by Yasmin | 17 Dec, 2024 | Blog, News, Rescue Stories
Pictured are Arlo & Nora with co-stars Gabby and Matt.
Location photos courtesy of History Hit.
PDWRA had a request from a film company, History Hit, for a pug to take part in a scene they were filming, so Arlo and Nora sprang to mind for Jackie, one of our VACs who had placed them for adoption earlier this year with Jayne, an artist who kindly fundraises for PDWRA through her greeting cards business.
Arlo and Nora were invited to spend a morning at Oxford’s Castle and Prison museum to take part in their filming.
Mike Loades, the film’s Director filled us in on some fascinating details:
“Bright and early on a chilly November morning, Jayne Cooper, the proud owner of pugs Nora and Arlo (and passionate supporter of PDWRA), turned up for some filming at Oxford’s Castle and Prison museum. It was an unusual assignment.
Oxford’s medieval Castle had been largely demolished during the English Civil Wars (1642 – 1651). What was left became a prison. This was extended and enlarged in the late 18th century, much of it remaining in its original condition. It is now a visitor attraction. What could two self-respecting pugs possibly be required to do in an old prison?
History Hit is a streaming channel (available online and via smart TVs) that specializes in history documentaries. Coming soon to the channel are two documentaries in a series about dogs in history – ‘Dogs of the Tudors’ and ‘Dogs in the Age of Revolutions’. It was for the ‘Dogs in the Age of Revolutions’ film that a pug was required.
During the Reign of Terror (1793/1794), which followed the French Revolution, Josephine Beauharnais (later to marry Napoleon) was imprisoned. It was usual for political prisoners to be allowed the company of their dogs –prison guards in such turbulent times were quite easy to bribe – but Josephine’s dog (a pug by the name of Fortune) was given the special privilege of being able to come and go at will. In fact he was able to carry secret messages to and from her children.
Naturally Jayne did not want either dog to wear a collar (they were used to harnesses) but she was happy for Nora to wear a blue ribbon, tied in a bow. Such a fashion accessory looked entirely in keeping for the period. It was also useful to incorporate a secret compartment in which a folded message could be stowed.
Historical performers Gabby Monet and Matthew Howarth played Josephine and her jailor, respectively. Gabby is a professional period seamstress and both she and Matthew had perfect period costumes. It was a very authentic looking setting.
Nora pipped Arlo in one final test to play the role of Fortune. Being slightly slimmer, she was able (just) to squeeze through the prison bars. Nora determined and brave scampering down the grim prison corridors before arriving at the bars to Josephine’s cell. Possibly with the encouragement of a hidden biscuit (we can’t give all the secrets away) Nora wriggled through the bars, like a slow-motion champagne cork popping, time and time again. You always have to do things over and over for filming, so that the cameraperson can get different angles.
There is no doubt that Nora was taken with gabby. They bonded quickly. Once Nora had shimmied through the bars, she twizzled and danced at Gabby’s feet with such excitement that she should be awarded a BAFTA. Dogs are such natural actors of course. Gabby scooped her up, cuddled and kissed her, and Nora looked back adoringly. It was beautiful and touching scene.
So – thank you Nora, and thank you PDWRA (you found her) you are a true action hero!
Do look out for the films being released on History Hit sometime in late January or early February.
Jayne reported back about their special day:
“What an adventure Arlo and Nora had!
We took the park and ride bus into Oxford – I wasn’t sure how they would get on with that, but they loved it! We were introduced to Drew from the film company who managed the days’ filming and the Pug’s co-stars Gabby and Matt at the Prison. The idea was to have a scene where a Pug visits Josephine (Napoleon’s wife) in Prison. Apparently she had a Pug who would visit with notes secreted on it.
They were keen to get the pug to slip through the prison bars – so that ruled Arlo out as he is a bit bigger.
However, Nora was perfect. She soon learnt that if she popped through she would get a treat, so she decided that she would do it whether it was asked of her or not! She is a little diva anyway so she was in her element!
They also filmed Arlo sitting in a chair and both Pugs running down a corridor. Everyone fell in love with them, and they were very pleased with how well behaved they were. What an adventure! I think it was a great experience for Arlo and Nora. They have come such a long way over the last 10 months.
I have attached some photographs capturing the details of that time, with the permission of History Hit, which I hope you enjoy!
