It’s real! – The 15th October every year is dedicated to celebrate the Pug, originally conceived in the USA in 2012, was created to help pugs in need by encouraging people to take them out of shelters and into loving homes.
This is exactly what PDWRA does, throughout the UK.
So, on this day of celebrating this most wonderful and adorable breed, apart from spoiling them in your usual way, you can help us do what we do, in a variety of ways. Please see the website links, below in case you can offer to help in any of these:
Our Volunteer Area Coordinators (VACs) are at the forefront of the Charity’s operations, they are responsible for the rescuing and rehoming of pugs in need, in their specific area of the country. VAC Lisa looks after the East of England.
Q. What made you want to become a volunteer?
I’d long admired the incredible work of PDWRA & the dedication of the volunteers. I was really keen to get involved in some way but never took the leap, thinking I was too inexperienced & didn’t have enough knowledge. Fate took matters into its own hands however when I adopted my beautiful second pug, Lily, back in 2018. Clare, the VAC for East Anglia at the time, was there when I collected Lily and for some reason she asked me if I’d consider coordinating home-checks for the region & I jumped at the chance to join the team.
From there I was given the opportunity to lead one county, then two and with other VAC’s moving on to do different things I’ve now been the sole VAC for East Anglia, (covering 6 counties) for the past 3 years.
Yes, some days can be a real challenge ( a triple surrender, double surrender and single surrender all on the same day was particularly memorable) but the rewards far outweigh the negatives and I honestly wouldn’t change what I do for the world. I see it as such a privilege to volunteer for PDWRA.
Q. Do you own dogs yourself?
Yes, I currently have 3 pugs, having become addicted to the breed in 2010.
Bailee is an 11-year old PDWRA dog. We adopted him at a year old, having previously been locked in a shed & half starved. He came to us with barely any fur, having been covered in mange & demodex when surrendered. I say “he” but officially Bailee’s an hermaphrodite which means he has both male & female reproductive organs. A rarity in a pug I believe, but on the plus side, he can be entered into both male & female classes at dog shows, something which I’m embarrassed to admit I have actually done! 🤣
Lily is my second PDWRA pug, a now 12-year old ex breeding machine who we adopted at the age of 6.
Tank completes the trio & is my miracle baby! Never expected to make it to old bones, he’s now reached the grand old age of 12! He still has good quality of life despite a catalogue of complaints including blindness, epilepsy, syringomyelia, patella luxation & carcinoma of the liver. Seeing all of those conditions listed like that makes me wonder why I ever doubted myself or my experience!
Q. Do you have any inspirational/ heart-warming stories?
Where do I start? It’s so hard to pick just one out of so many pugs and families I’ve been fortunate enough to help over the past 6 years.
Although, having said that, a beautiful dog called Maverick who came to us 3 years ago, desperately in need of BOAS surgery (the worst case I’ve ever seen), will always have a special place in my heart.
Maverick
Just one look at the pictures and videos I still receive from his lovely family brings a smile to my face and puts everything back into perspective when I’m having a bad day.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to draw attention to & say a huge thank you to my amazing team of volunteer home-checkers/ fosterers & transporters. They’re always ready to jump into action at a moment’s notice to help a pug in need & will travel miles, sometimes at very short notice and with little information about a case, to collect a pug from a surrenderer, or deliver them to their new forever home.
They really are an inspiration & make my role so much easier. We’ve fostered a real community spirit & I really couldn’t do what I do without them.
We first heard about PDWRA whilst on holiday in York! We happened to be walking through the centre and came across a lady with a beautiful little pug. We stopped to speak to her and learnt that her pug had come from PDWRA!
At the time, we already had Tia (our little fawn pug) who was only just over a year old and we’d often thought that it would be lovely to have another pug. We’d had two dogs in the past, one of which was a rescue, so we thought it would be lovely to give a rescue pug a loving home.
Our minds made-up, we proceeded to contact PDWRA. The decision to go with PDWRA was an easy one for us. We liked the way they carefully planned everything from start to finish. From our initial conversation with PDWRA’s Cara, through to the home assessment and, ultimately, our conversation with other volunteers managing pug, Cody, to tell us about him, we were interested to learn more, so travelled with Tia, to meet him.
Cody is on the larger-size for a pug whereas Tia is small. I remember wondering if Cody and Tia would “hit it off” so to speak, or whether Tia would feel intimidated by him. Well, our concerns were soon allayed – Cody is the most resilient, friendly and laid-back pug we’ve ever come across!
After the initial introduction to his new home and fur sister, Cody and Tia were soon playing together. Despite his size (and weight) it wasn’t long before the two of them were chasing one another around the house, in and out of the garden and generally having fun. We were amazed to see that it was often Tia who instigated the play and, despite her small size, appeared to have the “upper paw”, with Cody often rolling onto his back for Tia to play with him. We live close to a beach and next to open countryside, so they have plenty of opportunities to go to different places and run wild.
