by Yasmin | 16 Dec, 2025 | Blog, Rescue Stories
I stumbled across PDWRA on Facebook. Already the owner of a black male pug, Pablo, I was looking for a UK based pug group.
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!
******
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.
*********
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.
.
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!
******
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
******
To see a sample of other happy, successful, Rescue & Adoption Stories, please go to:
https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/category/rescue-stories/
by Yasmin | 22 Oct, 2025 | Blog, Pug Health
As Autumn draws in, it’s a good idea to remind ourselves of the potential hazards to keep an eye out for, some quite serious, in order to keep our pugs safe particularly outdoors.
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- Not only do piles of leaves hide what’s beneath them, they can develop bacteria and mould. If your dog ingests these it can lead to gastrointestinal upset.
- Likewise, mouldy discarded foods can contain lots of different toxins, in particular on dairy products, bread or nuts, which can cause dogs to quickly develop muscle tremors or seizures.
- Fermenting fruit, produces a natural alcoholic compound, which is toxic. If your dog eats such fruit, they are likely to suffer from sickness and diarrhoea, and also, may run the risk of having a toxic reaction to the natural alcohol produced by the fruit as part of its fermentation process.
- Fruit stones, cherries, damsons, plumbs or similar if chewed produce cyanide, if swallowed whole, can cause choking or obstruction.
- Acorns or horse-chestnuts (conkers) can lead to sickness and diarrhoea, and if ingested in large quantities are toxic. They are also a choke hazard or can potentially become lodged in the gut causing a blockage, so make sure that your dog doesn’t eat any!
- Dangerous mushrooms can be hard to identify, where signs of poisoning vary dramatically from stomach upset or blood in the stools to neurological effects such as hallucinations or fits, kidney or liver failure. The symptoms may present very suddenly or be delayed by days.
- Poisoning from spring bulbs like daffodils, tulips or crocus are most likely to occur from being eaten in autumn when they are planted, or when they begin to flower in spring.
It won’t be too long before we should be considering these too!
- Fireworks can contain hazardous chemicals which can be poisonous to your dog. Initially these poisons can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, tummy pain and/or bloody stools.
- 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 other seasonal celebrations, without checking first that none have fallen into your garden.
- Chocolate sales rise around Halloween, but remember it contains a stimulant called theobromine, poisonous to dogs.
- The amount of theobromine differs depending on the type of chocolate, dark chocolate having the most in it. Theobromine mainly affects the heart, central nervous system and kidneys.
- Signs can occur from 4 to 24 hours following ingestion where you may see vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness, hyperactivity, rapid breathing, muscle tension, lack of coordination, increased heart rate and possibly seizure.
- 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.
For further related information, see:
PDSA:
https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/blog/caring-for-your-pet-in-autumn
&
https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/blog/vet-qa-how-do-i-keep-my-pet-safe-from-de-icing-products?
The Kennel Club:
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health-and-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/poisons-in-your-garden/
&
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health-and-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/acorns/
Dogs Trust:
https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/health-wellbeing/at-home/poisonous-to-your-dog
by Developer | 21 Oct, 2025 | Blog, News
Halloween is almost upon us once again and to celebrate, we bring you a wonderful selection of pugs getting into the spirit of the season!
Last week we did a competition on our Facebook page asking our followers to send in pictures of their pugs. We expected maybe 30 or 40 pictures but actually got thousands! There were several Halloween pictures thrown in, so we thought what better time to share them with you?!
In the header image are Bentley & Stanley in their best dressing up outfits, and we have a brilliant Halloween selection below…
Marti & Zoey
Hardy, Rufus & Coco
Petey & Pris
Puma & Bailey
Rosie & Nacho
Poppy & Benny
If you’d like to follow us on Facebook and have the chance to enter more of our competitions, just click the link to head over to our page!
https://www.facebook.com/PDWRA
by Developer | 21 Oct, 2025 | Blog, Volunteering
For many devoted dog lovers, the chance to help a vulnerable animal is a calling that cannot be ignored. That rang true for me when I first discovered the Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association (PDWRA) via Facebook and have since become a part of the charity’s transport network.
After finding the PDWRA web page and learning that transport volunteers were needed, I didn’t hesitate to sign up. I wanted to help where I could with the support and welfare of pugs. Now, just over a year into my volunteering journey, I play a role in collecting pugs, often directly from their surrendering families, and safely delivering them to the next stage of their new lives.
