by Yasmin | 16 Dec, 2025 | Blog, Fundraising
The Cornwall Pug Meet is an annual event put on by Natalie, who owns the café at Poldhu Beach along with her husband Ross and pug Betty.
Natalie makes her own home-made dog treats and sells them to raise money for the charity! The Cornwall Pug Meet has been going for over 10 years now and is attended by many PDWRA pugs, so if you live in Cornwall why not go along?
We’d like to send a huge thanks to Natalie & Ross, you’re both absolute stars!
Find out more about the Poldhu Beach café here.
You can follow Natalie & Betty on Instagram here.
by Yasmin | 16 Dec, 2025 | Blog, Rescue Stories
We first heard about the PDWRA years ago, when we met someone out and about with a pug (you know how us pug folk are, dropping to our knees to shriek over someone else’s pug like we have never seen one, despite having at least one of our own!!) and they told us she was a foster, for the charity. We also attended fundraising events locally and kept meeting these wonderful people who had opened up their homes and hearts to foster pugs in need, and decided when our circumstances allowed, we would like to do the same. We had a 10st Dogue de Bordeaux (as well as two pugs and a British bulldog!) that we occasionally showed, hence he was entire, so we were not able to apply to foster… when we lost him, our hearts had an enormous hole but the silver lining was that we could contact PDWRA to apply to foster.
Three foster pugs later, in February 2025 we lost our last remaining (very elderly) pug Finn, and the PDWRA contacted us to ask if we could help a little boy called JJ, whose mum was too poorly to take care of him. Of course we agreed and went to collect him the following day. As was becoming standard practice I cried all over him in the car on the way home and my heart broke for his mum, having to make such a difficult decision. He was quite an anxious boy, missing most of the hair on his chest and sides, but he settled in straight away and quickly became friends with our little hairless cat Obi, despite never having lived with a cat before! We soon realised this boy LOVED going for walks and was the most active, agile, fit pug we’ve ever known!
After having older dogs for the last few years and not really walking far, we were suddenly getting out into the fields and walking for miles, every day, discovering new routes locally and making new friends, including another pug in the village, Yoyo, who is now his bestie! JJ’s fur grew back over the first few weeks, so we think he was really benefitting from a routine and getting out in the fresh air. After a couple of weeks our volunteer co-ordinator called for a chat and asked if we were ready to complete an assessment form to help him find his new home… I think we knew the answer before she even called and so asked for the adoption form instead!! We just couldn’t imagine life without this little guy in it!
Personality wise, JJ is lots of fun – he can still be quite anxious, barking at other dogs/people, although he is a sweetheart with dogs and people, he just needs to tell them off first! He has made lots of friends since he arrived and has a few little girlfriends (Rocket, Mia, Ziggy, Molli, Martha, Winnie and Minnie… don’t tell Yoyo!!) and a huge pal, a Leonberger called Steiff!
He goes for his morning walk at 7.15am every day, usually around 3 miles, and enjoys running in the fields, and rolling in anything gross if he gets the chance!
Unfortunately we lost Obi the cat a couple of months after we adopted JJ, but in a similar fashion the Sphynx Cat Association asked us to foster two girls (an urgent short term foster placement….you can guess how that turned out!) so he now has two sisters, Angelica and Eliza, and he has been an absolute star, behaving impeccably around them, couldn’t have been more proud of him! He has a fantastic relationship with Eliza in particular – they play chase, sit together, and if the doorbell rings, the pair of them fly through the house together to the door, and when he gets in his bed Eliza will curl up in there with him – adorable! Considering he had never really mixed with cats, he’s a superstar!
The adoption process was smooth sailing – a quick form and showing the PDWRA we had insurance in place for him should anything happen. The support we have received from PDWRA throughout our fostering and adopting journey has been second to none – everyone we have dealt with has been a salt of the earth, caring, wonderful soul. We’ve loved being fosterers and it was bound to lead to adoption at some point… I doubt this is the end either, haha!
Our friends who own Yoyo have also been inspired by our experiences and have also just been approved to foster for PDWRA too! I told them I’ll have the tissues ready – whether these things turn out happy or sad, tissues are always required, that’s my advice for anyone thinking of fostering or adopting!! It is heartbreaking to hear a story of how a pug became in need of the PDWRA, to see the condition some of the pugs are in, and unfortunately we’ve even had an experience where a foster didn’t make it and that one in particular affected us deeply – but the good far outshines the bad, and being part of their journey is absolutely worth any heartache on our part, in my opinion.
I’m so grateful for JJ and that we can give him the best life possible – he has improved and enriched our lives, getting us out walking, meeting new neighbours – everyone he meets falls for him, he deserves the world!!
by Yasmin | 16 Dec, 2025 | Blog, Rescue Stories
After adopting Maverick, Elsie, and Frank, we had a pretty full household… but then we offered to foster for the 2024 Christmas period. “What about puppies?” Lisa, our area manager, texted. I think I nearly passed out. I had wanted a pug puppy since my teens, but I have focused on rescuing, and they rarely need homes that young. Lisa sent through pictures of three adorable fawn pups, and I chose Dora immediately. She was tiny and looked like my very first pug, Dolly.
We ended up taking all three puppies at first, with Doreen and Douglas going to a friend and fosterer locally. Dora stayed behind, much to the horror of our other three! She had some worrying traits, including spinning and a domed head, so we popped her to the vet to check her over. Thankfully, she was mostly healthy, although the vet does think she may have suffered some trauma, and we must be vigilant for any signs of hydrocephalus.
I think we’d had her around five hours when I realised I was never going to rehome her… my husband took a little longer, but it was him who went out and bought her a ‘my first bowl’ and bunny-eared hoodie on day three! Dora has a very strong ability to make you love her almost immediately.