Cody has good recall which really helps when both dogs are off the lead as wherever Cody goes, Tia follows! Cody is great out on a walk and is friendly to other dogs and humans – greeting them with a waggy tail. He’s made lots of doggie friends around where we live. He and Tia come along to the garden centres, pubs and cafes with us, and enjoy the fuss they receive by other dog-lovers – particularly those with treats!
Our friends have a pug called Daisy (who is Tia’s sister) and a pug-cross called Minnie. We were slightly nervous of introducing Cody to their two girlies. However, we couldn’t have been more delighted to see the two girls greet Cody with much excitement and little squeaks. The 4 of them really get along and love running around playing together. It’s really funny to see Cody trotting around our friend’s house with his “girlie” followers trotting along in a line behind him!
Cody is an independent soul, and it took him a little while to come up for cuddles. However, the more we made a fuss of him, the more he realised that having cuddles with his new humans is actually quite nice. Now, whenever he sees an opportunity to spring up beside us on the sofa or onto our laps, he is there. He is a “mummy’s boy” in particular, spending most evenings snuggled up to Mom.
We consider ourselves to be extremely lucky and privileged to have adopted Cody. He has fitted straight into our family and our lives. He is a gentle boy who just wants to have fun and be loved. We have noticed a change in Tia too – for the better. She has become more confident around him and other dogs and even waits for him on our walks if he happens to fall behind due to a distraction such as an interesting “sniff”.
Our advice to anyone thinking of adopting or fostering a pug, is to give it time and don’t be afraid to reach out to others in the PDWRA group. Every pug is different, and their needs are varied.
We read a lot of stories on the PDWRA’s website about the condition and state of some of the poor pugs that are handed in. Cody came from a home where he could no longer be looked after. However, many pugs have had to deal with other issues in their past. If there is one thing we would say is a huge advantage with this charity is that you are not alone. There are others there to give you friendly advice and guidance. Chances are if you are experiencing some difficulties with your new adoptee or new foster, others have experienced the same and are only too pleased to be able to help.
I feel our little family is complete with Cody. He has made such a difference to our lives and that of Tia’s. He is loved to bits, and we couldn’t think of life without him.
We last reported that Shirley’s two surviving pups were reaching the stage of leaving their Mum and preparing to start their new life with their waiting adopters.
Both Elsa and Button have now joined their new families, as has Shirley who is enjoying the rural life and learning to be a dog again. Her puppy producing days are over, she has been spayed and is now a very welcome addition to her new family.
They stood patiently by, waiting for Shirley to cast off her mothering duties right from the first announcement that she was pregnant. The family were on holiday at the time and when the news was broken I daresay a glass or two of Ouzo was downed to aid recovery from the shock.
As the only dog in the household, Shirley is the centre of attention and enjoying every minute of it. Enjoying long strolls in the countryside and coming home to a welcoming warm bed.
ELSA:
Elsa was welcomed into her new grumble right from the start.
Her special friend and self appointed guardian is Pugsey, a PDWRA rescue, who had a troubled past but who has now found sanctuary.
He is the nearest in age to Elsa, maybe that is why they have created a special bond. He keeps an eye out for her and when she yelps, he runs over to see what the trouble is.
Like many children not wanting to put their coats on, it was a struggle to get Elsa to accept a harness, but a little bit of coaxing with some tasty treats solved that problem.-
Elsa has now been fully vaccinated and able to join the rest of the grumble on their walks. She obviously has an eye for design, as she has made a start on stripping the wallpaper!
BUTTON:
Button seemed to think his new grumble are there to be ambushed. His favourite game is to hide underneath the furniture and launch himself on an unwary passer by.
Billybob has taken him under his wing and Button is learning from an older and wiser pug.
Button’s adopter has things well in hand though, she is a dog trainer and he has started his training already.
One of the grumble has gone on to become a Pets as Therapy dog, so who knows, perhaps Button is destined to join him in the future.
It’s been an eventful journey for Shirley and her pups, travelling around the country, meeting PDWRA Volunteers at every step of the way, and adapting to their changing surroundings.
Now all three are safe and secure in their forever homes, their futures certain.
We would like to send belated Congratulations to Maria and Maurice on their recent wedding on a very special communal occasion!
Some of you may have seen or heard on the News, covered by the BBC, about the ‘100 Weddings in a Day’ celebration at Marylebone Old Town Hall in London, that took place on October 1st.
It took place throughout the whole day, from 8am to 10.30pm. Maria and Maurice were wedding no.99 and to make their ceremony complete they were joined by their 3 PDWRA rescue pugs, Twiggy, Harley & Jojo!
Maurice sent us this video from BBC News that shows them being interviewed as they were leaving after the ceremony. If you’d like to see Maria, Maurice and their pugs on the BBC, just click the link below to go to our Youtube page –
