by Yasmin | 8 Jan, 2026 | Blog, News, Pug Health
So the New Year has begun with snow in parts of the UK, now Storm Goretti is on its way, with high winds & heavier snow causing Amber Alerts in many areas across the country.
Here’s a reminder of some precautions you can take to keep it safe & enjoyable for our pugs. Many of us will simply keep them indoors until the worst of it passes.
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– 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. Not just uncomfortable for your pug, it 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.
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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.
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Here’s a very good guide specific to temperatures, when considering conditions for your dog’s walks:
If ever 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
&
Keeping pets safe in stormy weather – PDSA
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For other pug-health advice a number of key topics particularly useful for our special breed can be found at:
Pug Health & Wellbeing | The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association
by Yasmin | 31 Dec, 2025 | Blog, News, Pug Health
Here’s a reminder, since November, of our regular advice & tips for making it as safe & comfortable as possible for our pugs when Fireworks are expected.
In advance, you may have considered:
- Desensitising your pets to noise: Playing fireworks noises quietly using sound CDs, while rewarding calm behaviour, can help them become accustomed to the noise. Play them in the run up to firework season, to help them see they need not be afraid.
- Anxiety relief products: Anxiety relieving products containing pheromones are an effective way to help your pet stay calm, also comforting jackets are like a big hug! There are so many products around so do research them.
For their comfort and security on New Year’s Eve:
- Walk your dogs before it’s dark.
- Feed your dogs before fireworks are expected to begin, as they may be too stressed to eat later on.
- Make sure your house or garden is escape-proof, as they can bolt or go missing. (Check their microchip registration is up-to-date!)
- Keep windows and curtains closed, the lights on and turn the TV on to play music to help drown out the noise.
- Create a safe, cosy place for your dog to settle before it gets dark. Dogs enjoy cosy dens.
- Keep them entertained to take their mind off the noise. Comforting and reassuring them.
- Do not leave them alone at home or elsewhere.
- For Halloween, take precautions to make trick/treaters aware that you are not participating, so that the doorbell isn’t rung throughout the evening. We all know how our dogs react to that!
- Fireworks. They contain hazardous chemicals which can be poisonous to your dog. Initially these poisons can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, tummy pain and/or bloody stools.
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- More severe effects may include seizures and the chemicals may also affect your dog’s breathing, kidneys and liver.
- Don’t let your dog into your garden unsupervised around Bonfire Night and the other seasonal celebrations, without checking first that none have fallen into your garden.
If the weather is cold or freezing:
- Antifreeze, (ethylene glycol) is the worst of all the chemical spills, which can also leak from a car’s radiator.
- Ingestion is very dangerous. It is sweet tasting and very palatable to dogs, though even a relatively small quantity can cause serious kidney damage or be fatal.
- The first signs of intoxication can be that your dog appears ‘drunk’. If you know your dog has ingested ethylene glycol or you have any concerns, contact your vet without delay.
- The prognosis is poorer the longer it takes to initiate treatment.
So please be extra vigilant, and if you suspect your dog has been affected in any way. Contact your vet as soon as possible to discuss symptoms.
Further Advice & tips can be found at:
Above all, Have a Very Happy New Year, 2026!!
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For other useful & informative pug health articles, please see our web section: https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/pug-health/
by Yasmin | 27 Dec, 2025 | Pug Home Appeal, Blog, News
🤞 A GOOD NEW YEAR UPDATE: With strong applications received for the terrific trio’s potential Forever-Home, we are closing to any more to avoid disappointment. 🤞
We’ll update you further, soon!
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An unusual APPEAL, for a ready-made grumble of 3 bonded-pugs looking for their Forever-home.
Eddie, Tom and Tilly are a gorgeous grumble of pugs who have always lived together and love each other very much. They are looking for their forever home due to changes at home and as they are truly bonded they need to remain together.
Eddie is a 7 year-old shiny, black male, Tom and Tilly are 6 year-old litter-mates. Tom is a big-boned fawn boy and Tilly a beautiful apricot fawn girl.
The 3 of them are very affectionate to each other, and always sleep together, either all lined up or piled up on top of each other!
They clean each other too, especially Eddie who likes to make sure his younger siblings have a clean face and ears at all times!
