Hello everyone. My name is Esme and I first came to PDWRA a few years ago.
I’ll start with the day I was told I had a new Furever Home. I was transported from my foster home to another lovely volunteer’s home, and from there I was collected by Myra and her daughter, Melissa.
I was taken to my new home where I met my new brother, Rupert (a Jack Russell/Chihuahua cross). As I explored the house, I found that there were dog beds in each room, one for each of us, (but sometimes Rupert and I like to share together) and a large garden, which has lots of birds visiting. I love to chase birds!
I also checked out the most important room, the kitchen… I found that the menu was quite delicious!
It didn’t take me long to find the best spot on the bed that night, with my own pillow, and I must say I slept well. Two days later though, I did not feel good, and my new family realised that I had a problem with my eye, so off I went to the vet. Apparently,
I had an ulcerated cornea, and when the standard treatment didn’t work, I was referred to a specialist, who told me that I needed expensive surgery imminently, or I would lose my eye. As it was a pre-existing condition, the PDWRA agreed to pay the costs. I was then forced to wear the cone of shame for weeks, but thankfully, with the swift action from my humans and help from PDWRA I have been able to keep my eye.
A little while later I began to take interest in Rupert’s toys and so Melissa gave me a toy of my own, and I love it. I don’t play with it very often, but I love to give it a chew from time to time.
When I first came here, I was not used to walking and I had a terrible fear of traffic, but both Myra and Melissa were very patient with me and slowly built up my walking distance, and took time to let me get used to traffic.
I still have a go at big vans if they are too close to me but I can now walk by the road without having to be kept on a short lead. I do still have occasional night terrors but even they have got better the longer I’m here.
Sadly, Myra became ill, and so Melissa took over our care as well as looking after her Mum, who we then sadly lost. Melissa has now become our sole Human and she has made sure that Rupert and I lost nothing but also gained so much, as we now go on doggy adventures to the forest and other local spaces and we’ve been on holidays to the New Forest and Cornwall.
I can now walk up to 7 miles in a day, not bad for a Pug who had never been walking before! Melissa is an actor and film maker and I have actually appeared in a couple of her films, and have even appeared in a travel show for Korean TV!
Thank you PDWRA for all you have done for me and others like me, and I hope that you continue the good work for other Pugs.
We could not do what we do for Pugs in Need without dedicated Foster carers.
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More than ever, we are in need of NEW foster homes to support the large number of pugs in our care and welcome Short and Long-term Foster carers.
We also are in particular need of those that can support age-related or special-needs, or accommodate bonded-pairs, as the number of all types of pugs that have been surrendered has increased.
Often those with emotional needs or impaired sight for example, may need quieter homes, sometimes without other energetic pets or young children around them.
If you can help to foster, plus in particular be able to offer any of the following listed, we would love to hear from you!
Quiet, less busy environments.
No-Other-Dogs in the home.
Bonded Pairs accommodated.
Special-needs, Mobility or Incontinence care.
Behavioural investment/training.
We match the best environment and care available for each pug’s needs and frequently they need to be in a foster home as soon as possible.
The demand for specific types of homes varies across the regions of the UK, and we would also welcome more from Scotland, the North of England and Wales, plus Avon & Somerset in the South West of England.
This is the lovely Evie. She’s 2 and a half years-old and looking for an experienced parent in a home with no other dogs or children.
We don’t believe Evie has had the best socialisation and can be extremely jealous of her human and over excitable around other dogs (and young children) though will calm down quickly.
If another dog starts coming near she has the urge to attack and barks at them. She reacts particularly towards larger dogs, which may stem from not getting on with one in her previous home.
She can also grumble at being picked up but less so as she gets used to you.
Her new parent will need to help Evie with her behaviour with the attention she needs for this.
Evie is very affectionate too! She likes people, requires all the attention from her human, enjoys cuddles and sitting on laps. She follows the fosterer everywhere.
She gets very excited in the car as she knows she’s going on a walk. She enjoys these!
