Have a Heart!

In recent years, FBRN has seen an influx of dogs with varying degrees of heartworm infestation. Most of these cases were strays from Texas and puppy mill dogs from Missouri. Most recently, FBRN took in Emeril, a dog with such advanced heartworm his abdomen is distended from built-up fluids. Though he looks great in this video, the outlook for Emeril is very bleak. He is a hospice case, and he will live with us until the parasites kill him. Cajun and Alabaster are also terminal hospice heartworm dogs. Aiyana and Can Can are on their second rounds of treatment. Sybhan is on her first round of treatment in foster care. Dulcinea was successfully treated and is now on our available page.

Heartworm is carried by mosquitoes. It’s especially prevalent along the coasts, waterways, and in warm parts of the country, where mosquitoes live year round. 

Most caring dog owners who live in heartworm country already know about heartworm prevention. 

Dulcinea out and about in the backyard. 

We want to be sure that everyone knows about it. Virtually the entire US, and even lower Canada and Alaska, has seen cases of heartworm. Wherever there are mosquitoes, there’s the risk of heartworm. Think your dog doesn’t spend enough time outdoors to be at risk? If you have slapped a mosquito while barbecuing in your backyard or you’ve been kept awake by the buzz of a mosquito in your ear on summer nights, your dog is at risk. Don’t be complacent; at the risk of preaching to the choir, it’s your responsibility to safeguard your pet’s health.

Please, call your vet and ask about heartworm preventatives. If your dog isn’t already on prevention, test to be sure your dog doesn’t have heartworms already, then give the medicine as your vet recommends. Heartworm prevention costs about $6 a month. 

Alabaster patrols the grounds!

Prevention is especially important, because heartworm treatment for dogs who have already been infected is dangerous to the dog. The worms living in the dog’s pulmonary arteries are killed and their bodies decompose and travel through the dog’s system before being eliminated.

Can Can would like to know who you are looking at.

As you can imagine, fragments of worm carcass can create problems of their own as they move through your dog’s body. Not to mention that the treatment is very toxic and the dog must endure crate rest for long periods. 

Because the treatment is effective only for the worms in the final stages, and doesn’t affect the larval stages of the worms, it’s not uncommon for the treatment to have to be repeated, as in the case of fosters Can Can and Aiyana. And when heartworm is advanced, as in Emeril’s case, treatment is useless, because the damage to the heart is irreversible. 

Currently we have half a dozen dogs in our care in varying stages of heartworm infestation and heartworm treatment. We test every incoming dog for the disease, because Frenchies are generally a bit less active than most breeds, so the symptoms of moderate to advanced heartworm infestation—exercise intolerance, coughing on exertion, wheezing, etc.—aren’t always apparent. At your dog’s annual check up, your vet will probably recommend a heartworm test, even if your dog is on the preventative. We recommend that you test your dog for heartworm every year. 

Heartworm treatment wears poor Aiyana out 

Heartworm is preventable. That’s the reason we are so frustrated to see so many cases and why Emeril’s case is so tragic. Please be sure your dogs are on heartworm preventative. And tell your friends.

For more information on heartworm, please visit the American Heartworm Association website: http://www.heartwormsociety.org/

(This information first appeared as a home page on our website 1/4/2012)

Heartworm: You Should Probably Get Some Preventative This Weekend

A Good Samaritan acquired Aiyana through a Craigslist ad.  You can see photos of this poor dog's condition when the Good Samaritan took her home--emaciated and heartworm positive.  Aiyana's kind friend bought her plenty of healthy groceries and prepared her for her move to FBRN and continuing veterinary care for her overall condition and specifically the heartworm.

Aiyana has continued to gain weight in our care and is looking and feeling much better!  In a recent update, her foster mom said:

"Aiyana is doing great. She continues to put on weight and is up to 30lbs now. She loves her foster bro and gets along with him so well. They play all the time and do great on walks together. She will be going back to the vet in a week or so to see if she is healthy enough to start on her heartworm meds. There have been no potty accidents at all in the last few weeks so she is doing great with that. She continues to be the sweetest thing ever and loves to give kisses and hugs!!"

