by Yasmin | 16 Apr, 2024 | Blog, News, Rescue Stories
Eddie’s Story
Lynda is a seasoned dog trainer with a passion for providing animals with purposeful lives. Her journey into dog training began over seven years ago when she acquired qualifications in the field and established her own business. Lynda’s dedication extends beyond her professional life as she shares her home with a diverse pack of seven dogs, including pugs, a rescue bulldog, a Spanish Podenco and a Dogue De Bordeaux. Her love for dogs and her belief in their robustness and longevity are evident, with her eldest pug being 16 years old. Furthermore, Lynda’s involvement in rescuing animals has seen her foster and adopt numerous pets, totalling 36 rescues, ranging from dogs and cats to chickens and birds. Today, she operates from her own home with her own 4-acre field, offering training classes and private hire services.
Eddie, a 5-year-old pug with a remarkable story of resilience and the waggiest of tails, entered Lynda’s life last May under challenging circumstances. Facing the threat of being put to sleep due to being deemed unpredictable and erratic, (though it was more likely fear or nervousness due to his blindness), Eddie was surrendered to the PDWRA and connected with Lynda as an emergency foster. Lynda drove halfway to meet another volunteer who had collected Eddie and then their journey home began. Despite his challenges, including having only one eye, Lynda immediately saw potential in Eddie’s calm demeanour, a trait she says is uncommon in pugs. Within a few days, Lynda decided his forever home would be with her. Overcoming his limited vision and separation anxiety, Eddie began to thrive under Lynda’s care. Deciding to put him to the test, Lynda enrolled him in one of her kennel club puppy foundation classes, where he quickly excelled alongside a young handler.
Eddie’s training progress was remarkable, showcasing obedience skills uncommon in pugs, such as “sitting without the need for treats,” according to Lynda. Too old for the puppy Kennel Club classes, Lynda looked into the possibility of him becoming a Pets as Therapy dog, and so his journey to becoming one began. In order to qualify, Eddie needed to be calm when groomed, petted, fed, and walk nicely on a lead, a job Lynda was sure “Ready Eddie Go” could take on. The assessment took place at the local veterinary clinic and was a challenging experience for Lynda, accustomed to assessing other people’s dogs, not the other way around!
As a newly qualified Pets as Therapy dog, Eddie’s job will entail visiting schools, adult learning disability centres, and even prisons to provide comfort and emotional support to those in need. Despite his unique circumstances, Eddie’s presence is expected to inspire and uplift individuals. “People will be able to see that even though he only has one eye, he is still able to live his life to the fullest,” says Lynda. “Children might not want to read to an adult but will read to a dog as dogs aren’t judgemental and won’t tell them off, it helps them to get their emotions out and ultimately learn”.
Lynda’s typical day with Eddie as a Pets as Therapy dog involves putting on his uniform, consisting of a bandana, little jacket, and a label on his lead, complete with a registration key fob with his picture on his collar (how cute!). With treats in hand, such as raspberries, blueberries, and carrot stick, provided by Lynda herself, they set off for their scheduled appointments. Lynda emphasises the importance of using low value treats for Eddie whilst he is working as she does not want him becoming obsessed with the treats and wants him to take them gently from visitors’ hands. It is also good for his waistline!
Upon arrival, individuals they are visiting are asked who would like to interact with Eddie. Some may be initially apprehensive about meeting a therapy dog, but through gentle interaction and observation of others engaging with Eddie, those who were initially hesitant might want to become involved. The duration of their visits is at Lynda’s discretion, typically starting with shorter sessions of around 30 minutes and gradually extending as Eddie becomes more familiar with the role. Thanks to his status as a therapy dog, Eddie is welcomed in various settings, including shops.
Lynda’s experience with Eddie has been transformative for her, offering her new training opportunities and unexpected personal growth. His calm demeanour, has not only brought joy to her life but also serves as a source of comfort and inspiration to those he encounters. Eddie’s habit of throwing himself onto his back for tummy rubs adds to his charm for everyone who has the pleasure of meeting him.
