Pete Wicks joined The Only Way Is Essex in 2015 and since then hasn’t really been out of the headlines. But he admits he’s happiest when he’s at home with his dogs and the “TV stuff” fits around what he’s truly passionate about: dogs and animal welfare.

Having been actively involved in campaigning for animal welfare for some time, he recently travelled to South Korea with the Humane Society International to help shut down a dog meat farm, saving over 170 dogs in the process. Last year, he published a book, For the Love of Frenchies, inspired by his own beloved dogs, Eric and Ernest (and Peggy, adopted a year ago).

Both Eric and Peggy are rescues. Eric was rescued from Lithuania after being smuggled into the UK to be sold. Pete first met him while doing press work with his previous Frenchie, Ernest, who sadly died young. Eric’s brother had already been adopted, and Pete “just couldn’t leave him behind.”

Peggy came from a charity called French Bulldog Saviours, for which Pete is an ambassador. She had lost one eye due to untreated infection. “When I saw her, I fell in love,” Pete said. “She met Eric, and the two just bonded instantly.”

Eric and Peggy couldn’t be more different — Eric is calm and submissive, while Peggy is full of energy. “She’s a lunatic,” Pete laughs. “But she’s the boss without a doubt.”

Pete has spoken openly about the darker side of the French Bulldog boom. “They’ve become a designer breed, and people buy them because they’re trendy, not because they understand them. Bad breeding leads to serious health issues. People want the look but don’t want the vet bills — then they dump them.”

He strongly supports the “adopt, don’t shop” message. “Owning a dog is a responsibility people need to understand. It’s not a purchase — it’s a life.” He believes licensing and banning third-party puppy sales are necessary steps forward.

Pete’s love for dogs began when he was ten, with a rescue dog named Arnie. His first Frenchie, Ernest, taught him hard lessons about irresponsible breeding. “He had heart problems from a bad breeder and died at three. That experience changed me.”

Since then, Pete has become a passionate advocate for rescue dogs. His travels to Romania and South Korea to save strays and shut down dog meat farms were “life-changing.”

“No video could prepare me for the reality,” he recalls. “The sounds, the smells, the fear in their eyes. It broke my heart — but rescuing 174 dogs that day gave me purpose.”

One of those dogs, Adam, stayed with Pete for a few days after arriving in the UK. “He’d never seen a sofa or grass before,” Pete said. “To see him play for the first time reminded me why I do this.”

Despite a busy TV schedule, Pete prioritizes his rescue work. “Some things are more important than others,” he admits. His mum and grandmother help care for Eric and Peggy when he’s away.

He FaceTimes them daily when he’s traveling. “People think I’m mad, but they go nuts when they hear my voice. Peggy runs around showing me her toys.”

When asked what dogs can teach people, Pete says, “Love — unconditional love. Dogs don’t care about fame, clothes, or mistakes. They just want love. If people were more like that, the world would be a better place.”

For Pete, his dogs aren’t just pets — they’re his family. “My dogs are my life,” he says simply.