The distances travelled vary but typically involve a 50–100-mile round trip from home, but I am always ready to cover “almost any distance” needed. I used to drive a lot for work and I’m very comfortable with driving long distances, I just take a lot more breaks when I have pugs on board! The journeys can be very emotional, especially when saying goodbye to former owners, but the reward is immense. Knowing that I am helping to give a pug or pugs a new life with better prospects, is what makes the effort worthwhile.
For prospective transporters, I recommend always carrying a spare lead and harness, plus plenty of water for breaks – especially if you’re bringing your own pugs along for the ride. I have three pugs of my own currently: two are from the PDWRA; one was adopted, and I offered another one a home as a long-term foster.
From heartfelt goodbyes to the joy of new beginnings, I like to think I embody the spirit of the PDWRA. One person can make such a difference, simply by answering the call to help, one pug at a time.
Brian
by Developer | 21 Oct, 2025 | Blog, Rescue Stories
In January 2024 we had to say goodbye to our beautiful elderly pug, Jack. I was heartbroken and missed him so much. We had been through so much together during his lifetime and it was hard to think of life without him.
After a couple of months or so, I started to have a tentative look for any pugs that might be in need a new home. I desperately missed Jack, and although it was difficult to imagine getting another dog, I knew I wanted another dog in my life. Whilst I love all dogs, I have a special soft spot for pugs, so I started to keep an eye on any needing new homes. I saw several, but none that felt quite right for us.
Then I saw a post about Stitch pop up in the PDWRA Facebook page and I knew instantly that he was the one! As soon as I saw his adorable, cheeky face and read about him I fell in love and knew we could give him what he needed. I contacted PDWRA immediately to say that we were interested and filled out an adoption application. After chatting with Stitch’s foster mum and passing the home check, we were delighted to be told that we could adopt Stitch!
He settled in very quickly and on the first night was more than happy to settle down in his bed in the kitchen for the night. The next day I took him for a walk over the fields around our village and found out very quickly that he very much enjoys rolling in stinky mud!
Over the next weeks and months, we enjoyed getting to know Stitch more and more. He is a delightful, chilled boy who loves walks, loves to play and learn but equally is happy to spend time relaxing at home having belly rubs.
Stitch can be reactive with some dogs when we are on walks, particularly when he is on the lead, so this is something that we have worked on with the help of a lovely local dog trainer. He enjoys meeting small dogs when we are out and about but tends to need space when he sees bigger dogs. Consistent training with this issue has resulted in him getting a lot less stressed about other dogs though and I am so proud of how far he has come over the last year.
He has also been going to a socialisation group once a week that is run by our dog trainer and has made brilliant progress with this as well. He was initially a little grumpy with the other dogs in the group (who all happen to be labradors) and would tell them off at the start of the session and then ignore them for the rest of it. But he has now reached the point where after a few weeks off from the group recently he was happy and excited to see his labradors friends again, which is such a massive difference!
Stitch really has made the best little companion. I work from home and he is such an easy-going little pug to have by my side. We have a lovely walk through the village and across the fields in the morning. We do the same in the afternoon and pop out at lunchtime. I try to incorporate little bits if training into our walks and Stitch loves foraging for treats.
We’re around 45 minutes from the coast, so we try to take him there regularly for a run on the beach and a walk along the coastal paths.
We’ve had several holidays away with family since we got Stitch and he’s loved it because he loves going for walks and exploring new places. In June this year we had a week in Cornwall and Stitch loved exploring the beaches and rock pools. We did plenty of coast walks and Stitch managed a 6-mile hike one day! He certainly slept well that night!
We have noticed that everyone who meets Stitch quickly becomes very taken with him (and they always love his white paw!) and I’ve had several people tell me they could quite happily take him home!
We now can’t imagine life without our lovely Stitchy! We absolutely adore him and it’s been such a pleasure to see how he has settled in with us over the last year.
I am so glad that we were there to offer him the fresh start that he needed.
by Developer | 21 Oct, 2025 | Blog, Rescue Stories
Pugs have been part of my life all my life- my parents had a pug before they had me! But until Arlo and Nora came along, I had never adopted a pug.
I first heard of PDWRA a few years ago. I saw an appeal to save stamps and ink cartridges. I decided that I would try to help and friends and family were roped in. Aside from that I also make cards and illustrations as Onelittlepug, and I began fundraising by donating a portion of my sales to PDWRA.
Our beloved Pug, Henry, was not a rescue pug, but by the time he passed away in October 2023 at the grand old age of 15, I was convinced that if I was to have another pug it would be a rescue. I’d read so much from PDWRA about their work and was shocked at the number of pugs being surrendered.
