Photos from the Frenchie Social!

A good time was had by all, judging by the photographic evidence!
Thanks to all our volunteers for working to put on this very popular annual event.

Until next year, keep your Frenchies dry! admonishes

The Frog Princess

How to Help FBRN Win $2,500

Here are instructions for setting up an account for voting for Clyde with a Y for King of the Web.  He has just about lost his first place standing.  Please only set up one account.  Please vote every day through the end of the contest.

Here's where to start.

 And then:

 It's a little time-consuming, but hey!  $2,500!
 Then do this:

 

 Almost done!

There you go!  And you can get another 10 votes just for leaving an encouraging word on Clyde's page under "Say Something."

You don't have to do another thing with your "campaign," but you get a fresh new 10 votes every day for Clyde with a Y.  He's a former foster, living with gusto in the free world.  Help him win this one for us, pleads

The Frog Princess

What's it All About, Ralphie?

Apparently, it's all about schmoozing the crowds on a springtime morning stroll!

Here's what his foster mom said about a recent out and abouting with Ralphie, the wheeled wonder:

"Ralph continues on as King of the World. He's been getting a lot of attention, both positive (yay!!) and weird negative (I think people continue to be afraid of what they are unfamiliar with). Today, Mother's Day, he got gobs of attention on our am walk. People stopping us to discuss and show me pics of their Frenchies. He came home with his head smelling of hand lotions and perfumes. Big player.

He's eating like a champ (are there any Frenchies that don't?). Zipping around inside and keeping himself busy, busy, busy by nosing through the recycling and keeping a keen eye on what the cats are up to and where they're running off to. They've been napping closer to each other as well. Yesterday he got a new black Kong--his new bff-- and a Nylabone Gallileo which he has already made major tooth marks in!

That's pretty much it. Oh, I've been taking lots of pics (which he hates) because I'm determined to get him into the fbrn calendar (full page) this year!"

Oo la la, Ralphie Beefcake!  We can hardly wait to see the photos, leers

The Frog Princess

Obi-Wan Might See Again

We got this encouraging email from a volunteer whose mom had to step in to look after her dogs and FBRN foster when the vol had to undergo an appendectomy.  Like most appendectomies, it wasn't planned for or scheduled beforehand, so we owe her mom a big, "Thank you!" for being there for our foster boy, Obi.

This is a long update, but the news is really good!  We think you will enjoy reading about Obi-Wan's adventures in what we hope are the last days of his blindness:

"First of all, thanks for the well-wishes after my appendix fiasco. The Frenchies suffered the most because they had to go 10 FULL DAYS without a car ride!!! I swear they all moped, but they survived. 

Obi had his visit with the eye doctor yesterday, and she is pretty optimistic that he could regain at least some of his sight with cataract surgery. I loved her, and she charges half-price for rescues, which takes the cost for one eye from $1400 to around $700. She said that a lot of times people can only afford one eye so she chooses the best one after they've been anesthetized and she can really evaluate them in-depth. 

The good news is the ultrasound (they hold a little ultrasound wand directly on his eyeballs, and he was such a good boy!) showed that both of his retinas are still attached, which is not always the case in dogs that have had bad cataracts for years, and his cataracts are really bad. He has no sight at all, but his pupils did eventually constrict with very bright light, so that is another good sign. 

She said he may not get full sight in the eye after surgery because the retina is often damaged to some extent, but that he would most likely be able have significant enough sight to help him get around much better than he does now. 

It would be a huge help for him because the poor boy is REALLY bad at remembering where anything is! He manages to pretty much run into every single wall and piece of furniture every single time he walks anywhere, regardless of the fact that we follow the same routine every single day! His method is to just walk very slowly and use his face as a bumper. 

He also can't seem to follow the sound of a voice; it actually tends to confuse him more, but if you reach your hand down, walk backwards and snap continuously, he is much better at following that. It looks a little silly, but it saves his face a few bumps. Someone suggested that I put some perfume on the furniture at his face level to help him identify where things are. It didn't help, but the furniture and his face smell good. 

Aside from his sight, his health seems very good. I haven't seen any sign at all of seizures, and I actually forget that he was supposed to have had one or two. He is just a very good, sweet happy boy! He LOVES meeting people and gets all excited and wiggly when they pet him. He gets so worked up that when they stop petting him he starts spinning around and barking, trying to get them to keep petting him, he just can't understand why they would stop! 

He really would love to run around and play, it's only his blindness that makes him too hesitant. He hates being left alone and he has the world's most mournful howl to tell you all about it! Luckily he only howls for a short time, he doesn't seem to keep it up the whole time you're out of the room. I keep telling him crying like a little baby girl is not something that a big beefy middle aged man-frog should do, but he doesn't care!  

I haven't gotten any good pictures of him lately, so I included one from the first night he was here. This is the look he gave me after I told him there was no more room on the bed, it made me laugh because he looks positively demonic! This is part of the reason he sleeps on the bed now. (I don't think this particular picture should go on the website, it's not his most flattering look!) I'll take some more after he gets his bath, these white dogs are hard to keep clean in the country."

We included the demonic, "What? No room on the bed?!" photo because we can do as we please, and it pleases us to share that funny photo.  But we also wanted you to see some less outraged pics of this handsome boy.  A very big thank you to everyone who has sponsored Obi-Wan; we thought you'd be happy to learn that he is not going to be pinballing between the furniture and doorframes for much longer, and that's thanks to you!  You always come through for our needy beasts.  We love you for that, gushes

The Frog Princess

A Special Guest--On Martha Stewart's Website!

FBRN grad Angus (formerly Pooter) appears on Martha Stewart's Weddings website!  Ain't he a handsome devil?  Here he is when he was a wee pup in foster care. 

We'll get our rescue featured on Martha somehow or other, vows

The Frog Princess

Alena Needs Some Good Thoughts--Again

We were sorry to hear this from Alena's foster mom the other day:

"
Well, our dear Alena has made such great progress. Her skin no longer itches and her fur is growing back. Her energy level is great and she is very happy ... but today we suffered a setback. I discovered another mass on the original mammary chain - this side was where the very large tumor was first removed when she came to FBRN in November last year. The didn't take the whole chain at the time because her health was so poor, and she needed an emergency spay as well. When I found the tumor on her in January, it was on the opposite side, and they took the whole chain.

So, today, she had the other side taken out. She has been a bit despondent since coming home, and I think she may be confused as to why I left her at the vet to be cut up again. The vet said she did well, and he found a second tumor, so it's a good thing we acted quickly. Alena is such a fireball ... I know she has many years of good life to live yet. She won't let cancer get her down.

Please think healing "pink" vibes for our girl this week while she recovers."

But the photos and news we got in the following days helped us feel a bit better. 

"Yesterday Alena got a HUGE package in the mail from Stephanie and Louie L! What perfect timing! She got a beautiful Fido Fleece jacket, a soft blankie and a boat load of treats that are all grain free. She also got a lovely letter from Louie ...Alena was so happy, and the timing was perfect, since she is recovering from yet another surgery. 

Alena is doing GREAT! She has her signature sparkle back, and I have to remind her to take it easy. We patiently wait for biopsy results! She is actually even more energetic than ever!

Thank you so much Stephanie and Louie ... you are so kind!"

Alena is bouncing back!  Take that, cancer!  You can't keep a good frog down!  We are sending our most intense and healing vibes in Alena's direction. 

Thank you to all who have donated to help Alena over the past few months.  FBRN couldn't do what we do without you, acknowledges

The Frog Princess