TWO great FBRN events! The NINTH Annual New England Social, and LENTIL FEST!

Get out your hat and find some twine to tie it down, because there are TWO fantastic FBRN events on the horizon that will blow you and your hat all the way into the middle of June!

First is the fantastic, fun-filled, multi-day extravaganza to benefit FBRN, The Children's Craniofacial Association, and Street Tails Rescue. Lentil Fest takes place May 2-5 in the Philadelphia area, with many entertaining events, including Celebrity Bowling, an "Everything but the Fleas" Flea Market, and three big nights of bands, bands, bands! Check it out on Lentil Fest's Facebook page.

And if you aren't worn to a complete nub after that, plan on traveling to Willington, CT to meet up with Frenchie enthusiasts of all stripes for FBRN's NINTH--wow!--NINTH Annual New England Social!  Bring your friendly frogdog!  Meet  FBRN grads, FBRN volunteers, supporters, and froggy fanatics and their funny Frenchies for a day-long festival of Frenchie foolishness!  Please RSVP to LaurieB76 at aol dot com by May 6, so we can organize enough goodie bags, beverages, and eats.  Find out more about the New England French Bulldog Social here!

Please keep a good thought for Yasha Inu

UPDATE:  The news is not at all what we'd hoped for.  Yasha has an inoperable mass in her bowels.   Please keep her in your thoughts.  She'll be a hospice girl and live out her days as a beloved family member with her foster family.

Adorable little Yasha Inu was surrendered when her owner moved to Hawai'i.

She's been suffering from serious diarrhea for weeks, and courses of Flagyl and other drugs have had no effect at all.  She's currently on a special diet to see if her problems can be controlled that way.

We are afraid that she may have IBD or IBS, two different diagnoses that present similarly.  Many of you will remember Slava, the terribly sick girl we brought in to FBRN several years ago.  Slava recently passed away after taking a serious downturn.

Yasha's foster mom says this:  "Yasha has very bad diarrhea. She has been treated with Flagyl, Tylan, Clavamox for a UTI, Forti Flora and B12. She shows signs of muscle wasting and nutritional deficiencies.

We are in the middle of a food trial as one of the vets she saw thought her constant diarrhea was allergies. Based on the muscle wasting and coat condition, and the fact that she comes to you and lays at your feet after she poops so you can clean her up, I bet this has been a pretty chronic thing for her. Poor sweetie reminds me of Slava.

Yasha is probably a very sweet girl. She enjoys eating, going for walks and gets super happy when I come home .... But overall my personal impression of her is she looks and acts sick; listless and sad.

We headed up to my vet Monday night; did a fecal culture and a full blood panel for pancreatitis and a pancreatic enzyme test. All her blood work came back Tuesday as good, in fact damn near perfect. We hope to get the results today or tomorrow for the fecal.

We hope to find a bacterial cause and if not we will do a sonogram to check for a mass and/or swelling. My vet seems to think the issue is in the small intestine.

I have another call into the vet today, because the blood concerns me, but when I called them Monday and Wednesday they reminded me that “fresh blood” is probably due to straining and not to panic.

My vet is not ruling out IBD/IBS, just wants all the facts and to rule out infection and then a mass before we start down the long twisting path of IBD/IBS treatment in dogs."


This poor girl could really use some support.  Please keep a good thought for Yasha, pleads


The Frog Princess

Lentil gets a big story in the paper!

Read about Lentil, our Internet phenomenon, in a Philadelphia Daily News article here

And this is what the article looked like in the paper! 

If you haven't checked out his Facebook page yet, don't waste another minute!  The videos and photos are so uplifting!  In May, there will be a weekend-long celebration of Lentil called Lentilfest, for the benefit of the Children's Craniofacial Association, Street Tails Animal Rescue, and FBRN.  It happens the weekend of May 3, in the Northern Liberties area of Philadelphia.  Find out more about it on the My Name is Lentil Facebook page!