For those considering adopting a dog and training them as a therapy dog, Lynda advises thorough research, a commitment to routine and training as well as force-free training methods. She emphasises the unconditional love and rewarding companionship that dogs like Eddie offer in return for dedicated care and effort.
Yesterday saw his first visit to a local adults with learning disabilities centre in his role as a Pets as Therapy dog. The visit was a tremendous success with lots of happy smiley students and lots of treats and cuddles for Eddie. It was also his 1 year Gotcha day so lots for Eddie to celebrate.
Eddie’s journey from almost being put to sleep to becoming a valued member of society is a testament to Lynda and the work done by the PDWRA. Thanks to the intervention of the PDWRA, Eddie was given a second chance at life. Under Lynda’s guidance and training, Eddie has found his purpose as a Pets as Therapy dog. His story is a reminder of the importance of volunteers such as Lynda and charities like the PDWRA and the vital role they play in rescuing and rehabilitating pugs like Eddie. Without the continued support of donations to the PDWRA, Eddie’s journey might have taken a very different turn.
Ready Eddie Go!
by Yasmin | 15 Apr, 2024 | Blog, News, Rescue Stories
The start to 2024 has been a bit of a whirlwind so far…
Already in the first 3 months, you can see, 54 pugs have been adopted. We have 60 pugs in long-term foster requiring that extra-special care with our financial healthcare support, and 43 pugs in short-term foster getting ready for their perfectly-matched forever homes!
Taking in so many pugs, many with special-needs, keeps our volunteers extremely busy and puts a strain on our finances. As ever, we are forever grateful to everyone for their contributions and support so far.
If you feel you could help with a donation towards our ever-increasing vet costs, please go to:
Donating to Pug Dog Welfare | The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association (pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk)
To read more about the rescue & rehoming stories contributing towards this, please go to:
Rescue Stories | The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association (pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk)
by Yasmin | 13 Apr, 2024 | Blog, Pug Health, Rescue Stories
Clemmie’s Story by Helen PDWRA Vet Advisor.
Last October, six-year-old Clemmie found herself under the care of PDWRA and was placed in foster care with the intent of adoption. Upon her arrival, it became evident that Clemmie’s ears were in a dire state, causing her significant discomfort. She incessantly scratched at them, and her hearing was compromised due to the severity of the irritation.
Despite attempts by specialists to address Clemmie’s ear issues without resorting to surgery, her condition continued to worsen. Eventually, the only viable option was a specialised procedure known as a Total Ear Canal Ablation (TECA), which involves the complete removal of the ear canal. This operation is both challenging and intricate.
Clemmie underwent emergency surgery after it was discovered that she had an abscess in her middle ear during a CT scan. The procedure, which also included a TECA operation on her other ear, lasted four hours, The surgery alone cost over £2,500, excluding the expense of the CT scan.
Thanks to the financial support provided by PDWRA, Clemmie was able to receive the necessary treatments to prevent the infection from spreading to her brain, which would have ultimately resulted in her having to be put to sleep.
Fortunately, Clemmie is now on the path to recovery, and her owners are very grateful for the invaluable support from the PDWRA.
Without ongoing donations from our supporters, Clemmie might not have been able to receive this vital treatment. Now in recovery, Clemmie’s owners are deeply thankful for the PDWRA’s support.
If you would like to donate towards our substantial vet costs that ensure pugs like Clemmie get the treatment they need, when they need it, please go to this webpage:
Donating to Pug Dog Welfare | The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association (pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk)
For other interesting articles about pug health, please go to:
Pug Health & Wellbeing | The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association (pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk)
by Yasmin | 12 Apr, 2024 | Blog, News, Rescue Stories, Volunteering
Maureen Lee is one of our long-serving Voluntary Area Coordinators (VACs), for the South-West of England where she lives. She was also one of the original founders of the Wales and West Pug Rescue. This is Maureen’s life’s story with Pugs!
