Betty’s Story – Part 2

by Janet | 14 Aug, 2020 | Rescue Stories

Still overweight, Betty, originally surrendered to us by an elderly couple who purchased her on ‘Gumtree’, was losing weight gradually and safely while in foster care. She has since been adopted by a loving family committed to continuing her healthy regime. They also had a rescue labrador called Blake.  He too was overweight when they adopted him. Our Betty seems to have given Blake a new lease of life too!

Their adoptive Mum updates us on how they’re getting on:

“Betty’s now going to bed when Blake does and stays downstairs to be with him, even though all the doors are open and she’s free to come upstairs. To be fair though, Betty is always first to come up and give us our wake-up call in the morning.

She’s turning into a proper little snuggle bunny now! Blake, who had all our attention before, doesn’t care if she’s getting fussed over and he isn’t, or that Betty’s on our laps. He’s even started to pick up and play with some of her toys, which isn’t bad for a grumpy old bloke of a dog, who had just turned 14!

He spends a lot of time looking completely bemused by Betty – Labradors have the ability to raise one eyebrow in a “What the actual heck was that?…” kind of way. But he lets her in his bed, also waits patiently at her side when she eats, in the hope that there may be some extra scraps left in her bowl…. So far, he’s been very disappointed on that score, but he waits just the same.

Betty has successfully shed nearly all of those 3kgs, and is thrilled with her new found energy, enabling her and Blake to have a wonderful, healthy life together.”

Betty’s Story – Part 1

by Janet | 10 Aug, 2020 | Rescue Stories

This not-so-little lady, Betty, was purchased by a retired couple who saw her advertised on ‘Gumtree’. They thought taking her for walks would help their own failing health, as well as with her weight – but sadly this wasn’t the case.

6 months on, Betty had gained about 3kgs (probably the equivalent of us gaining about 3 stones). The couple knew they had made a mistake and weren’t helping her – they hadn’t researched the breed. They were feeding her human food along with her own, and they lived in a flat so there was no garden to explore or exercise in.  A family member contacted us to see if we could help – and of course we could.

Betty was only 3 years old, but moved like a pug 3 times her age. She was panting heavily and struggling to breathe but was keen to kiss me all over whilst I talked to her owners when I collected her. They were genuinely fond of Betty, who was bursting with personality, and I told them all about the bootcamp she would soon be starting.

This was Betty after a half-hour drive to her foster carers house. Her amazing foster carers soon started to whip her into shape with a steady, nutritious diet and regular walks, along with another pug to play with, which always helps, of course!

Betty has been adopted by a loving family, who will tell us in Part 2 of her story, how she’s getting on.

Sid’s story – update

by Janet | 3 Aug, 2020 | Rescue Stories

This was written by Liz, who adopted Sid recently:

Our family have had the great pleasure to be the parents of a rescue pug again. We cannot express the enrichment this has had to a family, learning how to accept this beautiful pug in different ways. As a family it has made us all work as a team to make the pug feel loved and wanted, in return the pug gives you unconditional love, making the whole family calm and complete.

For me personally I am not complete without a pug. I have owned one, or more, for fifty-four years and I would not have it any other way. Our family’s new addition this year, Sid, has made me unbelievably happy and complete. He is exciting, loving, clever and trains me every day to what he wants and what is acceptable.  I cannot tell you how much love there is between me and my pug but it is amazing!

I am thankful every day to the Pug Welfare & Rescue for always being there to fill the gaps for over twenty-five years. Rescue pugs have more love to give than anything I have ever witnessed. Thank you again PDWRA!

Read the first part of Sid’s story below:

This is Sid, adopted by a wonderful couple, Liz and David, 15 years after adopting their first pug.  They then went on to adopt a pair of pugs from us 5 years later.

Sid had been lovingly cared for in foster during lockdown, and instantly made himself right at home with Liz and David.  He has been learning how to get treats from Mum and Dad who really adore him, unsurprisingly.

Liz also supports PDWRA by making craft items to fundraise for pugs in need, via our auction group.  We are delighted to have them all as part of our PDWRA family, and Sid couldn’t have found himself a more perfect home.

Morris’ Story – Part 2

by Janet | 1 Aug, 2020 | Rescue Stories

Morris’ story – Part 2

It was unusual that PDWRA couldn’t find an interim foster home or an adopter for Morris. Meantime after collecting the timid, toothless gent, we enjoyed making him feel at home with my other 3 pugs too. He came with little but now has his own bed, bowls, harnesses and toys to call his own.

Since having him, Morris has slowly come out of his shell. He follows Minnie pug around everywhere, and they can often be found in the garden together chasing after the birds. He loves on occasion to play with a squeaky toy or a ball and chases it around the kitchen. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think he would want to play with toys, he was so anxious. He learnt to bark at the TV along with Minnie, which is so funny, as Morris has a strange bark, due to his tongue always hanging out.

Well, Morris was my mum’s maiden name, so I suspected I was meant to have him, that it was meant to be? PDWRA agreed so he’s going nowhere. I certainly wouldn’t be without my Morris now, who I love dearly.

On warm afternoons, once they have all had lunch, my nearly blind Percy and Morris can be found on the bed in the warm conservatory sound asleep side by side, so lovely, two old boys together in their retirement home! Roly is my other boy who can’t control his rear legs or functions, so commands a lot of my attention which is why I wasn’t planning to increase my grumble, but I’m glad I have, and Morris can at least have some fun and mischief with his puggie family for the rest of his days.

Morris’ story – Part 1 of 2

by Janet | 26 Jul, 2020 | Rescue Stories

Meet Morris.

Part 1 of 2 – written by one of our Volunteers:

Morris was surrendered when his owner was taken into a hospice and would not be returning home again.  PDWRA already knew Morris, having rescued and rehomed him years ago.  He’s now an elderly boy with no teeth and very arthritic.  His little tongue hangs out and he was very timid and anxious when I went to collect him.

PDWRA were looking for a suitable foster and ultimately an adopter.  Morris had few possessions, and so he came home with me, to be welcomed by my 3 other rescue pugs, 2 boys and the boss, Minnie.

Morris was fed on quite poor-quality tinned food, so I changed his diet and took him along to the vets for a health assessment.  He needed vaccinating and was given high strength tablets for his joints, which he now has daily.

Unfortunately, nobody wanted to foster or adopt him at the time, across the whole country, and I already had my hands full.  One of my boys was nearly blind and needed the love he was deprived of, caged for his early years, he had no idea what life was about; the other was progressively losing control of his rear end.  They needed dedicated care and I had no plan or capability to take on any more.

Next time we’ll find out what happened to Morris …