Once voted Britain’s ugliest dog, Peggy has gone on to become one of the most beautiful ambassadors for pet charities worldwide.
The star of 2024’s Deadpool and Wolverine stopped at Calgary charity Parachutes for Pets on April 24, lending a bit of her shine towards the organization’s mission of keeping families together with their pets.
Holly and Luke Middleton, Peggy’s owners, said that when they travel to various conventions, they aim to support local charities like animal shelters.
The Middletons, who live in a small village in the north of England, said that they were just normal people who didn’t plan for the fame Peggy has achieved, but are happy to use some of that towards helping others.
“When you go to these conventions, you meet people from all different walks of life with different stories. Some people really, really love Peggy and the films, and you can see how important it is and how much it means to them,” said Luke Middleton.
“It just feels like the right thing to do, trying to give something back and just do our bit. I suppose it’s just the way we’re raised.”
Although Thursday’s visit was a media extravaganza, Holly Middleton said that they also try to use their social media following, which numbers in the millions, to promote good causes.
“We do like to put it on our social media and just make people in the area or in that country aware that they’re doing this for pets, and any, any little thing that you can do to help would be wonderful,” Middleton said.
Visit is important for Parachutes for Pets’ mission
Matt Di Paola with Parachutes for Pets said that when they heard that Peggy would be in Calgary attending the Calgary Expo, and then would be coming to visit the charity, he was incredibly excited.
“Right away, my response was ‘Oh, my God, I’ve seen the movie three times.’ I still remember actually seeing the movie, and then immediately my wife just hitting me at the theatre and being like, ‘the dog’s so ugly.’ Like, I know, isn’t it great?” Di Paola said.
He said when it comes to helping pet owners and their pets, there are no ugly animals in the eyes of Parachutes for Pets.
“Peggy’s obviously a star, but Peggy’s still somebody’s pet. Peggy will go home tonight, or go to the hotel tonight, and not give a hoot of what happened today. Will not care about the cameras or the tour. She’ll just be happy to be with her family,” Di Paola said.
“People who are not pet owners don’t necessarily understand. But especially everybody around here who has a pet, we know that that pet is our life.”
He said bringing additional attention to the wraparound support that Parachutes for Pets provides pets and families in need was incredibly important to the mission of the organization.
“When one person finds out, they tell two friends, and they tell four friends. It expands, and in this particular case, the money that we get from Peggy will go to a number of different things, whether it’s our initiative called the Wolf Pack, whether it’s our food bank in the back,” he said.
Calgarians wanting a chance to meet and greet Peggy for themselves can visit her at the Calgary Expo, which runs from April 24 to 27, or they can catch her as the honorary paw-rade marshal for the annual Calgary Expo Parade of Wonders on April 25.
For more information on Parachutes for Pets, see www.parachutesforpets.com.