Heartworm treatment is difficult and a long haul.  At the moment, Aiyana, Alabaster (photo, right), Jelly, Elphie and Goji are all receiving heartworm treatment in foster care.  Many of you will remember some of our tough heartworm cases like Gris-Gris Benoit and Muffin and Thalia.  Smeagol also has heartworm but he isn't strong enough to undergo the treatment to get rid of them, so he is living with them.  Some of the hospice kids--like Pixie--have it or did have it.  Bart and Lisa, Harvey, Spangles, Mr. Big, Twila, Violet, Iris, Mouse, Beau, Miz Biz, Crockett, Jolie, and Chumley all came to us with heartworm.

Heartworm used to be something only people in the southern US really worried about.  Not anymore.  Even areas where heartworm was virtually unheard of, like the Pacific Northwest, are now reporting cases in significant numbers, thanks to the increase and ease of travel, among other things. 

Heartworm treatment has changed over the years, and we are very fortunate that even dogs with advanced cases of heartworm, like Muffin and Thalia, have successfully endured their treatment.  But treatment is still painful and can be dangerous, and requires an extended period of rest and special care.

Elphie offers a royal raspberry to the pernicious heartworm as she spends her weeks in crate rest while undergoing treatment.

It's important to provide your dogs and cats with heartworm preventative.  For some people, heartworm preventative is a year-round obligation, and for others it's more seasonal.  For much of the country, now is the time to start your spring/summer preventative treatments--if the robin and the Easter bunny come, can the mosquito be far behind?  Sadly, no.  And some of those little suckers are going to be toting microfilaria that could kill your unprotected Fido if the larva they deposit into your dog develop into heartworms.

You don't want that.

We'd hate to see it.

                                  Goji gets some cuddles from a friend following his initial dose of heartworm treatment.

Talk to your vet and see about getting a prescription for a heartworm preventative.  Somewhere in your area, it's very likely that there's a hungry skeeter looking for a meal.  Maybe in your neighborhood.  Maybe in your backyard.  Maybe buzzing in your Frenchie's ear right this very minute!

(We never hesitate to use fear as a motivator here in the Frog P's kingdom.  If it gets the job done, the ends justify the means, that's our feeling.)

Off to be sure the screens are in,

The Frog Princess

Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit!

It's the first of the month!  That means you should break out the heartworm preventative.

Here are Celine and Elisa, both in their second month of heartworm treatment.  Don't put your dog through this difficult and dangerous protocol.  Dedicate the first of every month to heartworm prevention.

Here's a little more info on heartworm, with love from

The Frog Princess

Enchilada

The most delicious little morsel has just this second--and we mean *just* this second--come to FBRN! 


This red-haired beauty was purchased by someone from Craigslist and surrendered to us. 

We are very sorry to report Enchilada has heartworm.  These things happen in Texas and virtually every other state in the union these days.  If your dog isn't taking heartworm preventative, it's time for a trip to the vet for a test and to start on a good preventative.  The treatment for heartworm can be dangerous and debilitating, so if you love your dog, do what's right!

Back to Enchilada--we don't yet know much about her personality, but she is a very happy looking froglet, don't you agree?  Would you believe this petite senorita is only 13 pounds?  We were also shocked and surprised!  Look for her introduction on the website soon.  And if you like, you can throw her a few coins, a little dinero, to help pay for her vet visit! 

Ai, yi, yi!  Heartworm!  Es no bueno, declares

The Frog Princess

Oh, Do You Know the Muffin Frog?