The Frog Princess

Bayou Brings the Fun

Brand-new foster girl Bayou is reveling in her new stash of toys and treats from an FBRN volunteer and her frogdog who found out Bayou needed some grain-free treats to keep her itchies at bay, plus some toys and a new harness and lead!  It's all for Bayou!  Doesn't she look thrilled?

Bayou spends most of her day trying to figure out how to get someone to offer her a tummy rub, but she also enjoys hanging out and watching a little tv.
In addition to a skin infection related to allergies, her ears are being treated for yeastie beasties who took up residence and don't pay rent!  No squatters!  We don't want any fungus among us.

Once her skin is cleared up, Bayou will be undergoing a spay surgery. Meanwhile, she'll be taking up an exercise regimen to bring her figure down to a svelte 17 or 18 pounds, down from her current zaftig 21.  The weight loss might help with her breathing, which is not terrible but could be better.

Her foster mom reports that Bayou is the happiest little Frenchie in all of the great state of Texas!  She got to go to work with her foster mom and stole every heart in the joint.  Bayou will be on the foster page later this week.  Look for her sweet face and a funny video of Bayou yodeling for upsies onto the couch!

Blondes really do have more fun, sighs

The Frog Princess

PS  Here's a video of Bayou pleading for a lift! 

Declan is Available!

The handsome and charming Declan is on the available page!

At 18 months old, Declan is still a puppy.  He's got a few quirks, like thinking he's big enough to take on the Newfie at the park, but with dogs his own size and on his own turf, he's just a playboy.

Declan should go to a home where he will be well-secured.  He and a partner in crime got loose in his original family and they attacked a dog in the neighborhood.  Little kids are likely to leave doors and gates unlatched, so we are looking for a dog-savvy family with older children if there are kids in the home.

His foster mom wrote us a note to update us on Declan.  This is what she said:

"Sweet Declan, the Frenchie-saurus has moved to the available page! I think he will make someone such a wonderful dog.
He is so happy and laid back in the house, but on walks he still gets overly exited when he sees other dogs. He seems to want to play with the smaller dogs, but he acts like he wants to eat the big dogs, so he needs to go to a home with dogs his size or smaller.




He gets along wonderfully with my frenchies and my other FBRN foster Emry, and even my parents' two tiny 4lb chihuahuas. He comes to work with me almost every day and loves hanging out with me and his foster sister, Tilly."

If you have been looking for a healthy young frogdog, and you can travel to Nebraska, consider applying for Declan, advises

The Frog Princess

Get a Bat Signal Pin!

- The first 140 supporters to donate $25 to Lenny the Lentil will receive a special Bat Signal pin-back button! 100% of the donation goes to FBRN's foster Frenchies in need.
- Email a copy of your Paypal donation receipt along with your correct shipping address to letitia.wallace[at]fbrn[dot]net with "Bat Signal" in the subject line.
- Follow Lentil's foster adventure at http://mynameislentil.blogspot.com
The pin design was specially commissioned from Jill Krawczak / Barrel of Monkeys for the 2012 French Bulldog National Specialty welcome bags by Meli Bowersox. With Meli's generous approval, she has allowed FBRN to commission a limited edition set of these pins, exclusively for supporting FBRN!

If you missed the French Bulldog national specialty event in October, here's a chance to get a special pin to show everyone you support rescue frogs!  A $25 donation to Lenny for his upcoming surgery will put you in a select group of Frenchie fanciers who can wear their hearts on their sleeves.  Or lapel.  Or decolletage or handbag or backpack or even attached to a barrette or a hat!  We still have a few dozen left, but they are moving quickly!


The Frog Princess

Get a Look at These Stars!

Maybe you watched the Oscars yesterday?  Pfft.  All those beautiful people got nuthin' on these fabulous mugs!

And though you  are unlikely to get a chance to get to be best friends with any of the stars in Hollywood, you have a chance to bring one of these adorable available pooches home to hang out and maybe share a bowl of popcorn while you snuggle up to watch some Best Picture nominees.  Take a look at the video one of our volunteers put together of this week's frogs. 

