and we asked if we could take just one more week to consider Ted’s future with us, as we needed to see how Bear losing his little mum, and then being alone with Ted instead, might alter the dynamic in the household. They settled down together very quickly and it actually really helped all of us to have Ted there to fill the void Ruby left behind. We knew from then on that Ted was in his forever home. I suspect Ted had decided that from more or less his first day – he just had to wait for the rest of us to realise it.
We were able to adopt Ted seamlessly. Being an approved fosterer meant that we had already been vetted and home-checked, so it was simply a matter of signing the forms, paying the adoption fee, and acknowledging that he was already home.
Since adopting Ted, we have gone on to foster many more PDWRA pugs, which, with difficulty, we have resisted adopting as well. It can be challenging at times, especially as Ted has his issues with being possessive over food and a tendency to get a bit John Wayne when he thinks the others are being undisciplined. We’ve found that divide and rule works best at mealtimes, along with making sure everyone has a quiet, safe space they can retreat to if things get too much — humans included!
I wholeheartedly recommend fostering and adopting through the PDWRA. It’s incredibly rewarding to be able to help a little dog who may be abandoned or traumatised, to win their trust, and help them find love again. And sometimes, the love finds you too.
by PDWRA | 16 Jun, 2026 | Blog, Rescue Stories
We lost our Pug cross Bubba in November 2024, he had been by my side for almost 13 years. After losing Bubba we missed having a dog so much and the flat felt so empty, so we decided that we were going to look into fostering, as weren’t ready to be full time dog parents again just yet.
I found the PDWRA online, read some of the lovely stories, and it sounded perfect for us. Shortly after contacting PDWRA and having our Home Check, just 4 days before Christmas 2024 we were asked to foster 2 bonded pug sisters. Wow, they were fun! We only had them for a few weeks, then off to their new homes they went.
Fast forward a couple more weeks of no pug in the house and I saw the Facebook post about Pat! I didn’t mention it to my partner Keiran at first as we said we weren’t ready to adopt, but I couldn’t stop thinking about him. After sleeping on it I said to my partner “have you seen the PDWRA posts recently?” Straight away he said “you mean PAT?”, and we both knew he just had to come live with us. We loved the idea of having older dogs that could have a nice retirement with us. So that Saturday I contacted Dee and she put us in touch with Jane to have a chat about Pat.
Everything Jane said about Pat reminded us of our Bubba and his funny little ways. We then had a call with his wonderful fosterer and again everything we were told about him, such as that he needs to be in your circle of trust, made us want him even more. One week later (Feb 2025) and Pat is on his way from Cornwall to Nottingham. My partner Keiran then met one of the volunteers at Coventry to bring him home.
Pat fitted in with us straight away, he’s so chilled but for the first few days we just let him come to us and do whatever he liked. On the first night he straightaway decided that he was going to sleep in our bed with us and over a year later, that’s where he still sleeps.
Pat loves living in our flat, he has a big garden that he likes to go on adventures in, mainly climbing up things he shouldn’t! We knew when we got Pat that he had hip dysplasia and he required daily meds, but that doesn’t stop him on his garden adventures, he loves chasing anything in the sky day or night, his favourites include planes, helicopters and magpies!
Due to Pats hips, he only needs a little trot to our local park (about 30 steps from our flat), and he loves going with my partner Keiran to have some off-lead time. He’s a greedy pug, but since having him he now takes a treat very nicely. He still eats his food in 3 seconds though!
We thought Pat would be quite an independent Pug but he is completely my partner Keiran’s shadow. They spend all day together as he works from home and they have an absolutely incredible bond that started from day 1. After week one of having Pat, he let Keiran pick him up for cuddles, which is now a multiple daily event.
Pat only really barked at the sky and passing vans for the first few months of having him. He never really made any other noises (just a little snore), until one day I was trying to teach him to give me his paw, and when I went to reach out he started making a funny noise, not a growling noise, just a weird noise! We were laughing at him so much that he continued. He now loves a daily chat with us, you might have seen his video on the Happy Pugs in Happy Homes Facebook Group. He genuinely enjoys it, we can tell when he wants to do it as he will bring us his teddy to play with, then he wants you to wind him up with it so that he starts howling and talking (he definitely says no)!
Since having Pat in our lives, we now don’t know what we would do without him. He is the source of so many laughs and also gives the best cuddles. He is spoilt rotten, has 3 beds (we only have a 2-bedroom flat!) and he only sleeps in those during the day.
We feel incredibly lucky that the PDWRA let us have Pat in our lives. We went into having Pat with no expectations at all as we just wanted him to have a nice, chilled retirement home, however, we’ve ended up with a dream of a dog that we are so lucky to have in our lives.
THANK YOU PDWRA!
Love Laura & Keiran
by PDWRA | 6 Jun, 2026 | Blog, News, Events
Volunteers’ Week is a time for us to show our immense appreciation to everybody that gives their valuable time for the cause of rescuing pugs in need. We couldn’t rescue and rehome the hundreds of pugs that we do each year without our incredible volunteers, we’re immensely grateful to each and every one of them. Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers, you are all amazing!
As a token of appreciation for everyone that does such incredible work behind the scenes, helping the PDWRA to rescue and rehome pugs that are in need of our help, we put together a tribute video that tells some of their wonderful stories.
Featured in our video are:
- Jackie – one of our most experienced Volunteer Area Coordinators
- Helen – who fosters pugs in need of a short-term home as well as getting involved with transporting
- Tris – who has fostered for many years and also helps out with transporting and home checking
- Shirley – who raises money for the charity by doing beautiful drawings of people’s pets
- Lynn – who fundraises by managing stands at steam rallies selling soft toys, as well as antiques. She also puts on and manages an annual pantomime!
- Caroline – who does home checking and has also fostered in the past
If you’d like to find out more about the brilliant work that our volunteers do for the charity, just click the video image below to watch the video on our YouTube channel…