Sadly, we've come to know all too many dogs like Muffin over the years. Fortunately, a wonderful shelter worker was willing to put her into our hands, and Muffin is doing better now, after only two days on medicine and a day at the vet's in an oxygen tent. Here's her foster mom's story:
"Shelterdog Muffin... made it home with me. It is shocking!!!!!!!!
She is tiny, so skinny, has a bad cold, nasty eyes, no front teeth, many C-section
scars, funny looking feet, etc. Not sure about her disposition yet, when meeting good ole Vinnie she seemed a little on guard? But he is 33 lbs and she must weigh in at a hefty 10 lbs or so?
Here are some pictures, I am going to give her a bath. The Shelter said she has not eaten all week but I made her some chicken and green beans and she ate it! More later. The strange thing is: her body looks so old but her eyes look young? I wonder how old she is, my guess is 8 or 9? She looks sick to me! ...I can tell that at one time she must have been a real looker, she is one of the tiniest Frenchies!"



That night, Muffin met her foster dad like he was Santa Claus and spent the whole evening, after a much needed bath, scootched up next to him watching the tv. The next day, Muffin went to see the vet. It was very bad news for a dog already so sick. Very bad heartworm. Her breathing difficulties when Muffin lay down came from the heartworm. She stayed at the vet's overnight. Here's what her foster mom said when she picked her up:

"What a difference a day makes! My Vet had started Muffin on an aggressive heartworm-treatment that I was unaware of. I guess we misunderstood each other?
Anyway, I was shocked and scared. Let me tell you, the Muffin I picked up an hour ago is not the same dog! She is on Crate-rest for a month and is hooting and hollering to get out. She charged every dog in the waitingroom. She is feisty and breathing so much better, all in 1 day! Amazing! She has pills for her heart and pills for her lungs, other than that she does not go back for a month! She is not well by any means but not half dead anymore, either. She sure does not care for Vinnie at all! Poor Vinnie, he wants to play.
It will be a long road of recovery for Muffin (I call her Peanut) but now there is hope. She weighs more than she looks, she is 16 lbs with all her ribs showing! Her terrible teeth, her shots etc., will be addressed much later.
I have been a wreck over this little dog, it was so scary to watch her struggle for every breath.
Now she is wearing herself out crying and barking to get out of her kennel. This picture I took just now."

Muffin will need plenty of time to feel better, and a whole month in the life of a dog is a very long time! One of our volunteers is knitting her a sweater, while others are sending toys to keep her occupied while she endures the deprivations of The Crate.

We are so happy that this little stray, lost or stolen or dumped after who knows how many litters, is safe and undergoing treatment. We also have a lot of empathy for poor ol' Vinnie, who seems to have missed the boat this time when it comes to friendly foster dogs. We'll keep you posted as we learn more about Muffin, promises

The Frog Princess

Porter

Some days it is wonderful to be a volunteer.  Maybe you meet a bunch of nice people and work together to move a dog to a foster home.  Maybe a dog gets the treatment he needs and feels better right away.  Sometimes someone says something nice.  Or you get a great note from an adopting family whose dog is the love of their life.

And then there are days when you open an email and learn that a dog has been abandoned in a backyard for 5 years.  He's only alive because a neighbor jumped a fence when she saw his unconscious body.  When she called his family, who were on vacation, they said, "Oh, take him.  We don't want him."  And you learn that on top of heartworm and ear infections, he has an enormous malignant tumor in his mouth that is making it difficult for him to eat and breathe.  As if that weren't bad enough, the tumor itself has become infected.  (See the pink thing that kind of looks like a tongue in the photo above?  That's the tumor.)  If the dog were fostering with us, we'd have a hard time not naming him Job.

But he has been named Porter.  He's a beautiful red-headed Frenchie with a loving, happy personality and he has shown no possible reason why anyone could fling him in the backyard and forget him for years--not even providing the bare minimum care of heartworm preventative and yearly exams.  It's a hard day in dog rescue for us.

Very hard day.

Porter's tumor is malignant, but the vet he saw said there is a very high rate of success in removing these tumors.

Porter will be seeing a surgeon in the next few days.  Please keep a good thought for him.   If the surgeon says it is too late for Porter and surgery can't help him, he'll stay with us in hospice care, in a loving home, until it is time to say good-bye.  If we can get him well, we know that--despite his cancer history--there is a family in the world who will make it their business to see that Porter's remaining time on earth are full of the kind of attention, affection and respect that every dog deserves.