Evie is fully house-trained and good and obedient at feeding. She understands commands.
She would be ideal as a companion for someone at home that enjoys walking and can help to improve some of her behaviours.
Evie will be spayed next week while in foster so will be recovered and back to normal for her new home.
Could YOU & your home benefit from Evie’s companionship?
We appealed for a Forever Home for Rocky who hadn’t enjoyed a lot of socialisation making him sensitive and reactive, and were lucky to find one so soon and that he’s more than thriving in already!
Rocky sleeps with us in a memory foam bed and takes up most of the room. He snores really loud but he wakes up as soon as I move.
At 7.30 am we get up and go in the garden to feed the birds, then Rocky has breakfast. We walk along the country road to see the llamas, then we run back. He is super-fast, but he loves to run.
Toy time starts immediately when he gets back. His toys are thrown all over the living room, followed by the zoomies!
Once he’s tired, it’s a massive drink of water followed by belly rub time and cuddle time on the couch with his electric blanket on number 2.
We go for a walk up to a nearby woodland around 12 where Rocky loves to bark. He loves the storms and is starting to respond really well to the local farm animals and wildlife, although he did scare the Minister’s wife on her cycle yesterday when she rode by. It was hilarious and I’m sure this will make an appearance in the next community newsletter. Our late boy Trevor used to do exactly the same.
Snack time as soon as we return home and Siesta time at 2.30pm until 4pm. Then we go on the back field for a run about, working on his recall. Chill time is followed by teatime at 6pm followed by a treat.
Evenings are chill out time, belly rub and cuddle time on the couch. Lots of barking in the garden, and bed time around 11pm. We sometimes see a wee glimmer of sadness hit him, due to his past trauma, but his days are mainly filled with happiness and love. He’s an important and loved member of our pack and he knows this.
We are sure his troubled heart will heal soon.
Rocky’s Proud Forever Parents!
PDWRA couldn’t be happier for such a match made in heaven for this lovely boy who didn’t have the best start in life, Rocky.
Thanks also to Lisa, his dedicated Rehoming Coordinator.
👏 ** WONDERFUL NEWS UPDATE: Coco is moving to her PERFECT NEW HOME! ** 👏
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ORIGINAL APPEAL:
Nine year old Coco is looking to retire as an Only-Dog ideally, in her Forever Home.
She enjoys the company of adults and children, though would be best homed with older children if there are any in the home as Coco hasn’t lived with them before.
Although she is fine with dogs when out and about, she would love to live in a home as an only dog as this is the lifestyle she is familiar with.
She loves to get up close and personal, either around her human’s neck or on a lap.
Coco makes it clear when she needs to go out, and when it’s meal times.
She will bark at sudden noises and alert you when someone is at the door. She may also bark in a bid to gain human food, but this is a habit she is slowing unlearning. Coco has started a journey and still has some extra weight to lose.
Coco enjoys her two daily walks. She’s fit enough and willing!
Look past the grumpy exterior of a senior lady, and Coco will make a wonderful, loving companion.
Could YOURS be the perfect home for the lovely Coco?
If you have any specific questions about her or to alert Jane, his Rehoming Coordinator of your application, please email: sw@nullpugwelfare-rescue.org.uk
👏 ** BEST NEWS UPDATE: Rambo has found his perfect NEW HOME! ** 👏
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ORIGINAL APPEAL:
Introducing 8 year old Rambo, who has been in foster with us and is ready for his Forever, Adoptive Home!
Could Rambo’s Home be Yours?
He can live with other kind & friendly dogs, and older children. He enjoys being made a fuss over, as he’s very loving though he does prefer to lie next to you rather than be a lap-pug!
Rambo is an extra large type of chap; in length, height and width, although he steadily developed a waistline while his poorly elderly Mum couldn’t keep up his usual routine. He’ll eat anything too which doesn’t help! ☺️
House training has also lapsed a little and is work in progress that we are sure will get back on track once in a routine again. He’s using a belly band in the interim. Patience and regular garden trips are needed.
