FINN IS MISSING Help wanted in west Denver area

One of our grads is missing! Finn, aka Phinneas Frogg, is on the loose in Denver, CO. He’s been missing since about 8 am, Thursday, Aug. 31, from the 1300 block of W. Center Ave, in west Denver. The nearest big intersection is Alameda and Santa Fe.




Finn is a big boy, 26 lbs., with an ear that hangs sideways from ablation surgery. He’s hard of hearing on that side.




He’s dark brindle with a white chest. We believe Finn to be about 2-3 years old. Finn has an Avid microchip.




If you can help in the search, please call 303-594-2100.

Bugsy

We are delighted to welcome the very handsome 5 year-old Bugsy to FBRN's foster roster!

Poor Bugsy's family broke up when his owner took a job in NYC and simply could not find an apartment that would allow her to take Bugsy with her. She left him with her boyfriend, who continues to live in Southern CA, but having Bugsy didn't work out. His mom flew back to SoCal to tearfully surrender Bugsy.


Bugsy is a bit underweight right now. He will be neutered very shortly. He's a little behind on some of his shots, and in a pre-surgery assessment, the vet found that he had the most pronounced elongated palate she'd ever seen. He will undergo surgery to correct his palate problem shortly.


Bugsy is experiencing some serious anxiety and in the first day or so with us, he refused to eat. He's being kept calm in a small, darkened, private room with foster family interaction every 3 hours during the day. He's already responding very well to his foster mom, and his foster dad is looking forward to a day when Bugsy will warm up to him, too. Bugsy has had a rough little while, but we are confident that he'll be feeling better shortly. We'll have a better sense of his personality when he's settled into a routine and recovered from his neuter surgery.


We are always troubled to see a Frenchie saddened and anxious by his change in circumstance. However, we intend to smother Bugsy with attention and distract him from his nerves and sorrow. If you'd like to offer a sweet and bereft boy some support, you can visit his foster page when it comes up later this week, or simply click on the bone to the left of the foster page. Chin up, young Bugsy, there are happy days around the corner! Somewhere there's a family aching for an adorable Bug-boy, and we are going to find them for you, never fear. We enjoy thinking of the happiness in store for a family somewhere when they learn they have been selected to be Bugsy's new people. It's a lovely thought to carry into the weekend, thinks
The Frog Princess

Hudson Takes a Lesson

Here's a wonderful update on Hudson, formerly known as Lucky. She was surrendered to us at just 14 weeks in NYC. Her owner quickly realized he did not have the time to devote to a very busy Frenchie puppy, so he turned her over to us. She was purchased from a pet store, and came to us very thin, with mange, and though very charming, with a number of socialization issues her foster home worked hard to ameliorate. As you see, she's still accustomed to going her own way, but the following report gives evidence of a much improved girl. We are touched by the story of nervous Hudson approaching the too-enthusiastic trainer. What a good girl! Hudson lives with her Frenchie sister, Piper, in New York State.

"Hudson graduated basic obedience a few weeks ago. In case anyone out there needs a smile, we thought we would send a photo of her in her graduation cap! And as you can all see from her "class photo" she was not voted most out going in her class!

She did really well! It was a positive reinforcemnent program--no leash corrections--and she responded really well. And the fact that it was a nice small class helped too I think. She is doing EXCELLENTLY with the "leave it" command. Now poor Piper can chew a nylabone without it being stolen right out of her mouth! And you will appreciate this: when we were working on the "come" command in class, I was holding the leash one night and the trainer was calling her. Well, he was being just a little too exuberant with her, really clapping his hands and yelling excitedly. So of course she was flat on the floor! But, I am proud to say that she's a little trooper and CRAWLED across the floor to him! Yay! She went all the way over to him and when she got there she stood up! So she has REALLY come a long way with strangers! One night in PetSmart she even let a stranger approach her and pet her and she didn't cower at all! The trainer even remarked that he's seen a huge difference in her since the start of the class.

We're still working with her and plan on going back in the fall for intermediate. Piper doesn't know it yet but she may be going back also for a refresher course!"

