Sam Harrington-Lowe – In Praise of Older Pugs…

by Yasmin | 15 Apr, 2025 | Blog, Rescue Stories

Sam Harrington-Lowe is Director, Founder and Managing Editor of Silver Magazine, an edgy, exciting magazine for the 50+ market where she examines what your Midlife Coming of Age is, why it’s so amazing, and how you can get there!

Last month, she published an article talking about how she has recently fostered a blind, deaf 15-year-old pug. She says that whilst this has made life a little more complicated it’s also been rather magical…

Sam says of Miss Bones, her new arrival that ‘Her owner died. Imagine being fostered out at 15 after a lifetime with one family. When she arrived she was frightened and in flight mode.

Very hard for a pug that can barely even see if it’s day or night. After a day or two crashing around trying to escape, the pheromone diffuser and industrial strength hemp oil kicked in and she settled, found her stride, started to trust us, and we formed some routines.’

‘She’s amazing. She’s mapped out the ground floor of the house, doing laps over and over, touching things with her nose to test the boundaries, and walks around it without hesitation now.

We have to be careful of not ambushing her by leaving things lying around where she’s not expecting them. Added bonus that daughter now has to be tidier, or Miss Bones goes a cropper…’

Read Sam’s full article here

You can find out more about Silver Magazine here

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For more adoption stories, that make an enormous difference to lives, see them here:
https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/category/rescue-stories/

Ruth’s Story of Adopting Ralph

by Yasmin | 15 Apr, 2025 | Blog, Rescue Stories

How did you first hear about the PDWRA?

My daughter Amy achieved her long held desire to own a pug in 2018. Now 30, and having wanted one since she was 10, she knew all about their little ‘quirks’ as a breed! We all fell in love instantly with little Boo and I found myself becoming more fascinated by pugs as a breed. I’d always had dogs growing up but never a pug. Amy mentioned one day she’d heard of a charity that rehomed pugs. I did a little research and came across the PDWRA online, signed up to everything I could and the rest, as they say is history!

How did you come to make the decision to adopt through the PDWRA? 

At the time we adopted Ralph, Pugs and Frenchie’s seemed to have soared in popularity. I couldn’t believe there was a charity literally dedicated to rehoming pugs. I’ve always used rescue centres and just feel that’s what I’d rather do to give a dog another chance at a happy life. The PDWRA seemed like an amazing charity and the perfect opportunity for us to welcome our own pug to the family.

When did you adopt your Ralph?

We adopted Ralph in January 2020. On a bitterly cold Saturday afternoon we drove almost 2 hours to a riding school in what seemed like deepest darkest Somerset. We’d been sent pictures of Ralph and fallen in love with him. Area Coordinator Jane McAllister was amazing at ensuring he was a good match, not just for us as a family but for Boo also, so I felt sure everything would be fine. We arrived and met Ralph’s foster family; they handed over what appeared to be an overly excitable bag of eels! I felt sure I was going to drop him; the energy and sheer liveliness did take me by surprise a little! We completed all the formalities and popped our new family member in the back of the car. He absolutely flaked out all the way home, bless him.

What made you decide to adopt?

We’d adopted previously through a little local charity. For me personally, I just feel it’s what I prefer to do. I do worry sometimes that in today’s materialistic society even dogs can become a status symbol or a fashion item, becoming very ‘sought after’ for a period sending prices from breeders soaring. Sadly, with breeds like pugs that have their little ‘quirks’, it’s all too easy to give them up when they become a bit of a challenge to care for.

Can you tell us a little bit about Ralph?

Ralph is an absolute character! He has two speeds, full on or asleep. I’d never heard the expression ‘Velcro Dog’, but Ralph is the dictionary definition! He’s just amazing, slightly crazy and we honestly can’t imagine life without him now. Boo is my daughter’s pug and although she isn’t with us all the time, it was obviously important to ensure any potential matches for us suited Boo. Boo is a black female and a year or so older than Ralph. From what I hear, she is a typical black female pug, earning her the nickname ‘Princess Boo’. She’s adorable but definitely has a slight attitude! She’s very much top dog and ensures Ralph knows this in the nicest way possible when she comes to visit.

How did you find the adoption process?

The adoption process was incredibly well managed, and Jane was amazing. We had a lengthy talk about the family, why we were looking at adopting a pug and what the relevant requirements would be, particularly as in a good match for Boo. Jane explained that with Boo’s character, we’d potentially be looking at a younger, more submissive male. Jane called me back sometime later and described Ralph. He sounded so cute. He’s a brindle and in trying to describe him, Jane said he had markings like a tiger or that he should be called Tigger. She sent a photo through and from that moment I just wanted to pick him up! His markings are beautiful and draw lots of comments as people are more used to seeing fawn or black pugs, while Ralph is a mixture.