So, I registered and indicated that I was prepared to consider a bonded pair or an older pug as I know that these are harder to re-home. After a home check and a chat with Jane, one of the Area Coordinators, it wasn’t long before I got a call. It was from Jackie, another Area Coordinator, and she said ‘I may have found you a pug……or two, I’ll send you a photo’- of course as soon as I saw the photo that was it!
Arlo and Nori (as she was then) were 8 years old, a brother and sister in foster care. My family were a bit concerned that 8 was quite old for a pug, but to me, our job was to make the rest of their lives happy, for however long that may be. Jackie put me in touch with Louise, their foster carer, who quite clearly adored them. We had a good chat and Louise was able to answer all my questions. It was agreed that they would join our family, and in January 2024 I met a lovely volunteer transporter, Kevin, who delivered two bundles of fun!
They slept soundly through the night from day one, though we soon learnt they had to sleep together, and modifications had to be made to Henry’s custom-made Pug box to accommodate two pugs! Initially they were very reactive to loud noises but they soon calmed down, and fortunately we live in a very rural area so there is little to disturb them.
Louise had written us a letter explaining their routine and traits. I was told Nori was the more outgoing of the two. Compared to our other pugs she is tiny (and often gets mistaken for a puppy). However, she makes up with it in personality and she is absolutely fearless. Arlo was a bit more hesitant at first but loves nothing more than being tickled. If you stop, he will kiss you until you continue! He also loves having his teeth cleaned!
They both love food- show me a pug who doesn’t, but they are very active. We were told that before going into foster care they hadn’t really been walked much. Oh how different things are now. They love their walks and are ready to go every morning. In cooler weather they often go twice a day, but this is of course limited in summer. Arlo can run like the wind, and Nora does her very best to keep up. They have adventures all over, have visited the seaside, and also had an adventure in Oxford.
Last Autumn Jackie contacted me to say PDWRA had been approached by a film production company who wondered if they knew of a pug close to Oxford who would be able to do some filming for a documentary about dogs. We said that if it helped to raise the profile of PDWRA we would be more than happy, and I thought it would be a great social experience for the pugs. Arlo loved the bus ride and Nora was the star of the show, playing the role of Josephine’s pug during the French Revolution. Their adventure was documented by PDWRA in a previous newsletter.
We have had a wonderful time with Arlo and Nora (Nora the snorer seemed far more of an apt name for her). The love and fun they give us is immeasurable. Recently they celebrated their 10th birthday, but although they have a few more grey hairs they are still living life to the full.
I don’t regret taking on two pugs, PDWRA did a brilliant job ensuring that they were in the best possible condition when we adopted them. I also believe senior pugs are wrongly overlooked. All puppies are cute, but they are not always the right fit. It may be that you get less time with older Pugs, and we all dread saying goodbye, but knowing they are going to have the best possible life really does make it all worthwhile.
Pugs are great companions. In my experience they are good with children, and ideal for many different lifestyles, but what they all crave is companionship, so you really do need to be able to devote time to them. I would wholeheartedly recommend adopting, but it is a huge commitment. I am so grateful to all the volunteers at PDWRA who cared for Arlo and Nora, helped us with the adoption process, and continue to help pugs who need support to find their forever homes.
We will continue to support PDWRA as much as we can – their costs are so high and every penny raised really does make a difference. We are planning more pug themed Christmas cards this year, and hope that it will go some way to help. I would say to anyone if you can help in any way, please do. I know two pugs that very much appreciate it!
Best wishes
Jayne
by Developer | 21 Oct, 2025 | Blog
Let me introduce Buster and Bentley, two Pugs that we adopted from PDWRA back in March 2023. They came to join me (Alan), Andrew and Mabel, who is our 11-year-old Puggle. For those who might not know, a Puggle is a cross between a Pug and a Beagle. Mabel has epilepsy and is a bundle of excitement and anxiety, although not a rescue dog, she is integral to the Buster and Bentley experience. So, let me introduce Buster, Bentley and Mabel (I know, they sound like a trio of gangsters!)
Andrew and I first came across the PDWRA when looking for a companion for Mabel following the death of her surrogate mother, Molly, in 2017. Mabel did not cope well after Molly’s death, and we didn’t want her to be a lone dog, so we started to look for a dog to rescue (note the careful use of the phrase ‘a dog’ in that sentence). An internet search led us to the PDWRA, and we conducted some research on Pug dogs as a breed. Eventually, we decided to apply and were told there might be a six-month wait. Two or three days after applying, we were sent this photo: –
I’ll leave you to guess our reply, but needless to say, the ‘a dog’ became ‘dogs’ and we became a three-dog home. This was Teddy and Winnie. They were our first experience of Pug adoption. Sadly, we only had them for 5 years as they both succumbed to different forms of cancer. Their story is perhaps for another occasion, but for now, on with the Buster, Bentley and Mabel story.