He's got a long row to hoe before he can get to the people he'll love, though: he's got to have surgery and be treated for his heartworm and have his ears cleaned and his teeth cleaned.  Please keep him in your thoughts.  And, of course, if you have a couple of bucks lying around, you can always send them to us for his care.

We thank you, and we know Porter would thank you.

By the way, is it just us or is this dog just as handsome as the day is long?  Heavens above, we are such a sucker for a red-haired boy.  Man, he's good looking! sighs

The Frog Princess

About an Old Dog

One of our volunteers was moved to write this about her FBRN graduate Gris-Gris:

1)  Just because a dog is an old, arthritic, with rotten teeth, heartworm, and stinky-breathed stray it doesn't mean he can't be trained.  Gris-boy is house broken and I trained him to sit and come to the call of his squeaky ( I had to figure a way to stop him from acting like Son of Rambo when he saw strange dogs)  So you can teach an old dog new tricks you just have to find his motivator.
2)  Just because a dog is an old, arthritic, with rotten teeth, heartworm, and stinky-breathed stray it doesn't mean he won't be affectionate or bond with you like a puppy.  Gris-Gris follows me pretty much everywhere with a goofy grin on his face and when he, Eva, and I are on the couch together he is the one plastered against me.

The scariest thing for me is knowing he won't be able to stay with me as long as a younger dog, so I thank him every day for coming to live with me.  Which brings me to number 3.

3)  Just because a dog is an old, arthritic, with rotten teeth, heartworm, and stinky-breathed stray it doesn't mean he won't be a positive addition to your family.  Rescuing a dog in need is by far a more rewarding experience than raising a cute cuddlebug of a puppy, in my opinion because you are truly saving a life.   

If you are thinking about adopting a dog, consider one of our aged frogs.  We've got half a dozen or so that are soft and worn around the edges and make very comfy armrests in the evening.

Gris-Gris also does his person the favor of enjoying sno-cones, so she has an excuse for indulging as well.  Here he is with his Sponge-Bob Squarepants Sno-Cone maker.  Chicken flavor for Gris-Gris, mint julep flavor for his mom! Mmm, an apple-cider sno-cone would hit the spot right about now, dreams

The Frog Princess

Tinker's triumph!

Tinker has turned around! She came to us a living mess of owies, sores and ugly behavior, but after several weeks of consistent, careful treatment, her skin is pink
and healing and even her attitude has changed. From not giving a Tinker's damn about what people wanted or thought of her, to a girl with a winning grin and happy demeanor, little Tink is twinkling, now. Let's let her foster mom tell it:



"A twice-daily antibiotic, daily medicated wipe, and twice-weekly medicated shampoo have worked their magic on Tinker's sores--they no longer bleed or ooze pus. Now that she's feeling better, this angry, unhappy snapper has turned into a loving, even-tempered doll-baby who raises her right paw to ask for attention and does happy pirouettes when she sees her leash.

Tinker is awaiting the results of a thyroid test. We're cautiously optimistic that two years of chronic skin issues can be resolved with a daily dose of synthetic hormone.


As she's blossomed in FBRN, Tinker has revealed two quirks (Frenchies don't have faults, you know):

First, she's not interested in being part of a multi-dog household, and had to be moved to a single-dog foster home. There's no 'i' in pack, but there is in Tinker,
and this old gal is happiest when the house is quiet and the love has only to be divided into two. (Not dividing the love at all would be fine with her also.) Second, Tinker is not photogenic. These pictures do not do her justice.



Tinker is a healthy girl whose only issue is her skin, yet she's already racked up close to $500 in vet bills. Summer's coming, bringing with it invoices for heartworm preventative and tick repellent--your donations help FBRN continue to keep those repulsive, dangerous parasites at bay for all our dogs."

Let's hear it for those donations that keep our fosters safe from heartworm, fleas, and worms! If you have dogs, you know how expensive those doses are, and you know
how necessary they are, especially in certain areas of the country and for allergy dogs.