Best wishes,
Jayne (proud Mum), Arlo & Nora”
Please also read more about Jayne’s fundraising at:
Fundraising & Events 2024 | The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association
by Yasmin | 15 Dec, 2024 | Blog, News, Rescue Stories
By Natalie.
As an owner of many a pug mug, key ring or phone case, it was no secret to family, friends and colleagues that I was mad about pugs and loved the breed and their fantastic characters. So when my colleague explained that her friend was fostering a pug from PDWRA that needed a home, I was immediately interested! I saw a video of Chubbs, a 2 year old pug, slightly overweight and with a few health issues and it was love at first sight!
We arranged to meet Chubbs in his foster home. His friendly demeanour was obvious to see straight away. He was so well socialised with the other dogs and his foster family. He was extremely keen to introduce us to his toys ‘Froggy’ and ‘Bear’ that he had brought with him from his previous home.
We asked lots of questions to find out as much as we could about Chubbs to fully understand what he required and make sure we were best suited to him and him to us! Chubbs suffers with epilepsy managed by medication and this was also explained to us in detail.
The team at PDWRA and his foster home gave us space and time to make our minds up (which included some gentle persuasion of my partner!) after which we decided to go ahead!
The process included a home visit by a PDWRA volunteer to confirm our home was suitable and the completion of some paperwork and within two weeks Chubbs came home to his forever home!!
We were offered lots of support by the charity and we knew that Chubbs would need time to settle into his new home and way of life.
Fortunately Chubbs settled quickly into life with us. He loves walks, cuddles on the sofa and socialising with other dogs and adults and with a strict diet, he wasn’t so Chubbsy anymore!
Whilst Chubbs was the first addition to our family, when our two children came along Chubbs embraced them and six years later the kids love playing with him, taking him for walks and indulging him in his favourite activity after eating….cuddles on the sofa.
Chubbs has had his fair share of health issues over the years but he has always loved a trip to the vet-we joke that he thinks of the vets as his own spa retreat! He is very popular with all the staff due to his loveable ways and fantastic temperament.
I have always continued to follow the work of the charity and I would say to anyone looking to add a pug to their life to consider PDWRA. I wouldn’t think twice about rehoming another pug from the PDWRA and would love to in the future.
As with rescuing any animal, I would say do your research, ask questions and make sure you are in a position to meet the pugs needs before saying yes. I would definitely advise investing in some comprehensive pet insurance and a decent vacuum for all the extra pet hair!!
In our case it has been a wholly positive experience. Chubbs has changed our lives for the better and we couldn’t imagine our lives without him in it!
For more stories like Chubbs’s please see our rescue stories at:
https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/category/rescue-stories/
by Yasmin | 11 Dec, 2024 | Blog, News, Pug Health
It’s that time of year again where there are plenty of temptations which are potentially hazardous to our furry friends, particularly celebratory foods and treats that are being brought into the home.
As well as the festive greenery that may make your dog very ill, tempting foods which we may think are a treat for them can actually cause a great deal of harm, including hidden ingredients such as seasoning & spices.
Vets will treat 75% more cases of dogs eating foods that are poisonous to them in December, so it’s important to be aware of what to avoid and ensure others including visitors know about them too:
FOOD
– Christmas cake, mince pies and Christmas pudding.
– Foods containing grapes, raisins, sultanas & currants.
– Chocolate, boxes lying around, tempting foil coins on the tree.
– Traditional turkey, goose & chicken where cooked bones can easily splinter.
– Sage and onion stuffing, gravy, anything with onion, chives, garlic, celery.
– Do check for hidden seasoning ingredients in sausages, a particular Christmas treat from a roast dinner.
– Other foods, such as certain nuts, blue cheese, fatty and salty processed foods.
– Xylitol sometimes marketed as birch sugar, used in artificial sweeteners and sweeteners of products such as peanut butter, is toxic to dogs.
– All alcohol.
OTHER
– Particular festive greenery and plants may make your dog very For a comprehensive list that are dangerous to dogs, see this: poisons in your garden article.
– Oils from pine needles may be irritating to the mouth and stomach, causing excessive dribbling, vomiting and diarrhoea if chewed. Needles are also sharp so could cause physical injury in your dog’s mouth and throat.
– Potpourri is made up of various dried plants and flowers to create fragrant decorations. Depending on their toxicity they may cause, at the very least, vomiting and diarrhoea.