What remarkable and gratifying things our families accomplish with and for their Frenchies! We believe that Hudson's new smarts will inspire Piper with an interest in more education. We expect to see a photo by Christmastime of two vivacious Frenchie girls wearing their caps and gowns! Congratulations on all your achievements, Hudson, from a pleased and proud
Frog Princess

Dewey Dreams

Dewey is growing accustomed to life in a home. He has learned that dog beds are nicer than the cold floor, and couches and comfy pillows and a binky are even nicer than a dog bed. Here is Dewey, dreaming of his new family, dreaming of a day filled with tug and toys and bully sticks and happiness in the arms of a beautiful lady.


It's a wonderful dream, and if our record of placing Frenchies in perfect homes is any predictor of the future, one that may well be on its way to coming true. What do you think? Is there room in your home for an upbeat, possibility thinker?

If you are panting for the opportunity to make a home for this handsome and snuggly loverduck, go to his available page and check out his posting. Could be that he's the dog of your dreams! He's certainly appeared in a few of the dreams of
The Frog Princess

Pixie's Progress

Here is that adorable, innocent, tiny wee girl snatched from the jaws of death at a Texas shelter. Given only 72 hours to be claimed or killed, she was slated for euthanasia when she found herself plucked up and her future redirected.

A visit to the vet revealed her age to be between 5 and 8. Her teeth are worn, broken and decayed to the point that they can't be used to more accurately pinpoint her age. She has cataracts and her eyes don't produce tears consistently, so she has received medicine for that.

Pixie has an awful case of sarcoptic mange, and she's been given medicine and is having Malaseb baths to soothe her patchy, red and itchy skin. She's also suffering from a respiratory infection, and she's taking an antibiotic to clear up her coughing and wheezing.
But with all that is challenging her immune system, Miss P. is nonetheless a tenacious, persistent and unsinkable little devil-dog. She will not be contained by mere man-made barriers. Oh, no. If there's a cushy bed at stake, she's going to get to it! Here's a note from her foster mom describing her experience with this diminutive but determined Frenchie:

"She may be a little gal but she is full of spunk!! I put her in the laundry room the first two days and on day two she chewed the trim off the door, so on Tuesday I crated her in a metal crate--the kind you see at dog shows that can be folded up? She ate her way out of the crate!!!! She literally bent the metal with the few teeth she has left! So that brings me to last night. I gave her the entire laundry room and the hallway with a metal pressure baby gate at the end of the hall.
When I woke up this morning she had chewed the gate until the pressure points came off the wall and she swung it up, ran under it, and made herself a comfy bed in the living room ....lol
She has mastered the trick of how to get out of everything and she is only 14.7lb. She is 9" tall and 14" long. She may look innocent but she is an energetic little
thing :)"

We have a feeling that Miss Pixie has had enough of a life in containment. We think she is ready to start living life on her own terms, and about time, too! We tip our crown to the foster mom and family of this wild dog who is reducing their home to toothpicks and scrap metal. They take Pixie's escape artisanry in stride and the attendant destruction without complaint. What a high caliber of volunteers we have in FBRN. Watch the website and blog for further notes about Pixie's progress, and if you are moved to do so, you can join Pixie's supporters in donating towards the costs of her veterinary treatment. You might even, possibly, choose to fund the replacement of a certain mangled wire crate! suggests
The Frog Princess

Stanley Steams In

Change is hard. It's inevitable, everyone knows that, but it's hard. Some of us tolerate change more readily than others. This is Stanley, a Frenchie boy who has been acting out his resistance to change by misbehaving in really unacceptable ways.

In short, the boy's been biting. He's bitten twice. But before we pass judgment on this 4 year old, there are some things we should know about him. For the first 3 years of his life he was an only dog, living the life of the Family Scion in New York. He got used to being the Prince of the City, the Cock of the Walk, the Talk of the Town.

Then last year, his unchallenged role as Big Cheese ended.
His people brought in a girl. A girl Frenchie. As if one most excellent Frenchie were somehow insufficient. Poor Stanley. Of course, as an outsider, we completely understand the impulse to acquire multiple Frenchies. The Frenchie has something in common with a certain well-known brand of potato chip. One charming, gorgeous, funny little Frenchie is simply not enough.

However peeved and insulted he may have been at first, Stanley adjusted. He eventually came to grasp that the little blot on the family escutcheon was not going to disappear, and Stanley grew to tolerate the the idea of a shared household. Actually, having a girl around wasn't so bad.

