The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association
Run entirely by volunteers & public donations
Adoption
We are pleased to be open again in select regions, for new adoption applications following a necessary, temporary pause to handling nationwide general applications. This enabled us to focus on pug-specific adoption applications, shortening waiting times for the large number of pugs we had in our care, onto their forever homes.
This also meant we needed to rehome more older pugs & those with very individual or special-needs, plus bonded-pairs for which we tend to receive fewer applications for.
You will find the latest details about which regions of the country we are accepting general adoption applications from, in our Adoption section, as well as any latest pug-specific homes appeals.
Fostering
Good foster homes are essential in our rehoming process, particularly those that can support age-related or special-needs, or accommodate bonded-pairs, as the number of pugs surrendered to us in these categories has been relatively high.
For specific areas of the country that we are accepting new fostering applications for, PDWRA provides ongoing support with vet costs covered. You may offer short or long-term care, for which the individual needs of the pugs will be matched to your home.
Our Fostering section provides full details and considerations for fostering, as well as the areas where we’d welcome new foster homes from, also where you can apply directly online.
Surrendering
In our phased re-opening, we are able to receive pugs needing to be surrendered from our busiest region, the South East, East of England, West & East Midlands. All pugs requiring rehoming will be matched to our nationwide waiting lists.
The difficult decision for our temporary closure was taken in order to provide the best welfare solutions to the very high number of pugs in our care earlier this year, with the resources available to us. By limiting the processing of new general adoption applications this enabled the escalation of specific applicants to adopt matched pugs, sooner, and reduce the volume waiting in our care.
Please go to our Surrendering section for latest information and contact details.
Volunteering
There are a number of ways that you can volunteer to support PDWRA, including:
- Home checking, by assessing adoptive or foster applicants in your near locality, according to rehoming requirements.
- Transporting, involves the collection, delivery and safe transportation of a PDWRA pug on its journey to its new home.
We are open to applications in specific areas of the country so please see our Volunteering section for the latest details and where you can apply directly.
We also have vacancies for specific, dedicated roles in the charity, that you can apply for too.
Volunteering
There are a number of ways that you can volunteer to support PDWRA, including:
- Home checking, by assessing adoptive or foster applicants in your near locality, according to rehoming requirements.
- Transporting, involves the collection, delivery and safe transportation of a PDWRA pug on its journey to its new home.
We are open to applications in specific areas of the country so please see our Volunteering section for the latest details and where you can apply directly.
We also have vacancies for specific, dedicated roles in the charity, that you can apply for too.
Latest PDWRA News
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome
Written by Helen McKee PDWRA Veterinary Advisor I am sure all of you, and anyone who has had a pug, is familiar with the term ‘BOAS’. It stands for Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome’ It is a large topic and there is much to discuss about the condition, but...
Emma’s Dewdney Fundraising
Emma raises funds for the PDWRA as part of her company's Volunteer Week! Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of taking part in a few volunteer initiatives that have been both meaningful and memorable. One of the highlights was volunteering at a high school in...
Diana’s Tribute to Lottie
The life and times of Little Lottie, aka Crazy Girl, aka Stinky Minky. It was the 23rd of August 2018 when I pulled into an Asda car park in Newmarket to collect “the goods”, aka Lottie, an approximately 3–5-year-old fawn pug. She was my second pug adopted from the...
Alan’s Story of Adopting Soks
How did you first hear about the PDWRA? We hadn’t heard of the PDWRA until a few years ago, they had a stall at a dog show raising funds. How did you come to make the decision to adopt through the PDWRA? We contacted several charities hoping to adopt a small dog in...
Valerie’s Story of Adopting Betty
In April’s newsletter you may have read the article about Laura & her pug Ethel and how her pug story began 40 years ago. Well following on from that, as Laura is my daughter, here is my story of how I discovered Pug Welfare and my pug journey. Having bought from...
Hot Weather Alerts & Advice for our Pugs’ Health.
As temperatures have been rising to above 30°C in parts of England for the first time in 2025, we are expecting further very warm or even hot conditions into the weekend with maximums over 30°C, before cooler and fresher air returns from the West. This transition may...
When is the Right Time to Say Goodbye?
Article by Helen McKee (MRCVS) PDWRA Vet Advisor. How can I tell if my pet still has a good quality of life? All pet owners want their companion to have a good life. As your pet gets older, or if they’re diagnosed with a serious illness, you may worry that they’re...
Our Journey as Pug Parents – Wendy Ribbons and Martha
Way back, I have wanted to have a dog, particularly a pug but I felt blessed to have neighbours who have a grumble and allowed us to care for them when they went away. These were great times. My partner was also very keen to have a dog, but a big one, particularly a...
Our Journey with the PDWRA – Dave & Sandra The Pugs!!
Why pugs, why rescue, why the PDWRA? This for us began a long time ago, my eldest son (now 16) fell in love with pugs when he was 4 after meeting a very handsome pug on the Isle of Wight called Dave. A love affair began, which never dwindled, however we could never...
PDWRA’s Facebook Mega Auction
Our Facebook Mega Auction raises essential funds for our charity’s Pugs in Need throughout the year!
With 5,500 members, please Join the group if you are not a member already to see what delightful items are on auction or to be raffled.
As well as bidding, you are able to donate your own items to be auctioned, or raffled too!
We have featured some fantastic antique and vintage collectibles among with the typical goodies that are donated and often hand-made by our generous supporters, personalised, affordable pet portrait drawings to be commissioned plus special items raffled at £2 per ticket, such as Holiday Chalet stays and latest models of popular Air Fryers…. do join in!
Friends of Welfare
Become a Friend of Welfare today!
Your membership provides us with reliable, much-needed and regular funds towards ever increasing costs for Pugs in our Care.