Rambo would love his person or family to be around a lot of the time. It was what he’s used to.
He relishes his walks, and is becoming fitter and fitter. He is the sweetest, funniest boy, who has a character you can’t fail to love.
Rambo’s general health is good. He gets anxious at the vets, but shows no aggression. He just becomes a bag of eels!
Could YOU offer this charmer his Forever Home?
He’s currently in foster in the South West of England.
If you have any specific questions about him or to alert Jane, his Rehoming Coordinator of your application, please email: sw@nullpugwelfare-rescue.org.uk
By Alison, Rodney’s Mum & Fundraiser for PDWRA. 20th December 2024
Sadly, on 19th December our little Rodney passed away peacefully. He would have been 9 years old a few days later.
Rodney came to us 3 years ago to the day as a Pug Dog Welfare and Rescue Association UK temporary foster boy, for a Christmas stay… We failed miserably at just fostering and he ended up staying with us.
He was a real Mummy’s boy and loved his adopted siblings, Ethel & Leonard. His best hobbies were eating carrots, playing with his large cuddly pumpkin and going out in his “Pug-Buggy” when his little wobbly legs could not carry him anymore.
Here’s Rodney helping with packing merchandise that I design to donate profits to PDWRA, taken a while ago.
Unfortunately, Rodney aged too soon. He had cataracts. His legs became too wobbly through his back problems and was losing control of his bowels.
He was using his pug buggy to go out and about with, which he really loved to do. He was a real Mummies boy.
Ethel and Leonard were quite depressed for about 2 weeks. He leaves a big hole…he was a little Character as are all Pugs!
Deciding to get a pug was the easy part, as a family we did our research and said yes, it’s definitely a Pug we want, so we got a non-rescue puppy called Wilson, he was a darling…in a devilish sort of way! After 12 months we just knew we wanted to get another pug but this time we wanted to adopt, so I Googled adoptions and rescues and PDWRA came up. So I contacted them, which was really easy to do. I chose PDWRA because I felt they were more than just a rescue, they felt like a family and cared 100% about the pugs, I felt safe knowing it was all about the love and wellbeing of the crazy breed we all love; Pugs!
So, in Sept 2017, after a short while waiting I got a call saying that they’d had a little 12 month girl come into the rescue with skin issues and very hyper!
She met our criteria as we wanted a 12-month-old to join our resident 12-month-old at home. We went to see her and OMG she was a goofy, hyper skinny little lady, she was running around, jumping all over the place, quite the opposite to Wilson.
She had a terrible skin issue that she’s still got today but is managed with medication, she’s all fluffy and healthy now, but still scratches occasionally!
I couldn’t believe it was happening, I was bringing home a rescue! I was nervous and excited and Pepper was anxious during the car ride home, she was whimpering but my kids were in the back seat with her helping to calm her down.
I carried her inside the house and let her down she ran around doing zoomies and found Wilson. It was at that point I knew I’d made the right decision, Pepper & Wilson we’re crazy together from the moment they met, they were inseparable! Initially they had a mad few hours of playing together then they just settled down and slept next to each other like they’d known each other forever, it was a dream come true. A few weeks after getting Pepper she had BOAS surgery to help her tiny little nostrils and she took it all in her stride.
Pepper was a dream from the word go, she was really well potty trained, came back when called and absolutely loves to cuddle and play, even now. 7 years on she’s a beautiful lady, she’s a little greyer around the edges but still a bundle of energy and joy.
After adopting Pepper I wanted to help as much as I could with PDWRA, so over the last 4 years we’ve also fostered 3 pugs, which is an amazing feeling, I’d highly recommended it and the rescue are so supportive throughout the whole process.
Sadly in Dec 2020 Wilson died suddenly at 3 years old, Pepper was so sad, she missed him terribly, so I decided to get another pug puppy. Along came Sid, non-rescue.
Well, I was so nervous for Pepper to meet Sid as she was my main priority but I had nothing to fear, Pepper was excited and happy when Sid came home, she’s certainly the boss and boy does she show it, even now!