Having a girl around wasn't so bad, and Stanley and his sis were doing pretty well together. Then the family decided if two Frenchies is good, surely three would be marvellous! Three Frenchies! Frenchies are like flowers, no? When arranging flowers, one chooses odd numbers for maximum beauty and aesthetic satisfaction. Three Frenchies. A bouquet! A little male Frenchie to finish off the family. Three Frenchies is just right.



Wrong. Stanley grew grumpy. He began to act out. He was feeling displaced, perhaps, and he was not happy. Then add to Stanley's sense of displacement and disgruntlement the family's move from New York to North Carolina, and, well.


At this point in the story, last straws were observed falling onto the back of the Frenchie, Stanley. His family was unequipped to handle a biting boy and weren't sure how to deal with him, how to discipline or train him. So he came to FBRN.

In our care, he'll be undergoing some evaluation and he'll be staying with a foster family familiar with the process of rehabilitating spoiled and snippy Frenchies. We will work with Stanley until he is fit to be placed with a family.

Change is tough. We avoid it when we can. Some Frenchies really thrive on stability and consistency while others make wonderful travelers and accept new situations and new siblings without turning a hair. Frenchies are various and individual in their make-up, and that is part of the charm and much of the challenge of loving and living with one. Do check in with us as the weeks roll on and see how Stanley fares on his streetcar ride to stellar behavior at the hands of our foster family in the dear old south part of the land of
The Frog Princess

LaRue Meets a Lady

LaRue has come a long way since his first day with FBRN. From his life in a breeding operation he was sold to a family, where he was confused and insecure. His coping skills were overmatched by the active young children in the home, and his family decided it would be best if he could be rehabilitated as a pet before being placed again. Though LaRue came to us as a refusenik of family life, he has since learned a great deal about how to manage his fears of the world outside a cage, he is gaining socialization skills with both people and other dogs, and he's learning about toys. His foster mom sent us a note to go with some pictures of LaRue and her granddaughter playing together, as evidence of his growing confidence and recovery.
"My daughter came in from Japan for a visit and I was anxious to see how Rue would do. They came in around 4pm and I just let him get used to new people in the house. The next morning I had my granddaughter sit on the floor while I got him out. He brought his favorite ball to her and put it in her lap. She played with him for about a half hour and they had a blast. I guess he likes kids."
We would like to point out that even The Frog Princess, a paragon of Emily Postality when it comes to interpersonal dealings, does not enjoy the company of every person, adult or child, we meet. It may be too much to expect that LaRue will like every child or person, but we think it is very clear that LaRue likes this child, and we hope that he'll have the opportunity to meet many more playful children and kind adults in his life. If you'd like to sponsor M. LaRue as he continues down the path to proper pet deportment, please visit his page and introduce yourself. You can tell him you have a mutual friend in
The Frog Princess

Rocky's Day at the Lake

Here is our magnificent foster dog, Rocky, watching the shores of Lake Somethingeruther for swimmers in distress. Note the look of intensity, the sense of readiness, the muscled energy prepared for release upon a moment's notice. The bather has no idea he is being observed with such care. No, he splashes in a carefree, thoughtless way, heedless of his lifeguard, who stands prepared to dash hellbent-for-leather down the dunes and into the water to effect a rescue.
Alas for the unlucky bather, Rocky can only watch in sad dismay as the swimmer sinks below the waves. Rocky has forgotten about the little matter of his lead, fixed to the "No Swimming" sign, decisively preventing any attempts at a dash to the water. Also that he cannot swim without his vest on. These are the rules of a day at the lake. Very dampening to a young Frenchie's fantasies, we can assure you.
Ah, well. Rocky resumes his self-imposed chore. Soon, perhaps, some lovely Frenchie mermaid will rise above the tiny waves and make an attempt to lure him to a watery end with her siren song. Then Rocky will be glad of his fixture to the sign and he will merely eye her from afar whilst she fruitlessly warbles her murderous melody.
O! the life of the imagination is a rich life, indeed, young Rocky! We hope the home and family you are dreaming of comes to you quickly. Meanwhile, there are sea monsters to spy and off-lead dogs to intimidate on the shores of Somethingeruther by the shining big sea water, in the land of
The Frog Princess

Frances Feels Fine!