We've got a number of fosters who haven't had anyone offer to sponsor them.

If it's been a little while since you checked out our foster dogs, and it's been a little while since you sent a donation, why not stop by the foster page and drop a little copper in Tinker (or someone else's) little tin cup? Foster parents love to read your messages for "their" dogs, too! It's like a wonderful "way to go!" to hear from a supporter, and see a sponsorship for your own foster.

Foster parents love to read the messages, and so do all the volunteers, including

The Frog Princess

PS Like Tinker's harness? You can get one at our shopping mall!

Thalia (aka Pinkie!)

The life of a foster mom is tough. You always love your foster, and you feel a pang when your foster goes, but every once in a while you get a foster who wraps little tendrils of herself all around your heart. That's how it is for Thalia's foster mom. Here's a note from her about Thalia. The photos are from a recent hydrotherapy appointment.


"This little lady arrived on our doorsteps on February 13, 2009. She was found in a shelter in St. Bernard Parish (outside of New Orleans). Full of heartworms and with a very obvious problem walking, she was set to be put up for adoption. Luckily, FBRN was able to scoop her up. Her name was Ophelia which seemed too tragic, so she was rechristened as Thalia in honor of the Muse of Comedy - however, after gazing on her precious face with her pink cheeks and ears, she was very quickly given the nickname Pinkie which suits her to a T.



Little Pinkie (weighing in at a very thin 18 pounds) was quickly rushed to the vet where she had x-rays taken to determine the cause of her unusual walk. It was then that we discovered an old injury to her spine. I had been told that she may have been bitten by another dog when she was a puppy. This could be possible - she could also have been hit by a car, or a million other things that are in her past now. It was determined that while an orthopedist or neurologist may be able to help, the best course of action for her was physical therapy. But first we had to tackle the heartworms.

Again, because she is so thin and her heartworm disease was pretty advanced, we decided to go with a slow-kill method which involves giving her Heartguard in small doses over several months building her up to be able to take her regular monthly dose. In order to get her ready, she was placed on multiple vitamins and supplements to strengthen her heart and her body.
We have just completed the last split-dose of Heartguard - she will take a whole dose in June. The Heartguard kills off the microfilariae (baby worms) so they can not grow into adults. She does still have adult worms but they will die off over time which will be easier on her system that a fast kill with lots of worms dying at once. So our hope is that she will be completely heartworm free within the next 6-9 months.We were told to expect coughing, lethargy, loss of appetite - not with this girl. She just kept going - she has an amazing little spirit.

We have also started her in physical therapy. Her first visit was last week - she had range of motion and muscle measurements taken, she got some massage, and finally she got to walk on the underwater treadmill. She exercised for a full 12 minutes. We are hoping that this week she will go for 14. While this will not cure her injury, our hope is that it will help her build muscle and improve her coordination. Thalia/Pinkie also receives daily massages at home on her shoulders and neck and has her back legs and joints exercised.
I believe we have seen some improvement and hope that after her initial visits we will go to a maintenance schedule (maybe once every two weeks, or once a month to maintain).

Here is the best thing about Thalia/Pinkie - she just wants to be a good girl. She wants to be close to you, wants to know where you are and what you are doing.
She is so very appreciative of any attention she receives. People ask me all the time how I can give her up - I tell them that she deserves her own special home with her own MaMa and Daddy (she shouldn't have to share with my two bad Frenchie boys). I just don't want her to be overlooked because she may still have some heartworms hanging around or because she walks funny. She is an incredible little dog and with so much love to share.

Right now, Thalia/Pinkie is keeping it real in New Orleans where she enjoys walks along the bayou, sniffing around the French Quarter and sharing an oyster po-boy with her foster dad. Pinkie also likes chewing on nylabones, watching basketball, and sleeping in the big bed. Pinkie does not like the beagles who walk down the street every evening (seriously, she hears them coming from two blocks away). Sadly, we have been told that she sounds like she has been debarked - but she does have the cutest tiny bark I have ever heard - very fierce! Beagles Beware!"