Having a puppy has been one of the biggest challenges. Dora is healthy and happy, but she has taken longer to reach milestones, has remained very small (5kg) and is very sensitive to changes in her environment. She doesn’t like particular surfaces, but we’ve taught her to request ‘uppies’ in these situations. She has a pouch she likes to sit in, so we can carry her around when she needs some time out.
When she turned one, we threw a birthday party in our local park, and more people came to that than to any of our human celebrations. She has so many lovely friends, and she got spoiled rotten, as she should be.
Dora is unique. She seems very quiet but is capable of chaos. She’s very cheeky, but I will admit we let her get away with a lot because she had a rough start, and she’s just very cute! You say no to her side eye, I dare you! Our other three have gotten used to her antics. Maverick is by far her favourite, and he lets her chew on his ears. Elsie loves that Dora is brave enough to play tug with her (a brutal occurrence) and Frank likes it when she rolls around on the big bed with him and messes up all the pillows.
We couldn’t be more grateful to the PDWRA for letting us ‘foster fail’. Our family is complete (no, really this time), and Dora is a literal life-changing pug. We can’t wait to see how she grows up.
Link to the previous story – ‘Carolyn & the Hairy Heslops’
by Yasmin | 16 Dec, 2025 | Blog, Rescue Stories
How did you first hear about the PDWRA?
We have always been people to provide a home to rescue dogs and after falling in love with our first pug we came across the charity.
How did you come to make the decision to adopt through the PDWRA?
We contacted a couple pug charities but found the PDWRA to be the most welcoming and friendly team to go forward with.
When did you adopt Padme?
We adopted Padme nearly 2 years ago when she came to us as a foster. We were looking for a bubbly, fun, active pug and that’s what we got!
What made you decide to adopt?
It’s very important to us to give a dog a home that needs one, not to breed more animals when others need homes. The pug breed is one we have fallen in love with due to their kind and loving personalities. We originally were given our first pug due to his previous owner becoming too ill to care for him and he has been the apple of our eye.
Can you tell us a little bit about Padme?
She is a bubbly, bossy, lively, loving little bundle of energy who keeps us on our toes! She loves beach walks and we spend the summer with her and her brother Pasco at our holiday home, where she can run free every day! She loves her dog friends and is extremely sociable, her favourite game is to play tug of war with other dogs.
How did you find the adoption process?
The process was great and our adoption contact, Jane, was very helpful and supported us through the whole process. Padme needed a small operation on her eyes to sort out a congenital abnormality, but the PDWRA were so helpful and supportive on providing her with this care she needed and she’s now in perfect shape! Padme instantly bonded with her new brother Pasco
Anything you think prospective adoptive or foster parents should know?
With any dog it takes time for a dog to settle in, but the charity did a great job with matching us with the dog we were searching for, it definitely helps to be paired with a dog that suits who you are as a family.
What has life been like since adopting Padme?
Padme has enriched our life in so many ways and has been a great companion! She is very sociable and loves to go out walking long distances, which has been amazing. She’s also given a new lease of life to our older pug Pasco, who has found new energy to keep up with her!
She recently walked down the aisle at our wedding, in September 2025, as the flower pug and looked perfect in her tiny bridesmaid dress. She was very well behaved and was accompanied by her brother pug Pasco in his custom suit 🥰
We’ve now just bought a new house and can’t wait to see them run round their huge new garden and have a wonderful life in the countryside, all together!
by Yasmin | 19 Nov, 2025 | Blog, Pug Health
Temperatures are dropping and after unusually warm temperatures for November, snow is scattering around the country!
So, here are our regular tips and advice to help your pug brave the cold, safely, to remain happy during the wet & cold months, ensuring it remains a fun and enjoyable time with your best friend!
– Beware of salt on roads & paths which can burn their paw pads.
Check once home and rinse them if necessary.
– Ice and snow can stick to the fur between pads and build up. This will be uncomfortable for your pug and increases their risk of frostbite.
If they raise their paws, stop walking or whine it could be a sign that their paws are too cold.
– Also, beware of thin ice & frozen puddles.
– Take care when using antifreeze. 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 from spills or leaks.
– When cold, a dog’s body will limit blood flow to their extremities (paws, tail, ears etc.), in order to keep their vital organs functioning safely.
This can put their extremities at risk of being damaged by the cold.
– It’s a good idea to get a warm coat for them, essential when it’s very cold but still safe to go outdoors. See temperature chart below.
Ensure it fits well & is flexible so that it doesn’t prevent them moving normally, either by being too tight or too loose.
– If your dog starts shivering, or appears very tired (lethargic), then get them home as soon as possible.
If they continue to seem unwell, contact your vet immediately.
Here are some Body-care tips:
– Additional to well-fitting warm outerwear, use paw protection if needed, this could be in the form of dog dry skin creams/ balms, or doggy booties.
– Inspect pug paws regularly to check for cracked pads, broken nails or snow/salt damage.
– Brush your pug’s coat regularly to distribute natural oils to the skin and prevent dry patches.
– If it’s windy, don’t forget to protect their eyes, by extra lubrication gels and especially if on a beach, where wind & sand can scratch them causing lasting damage without urgent treatment.
Please check this very useful guide to see if it’s wise to take your pugs out! :
If your pug shows signs of hypothermia, which includes, shivering, drowsiness, confusion, clumsiness, pale gums and loss of consciousness or collapse, get your pet immediately out of the cold & contact your vet straight away.
Dry & warm them up gently, never intensely & too quickly as this can be dangerous.
For further information, please see:
Hypothermia in Pets – PDSA
Also,
Keep your dog safe during winter | The Kennel Club
Have fun while staying safe!
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And for our Seasonal Hazard webpage, please go to:
Seasonal Hazards for Pugs | The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association (pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk)