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Considerations for their adopter:
Their Humans:
As well as being loving with each other, they are equally loving to their people. All 3 of them love to lay on a lap, or snuggle into their people, as close as they can, and rest their little chins. Tilly will climb up onto your chest to get her face as close as possible to yours.
Other Dogs:
All 3 of them have been very friendly and gentle with other elderly dogs in the extended family of their home, although Tilly likes to let other female dogs know that she is the boss-girl in her own territory.
Cats:
They have all also learned to be respectful of their fosterer’s dog-savvy cat after careful introductions. They are calm around him and all coexist happily now. Initially, they did bark at the cat and will do sometimes when they see others out on walks, though can equally ignore or even sniff them gently on other occasions.
Children:
The grumble has been kind and gentle with children they have met, Eddie and Tilly particularly enjoy a gentle fuss and cuddle from them. Tom gets anxious around loud and active children and will try to hide from them. If given his own space and time though, he will accept gentle petting from quiet children without hiding away.
Housetraining:
The trio are all housetrained and toilet in the garden, but only Eddie seems to understand that they can toilet on walks too! So, after a walk, Tilly and Tom still need to be offered a trip to the garden.
Although housetrained, the boys both marked in the early weeks at their foster home. This behaviour has almost completely resolved as they have settled, though may resurface in a new home. Having some belly bands handy might be useful during their settling in period.
Walks & Outdoors:
The gorgeous trio were not too used to regular walks before coming into foster, and it showed in their fitness, waistlines and leash behaviour! However, they have mad amazing strides forward in all these aspects, while still a work in progress.
All 3 have lost a lot of their excess weight, though aren’t at their ideal targets yet so this will need to be supported in their forever home. Their fitness has improved immensely and they can all walk happily for over an hour now.
Eddie walks beautifully on a lead. He loves to stop and take his time having a good sniff around. Tom and Tilly need ongoing work on their leash manners. Tom pulls as a mixture of excitement and anxiousness and he lunges at passing noisy vehicles, but is improving. Tilly gets very excited about going for walks and pulls on the lead unless you are happy to jog with her!
All 3 are very good off lead in an enclosed area. Their recall is mixed where all 3 will come when called, unless distracted playing with other dogs, but especially if they hear you shaking a bag of treats!
Tilly is strongly drawn to water so needs to be kept on leash near lakes and rivers etc.
Indoors:
The grumble all sleep happily together downstairs, cuddled up in a dog bed or on the sofa. They are quite sensitive to sounds outside and calming music left on especially when left alone at home, comforts them and prevents them barking at noises.
All 3 are very respectful when their people are eating. They may stare a bit, but they don’t beg or try to snatch food and can even sleep through it! Tilly and Tom do need reminding to take their treats gently though!
Eddie, Tom and Tilly are a wonderful, loving, grumble of pugs who will bring love, fun and joy with endless snuggles to their new family.
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Additional information about them individually:
Eddie is a delightful, polite boy who is devoted to his siblings and people. He snuggles and cleans Tom and Tilly all the time, he sometimes gets a little overstimulated when cleaning Tilly and has to be told not to mount her (or Tilly will tell him herself!)
He waits patiently for food and takes treats gently. He is happy to be stroked while eating and isn’t possessive with food or toys at all.
He loves soft toys and will carry them around, greeting you at the door with one in his mouth. Eddie arrived in foster with dirty, painful ears and wrinkle, and was reluctant to be cleaned, sometimes being mouthy to hands but not aggressive. With the building of trust, his new family will need to be sensitive regarding cleaning these areas.
He is a pleasure to take for a walk and will trot along with his siblings, and enjoy all the sniff spots. He can be unsure of other dogs when he’s on leash, especially big dogs and may bark at them. Other dogs he may completely ignore, or want to politely say hello to them. He plays very well with dogs of all sizes off leash. Eddie is an around lovely boy!
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Tilly is a very affectionate and beautiful apricot girl. She is the boss of the grumble and keeps her brothers in line.
She was, and still is, the most overweight of the grumble with more weight to lose. While she loves to walk fast and run about, it’s necessary to enforce a little rest break for her so she doesn’t push herself to hard.