– Take care when using antifreeze (ethylene glycol). It tastes sweet so is tempting for dogs but can be lethal if ingested.
– Watch for dogs drinking out of puddles too as they may be tainted with antifreeze chemicals.
– Some snow globes contain anti-freeze and if broken, are a serious danger to your dogs.
– Salted roads & paths can also burn their paw pads.
Frostbite:
Ice and snow can build up in the fur between their pads which is not only uncomfortable but increases the risk of frostbite. If your dog raises its paws, stops walking or whines it could be a sign that their paws are too cold.
When cold, a dog’s body limits blood flow to their extremities (paws, tail, ears etc.) diverting to keep their vital organs protected. This puts their extremities at risk of being damaged by the cold. If you’re concerned about them having frostbite contact your vet immediately.
So, on very cold, icy or snowy days, try to keep the time they spend outside to a minimum, and consider using a coat or paw protectors to keep them warm.
If you do buy a coat make sure it fits well so that it doesn’t restrict their normal movement, either through being too tight or too loose. If you’re outside in the cold and your pet starts shivering, or appears very tired, then get them home as soon as possible. If they are very unwell, get worse or continue to be unwell, contact your vet immediately.
However, some smaller or short coated dogs feel cold in the winter nip, so it may be a good idea to buy a well-fitting coat that will help keep them warm and dry on walks.
The dark mornings and evenings mean that you’ll most likely be taking your dog out for a walk when it is dark or gloomy, and you should think about how visible your dog is to other people when out walking in low light. Reflective collars and jackets are a good idea, and there are even some bright LED collars and tags available to help make your dog easier to see by other walkers and road users.
Christmas can be stressful for pets. The change in routine, visitors, children, loud music and decorations can all confuse or over-excite them. Planning ahead can help minimise stress for pets and ensure they have a happy Christmas, too.
A few things to consider include:
- Sticking to their routine as much as possible – their meals, exercise, bed and toilet break routines. Consistency helps them feel more secure plus they expect it!.
- Introduce new people carefully, at your dog’s own pace.
- Give them somewhere cosy and quiet to retreat to, away from all the excitement, leaving toys or familiar items to help keep them comforted.
- Don’t leave them alone too long – it’s easy to become distracted at such a busy time.
Likewise, if you’re spending Christmas away with your dog/s take something that smells familiar, like their bed, or favourite toys and chews to help keep them entertained and feel secure. Also, plan for them if they’re not going with you.
- Keep the number of an emergency vet on hand in case of accidents or if your pet eats something they shouldn’t.
- If your pet is on medication, stock up before the holidays so you don’t get caught out.
Most of all, have a very safe, comfortable and very Happy Christmas for All the family!
For a lot more information about pug health, please see:
Seasonal Hazards for Pugs | The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association (pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk)
&
Pug Health & Wellbeing | The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association (pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk)
by Yasmin | 9 Dec, 2024 | Blog, News, Rescue Stories
Many of the pugs rescued by the PDWRA come to us from quite dire situations, and this was certainly the case with Buzz and Woody. Adopted by Nikki around 2 years ago, it was one of those traumatic surrenders where they were never taken out and lived a completely miserable life.
Nikki told us in a quick update on Buzz and Woody;
“As you know Woody settled in being the youngest quite easily and minus the behaviour issues has been comfortable around us. Buzz however, being the oldest and probably been through a lot more of a tough start as he was used as a stud dog, hasn’t been so trusting.
It’s been a long couple years of work but these last couple of weeks we have noticed Buzz settling and being a lot more playful and joining in with the puppies and other dogs in the home including wanting a fuss and cuddle. Before, he used to run to his bed or the corner of the room and hide when you tried to stroke him or raised a hand. Yesterday he let me groom him without any issues and actually seemed to really enjoy the attention.
Buzz has been coming up on the sofa and napping on me and is very quick at coming over when called to get a fuss and treat. It’s been so rewarding to see this massive change in him, one that I didn’t think we would ever see and just came to accept he’d always be scared and jumpy.
He loves kids and when my son’s mates come over, rather then hiding as he once did, he’s more intrigued and excited at who it could be.
Walks are still a little difficult when he’s on a lead and the same for Woody. Neither of them are any good on the lead as they just go in circles and tangle you up, which means now as they do stay close and have good recall it’s easier to keep them off the lead to walk the countryside lakes.