Anything you think prospective adoptive or foster parents should know?

I would say to make sure you know the quirks of the breed. As mentioned, my daughter Amy wanted a pug for years. She’d educated herself incredibly well and made sure I knew about the breed as I’d be looking after Boo occasionally, I’d never heard of reverse sneezing! I’ve had dogs all my life, but pugs are definitely a breed apart and it’s good to ensure you know all the possible issues to take care of before you commit.

What has life been like since adopting Ralph?

We can’t imagine life without Ralph now. He’s become an amazing little companion for my teenager. Ralph came into our lives just as we were about to go into lockdown in 2020. This period was a cause of extreme anxiety for my child, then only 10yrs old. Ralphs cuddles, slightly mad personality and just his general presence definitely helped. It was incredible to see their bond from day one and Ralph is such a big part of this family now. Thank you so much to PDWRA and in particular, Jane McAllister.

Laura & Ethel

by Yasmin | 15 Apr, 2025 | Blog, Rescue Stories

Laura’s Story of Adopting Ethel

There are two 40^th Anniversaries this year, the 40^th Anniversary of EastEnders and the arrival of a very famous TV pug – Willie, belonging to Ethel Skinner and more importantly, the 40^th Anniversary of pugs entering my life, which was January 1985. I was a young teenager and my family got our first pug puppy, called Honey. I was the start of a 40-year pug adventure ending with the adoption of our very own Ethel! After a few years of having Honey in our lives, my Mum heard about PDWRA and she has adopted at least 4 pugs through PDWRA over the last 40 years, and that’s how I knew about pug adoption.

Due to work commitments and family life, a dog was not a viable option for our family for a number of years, but in 2018 my husband was made redundant and took a job with more flexible hours. We then thought about the prospect of getting a dog and I made the first move to contacting PDWRA. This was around September 2018 and it wasn’t too long until we were contacted for a home visit and the ball was rolling. My mum had warned it may be sometime before we heard anything but 2 or 3 weeks later a call came through from Paula Parke regarding a puppy pug that had become available. We weren’t too sure about a puppy, preferring a 2–3-year-old dog and Paula then mentioned a little pug called Ethel. “Tell me more” I said, and she did. 2 weeks later we were on our way to collect our very own little ‘Willie’! We can still remember the first time seeing her now, a tiny little thing bounding into the room after a tennis ball, which was as big as her head! From that moment on, we were smitten.  We drove home to where her 2 human sisters were patiently waiting and life changed forever, for the better. Ethel settled in reasonably quickly, we had originally said – “no sleeping in our bed”, but those big eyes and sad little face – 24 hours later she was on the bed in between us snoring away on her favourite soft blanket and she’s never looked back!

Ethel has had a few health issues, like all pugs she suffered with eye ulcers and after a particularly bad bout of them we spoke to the PDWRA who were excellent in referring us and helping with the costs, to an expert eye surgeon. Ethel had a cornea graft in the summer of 2021, it was a worrying time and after a few weeks of wearing the cone, numerous trips back and forth to the vet and LOTS of eye drops, the result was amazing and well worth having done.

Ethel was a tiny 5kg when we adopted her at the age of 2 and half, she has now been in her forever home with us for 6 years and due to her love of cheese, crisps, apple, chicken, roast beef, the list goes on, her weight has slowly crept up. She enjoys 2 or 3 walks a day, dry at an ambient temperature is always preferable! Ethel has also “enjoyed” a few trips away, she’s been to Devon, where she very much enjoyed trying to snack on sheep’s poop, and climbing up the various Tor’s. She’s also been to Rye and Camber Sands, where she’s really enjoyed a trot on the sand with some doggy friends of ours, but always looks at them like they are slightly mad when they go running off into the water – “wet paws, not for me” she says!  But as much as she’s enjoyed her trips away, you can tell Ethel’s absolute favourite place is in her own home, on the settee, next to either me or her Dad, squashed up next to one of us snoring away until a crisp packet rustles and you’ve never seen a pug move so fast!

Ethel is a lovely little pug, she is loving and attentive but at the same time can give you that moody side eye pug treatment when she feels like it! She’s 9 years old now, a senior, but still has quite youthful looks, even if tinged with some grey. She can still chase a squirrel or even an aeroplane in the back garden and jumping up at the TV when any non-human is on – not a problem! And even though crisps HAVE to be shared and nature programmes are a no-no, we wouldn’t have it any other way! Here’s to another 40 years of PDWRA and pug love.