by Yasmin | 6 Jun, 2024 | Blog, News, Rescue Stories, Volunteering, Fundraising
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Volunteers’ Week, where the first week of June, each year, is a period for celebrating the invaluable contribution volunteers make to their causes, and society, every single day!
The PDWRA could not do what they do for Pugs in Need, without OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS.
Enormous THANKS goes out to each and every one!
Our Volunteer contributors include:
Regional Volunteer Area Coordinators, who manage the whole rehoming process for each surrendered pug, from counselling those giving them up to ensuring they are thriving wherever they’re placed.
In-house Vets, providing highly experienced, breed-expert, supervision of the healthcare needs for pugs in our care.
Fosterers, who provide immediate, caring homes for each surrendered pug during their transition or rehabilitation.
Approved & trained Home-checkers who visit & assess all potential homes for our precious pugs.
Approved Transporters country-wide, provide the generous & trusted network for our pugs to reach their new homes, safely.
All year round, PDWRA’s Facebook Mega-Auction group raises thousands of ££s to help with pug vet bills. Managed by a trio of dedicated volunteers, presenting an amazing array of unique, donated, auction lots or special raffles prizes, to be won. All safely wrapped & dispatched to you!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/242845766241493/
Across the country, Local Fundraisers, through crafts & hobbies or small businesses or events, raise awareness of our charity & provide essential donations for PDWRA.
PDWRA’s small Comms team manages its website & social media daily, emailing regular newsletters to engage with supporters, ensuring they are kept informed about the charity’s work, requirements & achievements. All of our appeals for pug homes have reached new applicants so that ALL of those pugs in need, have found their forever homes.
Every single person that kindly & generously volunteers their time, at Events or behind the scenes, whether it’s administering microchips or paying vet bills, is invaluable in helping our cause: PUGS, that need our help for safe, stable & healthy futures.
Without ALL of YOU we could not do what we do!
If you would like to volunteer, please look at these webpages:
Locally: https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/volunteering-for-pdwra/
or
Centrally: https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/volunteer-opportunities-at-pdwra/
by Yasmin | 4 Jun, 2024 | Blog, Rescue Stories
Written by PDWRA VAC, Jackie.
How heartbreaking a decision it is, to let go of your pug, and then face the difficult task of finding a good home where it can be loved and cared for. PDWRA Volunteers understand how difficult and traumatic an experience it can be, which is why we help surrenderers through it compassionately and without judgement, to minimise the impact of that painful parting. Reassuring them also, that they will go to the best home possible from our vetted waiting list.
We can provide initial feedback on how their pug is progressing in the first few days and assure them they’re in trusted hands, thereafter our focus is fully geared towards the pug’s needs, and forever placement, or any rehabilitation requirements if needed.
When a surrender call is received we take as much information as possible about the pug; whether they’re compatible with children, cats, other dogs, what their diet is, their sleeping arrangements and walk routine. Whether there are any medical or behavioural issues which need to be addressed. All this information is collated to form a picture of the pug so that we may find exactly the right foster placement.
The foster period varies depending upon the pugs needs – some may be ready to move on to their forever home within following a satisfactory Vet Health Check and Fosterer’s Assessment. Others with more complex issues will remain in foster care for longer until they’re pronounced ready to move on to a waiting home. A relatively small proportion will remain in Long-Term foster care, for their lifetime due to ongoing, multiple medical needs which the charity will support.
Foster pugs are treated as part of the family and participate fully in family life, taking into account any special needs they may have. A trip to the beach – the foster pug goes too. Movie night with the children – the foster pug has a front row seat. Just chilling out with the family – definitely. Chicken Nuggets on the menu – no chance!
This is one of our fosters on his way to a tennis lesson with the daughter of the house – Anyone for tennis ?
Hoping you enjoyed these few photos which illustrate well how surrendered pugs are taken great care of!
By Jackie.
Anyone that wishes to discuss the surrendering of their pug, in confidence, please contact the Volunteer Are Coordinator for your area at:
https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/surrendering-your-pug/
If you would like to foster, short or long-term please read more & apply at:
https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/fostering-a-pug/
by Yasmin | 2 Jun, 2024 | Blog, News, Rescue Stories
You may remember the special appeal for Luna, the young pug looking for her forever home with no other dogs.