The photo here may seem to belie the title of this post, but Frances really is feeling much better than she was when we first took her in. She's been suffering the effects of Irritable Bowel Syndrome for over a year, and her owners and her vets had thrown everything but the kitchen sink at poor Frances. Still, she was vomiting and having awful diarrhea. From 21 pounds a year ago to the very, very thin 13 pounds you see here, Frances had obviously not responded well to the treatments.
Her foster mom took Franny to a bulldog specialist first, who suggested that Franny was overmedicated, and then referred them to a veterinary internist. Life in the big city may have its frustrations, but it also means that specialists and veterinary internists can be found without having to drive to another province or state!
The internist agreed with the Bully vet and prescribed a bland diet, featuring cooked and raw vegetables and cottage cheese. And voila! Franny has had no tummy troubles at all since then!

She is 8 years-old and is learning about housetraining--her foster mom says Frances goes outside and just sits there, anxiously looking up at her and trying to figure out why they are outdoors. Then they go back in the house and Frances finds a corner to do her private business in.
Her foster mom is confident that Franny can learn about housebreaking, and apart from that little bad habit, she is a really swell little dog. She's happy to be with people, excited to be with other dogs, is patient with the children, and is a lovely, perky, happy little thing.
Of course, eating 4 times a day to put on weight, playing with the other Frenchies and supervising the children has consequences for even the healthiest little Frenchie. Plenty of sleep is a big part of Frances' treatment plan, and she is very committed to getting well!
Frances is our newest foster girl, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the FBRN fold. If you'd like to help with the costs of her veterinary care, please go to the website foster page, and click on the bone at the left. Tell us your donation is for Frances and leave a note with your well-wishes for her. She's got a way to go before she's well again, and even the boldest and bravest Frenchie girls can use a little encouragement, says
The Frog Princess

Ollie Update

Here's that ladykiller Oliver, who made conquests all over the City of Brotherly Love while he was in foster care. He's living quite a lovely life in Georgia now, going to work with his dad in his dad's treehouse office, strutting around the decking and threatening to keelhaul any Barbary bluejay or squirrel buccaneers who might make the mistake of trying to commandeer his vessel in the air. Oliver relies on dead reckoning to guide his ship through the green and waving seas below the proud and slicing prow.
His Frenchie sister Stella ably assists him in his duties as a swashbuckling aerie pirate, now that he has taught her how to climb up onto their own little fo'c'sle and sail through the trees into dark, uncharted regions while their Captain dad busies himself with maps and sextants and other work related to the purchase of stuffies and limes and hardtack and rum for his crew.
The old Frenchie, Frankie, even gets in the game, delivering a black spot to Oliver once or twice a day and then hobbling back to the house for another nap in front of the air conditioner.
The neighbors are frequently treated to strains of "15 Men on a Dead Man's Chest" and "What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor?" as well as other shanties as Ollie and Stella perform their various shiply tasks. "Garrr, lads, the sailing life is a hard life," says Oliver, "but my life, my lover, my lady--is the sea."

We are always gratified to receive updates on our fosters' lives and we encourage adopters to share their photos and news with their dogs' foster moms, who will pass them along to
The Frog Princess

A Puppy at Home

Here's one of Lillie's Frenchador puppies, Cookie, relaxing in her new home.
Her new mom says Abigail is showing Cookie all about life in her new digs. As you see, Cookie is a typical puppy, lively and enjoying the attention of her people and all curious and sniffy one moment,
and jelly-filled and completely dead to the world the next! Growing and learning and running and playing = puppy poopedness!
We confess to having a peculiar and utterly unwarranted proprietary interest in these sleek little otterly wigglers, and we hope that their families will continue to send updates and photos as the puppies grow into themselves. Happy days, young Cookie! Listen to Abigail, always carry a handkerchief and let a smile be your umbrella, advises your loving
Frog Princess

Emma Has a Ball

Emma is waiting for you to release her ball. She's ready.



She's ready.


Hey! She's ready!


Annnnnnd
GO!









This is Emma's favorite ball. She can only have it for 5 minutes at a time, because she just gets too excited. Look at the whites of her eyes, here!