Pepper and Sid are inseparable, they adore each other and also enjoy a good squabble too. She is such a diva when it comes to going out in the rain, she just point-blank refuses! Pepper had her teeth removed a couple of years ago, due to them being rotten, she’s got about 2 left and it’s doesn’t stop her eating!
Adopting Pepper from PDWRA was the best decision we ever made, she’s the sweetest little girl and I can’t imagine life without her. Now at 7 years old she’s definitely queen bee in our house, she knows what she likes and doesn’t like and will let know about it too!
This is a follow on from my last article (Pug Eye Conditions: Part 1 of 2) where I discussed corneal ulceration in pugs; causes and treatment.
The conditions I am discussing today are all inter-related; causes of which are similar to those that can result in a corneal ulcer.
Because the bony orbit where the eye rests is very shallow in a pug (due to breeding the brachycephalic head shape), the eyes protrude more than a dog with a snout, which results in too much of the white of the eye showing as per below photograph.
This can result in the following conditions discussed below:-
Proptosis
Dry Corneas
Pigmentary Keratitis
The other two conditions discussed, entropion and distichiasis, are also seen commonly in pugs.
All five conditions can be treated to varying degrees with an operation called a (bilateral) medial canthoplasty or blepharoplasty, which I will describe at the end of the article.
Proptosis
This is where the eye globe becomes displaced out of the bony orbit where it normally sits.
It can often occur after trauma, which can be as little as a slight bang to the head due to the orbit being so shallow.
This is an ocular emergency as the optic nerve is stretched (and can be potentially torn), muscles are damaged and the cornea is completely exposed. If not operated on promptly, the eye will be non-viable.
If the eye cannot be saved /has no vision, the best treatment is removal (enucleation) of the eye.
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS) or Dry Eye
Pugs are prone to Dry Eye, which is where not enough tears are produced by the eye.
They can also have a dry eye, due to the poor quality of tears. And, because of the conformation of a pug’s eye where is bulges excessively, the cornea can become dry because the eyelids don’t actually close together even when the dog is asleep.
A dry cornea can lead to pigment being deposited (PK) on the cornea (see below), as well as the eye being prone to ulceration (discussed previously)
Treatment for KCS involves stimulating tear production with medication. I’m sure many of you are familiar with Optimmune as an eye ointment to treat dry eye, along with Tacrolimus. The latter is also used to reduce the progression of pigmentary keratitis.
As mentioned previously, because of pug’s bulging eyes and proneness to a dry cornea, I use an eye lubricant on my pugs twice daily to help moisturise the cornea and hopefully reducing the likelihood of conditions that develop as a result of a dry cornea (PK, corneal ulceration). I use Carbomer (cheap off Amazon) on my younger pugs, and Lacrilube (now called Xailin Night) on my older pugs, but there are other products available.
Pigmentary Keratitis (PK)
This condition is where pigment is deposited on the surface of a cornea, and can be seen as a black/brown film.
The cause is multi-factorial including excessive exposure of the cornea allowing it to become dry, irritation through eyelashes rubbing on the cornea and a genetic predisposition.
Again, I am sure many of you have seen this pigment on your pug’s eye. The condition is often progressive, and can result in blindness when it covers all the pupil.
Treatment can often involve use of medication for KCS, as well as surgery to reduce the amount of eye exposed ( see base of article).
Laser surgery can also be considered, which will require a specialist ophthalmologist, however it is very expensive and needs a large amount of post-operative care.
Entropion
This condition is commonly seen in pugs, where the eyelids turn inwards, especially at the nose side (medially) which results hairs/eyelashes rubbing on the cornea causing irritation.
Distichiasis
This is where eyelashes (cilia) grow in an abnormal position on the eyelid and rub on the cornea. These hairs can be removed by plucking out (epilating) or by various cauterising treatments though unfortunately the hairs can often grow back.