“It all started as a child. Pugs have always been in the family, where my late Uncle bred pugs and bulldogs and was well-known for it, as well as in the Show world in the 1950’s.
But the family’s history goes way back to my late Grandfather who was a veterinary practitioner before the days even of the formation of Royal college of veterinary surgeons! Sadly, I never knew him but he left us all with various inherited animal interests in life!
I owned my first pug some 56 years ago! Lucy, was born on Easter Sunday 1968, known as ‘Demelza’s Easter Nimbell’, pictured here. She was actually sired by Nimrod, the first pug to ever win the Toy Group at Crufts (1967)!
I have been lucky to be able to breed a bit, ten generations over the years. I’ve shown them with good success, and I am also a Championship show judge for the pug breed.
I have shown and achieved a 1st prize at Crufts plus several other placings with various pugs over the years. Also, a friend of mine has achieved the title of International Champion with one of mine’s litter sister! We used a Champion Sire from Norway.
Back in 1987, a small group of us got together to form the Wales & West of England Pug Dog Club. In 1988 we also formed our rescue group of which I served for 30yrs.
By 2018 sadly our volunteers were ageing, and we were also very short of numbers. It ended up with just me and one other really elderly lady trying to run the whole of Wales with a relative doing a lot of driving for us. It wasn’t sustainable.
We weren’t a registered charity, so we couldn’t inherit large donations so I got in touch with the PDWRA and suggested that we merged. We transferred all our funds over, though we weren’t rich and I was the only one then that stayed on to join PDWRA.
I live with my (five) pugs, three fawn pugs of my own breeding, I also have a black pug that I rescued, about ten years ago now. She came through Wales and the West while I was part of that, and is 13 years-old now. Ruby, another rescue arrived six years ago. Unfortunately, I lost one about six weeks ago. She was 12. They’re all getting to an age now.
Heidi, is my long-term PDWRA foster who I’ve just celebrated 1 year with. She is 14 years-old now and was deaf and blind and unfortunately quite neglected when she came into my care. Plus, I have one Pekinese. I’ve always had that sort of number at home.
Being quite a lot older now, I don’t go dashing off all over the country, but I do help where I can with home-checking new applicants and giving general advice. I give lots of advice for people over the phone. I keep in touch with people who have adopted elderly pugs because they get worried when anything goes wrong. I’m always here to give anyone advice on their pugs.
I have also always been involved with fundraising events locally or fostering pugs. Lots of friendships have been made over the years with my involvement with Pug Rescue and I have found it so rewarding.”
To read more about Maureen’s long-term foster pug, Heidi, please see:
Long-term foster, Heidi.
If you would like to volunteer for PDWRA, please see the opportunities to, at:
Volunteering for PDWRA | The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association (pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk)
or
Volunteer Vacancies at PDWRA! | The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association (pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk)
by Yasmin | 11 Apr, 2024 | Blog, News, Rescue Stories, Volunteering
Fostering for PDWRA isn’t only for the adults!
The younger generation of up and coming fosterers are getting involved too. Here, Ronnie, aged 6, and who’s Mum is a regular fosterer for PDWRA, stood up bravely in front of the crowd to give a talk on fostering for PDWRA to his fellow Beavers for his Animal Care Badge.
He was ably assisted by Reggie, on long term foster with Ronnie and his family, who you can just about see on the right.
Ronnie’s talk was well received by the audience, who lined up afterwards for the opportunity to be introduced to Reggie, where he was stroked and cuddled.
Ronnie not only achieved his badge, but sparked an interest in caring for animals in general from everybody.
The lovely Reggie is on long-term-foster due to mobility problems where he’s going to find it increasingly difficult to walk. In fact he’s just got some assistance in the form of a buggy to help him along when he needs it.
If you would like to foster a pug like Reggie, please see details about fostering here: https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/fostering-a-pug/