Emma, dear! Enjoy your youthful energy while you may. The sight of your speeding form has brought on a sudden desire for a cool drink and a shady rest in a peaceful bower. And possibly some nice blueberries. Skinless only, please, for
The Frog Princess

Cooper Keeps His Cool

Here's an FBRN alumnus demonstrating how a French Bulldog can stay cool when it is too darned hot to go outside or even move around too much. This is Cooper, adopted in February of 2004, and of all the Frenchies we know, he's one of the most expressive. He's a handsome devil, and he's almost always playing to the camera. On the day these photos were taken, Cooper was to do an outdoor photo shoot. But he proved to be recalcitrant, and spent the entire time chowing down on grass instead of lifting his speaking bonny brown eyes to the camera. However, upon discovering that the feather bed was available for lounging in, Cooper took advantage of his chance to get some alone time with mom and the camera and some snuggly softness without having to share with Molly and Bailey, his Staffordshire housemates. He's a smug little beast, isn't he?

Cooper's been having some trouble this summer with back problems. A good percentage of Frenchies fall victim to back problems and they really ought not to jump off beds or decks or out of truck cabs the way lots of dogs do. Some French bulldogs live their whole lives without a bit of trouble, but if your Frenchie ever shows signs of back pain, including a hunched back, inability or difficulty moving one or both back legs or staggering, immediately take him to the vet. Minutes and hours count and can make a big difference in the degree of recovery your Frenchie will enjoy as well as the length of his recovery time.

Once nearly universally considered cause for euthanasia, degenerative disc disease can be surgically treated and many dogs have been able to thrive following surgery and a period of recovery. Acupuncture can be helpful in some cases of back trouble. Even if dogs do not get prompt veterinary care and paralysis sets in, euthanasia is not inevitable. FBRN has placed two wonderful dogs, Mea and Stewart, who use carts to get around, and our friend Babycakes, who was placed through the Frenchie Outpost, also uses a cart.

Disk damage can occur over time, so it's important to limit the daily exposure to impact your Frenchie experiences. Prevention is a big part of making sure your Frenchie never has to go through surgery or extended periods of crate rest. Of course, active and madcap young Frenchies are not easy to restrain, and exercise is important. Good muscle tone can help support backs and spines, so don't be over-cautious. However, minor changes in your home and habits can help minimize daily impact. If your Frenchie likes to sleep on the bed with you, consider training him to use a ramp or a series of steps to get down, or lift him down. If the couch is your dog's favorite napping spot, be sure to have an ottoman or footstool available so the distance between couch and floor is reduced. Provide your Frenchie with an especially comfy bed that will be more appealing than the couch or your favorite chair. Of course, crating your Frenchie while you are gone will eliminate any jumping during the time you are away.

We are happy to report that we have yet to experience any pain in our spinal region, unless you count one nasty, sleepless night at a neighboring castle, but that's a story for another time featuring an unusual number of mattresses and a teeny little legume. Speaking of stories, we are convinced you have a million of them, Cooper, and there's a position as Jester waiting for you anytime you want it in the Court of
The Frog Princess

Daisy Dives In

There are dogs we just take a liking to. We've never met them; we only know them through the notes their foster families send. There's something about the dogs we fall for that communicates itself through images and stories, and it's as if there's a vibration we pick up. Daisy is one of those dogs for us. Here's a photo of Daisy cooling her tummy on the pebbly beach of the shallow pond her foster mom put in for her dogs on the property she owns.

And here are two notes from her foster mom we pasted together from July and August. Frenchies don't swim well, as a rule, which is why Daisy is watched so carefully when she is around the water.

"Well, she's certainly becoming quite the social butterfly. She makes up to strangers, male or female, within seconds and wants her belly rubbed. She gets in their laps and is just soooo sweet. Its hard to believe she was ever aggressive with anyone. She's putting her front feet in the pond so I have to watch her like a hawk. I don't know if she can swim or not and I'm afraid to take the chance. I can definitely say she is going to be an asset to anyone that adopts her. All she needed was patience and understanding."

"Well, she fell in the pond going after that ball yesterday! She was out before anybody could get to her, and she hasn't gone near it since. Whew!
My 13 yr. old granddaughter is able to carry her around, and there have been no, none, nada, episodes of any kind of aggression; she is a sweet little dog. I think her biggest issue is going to be the leaking, poor little thing."
(Daisy takes medicine to control a problem with incontinence.)