Tilly often greets people and other dogs by barking at them, but she’s completely friendly, just a noisy greeter! Thankfully, for all the effort she puts into barking, her bark is quite quiet. She has the waggiest tail of any pug!
Tilly gets excited at food time and may jump up, but she always sits politely when asked to, for her bowl to be placed on the floor. She’s happy to be stroked while eating and isn’t possessive of her food.
She’s getting more interested in playing with toys and when she’s feeling playful will pounce on and shake her soft toys. She sometimes likes a game of tug of war, and even a short game of fetch.
Tilly does steal toys from Tom when he’s trying to play! She is a delightful girl and a complete snuggle bug with her siblings and people.
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Tom is a lovely, big soft boy who is very affectionate with his siblings, especially Tilly, and his people once he’s learnt to trust them. He can be anxious and is currently trialling some medication to help him with this. A tablet a day in his food.
He is a sensitive soul who hadn’t experienced very much of the world before coming in to foster and therefore finds the world a bit confusing. Tom looks for comfort and reassurance from his humans as well as his siblings.
Tom’s come far already in foster and blossomed into a loving, snuggly boy. He has the softest, velvety head and ears and he loves to be gently stroked and cuddled once he gets to know you. He takes a lot of confidence particularly from Tilly.
A typical pug, he gets very excited at food time and can be quite barky which annoys his siblings, so it’s best that he is separated from them by a baby-gate while their food is being prepared and while they eat.
Tom can be petted while eating and isn’t possessive of food but he eats quickly and will try and steal his siblings dinner if they’re not fed separately. Despite his excitement, Tom will sit for his dinner and being very food motivated, his recall training is going very well.
Tom can be anxious while walking on leash and needs ongoing work to not pull. He is wonderful off lead in enclosed areas though! He is full of joy running around freely, greets other dogs nicely and is starting to play with them rather than staying by his fosterer’s side for reassurance.
Tom is such a sweet, sensitive, loving boy, who gives the best cuddles.
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It’s important to also read our Guidelines & conditions for Adopting, at:
https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/adopting-a-pug/
Please note, the Adoption Fee is discounted for bonded multiple pugs.
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If you have any specific questions about this gorgeous grumble, or your application, please email Lisa at:
east@nullpugwelfare-rescue.org.uk
NEW APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY ON HOLD.
Thank You!
by Yasmin | 19 Dec, 2025 | Blog, News, Fundraising
The 2026 PDWRA Calendar is a limited run, so order now to avoid missing out…
Price is £12 + postage, with all proceeds going towards helping pugs in need.
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A perfect Christmas gift to enjoy throughout the year!
by Yasmin | 17 Dec, 2025 | 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.
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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!
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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 | 16 Dec, 2025 | Surrendering, Blog
Many of the callers enquiring about rehoming their pugs ask about what happens to them once they leave their foster home and go on to be adopted. It’s a very distressing decision to take in giving up your pug, and not usually one taken voluntarily – circumstances conspire to leave no other option in many cases. So, they are understandably concerned about what the future holds. I can only say that the vast majority of our adoption applicants are already pug owners, or those who have owned pugs in the past, and no other breed will do for them. They are knowledgeable about the breed and hold an immense loyalty, I might say, bordering on obsession in some cases! One of our adopters’ nine year old said, when asked if they should consider another breed ‘we are a pug family, pugs are the only option’.
Some pugs never move on to another home – they are adopted by their fosterer. They are known as “failed fosterers”, and there’s a lot of us about! A few examples of this are demonstrated in our West Midlands region, where Volunteers recently met for a pug meetup, on the first Sunday in November. Some of their pugs went into foster and never left! Penny and Ronald for example, who had many homes in their young lives before coming into PDWRA’s care; Polly found wandering the streets and found by a member of the public – she found her way to PDWRA via a Dog Warden who could see she wasn’t thriving in a kennel environment and contacted us. You may remember Shirley who gave birth whilst in foster care? One of her two surviving pups, Iris, is now a robust and confident young lady, always first in the queue for treats!
All attendees, pugs and humans, enjoyed the day, as the photos demonstrate – a lot of tired but happy pugs. So this is what happens to pugs coming into PDWRA’s care!