Medial Canthoplasty or Blepharoplasty
This surgery, known as a medial (often both eyes are operated on and therefore a bilateral medial) canthoplasty of blepharoplasty, is used to treat entropion, and dry corneas, as well as too protruding eyes and prevention of proptosis and pigment deposition (PK).
It essentially shortens the eyelids making the eye openings smaller by closing the inner aspect (at nose side) of the eyelids together as illustrated below.
The effect of this is to improve the dog’s ability to blink and it reduces the overall exposure of the dog’s eye.
The photo shows a pug with recent medial canthoplasty surgery.
In summary
Unfortunately pugs are prone to a number of significant eye conditions, mainly related to their breeding and being brachycephalic. Treatment can involve either eye medication and/or surgery, which can lead to improvement, however treatment is expensive especially the eye operations, which need to be carried out by a specialist.
This is a quick run through of some conditions, however the list is not exhaustive, and is an overview only. More information can be found on the internet, especially with referral veterinary ophthalmologist websites.
And, remember that prevention or early intervention has the best outcomes.
Helen McKee (MRCVS)
Veterinary Advisor for the PDWRA
My name is Lizzie, & I have been happily ‘entangled’ to Terry (known as Terry-Two-Pugs by other dog walkers) for 33 years, 16 years married. For 30 of those years we have had a rescue dog in our lives, of all ages, sizes and breeds.
I first fell in love with the pug breed after seeing Ethel’s pug, Little Willie on Eastenders!
We had an elderly Stafffie, Murdoch, before our venture into the wonderful world of Pugs, he was 12 when he came into our lives and had a fun-packed 2 years before he crossed the bridge in early 2022.
I did some research before I started the search on the WWW for a dedicated UK Pug Rescue. Even though I was searching in my county of Lancashire I dropped onto the East Midlands PDWRA Facebook site.
I downloaded the adoption form and we completed it the same evening. Not expecting an immediate response I was surprised to receive a phone call the following day, to discuss Bella and Gracie, who were in foster with Laura and her family as a consequence of COVID.
A photo was sent to us and I was surprised at the lovely colour of Gracie’s coat, as we were expecting a pure white coat and not the scrumptious jersey cream honey colour that she is, and of course the little black shiny pug that was Bella.
Like all our previous rescues, we went with our instincts and our hearts. A remote home check via WhatsApp was arranged for 2 days time, we had our fingers and toes crossed that we would be approved as we were already emotionally invested in them.
After a successful home check, interview and all the relevant admin, we were on our way to meet our little grumble of two from their foster home, Southwards on the M6.
We got back just after teatime, after a peaceful journey home, and they’d slept and snored for the whole journey home.
Bella, a little black pug of 3 years old, and Gracie, a larger white pug, 4 years old, hopped out of the car and strolled nonchalantly through the front door and immediately hopped up onto my chair, claiming it as their own. We’ve learned to share it now, usually with me sitting and them both in a heap on my knee or sleeping snugly at my side.
Sitting in front of the fire and the TV with 2 sleeping Pugs, after they had inspected their new and forever home, knowing where they could pee and poo and play safely in our large enclosed quiet rear garden, where their food and water was and where the cosy doggie beds were situated around the house, we were finally together, 6 days after the initial submission of the adoption form! Now we, our family of 4, had all of their lives of love, laughter and fun wrapped up in caring and nurturing our little pug ladies. Terry was now outnumbered 3 to one.
Bella is a lot in a little dog. She is very vocal when barking, but she also chatters to us very softly. She is very confident with people and other dogs without being aggressive, but she has also mellowed beautifully. She loves sitting on her Mama’s lap watching TV and is a proper Star Trek fan. She is as bright as a button and has her Daddy at her beck and call. Gracie, is a completely different personality to Bella. Gentle, cuddly and a ‘licker’, she is grooming Bella regularly and she would ‘groom’ us too given half a chance.
