Hughie, from naughty to therapy dog!

by Yasmin | 12 Sep, 2021 | Blog, Rescue Stories

One of our lovely adoptive homes now, who had sadly lost their beloved pug Pippa to cancer at only 6 years old, hadn’t ever considered a rescue pug, but were put in touch with their local PDWRA Coordinator Jane. She told them about Hughie, who had a brother Louie, both surrendered by an elderly owner who had them since puppies but could no longer cope with them. They were very active & naughty together, 😆 though could be independent from each other too!

They went to see Hughie at his foster home & it was love at first sight! Hughie’s adoptive Mum tells us:
❤️ Hughie soon settled in with us; however, it soon became apparent that Hughie needed a little more training; he hated skateboards motorbikes other dogs trundling suitcases and the doorbell! He has improved, but the doorbell is still a work in progress! 😬 He really is the most loving boy though and I thought he would make a great therapy dog. I found a care home that would take him and Hughie was assessed by the vet (fortunately no doorbell at the vets! 😅). He passed with flying colours, but then Covid happened.

I’m looking forward to visiting the home once I am able to, with Hughie. I’m sure the residents will love him as much as we do. Meantime, he now has an older brother Frank and they absolutely adore each other! ❤️

Stella gets trim!

by Yasmin | 13 Aug, 2021 | Blog, Rescue Stories

Stella was surrendered to PDWRA as her owners weren’t able to care for her special needs. She had wobbly legs, suffered from incontinence and unfortunately, was obese. She needed a special family to take care of her, which we found. They worked to trim her down, and this has helped enormously with her mobility and weak legs.

Her mum is so pleased with her progress she said “Stella used to walk with her bottom sloped towards the ground because she couldn’t take the weight on her back legs. She’s now walking perfectly with just a bit of a limp from her dodgy leg and she runs now too!! We can even see a waist appearing!” 😉👏

Stella can get to the fridge quicker than anyone if she knows there’s fish in there!!! She starts spinning round with excitement 😁. She loves a trip to the seaside and can get across a beach in no time! She takes herself off for a paddle too then sits down in the water and lets the smaller waves break over her back.

Stella’s so responsive when you talk to her but her facial expressions make it look like you’re telling her the best bit of gossip ever!”

She’s a beautiful girl and we’re so happy that Stella’s now able to get the most out of life, and with her fantastic forever family. 💝

Gorgeous Gazza!

by Yasmin | 1 Aug, 2021 | Blog, Rescue Stories

By Anne:
When I get a phone call from another PDWRA volunteer that starts with “Helen told me to give you a call”…. I never know what’s coming next!
This time it was to see if I would take a 3 year old male pug with behavioural issues. He had bouts of aggression outside the home and his owners were struggling to deal with him. He had lived with other members of their family for much of his life, and discovering this change in him after he returned, had to think long and hard before deciding to surrender him to PDWRA as they knew an experienced and capable home would be found for him.
So, off I went, as I couldn’t resist a challenge! I arrived at the house to collect him and after standing outside for the best part of ten minutes out came a raging black pug with a full-face muzzle ready to attack the world! I got him in the back of my car and headed for home!

Now I’ve worked with dogs for over 30 years and have seen many things but never have I seen a dog as broken as Gazza. I got him out of the car and removed the muzzle, took him into the garden and let him go, five hours later he was still sitting at the furthest point away from the house barking at any person he could see moving, just wouldn’t come near anyone, or even look at anyone, eventually I got him into the house, he actually tip-toed around the edge of the room, he was so frightened he didn’t want anyone to notice him. For 2 days he refused all attempts to feed him, he was covered in fleas despite being told he’d been treated!
On the 3rd day he ate his tea and was brave enough to crawl across the floor to lie at my feet, though still wouldn’t have anything to do with his new Dad, just legged it out of the house to the top of the garden as soon as he walked into the room. It was almost 3 weeks before he could touch Gazza. During this time no pressure was put on him to do anything he didn’t want to do.

Finally, I decided it was time to take him out. He was petrified, even with my very confident pugs around him, he lunged at people, barking all the time. He was fine if dogs didn’t get too close but terrified if they did. I did question if it was worth taking him out as he was so stressed. But I felt he did get some benefit, so we continued. Luckily where I walk, I am well known and everyone was brilliant in trying to build his confidence,. He stopped his barking and just tried to rush past people, huffing under his breath which was actually quite funny!
Just over 2 months later he’s been on a caravan holiday, greets visitors both human and canine coming into the house, never ever wears a muzzle, runs free off the lead when it’s suitable, has just about stopped lunging at anyone or anything, doesn’t bark or huff! His stress levels are much less though still learning and is by no means a perfect pug, but who wants perfection anyway?! 😉

I know the owner tried other rescues who refused to take him because of his behaviour. Thank goodness for PDWRA, who knows what would have happened otherwise!? As I sit here writing this, he’s stretched out on a dog bed, fast asleep with his little pink pig under his chin, thank goodness for pug welfare, all the wonderful people who welcome the pugs into their homes to get them ready for a new life, everyone who donates towards that care and takes part in all the wonderful fundraising, the trustees for keeping the ship sailing, as without them all, PDWRA wouldn’t exist, neither would the phone calls that start with, Helen suggested I give you a call……” 💝🐾