Jackie
VAC West Midlands
by Yasmin | 16 Dec, 2025 | Blog, Rescue Stories
I stumbled across PDWRA on Facebook, the mega auction page. Already the owner of a black male pug, Pablo, I was looking for a UK based pug group. I started buying and it became my go to place for unique items that you can’t buy anywhere else.
Just over 2 years ago, my son left home and there was a huge void in the household. Pablo missed him terribly as did I. Then my husband spotted that Margo was up for adoption and thought she would be a good fit. Unfortunately, we were not successful, quite rightly she went to someone who had been waiting longer than us.
Not too long after, I had a call to say that a male the same age as Pablo was being surrendered and would we be interested? We jumped at the chance! After meeting Jethro, we agreed to adopt him. We brought him home and Pablo accepted his new brother easily.
The first weeks were a huge learning curve, Jethro was very protective of food, and not just his! He wouldn’t make eye contact with anyone and was not keen on lots of fuss. I took the first week off work to help him settle in. He was brilliant walking off the lead and even went for a swim in the sea, much to Pablo’s disgust! So, I had one pug who would walk around puddles and one who would just barrel through them. Jethro slept downstairs for the first few nights, he then realised that Pablo slept on the bed with us and he came up as well. Many a time he’s actually snuggled up under the duvet, in the middle, nice and warm. After the first week, I was back in work, my husband messaged me, he’d had to call the fire brigade as Jethro had got his head stuck in the hole of his raised bowl!!!
My husband is a fluent Welsh speaker and we discovered that Jethro responded to Welsh! A bilingual dog! Slowly, Jethro has become so settled and gazes at us, he smiles and nudges us when he wants a fuss. So different than when we first had him. Sadly, between Christmas and new year, Pablo crossed the rainbow bridge, it was sudden and unexpected. However he went in my arms and Jethro was at my side, he knew. Jethro now has a little sister called Ziva, the smile on Jethro’s face when we brought her home said it all.
Jethro is 10 now and slowing down physically, he doesn’t miss a trick though and runs to greet me when I come home from work. To anyone who is considering adoption, go for it, it is so rewarding, PDWRA are so supportive and helpful. You do need truckloads of patience, but it’s worth it!
by Yasmin | 16 Dec, 2025 | Blog, Rescue Stories
I came across the PDWRA while searching for a pug to love. We’d lost our beloved pug Frank in early August 2024 and were devastated. Frank was 11 years old and had been part of our family since he was a puppy.
Our home felt so empty without him and life just wasn’t the same. I knew we had so much love to give another pug, so I applied to adopt. I had asked for a boy, not because it mattered but we were used to having a boy around. Then a few days later, our local Volunteer Area Coordinator Lisa called and told me about Mabel. That was it! I knew Mabel needed me as much as I needed her.
Mabel’s lovely foster Mum, Michelle, arrived with Mabel and our beautiful little girl peeked nervously round the sofa. For me it was love at first sight! Mabel is the most adorable, gentle, kind and loving little girl anyone could wish for. She’s the boss now, of course, and I know my place… no walks in the rain, meals on time and plenty of treats. I can’t imagine life without her!
by Yasmin | 16 Dec, 2025 | Blog, Rescue Stories
There comes a time in a pug’s life when he knows it’s time to settle down. The call of the open fire crackling in grate, the scattering of dog biscuit crumbs on the sofa, the regurgitated (twice) pigs ear to paw, and a box set of Dogs Behaving Badly playing on TV (they ain’t seen nothin’ yet).
Ah yes, that call came to Neville and Dexter not long ago. So, they instructed their Agent David, to look about for a suitable pad, with resident housekeeper, to cater for their every retirement need. Luckily, David turned to PDWRA for help in the search for a country retreat – land with huntin’ and fishin’ rights was the remit. Just such a place was on their books and the boys duly arrived to look around, gave it the paws up, and they are now happily settled as Pugs of the Manor.
The boys had certainly seen something of the world before deciding it was time to hang up their traveling harnesses. California, Arizona, Mexico, France and Spain all home to them, and great to see more of the world than most pugs. But life on the move is for the youngsters now and they wouldn’t swap their country lifestyle at all. Neville can sometimes be found gazing wistfully out of the window and reflecting on his former life, but then his pals call round and they all dash off on a squirrel hunt. “Hey, wait for me.”
