Iris hanging out with the kittens
Meet our new Trustee – Anne McDonald
My name is Anne and I’ve recently become a Trustee for PDWRA. This is a bit about me…
I’ve been a dog owner from the age of four, my grandad’s dog had puppies and he gave me one for my birthday. She was a mixed breed called Trixie, since then I’ve never been without a dog. My first dog after getting married to Dave was my beautiful Rottweiler Roxy. She was joined by another Rottweiler and a Labrador; I’ve also owned a Bullmastiff and a Border Terrier. I now have pugs!!
I’ve worked as a Local Authority Dog Warden since 1989; I was the first full time warden to be employed at the authority and during my first year over 600 stray dogs were picked up and taken to our kennel. Needless to say, I wasn’t the most popular person at the authority! I absolutely love my job, it can be very challenging, heartbreaking at times but also so rewarding.
During the working day I can be involved with stray dogs, dangerous dogs, noisy dogs, cruelty, dogs causing a nuisance, dealing with animal licences including Riding Establishments and the keeping of performing/ dangerous animals, and anything else that the office thinks I can do. I’m also a fully qualified pest control technician and a licensing officer.
I have two grown up boys, one’s a history teacher and the other works in theatre. I like fast cars and fast horses, I’ve ridden since I was 9 years old and did work with horses in my younger days, I was a qualified teacher and did enjoy teaching. I’ve owned my own horses, usually thoroughbreds, but sold up after breaking my back in 2010. Anyone who has horses knows it’s in the blood, so I do ride as often as I can. My other great love is the theatre, and I go as often as I can, either local or to the West End.
Anne’s first Pug – Lucy
My first introduction to pugs was when I got called to a property where the occupant had died and a pug was left inside. His name was Charlie Chan and what a character he was. I remember contacting PDWRA and the lovely lady I spoke to, who was very well spoken, said “my dear, are you absolutely sure that it’s a pug?!“ They subsequently came to collect him, as we have always tried to work with breed rescues.
How did I end up living with pugs? Well, I had been dealing with a backstreet breeder for a while, removing dogs she no longer wanted. On one of the visits, a little fawn pug was in a tiny green cat house completely wired up with hardly enough room to turn around. I said to the owner that if she no longer wanted her I’d take her to rescue. 18 months later there were two pugs, this time she’d put them in a shed. Again, I suggested letting me have them but she said no, however, I was on my way to the kennels with a Labrador when she phoned to say she no longer wanted the pugs as they kept jumping up on her! Honestly, I think the poor Labrador got whiplash as I turned around so fast, and this is how I ended up with Lucy and her daughter Minnie.
Neither had ever been walked, or seen the great outdoors, and a short while later Mikey was born to Minnie, as she had been mated before I had her. I ended up paying for a caesarean and of course I kept the one puppy! I’d never really thought about having a pug or two, as I didn’t really know much about the breed. I’ve always loved big breeds and terriers, which was where my knowledge was, but was thinking ‘they are just dogs aren’t they? How difficult can they be?!’ Haha, as any pug owner knows, they are totally unique. How silly was I?!
Dave was at work when I brought them home and had no idea they would be joining us! He didn’t think he liked pugs, that was 24 years ago! We then adopted Alfie, who was from Leicester Animal Aid, the charity we use for our stray dogs. Alfie had two unsuccessful homes after being gifted to the centre, then I was greeted with ‘Anne you’ve got pugs, haven’t you?!’ So, Alfie came to live with us, a super little pug who was never a problem in any way. He lived to the grand old age of 15.
Bertie & Iris out for a walk
After losing Lucy, Minnie and Mikey, I bought pugs for the very first time, which are the two I’ve got now, Bertie and Iris. I have adopted a pug from PDWRA, but sadly lost him aged 8. Percy came to me as a pug that would bite, and he did, quite a few times! Although I’ve had many foster pugs I wasn’t happy about Percy moving on, so I adopted him. He was quirky, but lovely! He absolutely adored Dave and never made any attempt to bite him!
Bertie and Iris are now 8 years old, they have been to Crufts, to discover dogs and on the PDWRA stand. They are typical pugs and are happy to go anywhere, as long as they are with you, they will travel around London on the tube or bus, they love Richmond Park and always enjoy a beach walk with an ice cream at the end. They live with 4 cats and 2 tortoises, their very best friend is Thor, a German Shepherd I rescued as a very underweight puppy who now lives with my friend. This is one of my happy endings!
I have been involved with PDWRA since 2014, first as a volunteer, then as a VAC. When I knew they were looking for Trustees I applied, as I felt my knowledge of dogs, dog behaviour and dog law could be helpful. Aside from that, doing the other roles gives me an insight into what goes on and how much work the volunteers do.
Going forward I would like to see a joined-up charity, with everyone working together and helping each other. It’s so important to have a charity dedicated to the breed, with volunteers who are very knowledgeable and able to give helpful advice.
Percy & Alfie in the great outdoors