Then check out their bios on our available dogs page.  Could be you'll find a perfect supporting player for your biopic.

Mr. Demille!  Mr. Demille!  Guess who's ready for her close-up?

The Frog Princess

Bringing Home a Baby

From the FBRN homepage, 2/22/13

Bringing Home Baby

(Kim Barnett is an FBRN volunteer, a dog trainer, and owner of Follow My Lead USA. She wrote this article for Adopt A Boxer Rescue. We are grateful for her permission to republish it here. Recently, we have taken in quite a few Frenchies whose owners decided to have children, but could not make the pairing of dog and kids work. We hope that prospective parents will educate themselves on how to successfully introduce a baby to the family, and how to raise their kids with a dog in the house so more Frenchies can live out their lives with the people they know and love.)
Several of my clients have asked for help in the preparation of their dogs for the arrival of a baby or when problems have arisen after bringing a new baby home from the hospital. Identifying any problem areas or behavior issues and addressing them well ahead of time can make for a stress free environment once the big day arrives. The main consideration is that new babies bring home new smells, sounds and a constant supply of visitors. Here are some key points to consider about our dogs.
1. Are they basically obedient; will they come, sit ( down is a bonus), stay and leave on command?
2. Are they well behaved when visitors arrive or become over excited, is there any guarding or protective behavior?
3. How does my dog react in general to babies and young children, and to what degree is that a concern?
Once identified, any issues can be worked on in good time with the help of a trainer if needed. Think about basic routines that a new baby will need and decide how your dogs will fit into this. If they can't fit in, decide on a simple plan. For example, when you are feeding, changing diapers, or bathing a baby, where will your dogs be and how will they know how to behave appropriately? Training a dog to go into their crate or bed to enjoy a treat or toy while these duties are carried out will make for a much easier and stress-free time for all.
That said, a dog shouldn't be routinely shut away when challenges occur or they cannot learn how to behave. Teach your dogs that they cannot enter the baby's room without permission and that waiting on the other side of the threshold with an open door is a way for them to feel connected while everyone remains safe. Dogs that react to cries and screams can be desensitized using training CDs.
Once baby is born it's a good idea to bring home a blanket or diaper with their scent on it and introduce those smells to the dogs, insisting that they leave the items. Dogs should never be allowed to pick up and play with any item that has a baby's scent on and should be encouraged to respect a baby's personal space. Inviting your dog to sit or lie beside your baby should only take place if you feel that you have complete control, your dog is comfortable in all situations around the baby, and you are holding the baby at all times. Finally make sure that there is a plan to continue your dog's daily exercise routine. Having someone help with this for the first few weeks can keep your dog feeling fulfilled and not suffering from pent up energy. Many new parents call on friends to supply meals for the first few weeks; consider asking friends to drop by to exercise the dog. Professional dog-walkers or neighborhood kids can be hired to walk your dog until you are able to work out the schedule that works best for you.
A little basic training and establishing a routine for the whole family while creating positive associations between our dogs and new family members can set the foundation for the wonderful relationship they'll share in the future.
In the coming months, we'll write about managing toddlers and dogs; when babies become mobile, there are different concerns to be negotiated .

Shorty

Shorty came to us a week or two ago with a surprise.  His size.

We've seen some big lugs in FBRN before.  35 pounders, 38 pounders...Big dogs, big hearts, good boys.

Shorty is in a class of just 2 or 3 dogs in our history.  He came in at about 50 pounds.

He's lost a couple of pounds since he first stopped in, and it's not like he's out of shape or dragging his tummy on the ground.  He's a big guy.  Barrel-chested, like Brian Keith.

Here's an update on Shorty from his foster mom.

"So we took the monster to the vet Sunday and as I suspected all is right with this boy, but of course there were whispers about his weight. Heehee. He's 48 pounds and I believe has lost a pound or two. His harness slips off, but he still appears to be a big boy. We run up and down the stairs for all his potty breaks, we've decreased his food intake and he gets few little cookies. He had an ear infection that had recently been cleared right before he came to FBRN so the doctor did an ear cytology. There is evidence that the ear fungus is probably something that was an ongoing issue but it looks good now. He suggested we clean his ears weekly as a preventive. Other than that he is A-OK!