Of course, you can’t ever replace one of your Pugs, but you can give a loving home to another Pug. We decided it was time to provide Mabel with another companion. We applied to PDWRA to adopt again, and as we were at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, PDWRA had introduced online or virtual home inspections. This process was very straightforward and was more of a discussion to ensure we understood what we were taking on and what sort of help and support might be available. We met with a PDWRA volunteer home assessor, and I gave her a virtual tour of our bungalow and garden using my iPhone camera. All was well, and a short while later, we were asked if we would consider taking in two pugs who had been rescued from an unfortunate situation. They were bonded pugs who had jointly experienced neglect and poor treatment (we are not passing judgment, as we don’t know what led to the situation they were in; not all neglect is purposeful). Buster and Bentley had essentially been kept outside without adequate shelter and were not fed regularly. They were underweight and in poor nutritional condition. Buster had had fits, possibly due to being exposed to strong sunlight and unable to shelter. He was almost blind from a condition called pigmentary keratitis, requiring twice-daily Optimune gel to be instilled. Buster also had signs of arthritis in his forelegs and had muscle wasting in his back legs. Both of them had poor dental health and had to have extensive dental clearance work.
Buster and Bentley were, at this point, being fostered by the wonderful fosterer, Sophie. It just so happened that I was due to be in the area where Sophie lived, so I had the opportunity to go and meet Buster and Bentley before we gave a definite yes to them joining us. Here are a couple of photographs of their foster experience.
Sophie continued to foster Buster and Bentley for a few more weeks while they completed their various veterinary treatments. At last, the day came to collect them from Sophie. I was sad for Sophie, as it can’t be easy to let your foster Pugs go, but pleased for us as we started a new phase of life back home, back to being a three-dog home again.
On arrival home, Mabel, Buster and Bentley all introduced each other in the usual dog fashion, extensive sniffing of areas most of us would rather not sniff! They got on well right from the word go. Buster is remarkably confident. He soon discovered the kitchen bin and realised he could easily tip it over and explore its contents. Bentley is more polite and reserved. Since he has been with us, we have come to the conclusion that Bentley is either going or is deaf.
Walking was a favourite pastime as it often led to lots of adoration from passersby. Recently, Buster’s arthritis, combined with a neurological deficit in his lower spine, has left him struggling to get back from walks, but he still tries and still enjoys the smells in the park. The photograph below is in our local park. The statue of the bear is called Bentley Bear. Bentley Pug is expressing his artistic opinion of the statue.
One of the favourite occupations of all three is sleeping, and they often sleep together.
So, what have we learned from adopting Pugs? Well, firstly, if you want a source of unquestioning love and companionship, you couldn’t choose a more apt breed of dog. They are with you always, and I mean that in every sense. You cannot shake off a pug even if you wish to (but why would you?). They are around your feet wherever you are. You can’t move without them springing up, even from the deepest sleep, to follow you. If you go to the bathroom, they come with you. If you are lucky, they will sit outside and wait for you rather than going in with you, but if they stay outside, you will have to endure snorting noises under the bathroom door. It can be disconcerting at first, but you grow to love it. When there is no Pug in the house, it is too quiet. There is a reason the collective noun for a group of Pugs, grumble, exists. It describes the background noise that you will have in your house at all times – though I think it’s more of a rumble than a grumble.
There is a cost to all this love and companionship, and that cost is both emotional and financial. Buster and Bentley came with a range of illnesses that are long-term and need continuing care. Many of these conditions are common in pugs, especially as they age. Vet bills can be expensive. Bentley has an underactive thyroid and has to have daily medication. Buster, as mentioned earlier, has arthritis and eyesight problems that require daily medication. This, in addition to all the usual flea and worming treatments, as well as vaccinations. Our advice is to obtain insurance if possible, or else develop a strong savings habit to cover veterinary bills. As soon as surgery is called for, you are often likely to be into the thousands of pounds territory. Thanks to the wonderful PDWRA, the cost of Buster’s eye ointment, at about £40 a tube, is covered by them as it was an existing condition and wouldn’t be covered by insurance.
To end on a more positive note, despite the healthcare issues and the constant trips to the vet, the rewards of caring for a pug far outweigh the costs. We wouldn’t be without pugs in our lives and are eternally grateful to the PDWRA for allowing us to experience their devotion, companionship and entertaining characteristics. What’s more, please consider adopting older Pugs. They have so much love to give. It can be tempting to go for the sweet little youngsters, but we have found the oldies to be goodies and can’t recommend them enough.
