My involvement with PDWRA started in 2017 as a first-time adopter. We were willing to take on a pair of pugs, who turned out to be the beautiful, 7 ½ year-old litter sisters, Tasmin (Taz) & Millie.
With the name of Tasmin (on the left), I knew she was meant for me!?
Having taken a serious break from my career managing international recruitment programs for a global tech company, it made it possible for me to devote the time needed for our new additions, and due to this, along with the following volunteering developments, I never returned to my career!
The following year, I was approached by the trustees and asked if I would join the core team as a Voluntary Area Coordinator (VAC) for the busiest, South region. It was full-on, learning on the go, in practical, policy and process terms, as well as accelerating my understanding about this most special breed. Before I knew it, I had matched and rehomed 50 gorgeous pugs and another volunteer, Natalie, was brought onboard to help me.
I oversaw every step of the often emotional and difficult journey for those handing over their pugs, managing the enthusiastic waiting list of adopters until pugs were successfully matched to them, also providing advice and support to foster carers across the 10 counties particularly over pug health and welfare matters. Also, organising volunteer transport generally at short-notice, I soon became an expert at using the AA route planner and the very important motorway service station locations, one of which we collected our precious girls from!
Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before I discovered a sinister lump developing on Taz which was discovered to be an aggressive Mast Cell Tumour. She went through surgeries and chemo as she deserved to live longer than that terrible disease had originally planned for her. It was a demanding time while still looking after the South region’s rehoming, nursing Taz and making many vital decisions for her though with the confidence of her specialists at Fitzpatrick Referrals Oncology, where I felt we were living for a while due to the frequent appointments & emergency trips in between. We couldn’t praise or thank them enough for all their expertise and personal support throughout it.
We decided to adopt another beautiful soul, Dottie, so that Millie would have a familiar companion, and sister, in the future, as she’d always known that.
Sadly, we lost Taz 6 months later, after she’d been with us for just under 2 years. At this difficult time I had to take a break from the ‘on-call’ role of a VAC, though it remained joyful and satisfying to see how the pugs I had placed, got on in their forever homes through our internal Facebook group for PDWRA adopters and fosterers, with parents I had known as names on an application form!
We were asked to foster short-term on a few urgent occasions, for bonded-pairs as there are generally fewer homes able to accommodate two, also Millie doesn’t generally welcome new pugs to our home! However, we overcame that, and ‘failed’ as fosterers twice, by adopting 2 pairs of boys, Percy and Benny in 2020 (above) then Bob and Frank (below) 2 years later, after we sadly lost Percy to lymphoma.
They were only supposed to be with us as an emergency for a few nights but before we knew it they were so settled and we couldn’t bear for them to go through another move.
During these years we’ve experienced dentals for all, numerous eye-ulcers, 2 types of cancer, seizures, a heart-murmur, arthritis, pug myelopathy and a little biter who looks like butter-wouldn’t-melt, and is 95% transformed!!
Whether adoptees or foster pugs, they were all overweight when they arrived, 2 of the boys were obese, so weight-loss management became a familiar experience too. We learn so much from what this exceptional breed throws at us!
After the break as a VAC, I was asked if I’d consider returning to help a few others with PDWRA’s Social Media, most importantly Facebook which I’ve managed it since, mostly on my own, for 4 years. It’s a 7 day/week commitment, gathering and producing content relating to the charity’s work and achievements, as well as covering only a sample of the many heart-warming pug rescue and adoption stories that our followers and supporters enjoy to hear about, so much.
Our following has increased considerably, from 23,000 to 36,000 and queries and comments from the public need to be responded to whenever they arise, so it’s been really useful having gained the knowledge I have from my roles in the charity.
Managing the Website publishing side too, alongside Facebook, I’m able to draw on our invaluable technical expert Steve, whenever needed, and also work closely with PDWRA’s digital marketing agency’s owner, Robin, a pug owner and supporter, who volunteers the agency’s services to produce our bi-monthly newsletters.
I was also invited to serve as a Trustee (2021 – 2022), on top of these daily operational roles, though I had to step back after a year to re-balance my volunteering workload against my home-life especially due to our expanded and ageing grumble.
My husband, Ian, also volunteers whenever needed, as a regular Transporter at the weekends, so he meets many other wonderful volunteers and adopters across the country. Often I do too when our home near to the infamous M25 is a handover point, so I get to meet a fair number of the newer pugs on their journeys, which I also follow their progress and adventures for our published success stories.
It’s meant long hours, juggling plates and learning never stops, but has been so worthwhile and satisfying, for all the pugs that desperately need us!
This article is dedicated to our beloved Taz & Percy.
Both with us for too short a time, only 2 years, respectively!
For latest vacancy information for specific volunteer roles, please go to:
Vacancies | The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association (pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk)
If you would like to volunteer locally to you, please see details of the 3 options; transporting, home-checking or fundraising, and to apply at:
Volunteering for PDWRA | The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association (pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk)
If you’re considering fostering, please see more details and apply at:
Fostering | The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association (pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk)