Jackie Maynard
West Midlands Volunteer Area Coordinator
As well as being one of our most experienced and valued Volunteer Area Coordinators, Jackie has also fostered many pugs in need for the charity. If you’d like to find out what it’s like to foster for the PDWRA, click here to read Jackie’s story…
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)
by Yasmin | 29 Oct, 2025 | Blog, In Memoriam
For Erik, Our Pudding!
“I’ll never forget the day I met my little pudding, Erik. A cold night in January of 2015, my parents and I were visiting my grandparents when late into the evening my mam got a phone call – she just had to leave for something, and I couldn’t know why.
Half an hour later she walks up to the back door with a rather podgy thing following behind her. I couldn’t believe it, my very own pug after many years of being told ‘no you’re not getting one’. That night he curled up into a little ball on my bed, finally he was in a safe and loving home.
I could sit all day and talk about all the funny stories we have of our little piggy, but nothing I say feels like it does the justice of describing his quirky little character – for a small thing, he had a huge personality. Instead, I’ve written a poem, and I would say it’s for him but rather selfishly I feel it may be more for me!
So, here’s to you Puddin’…
Travelling in a Taxi alone,
A life of abuse and hurt was all you had known.
Until you came to live with us,
You were always barking, always making a fuss.
But we loved you and your grumble,
Your soft snore, your playful mumble.
Mam’s little Prince,
Life hasn’t been the same since.
For the last time we packed away Lambsy and your lead,
Come back now Puds I plead.
Your goofy teeth that looked like a smile,
Made every moment more worthwhile.
Seeing your tail wag,
Each day felt brighter, like less of a drag.
Dad’s Piggy Wiggy Woo,
We miss you.
That little twinkle in your eye,
The hardest goodbye.
My best boy, my confidant,
A breath so stinky strangers would recant.
From primary school to university,
You brought love and vitality.
My gorgeous Puds,
My tears flow for you in floods.
Through all the days and all the time,
Until we meet again the memories of you will shine.
We love you so much,
The things I would do for one last ‘Cwtch’.
Sleep well our boy,
Our bond is something you cannot destroy.
Our little Pig,
The hole you have left is oh so big.
I’ll never forget the day I met my little pudding, Erik.”
Love from all of us. xxx
by Yasmin | 29 Oct, 2025 | Pug Home Appeal, Blog, News, Rescue Stories
ALBERT’s APPEAL is CLOSED.
Sincere THANKS to ALL his enthusiastic Adoption Applicants.
Within weeks, Albert is well-settled in his loving Forever Home.
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OCT 8th : ORIGINAL APPEAL INFORMATION for ALBERT.
Five-year-old Albert is a placid and easy-going boy. He is neutered, and has lived a very sheltered, apartment-based life with elderly owners, and as a result, can be shy and reserved.
Albert is living with other dogs for the first time in his foster home and has settled in well. It took him about 10 days to relax with them. He can still be wary, and will avoid them if the games get a bit rough. He will always back down when loose in the garden playing with them.
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Albert is wary of strangers. He doesn’t mind seeing people or dogs when out and about but prefers to be ignored by them. On the lead, he’ll pass by other dogs quietly if given a wide berth.
He loves his walks and can be strong on the lead if there is a lamp-post or litter bin to be sniffed at but you aren’t getting there quickly enough for him!
Albert will bark at strangers entering the home, but not aggressively. This is an area that will require patience and further work in his new home but should improve with confident guidance.
We feel that he would benefit from the company of a calm, confident dog for reassurance and companionship.
Albert enjoys a cuddle and being stroked or gentle play. He has reasonable recall in the home environment and will sit, give a paw and pop in his crate when it’s bedtime.
Here, however, you can see his playful side is starting to come out now, which is great progress really lovely to see!
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Albert may be best suited to an adult-only home or one with calm, older children. He hasn’t been tested regarding cats.
It’s important to also read our Guidelines & conditions for Adopting, at:
https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/adopting-a-pug/
We are currently on HOLD to new applications, due to a terrific response for Adorable Albert.
If you have any specific questions about him or your application, please email Cara at:
sw@nullpugwelfare-rescue.org.uk
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To see a sample of other happy, successful, Rescue & Adoption Stories, please go to:
https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/category/rescue-stories/
