by PDWRA | 14 Apr, 2026 | Blog, Fundraising
We’d like to give a MASSIVE thanks to the students of the University of Westminster and Project Coordinator Yousef Marafi for setting up a Crowdfunder initiative to raise money for the PDWRA. They’ve done this because they wanted to create a meaningful impact beyond their classroom, and we’re incredibly happy that they chose our charity to partner with.
They say that as students, they believe education should go hand-in-hand with impact, and that this project isn’t just academic, it’s also about creating change, raising awareness and supporting a cause that saves lives.
This appeal will only be open until April 28th, so if you’d like to support this wonderful initiative and contribute to the fund, just click below to visit their Crowdfunder page. Every donation will go a long way to helping pugs in need!
Please visit Crowdfunder to support the students for the PDWRA here.
by PDWRA | 14 Apr, 2026 | Blog, Rescue Stories
We have had pugs in our lives for over 30 years and they have always been part of the family. Over the last 10 years though, we made the decision to rescue exclusively. It just felt like the right thing to do. There are so many wonderful dogs out there who need a second chance and we knew we could offer a loving stable home.
That is how we came across the PDWRA. We had followed their work for a while and really admired the care they take in matching dogs to the right homes, especially those with more complex needs.
Willow was the first to join us and she has now been with us for 9 years. When she arrived, she lacked confidence and was clearly nervous, particularly around hands, which suggested she had not always had the best start in life. With time, patience and consistency, she has grown into a much more confident dog and it has been incredibly rewarding to watch her come out of her shell.
Vera joined us 6 years ago and brought her own set of challenges. She has complex health needs. She has very limited sight in her one remaining eye, along with multiple allergies and ongoing skin conditions. But despite everything, she absolutely loves life. She is full of character and joy and her resilience is something we admire every day.
The adoption process itself was really positive. It was thorough, but that gave us confidence that the PDWRA genuinely cares about getting the right match for both the dogs and their new families. We felt supported throughout.
Life since adopting has not always been easy… particularly managing Vera’s health needs, but it has been incredibly fulfilling. Seeing both dogs feel safe, settled and loved makes it all worthwhile.
We now have five pugs in our grumble and they bring constant noise, chaos and laughter into the house. Each one has their own personality and story and together they have made our home feel complete.
For anyone thinking about adopting or fostering, our advice would be to go in with an open heart and realistic expectations. Some dogs need time, patience and understanding, especially if they have had difficult pasts or ongoing health needs. But the reward of seeing them thrive and become part of your family is something truly special.
by PDWRA | 14 Apr, 2026 | Blog, Fundraising
You may remember that last Spring PDWRA adopter Leona ran the Bristol 10k to raise funds for the PDWRA, bringing in over £1000 of much-needed funds! Her partner Gordon also brought in a whopping £800 by running the ruck race!
This year, they are joining forces to run the Bristol 10k together and have set up another Just Giving page for people to sponsor them. The run takes place on 10th May, so there’s plenty of time to visit the page and make a donation, it will still be live for a while afterwards too. Just click below to head over to Just Giving, every donation goes towards helping pugs in need!
Please visit Just Giving to sponsor Gordon & Leona for the PDWRA here.
by PDWRA | 14 Apr, 2026 | Blog, Rescue Stories
My husband and I applied to adopt with the PDWRA in 2024. We filled in the form, had the zoom call interview and were really happy to be chosen to adopt 10-year-old George. George came live with us in late August 2024 and was a real sweetie. He didn’t like walking, loved a pup cup and a café and tummy rubs. He also coped well with my two elderly parents who lived with us. Unfortunately, in January 2025 my mother was taken into hospital and then into a care home and more upsettingly George stopped eating and was diagnosed with liver and blood cancer and a week later we made the heart-breaking decision to have him put to sleep.
We thought we would wait a little but before getting another dog but the next week the amazing East region coordinator Lisa called us and said would we like to go and see 4-year-old Dotty. Of course, we went to meet her and took her home with us. The first few days were a little fraught as she barked at every car, bus, lorry, bike, person on her walks and she liked walking, which was a shock after George. She soon settled down and three weeks later we took her on her first holiday to Devon, oh how she loves to zoomie on a beach, but has to be carried over any water! Hilarious.
After a few months we thought she would like to have a friend, and in July 2025 Bertha joined us. We took Dotty on a number of walks with Berta and her amazing foster mother Lou before making the decision to adopt her. Bertha needed to be spayed and was in heat, so it gave us and Dotty time to get to know her.
We are really lucky, they get on so well and both love to be out walking. What has changed for us since having Dotty and Bertha live with us? Both of my parents are now in care and the puggies are so good with them and the other oldies in the care home when we visit.
We had to get a bigger bed, as they take up so much room! They both love a pub and Bertha likes the froth on a beer when you aren’t looking. And, no more foreign holidays, but they are well travelled and will be starting a book on the beaches of Britain!
They are both such great characters, Bertha is very bouncy and gives the biggest face licks but is wary of strangers and won’t go far from our sides. She also loves sitting on the back of my chair when I work and is a very good neck warmer. Dotty is a little princess, she loves meeting new people and greeting them with a bark, she gives the best snuggles and very delicate face licks.
Thank you PDWRA for the work you do and for letting us adopt them.
by PDWRA | 14 Apr, 2026 | Blog, Rescue Stories
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!
Sian