"So this guy is great, a total snuggle bug and all around gentleman. But he's no loafer-- he'll play for as long as anyone in the house will, and when it's time for a walk, he bolts down the hallway! Honestly, his owner raised a really well-behaved man. He listens really well, and when it's time for him to go in to his little area for bed he goes in with no problem and doesn't make a peep for the rest of the night. And believe it or not, as heavy as he is, and as winded as he gets when he's excited, there is no snoring at all! He eats really well too, but doesn't beg.

"Shorty is your classic case of don't judge a book by its cover. He may look like a chubby loafer, but he's active and not that into food which was a big surprise. Sometimes I give him the tiniest treat for sitting and sometimes he eats and other times he spits it out. He drinks a lot of water and because of that he's had a couple accidents. But if I stick to the routine there is never an issue.

"He tolerates a lot too, my old man Boston is always humping him, and he just hangs out and smiles. He's really good with my pups and pups on the street while on leash, but when he went to dog park I found that with so many dogs Shorty got really excited, ran all around, and then the excitement turned aggressive so we promptly left. Shorty can be in a house with other dogs for sure, but dog parks aren't his flavor.  I think with medium to slow intros, which is what we did he would get along with any pooch. He and my two dogs get along just perfectly. Any first day signs of dominance are gone and I can't say enough good about him."

Shorty will be available for adoption soon.  If you've got a soft spot in your heart for a big guy and you've got the experience to manage Shorty's little idiosyncrasies where strange dogs are concerned, keep an eye open for him.  He's a good boy.  You can tell just by looking at him, claims

The Frog Princess 

New Jersey! Join FBRN vols, grads, and maybe a foster or two

On Sunday, Feb 10, in Magnolia, NJ, at Bill's Wonderland of Pets!
It's the annual meet-up and fundraiser for FBRN.  There will be baked goods, hand-made items, lots of Frenchies to meet and squee! over, and opportunities to ask questions about volunteering, French bulldogs, and how to care for the breed.
Did we mention there'll be a store full of Frenchies?
Everyone is welcome!

Celebrate St. Valentine's Day with a Frenchie kiss--or two!

Tell them you were sent by

The Frog Princess

Happening now!  Here's Meeps manning the kissing booth.  Hurry!

Bowie Blows a Disk

Last weekend, brand-new foster dog Bowie started to knuckle under one rear paw.  Our experienced foster mom immediately took him in to her vet where they diagnosed a blown disk in his spine.  Unfortunately, Iowa is one of the few states in the country where there is not a single MRI machine available for veterinary use.  We decided we'd have to trust the vets' diagnosis because as a young dog who still had deep pain sensation, bowel and bladder control, and with only one involved rear leg, the prognosis was excellent for a full recovery.

While at the vet's, Bowie did very well.  Though he was surrendered for getting snarky with one of the children in his home, Bowie withstood all the pokes and prods without a murmur.  Ok, maybe there was some minor growling.  Nothing serious.  The vet removed a lot of gunk from the area of the herniated disk, and he was pleased to note that there was no calcification, so this was a very fresh injury and the odds of complete recovery are even better.

Just 2 days after surgery Bowie emerged from the hospital on his own four feet.  Of course, spinal surgery is no walk in the park and it takes a surgeon and a whole team to get it done, so our coffers took quite a hit.

If you'd like to sponsor Bowie, you can do that and get yourself a little something, too.  Our St. Valentine's Day fundraiser starts on Feb 1.  Sponsor a dog for $50 or more, and you can get a Dogtoon of your own precious mutt's precious mug.  See the home page of the website for details.

Here's Bowie, not exactly dancing, but up and about on his way out of the clinic.

Let's dance! suggests

The Frog Princess

Prince Caspian is Setting Sail

for the available page!  If you've been watching and waiting for this adorable young frog to be available for adoption, now is the time to skippy over and take a look at his bio to see if your family and P.C. might be a good fit for each other.