They both love riding in the car and walks. Their first holiday was in March 2023 to the North West of Scotland in a converted bothy, all cosy and warm. They were fab on the 14-hour journey with hourly stops, and 2-days later we woke to a foot of snow which they both found fun, jumping into drifts and running through the snow. Since that first holiday more have followed, either late Spring or early Autumn and generally there are beaches and countryside involved, as well as plenty of dog-friendly eateries and pubs. If the Pugs are not allowed then we don’t go, as we are a tight fit group of 4 and honorary members of their grumble.
When we’re at home they are either lounging/sleeping on the furniture or their ‘hoomans’, or sitting in our large picture window on ‘paw-patrol’. Well known by locals passing and the small children love them. We can honestly say that we are all a perfect fit.
Anyone considering adopting a pug should be aware that they are extraordinary animals. They take their role of ‘companion dog’ seriously, don’t respect the personal space of others and it’s endearing.
The snoring is LOUD! The fur they shed is endless and is known as ‘pug-glitter’ in our house as it gets everywhere. They are extremely loving and affectionate, with gigantic personalities.
We have so much gratitude for the PDWRA. The match between us and our puggie-ladies is perfect. The adoption process was seamless. Laura, their fosterer, and her family did a great job of caring for them and the information passed to us was invaluable in the early days. Gracie was overweight and on a diet when we collected them and with written instructions, we were able to reach her target weight. Both Gracie and Bella have maintained their optimum weight ever since. They are both food-orientated, so lead training was a piece of cake, but they are pretty good at begging when cake is involved. They love their walks and are very well behaved when off the lead in a safe place. They are very sociable with both dogs and people. Bella is a bit more vocal but settles well within a short time.
We love both of them as much as our own children and grandchildren, who love Bella and Gracie equally. I must admit, the majority of my photos on my phone are Bella and Gracie, as they are both so yummy and photogenic. They regularly feature in the PDWRA Adopters Facebook group as well as my personal feed. We are hoping for many happy years together of walks, beaches, holidays and days out puggie-style, wrapped up in love and laughter!
👏 ** GREAT NEWS UPDATE: Over the weekend, Pat has found his NEW HOME! ** 👏
ORIGINAL APPEAL INFO:
8 year old, black male pug Pat, is looking for his specific and special adoptive home.
Please read his criteria:
Pat would be best suited in a quieter home. Although he is happy to accept visitors if they give him a treat and don’t try to pick him up or fuss over him.
He’s happy to sit in another room during busier and louder times, and watch through a door gate.
He likes to go visiting and is perfectly behaved in other people’s houses, again as long as they leave him be and don’t touch him.
He will come for a gentle fuss if he deems you worthy though he focuses his trust on his main care giver, and prefers calm, steady men or potentially women.
Pat could live with older ‘hands off’ teenagers, although once in the circle of trust, he will accept affection more readily.
He would like to live with another dog, and is happy to be lower down in the pecking order.
Pat is a typically greedy pug, and does snatch a bit for treats when taking them.
He loves to visit a pub or café and will take a treat from strangers, but again doesn’t like to be over fussed.
He is excellent off-lead and has a reliable recall.
Pat will bark at planes/helicopters passing over but doesn’t bark at the television. He will bark at a window if allowed, and can follow a firm verbal correction to “Stop!”.
He may bark if an unknown dog gets in his face though.
Pat doesn’t need a great deal of exercise in the form of long walks due to hip problems, but he enjoys pottering and going out and about where he likes to observe his surroundings. He does take daily anti-inflammatories for his hips.
Though he will still try to take the opportunity to climb on a table if possible!
Pat is biddable and can follow instruction. He understands the word “No!” and is not combative unless he thinks he’s going to the vet or having some medical intervention. He will not tolerate being picked up by a person who is not in his circle of trust.
Cleaning of ears, folds etc. can be managed only after building a relationship with Pat. This may take some time.
Pat does travel nicely in the car, in a crate or with a seatbelt.
Do you believe you could offer this charming boy his quite specific, and special Forever Home?