Well, she found one with Faye, and didn’t have to wait too long!
As soon as Faye saw our post, she applied. She has adopted from us before, is an experienced dog owner and was looking for a challenge!
This little lady has been as good as gold (well mostly), and loves being the centre of attention as we knew she would.
Special thanks go to her foster carer Tina, for taking such good care of Luna whilst in foster and preparing her for her forever home.
Luna has been renamed Sandra by Faye, and she says this about her:
” Our beautiful Sandra has been a part of our family for 2 months now & has settled right in. We utterly adore her. She’s our perfect pug princess, pocket rocket!
She is doing really well, still a bit reactive on walks but nothing we can’t handle. She has settled right in & very much ‘rules the roost’ even barking at my eldest son in the morning until he gets out of bed & gives her cuddles.
She spends a lot more time with my Mum who sadly lost her dog and asked if Sandra could be her therapy pet, a role Sandra takes very seriously! ”
Young Luna needs a No-Dog Forever Home!
by Yasmin | 30 May, 2024 | Blog, News, Rescue Stories
Bruno and Pixie are 7 year-old siblings, and we’re still looking for the right home for them.
Changes at home affecting working hours made it difficult for them to be looked after as well as they had been used to.
Both are neutered and are fully housetrained.
Brother Bruno (fawn) is the more reticent of the pair, and can take a while to trust new people. He’s a sensitive (responsible) soul, who enjoys attention once he’s used to you.
He responds well to exercise, enjoying longer walks than his sister and gets very excited when allowed to run around on the beach or in the woods.
Bruno is particularly loving and also protective of Pixie.
Pixie (black) is a very tiny bundle of joy. No amount of fuss and attention is too much for her, and she gives little regard to personal space!
Pixie’s also a little less interested than Bruno in walks and exercise!
Rehoming requirements:
As bonded siblings, we’re naturally looking for their forever home together.
They have good tolerance for other dogs, and would probably prefer a home where they are the only dogs, although they should be ok to live with the right resident dog, a relaxed, sociable one.
They are compatible with cats and would suit a home with children of eight years and over.
The pair are used to sleeping together in a dog bed downstairs.
If you feel you have the right home for this pair, please reference ‘Bruno 24071 and Pixie 24072’ on your adoption application form.
Please apply at: https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/adopting-a-pug/
Thank you!
by Yasmin | 27 May, 2024 | Blog, Rescue Stories
After losing her first pug a year and a half ago due to spinal issues, Lisa’s heart was broken.
A few months passed, and Lisa decided it was time for a new pug to enter her life. After doing some research Lisa discovered the PDWRA, not long after she saw ‘Reggie’s appeal and reached out to our volunteer Area-Coordinator, looking after his case, expressing her interest in adopting Reggie. Lisa’s application was a success and almost a year later it’s like Reggie, who is now 8, has been there since he was a puppy!
When Reggie first arrived, he didn’t even know how to play properly and would tear toys apart. He was cautious around other dogs, likely because he was attacked by a bigger dog in his previous home.
Reggie was also not used to being on furniture, having been kept in a cage overnight. So, with the help of Lisa’s love and patience, Reggie gradually learned to trust and enjoy his new life.
Now, Reggie is a gentle, happy soul who loves getting on the bed and sofa. He’s also become a local celebrity at Cafe Nero and around town. Lisa has done wonders to help Reggie feel safe, especially around other dogs, using treats from his daily food allowance, to reinforce positive behaviour in him.
Lisa feels incredibly supported by the charity and loves the sense of community among adopters and fosters. She says their lives have been so much nicer with Reggie in the house and wouldn’t change a thing. Lisa is grateful for the group and would definitely adopt another pug from the charity in the future.
Here’s to another celebration of “Happily Ever After!” with Lisa and Reggie finding each other in this way.
If you too would like to adopt a pug, please find out how to, at: https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/adopting-a-pug/
You can read other pug rescue stories here: https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/category/rescue-stories/