We like a girl who's not afraid to try things! She is a high-flyer, and she wasn't going to let any little ol' water feature deter her from fetching her ball! But she's also her own dog. She tried the water. It wasn't her cuppa tea. She doesn't have to demonstrate her independence from her foster family's rules by flaunting them over and over again. This dog is not, after all, demented! She's just got some spunk, some vim, some zippity doo dah that's gotta come out from time to time, in between the belly rubs on demand and the getting toted about like a happy, furry, lazy ol' sack of potatoes in the arms of her personal slave.
Gentle readers, this dog is not restive or aggressive. She is merely assertive. And, as those of us who attended assertiveness training seminars in a long-ago time remember, assertiveness is a desirable trait. It indicates self-respect and leaves a space for the listener to be respected, as well.
Yup. Daisy is the kind of, well, the kind of bitch we aspire to be! She's a model for us all, in that she knows what she wants and she doesn't mind getting her wee feet wet to do it. We shall ponder her example this evening as we enjoy a cooling dip in our happy place among the lilypads and the reeds and rushes in our own darling pond, listening to the familiar twilight sounds of critters preparing for another night in the land of
The Frog Princess

Carlin Comes to Call

When 5 year-old Carlin came to us, he had a few problems. Like his comedian namesake, he is a big joker, funny and charming, and he is also a snuggler and a cuddler and a lovebug, but his life as an outside dog left him with some undesirable behaviors. We discovered he had quite a few medical issues, as well. He has been to a vet and some of those problems are gone, but some will take time to address. In these photos, it appears to us that Carlin's looking all over for some of what he lost at the vet's last week.
Let's see: he got rid of some nasty parasites when he was wormed--no great loss, there. He gave up a little skin when the doctor scraped for mange. He was relieved of a polyp from his rectum (we doubt he'll miss that little thing!) In the course of his dental cleaning, 3 loose and infected teeth were pulled. And everyone knows what he lost during his neuter. Poor Carlin! He must have felt a little like he'd been mugged when he got out of there! From stem to stern, eartip to tiptoe, he'd been inspected, detected, resected and disinfected!

But if he lost some things, he also got a goody bag of some medicine to take home with him. Some for a yeast infection--the skin scraping showed he had no mange, but plenty of yeast! He also got an antibiotic and a steroid to help get his itchiness and hair loss under control. As you can see in the photos, Carlin has lost a good bit of hair, and his nub is not black with fur--it's leathery and hairless, and it may never grow hair again.
The vet suggested that a testicular tumor can lead to too much estrogen and result in the symptoms of allergies Carlin exhibits, like hair loss and red and itchy skin, as well as his enlarged nipples.
Once his incision has healed, he'll require medicated baths, but we hope that with his neutering and the baths and medicine he'll soon be suffering less from the maddening itchies and will be regrowing his luxuriant Samsonesque locks. Once Carlin is feeling better, we'll look into doing something about the polyps in his ears. There may be more surgery in his future.

Looking at his sweet and friendly face, it's not easy to believe that Carlin has a tendency to be possessive of his people. At the vet's he growled with some menace at another volunteer who approached his foster mom, and at home he'll sit on her lap and growl at any dogs who pass too closely. Though we were told Carlin has barrier aggression, his foster mom has not yet found that to be the case, and reports that he crates well and tolerates her reaching in and touching him and his toys without a problem, and she can close and open the door easily.

He has yet to receive any obedience training, but he walks nicely on a lead. Carlin was an outside dog, and he will be learning some house manners while he's in foster care. His foster family will work on redirecting or eliminating his unwanted behaviors. His foster mom notes with some awe that he produces an enormous quantity of a ferociously offensive effluvia, and she will be addressing that just as quickly as she can. Possibly a change of diet will help.

We are delighted that we were here for Carlin when he came to us. Today is the 5th anniversary of FBRN's founding, and we are so grateful to our network of volunteers, donors and sponsors who make it possible to prepare a dog like Carlin for life as a pet. As he recovers from his surgery and treatments, we'll check in with him again. Though we doubt he'll have found anything he lost at the nice vet's, it could be he'll have found something interesting to show
The Frog Princess