If you have any specific questions regarding Pat, or to alert Jane, his Rehoming Coordinator of your application, please email: sw@nullpugwelfare-rescue.org.uk
Thank you!
You can also see the difference adoption can make, from a small selection of our Rescue & Adoption Stories at:
Meet Rocky! He’s a very affectionate and sensitive 6 year old boy.
He has been neutered and has no health issues apart from having a sensitive stomach.
What he does need help with in his Forever-Home, will be behavioural issues, sadly due to not being socialised very well in his past life.
This has made Rocky a very reactive boy, triggered by many things.
It also makes him food aggressive so may nip if startled, therefore he needs to be in an adult-only home, well-supervised if there is another non-reactive canine companion.
He is currently living with another dog in foster though Rocky is very dominant so there is the likelihood it could cause issues with a similar type of dog or a cat.
Rocky having some relaxation time!
Being an only-dog may be the simplest solution but not necessarily the only one if you believe you could invest the extra attention he would need to adjust and feel more secure over time.
Rocky is also petrified of the vet. It’s fear aggression, which our fosterer has been working on, but now he really needs to settle into a dog-experienced, calm & quiet forever home, ideally in the country where he doesn’t have to worry about busy traffic or passing lots of people on walks as he barks a lot in this environment.
Could you, or someone you know, offer Rocky his special Forever home? If so, please apply referencing Rocky 24226.
As for other pugs like Rocky, we may not always have the right homes registered with us at the time they really need one. This can apply to all ages of pug, from youthful to Golden-Oldies or inseparable Bonded-Pairs, each with unique needs to be catered for.
You can specify your preference on your application or no preference at all, which may mean finding a match sooner as we receive all ages naturally, with varying welfare needs to find homes for.
By Katie, who fostered Suri when she was 10 years-old, since the summer of 2022 :
Suri lives with our original pug Ruby, and often visited by my sister’s fawn pug.
Our darling long term foster Suridied at the end of last year.
She was tiny but magnificent: funny, spirited, strong-willed and so, so loving.
In her last year she became fully disabled and used wheels, or was carried by us.
Eventually her body failed her, but her mind was strong.
We will miss her so much. RIP Suri.
Suri had a number of medical issues when she arrived but as the vet said, “no one told her that!”. She was just the sweetest little (4.5kg!) seal pup teddy bear girl.
I was in denial at the time that we’d accepted another dog into our lives in Ruby’s old age but I thought after some hardships in her life Suri deserved it, as well as some photos on this PDWRA Memorial page! X
Thank you to our PDWRA rehomers, Jackie and Paula for entrusting her to us for her final years.
Alison and John have rehomed 3 pugs including PDWRA adoptee Winston, who joined the family a year ago. Apparently, Winston thinks he’s the boss but really he’s at the bottom of the pack, being a sort of joker!
While not initially looking for another pug, they came across Winston’s story of being quite a feisty pug who wasn’t easily finding a new home so decided to apply for him!
Alison believes that they were chosen by fate! They definitely had the space, support and big hearts to train him and give him the restart to life he needed and knew that he could learn how to be a proper dog in their family and be lead by his new brothers.
Here’s Alison’s interview:
My husband John and I are the parents of Winston, we have rehomed 3 pugs Winston being a PDWRA adoption and we also have Marley & Bruno. I think a suitable title for the story would be Winston and the Barkers. He thinks he’s the boss but really he’s the bottom of the pack being a sort of joker.
How did you first hear about the PDWRA?
10 years ago we bumped into a member of PDWRA walking their pugs and John has known her from a young age living in the same village, of course we spoke about her grumble and the PDWRA. This led us onto following the socials, reading about the stories and the great network of caring volunteers for the pugs in need out there.
How did you come to make the decision to adopt through the PDWRA?
Only by chance to be honest as well as already being followers of the PDWRA on Instagram and Facebook. We fully noted how much love and support was in this organisation and we trusted them. We are very caring for dogs, to have space in our lives and support from our parents who love dogs too.