A fiesty little Cajun she is! Keep it up, chere! Keep those streets clear of those floppy eared, long tailed menaces, eggs on

The Frog Princess

WANTED: Best quality Mojo!

Yesterday, FBRN took in a tiny girl from a small shelter which was unable to afford her special needs.  The dog came from a puppy mill, and like most puppy mill dogs, she is in bad shape.  She's in worse shape than most mill dogs.

First of all, she weighs just 10 pounds.  That makes her about 10 pounds underweight.  On a veterinary scale of 1-10, she scores a 2.  That's very poor. 

She also has a bad, bad case of pneumonia.  Fever of 104.

Plus she's been vomiting since she arrived at the shelter a week or so ago.  The vet says she has a slight "droop" to her esophagus, which may be contributing to her vomiting.

And--and this won't surprise anyone who knows anything about the superior health care puppymillers generously provide their breeding stock--she has heartworm.  Of course.

Immediately after being picked up from the shelter (and thank you so much to the shelter for getting in touch with us!) she was off to the vet and she is being given IV antibiotics and fluids.

She doesn't have a name yet, but that will change by the end of the day.  Please send some best quality mojo and juju and keep her in your thoughts.  If you'd like to sponsor her, you can go this page to PayPal some funds to our no-name girl in South Carolina.  Use the top box on the upper right hand side, and you can leave a message for this darling where the form says "Message to seller."

Thank you!  We've seen very, very sick dogs come around very quickly with support and prayers from our friends and volunteers.  We hope to see that happen today for this adorable girl.


The Frog Princess

UPDATE!  This girl's name is Little Biscuit, thanks to someone on our Facebook page! She was keeping food down yesterday, but today she's back to vomiting.  However, she is up and walking around, and her fever has broken!  Her temp is NORMAL and she is all juicy and full of fluids from the IV, but she'll get some more at the vet today before she goes back to her foster mom's.  She's scheduled for a consultation with a specialist, but so far it looks like she may have a defect in her esophagus rather than megaesophagus.  We'll have to wait and see what that means for her.  We won't be able to start her on heartworm treatment until she is healthier.  Please keep on keeping on sending her loving, healing thoughts and wishes, and we'll be working on plumping her up with fattening and healthy treats!  Thank you to everyone who is sending her donations and good vibes.  You have got the power!

FP

12/10 Update:   Little Biscuit passed away despite our best efforts.  She could not overcome the damage to her digestive system.   To all those who sent vibes and good thoughts and who sponsored her vet care, we did all we could, and we thank you for your help.  Sleep tight, Little B.

Breaking News! Good Thoughts Needed for Smeagol!

Smeagol must go to the vet today!This is a photo of Smeagol at the vet's the day he came to FBRN two years ago. He is a member of the NC10 puppymill raid dogs we took in and have placed in loving foster-to-adopt homes.

Over the last two years, Smeagol has become the de facto mascot for FBRN, as he continues to learn about life as a pet after 12 years in a filthy rabbit hutch and later, abandoned in a pen at the far back of the property where he was found almost by accident by his rescuers. He is living with heartworm, luxuriating in his new life, and this morning, he is suffering.

His mom sys he has bloody urine, and an urgent, frequent need to urinate. She is waiting impatiently for her vet to open while our darling Smeagol is shivering and withdrawn.

We know you will keep a good thought and those who are so inclined will send prayers for a quick and easy diagnosis and cure! We will keep the blog posted about his condition.