I guess healing has no time limit and hopefully Buzz comes more and more out of his shell to become the dog he should have been at the start 🙏❤️🤞”
We can’t thank people like Nikki enough for what they do for pugs like Woody especially, & Buzz, but it’s a win-win situation all round!
To read a variety of rescue & adoption stories, please go to our webpage:
https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/category/rescue-stories/
If you would like to know more about adopting through PDWRA, please read our webpage:
https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/adopting-a-pug/
by Yasmin | 8 Dec, 2024 | Blog, News, Rescue Stories
Victoria on Howie.
I have always loved dogs and have owned various breeds my whole life but my love affair with pugs started in December 2016 when an elderly neighbour had to go into hospital and needed someone to look after her little black pug. Pugsley came to stay for Christmas, and it was love at first sight. I could not get over her quirky habits and how friendly and cuddly she was. When the time came for her to go back to her owner, I just couldn’t stop thinking about what great little dogs pugs are, and over the course of the next six months I did lots of research into the breed and came across PDWRA.
I was contacted by the VAC for my area almost immediately after submitting my application form and within a few weeks a home check had been completed and I was an approved adopter. It was then a case of waiting for the right dog to come along. In late October 2017, I got the call I had been waiting for. A bonded pair needed re-homing and I jumped at the chance. Howie (fawn) aged five and Moog (black) aged 11 arrived on 9 November 2017 via a volunteer road train travelling across the country with the final stop being Reading services on the M4 where I was ready and waiting for them. The rest as they say is history!
I used to work in a rehoming kennel so I would always choose to adopt rather than buy a puppy and after nine months of reading and preparing, I took the plunge and completed the online form to adopt from PDWRA. I am of the opinion why only rescue one if you can have two so stated on my form that I was happy to take a bonded pair. I can still remember now how excited I was when I clicked the submit button.
Howie is the most loving dog I have ever met. Never before have I known a dog that likes cuddles so much. He has classic pug traits – barking at animals on the tv being one as well as barking at other dogs when we are out and about but despite being a bit highly strung, he is my soul mate in dog form.
Howie originally arrived with his first wife Moog who he had been with his whole life. When she passed away, we thought it only right that we look to PDWRA to help us find him a new girlfriend. In March 2019, we agreed to foster Minnie and see how she got on with Howie. Needless to say, we became failed fosterers and it was a love match (well more so on his side, she took some time to come around to his adoring ear washing and constant stalking). They became the best of friends and spent five very happy years together before we very sadly and suddenly lost her in late October this year. We are all missing her very much.
Howie was five when I got him and he is now 12 years old and a double widower, but he is still young at heart, enjoying his walks and chillaxing on all the cushions on the sofa – oh boy does he really love a cushion! He can’t hear very well, and his eyesight isn’t what is used to be, but he is still enjoying life as my numero uno.
The adoption process was really easy to navigate from completing the form online and paying the registration fee to the home check followed by the payment of the adoption fee and then the exciting part, the collection of the pugs. The VACs and volunteers are always so helpful and knowledgeable and the majority of the people that helped me adopt Howie are still actively involved with the charity even now, many years later.
I think anyone considering adopting or fostering a pug should be aware, if they are not already, that they are not your average dog. In fact, I am not sure that we can call them dogs as they are like no other. One big thing to be aware of is that when people say that they are a companion breed multiply this concept by at least three and that is how much attention a pug needs alongside most of them having zero concept of personal space!
They snore like nothing you have ever heard before and my goodness me do they shed their fur (well the fawn ones do due to being double coated, the blacks less so). However, they are small dogs with the biggest personality and so much love to give. I have been both an adopter and a fosterer (albeit it failed) as well as having a stint as a VAC and it is the most rewarding thing to see a little dog come into their own upon being taken in by PDWRA. Pugs are not without their health conditions, and it is important to note that many have issues that will require long term medical care, but my experience is that the charity are brilliant at providing advice and guidance on this and ensuring that any health conditions are identified early on.
My partner Tom and I cannot thank PDWRA enough for bringing Howie (and our other beautiful black girls) into our lives. Howie is literally our first-born child, and he is the best big brother to our two year old human child (I am pretty sure that I probably have more photos of him than I do of my daughter!). We wouldn’t change him for the world and sincerely hope we have a good few more happy years together.
If you would like to foster or adopt, please go to our webpages:
https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/fostering-a-pug/
https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/adopting-a-pug/