We are also very fortunate that we can bring our pugs with us to work and everyone cares dearly for them. The very start of our love for pugs was when we had our dear George who sadly passed away with cancer aged 6, with the knowledge of his health declining we rehomed Marley. When the time came and George left us we had a very sad Marley and it was too hard to bear therefore we rehomed Bruno for company.
Without knowing, John’s sister was talking to her neighbour (the member of PDWRA) and they came on to the subject of Winston who needed a home and had not been successful in his adoption so far. Being a feisty puppy, he needed a suitable forever home and I believe we had been chosen by fate! We definitely had the space, support and big hearts to train him and give him the restart to life. Winston needed to learn how to be a proper dog and be lead by his brothers.
What made you decide to adopt?
We weren’t initially looking to take on another but hearing his story and knowing he needed to be shown the ropes, we knew we could take him on. We really feel the family that originally owned him thought he’d be a sweet, cute little puppy but he’s quite the opposite! We have a suitable home with a big garden, and we can give them human presence 24/7 taking our pugs to work where they can run in the yard, snooze in the office, or get fussed by the team. Winston is similar age to Bruno so they hit it off straight away playing and snuggling.
Can you tell us a little bit about Winston?
So funny, cleaver and very naughty, always up to some sort of mischief. Picked up basic commands within a few months of adoption following his brothers settling in easily. Hewill pull all the stuffing out of the bed, run off with crocs, steals pencils, chewing them to pieces, barks at anything with 4 legs, always wants what the other two have, extremely noisy with tug of war and will play fight all the time. When it’s time for bed he is very sweet though being very cuddly and super soft and first thing in the morning he dances about in joy patting you off the end of the bed in flirty manner. He did have a fear of bridges on walks so much so he would avoid them and go the other way but recent times has succeeded this fear.
How did you find the adoption process?
Relatively straight forward. We followed the process and answered all the question etc. It helped that we had been involved with dogs our wholes lives and understood the importance of giving them a safe & secure forever home.We also had a huge experience with the sad decline of George and he also very nearly had an ulcer on his eye through a scratch but with intensive round the clock care we managed to save his eye, so have learnt how to be better prepared in the future if needed
Anything you think prospective adoptive or foster parents should know?
Be open minded and not all pugs are cuddly and calm. Our Marley and Bruno are very sweet but Winston is like a bull in a China shop. They are a grumble but they are extremely different characters.
Time – pugs are social and need constant company.There’s a fact out there that some dogs spend a huge part of their lives waiting for their owners to come home which is totally unfair, they only want to be in your company and only live about 12-16 summers so spend time with them. They love you unconditionally.
What has life been like since adopting Winston?
Brings a lot of noise and personality. Not just him, also family, friends and co-workers laughing at him or telling him off. He has put his stamp on our hearts and we all love watching and playing with him. He can be completely crazy and then someone will pick him up and he with go dead calm, its uncanny.
We’re very grateful to have Winston and he’s living his best life!
We’ve been warned by the Met Office that it was coming; temperatures dropping, snow and icy conditions as well as storms and flooding!
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.
– If it snows, ice and snow can stick to the fur between their pads and build up. This will be uncomfortable for your dog 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.
– 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.
– If you’re spending time outdoors, it’s a good idea to get a coat for them. Ensure it fits well 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.
– 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.
– Also, beware of thin ice & frozen puddles.
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.
PDWRA Pug Adopter and Fundraiser, Shirley has her pencils ready again after a short break this Christmas, to provide her wonderful portraits of Your Favourite Furry-Friends!
Inspired, upon adopting Daphne from PDWRA, artist Shirley has been generously using her talent to donate funds directly to PDWRA. Over £2,000 last year!
Shirley’s Inspiration, Beloved Daphne!
If you would like to own a unique and personal portrait of any four-legged animal please don’t hesitate to place an order to Shirley’s growing list.
All you need to do is provide an accompanying photo. Each portrait costs £15 only, where Shirley donates £10 directly to PDWRA, and £5 covers post, packaging & materials.