A worried
Frog Princess

Eloise

This beautiful girl came to us several weeks ago, when her family had to move to a place that didn't allow animals. Though she's healthy and strong, Eloise is a little backward in the social graces--she'll need a home where people will patiently work with her on learning how to react and behave around people. The first time she went to the vet's office, she had an anxiety attack and made lots of horrible sounds and caused a scene. Fortunately, the vet was experienced in treating fearful dogs, and no one lost any blood. Except Eloise, and only what was needed to test her for heartworm.
In order to desensitize her to places like the vet's, Eloise has spent time over the last little while learning about the vet's office and meeting strangers. A friend of Eloise's foster mom works in a vet's office and she volunteered to take Eloise to the office for a few days so she could hang out there and learn about what happens.
Eloise is still leery of strangers, and she likes a life that is predictable and pretty dull, really. She is a quiet girl, but she does like to play. She enjoys running around the backyard and playing with her people. She is very affectionate.
We think she'd do very well in a quiet office, and she'd be a perfect dog for a one dog only family. She'd probably do well with a male her size, but you should know that Eloise is a dominant girl, so any other dogs in the house would have to be willing to defer to her.
Deference and respect. And, from time to time, a pig ear. Is that too much to ask?

We think not, proclaims
The Frog Princess

Thalia

Beautiful Thalia of the spotted ears came to us from a shelter in the New Orleans area.

She is facing some uphill battles, chief among them an advanced case of heartworm. She's also got some mobility issues, and xrays show some damage to a hip and back leg.

However, she is not slowed down even a little bit by her occasionally droopy back end, she just keeps on moving until the back legs catch up with the program of forward movement!

Her foster mom said that this girl, who was supposed to be resting following the spay surgery the shelter did while her foster mom prepared a room for her, instead strolled out into the hallway and down into the living room where she appropriated and peculated all the resident dogs' toys before enticing them into a rousing game of Who's the Boss Around Here? Thankfully, her foster mom discovered the girl's awol status and set her up to recuperate properly. Did she get to take any of the resident dogs' toys with her?

Look at that face. What do you think?

We're willing to reckon she did, offers

The Frog Princess

Send Some Good Thoughts to Snow White today!

Snow White, a darling girl we found at a shelter, will be spayed today and her breeding days will be OVER!

She's going to be very happy to hear that, though it will be a tough few days post-surgery.

Here are the first pix we got of Snow White and the first report from her temporary foster mom, who kept her for just a few days until her long-term foster mom could come and fetch her.


"My husband H. graciously sprung Snow White from the Shelter before handing her over to [her foster mom]. If I hadn't been fostering Brock I would of fostered her. What a sweet, sweet girl she is.

I gave her a bath (which she loved) and she hasn't been able to leave my husband's side (since he is, after all, the one who sprung her). She loves all dogs and LOVES kids. She is going to be really easy to find a home for.

Here are some pics after her bath, getting lots of kisses and well deserved frenchie love! Note the last picture of (front left to right) Snow White, Bea (mine) and FBRN grad Madie who was staying with us for the weekend while her parents went out of town. What a great frenchie convention it was!"

Did you know spays and neuters for Frenchies cost way more than the same procedures for other dogs? In fact, we've been denied grant money because the grantors felt we weren't trying hard enough to find inexpensive spay/neuter options.



Frenchies require a special protocol that spay/neuter clinics are either not set up for or are reluctant to follow. We've lost a number of dogs when the shelters where they were housed insisted on doing the spay/neuter before relinquishing the dogs to us and used the typical protocol for anesthesia. In at least two of these cases, we've provided the protocol we ask our foster families to use but our advice was discounted or ignored and the patient died. You can imagine how we felt.


A big part of the expenses we lay out for our foster dogs is simple spay/neuter surgery, and often the cost of adoption doesn't cover the combined veterinary costs of spay/neuter, initial exam, tests for heartworm and intestinal parasites, let alone any further problems the dog may have, like a hernia or skin infections, or ear obstructions, or really, really bad and infected teeth. We are considering raising the fee to adopt one of our Frenchies, but we really don't want to do that, because it might mean that great families are cut out of the application pool.

Snow White is having her spay surgery today. Please keep a good thought for her, and if you are so inclined, you could put a couple dollars in her sponsor fund; as of this writing, she doesn't have a single sponsor. We'd all really appreciate it!

The Frog Princess

UPDATE Snow White is out from under the anesthetic and waiting for her foster mom to come and take her home! Thanks to everyone for your good thoughts!
FP