Prince Caspian is a puppy mill survivor, and he came to us without much in the way of socialization.  He gets along best with the other dogs in his foster home, but he's warming up to the people.

We got some photos from P.C.'s family, taken over the holidays.  They included this report on Prince Caspian, too.

"Prince is doing great! His health is great and he is really becoming a member of our family.

"This Christmas he got to meet our 2.5 year old niece. She loved him and he responded well to her. She gave him hugs and kisses. They played for a while and then when he got tired of playing, he went and took a nap underneath the Christmas tree. I have attached a picture of this.

"When he came to us, he was so scared. He had probably had no human contact before so he was terrified any time we came near him. We slowly introduced him to our two dogs and he bonded with them quickly, especially our Frenchie Cyrus. Eventually he began to warm up to us humans as well. When we get home from work or the movies and let the dogs out of their crates, our two dogs are so excited to see us and Prince still looks at them confused sometimes. He has even begun cuddling with us on the couch sometimes while we watch a movie. Prince is going to make a wonderful member of another family soon."

Prince Caspian would enjoy a life with a quiet household, and he'd like to live in a family that has at least one other dog, since he takes cues from the dogs in his foster family.

If you are in the market for a prince, rescued from durance vile, and you think you could give him a bright future as rightful King of your castle and all your demesne, consider applying for Prince Caspian.

The Frog Princess

Keep a good thought for Opie, today

He's getting his pockets picked! 

We know there'll be treats and snuggles after.  We just wish we could be there to help administer a few of them.

Good vibes and well wishes to Opie from

The Frog Princess

Alena Passes a Milepost

Alena, our blind hospice girl, enjoyed a 2 year anniversary in her foster home last week.  You may remember that Alena came in to rescue with 3 other dogs who were in very, very sad shape.  The WI 4, as they were known, have all passed away in the meanwhile.  However, Alena--whose skin has been virtually hairless since her owner claimed she had a bad reaction to a vaccine when she was two--keeps trundling along.

Here's what her foster mom had to say about her: 

"So last night we celebrated Alena's 2 year Anniversary with special beefs dinner, followed by her new Cloud Soft Star Treats - both Apple Bacon and Pumpkin Pie (these are an amazing grain free treat especially good for pups with few chompers). Then we lay on the couch and snuggled. Pretty much business as usual for Miz Alena.

Alena has had a lot of setbacks the last two years, but I do feel that for every step back, she takes two steps forward. Progress is slow, but it’s still progress. She has come so far from her perch on death's door 2.5 years ago. She is the last remaining of the WI4 dog, as sadly Cameron, Delton and Tomah have all passed.

We recently switched to a new vet. I really needed to get a new perspective on our gal. The new vet has really taken the time to look at her full history and gives a lot of thought and research to each approach. She put Alena on a low dose of Atopica paired with Ketoconizole and a new shampoo. I noticed an immediate improvement. She had a strange growth on her shoulder biopsied last week – fingers crossed the results are benign. It looks to me to be a papilloma, but better safe than sorry. [Good news!  Diagnosis was benign histiocytoma!]

Her energy level is fantastic and she loves to play with stuffies, follow me around the house and hang out with her buddy Tucker (FBRN grad Lucien). She is very content in her life and really a pleasure to have around. You can hear her coming a mile away as she huffs and puffs about. She is a solid tank of a girl at 28 lbs – the vet swears she’s not fat, just big boned ;)" 

Alena is just one of a number of hospice dogs FBRN has chosen to care for until they pass away.  These dogs are considered unadoptable to the public-- usually for health reasons, but sometimes because of advanced age--and they live with a foster family as a member of the family.  If you'd like to sponsor Alena, or any other of our hospice dogs, you'll find her page at the bottom of our foster page.

We should all be so lucky at the end of life to have a someone so dedicated to our care and comfort, sighs

The Frog Princess

Magnolia Enjoys the Wonder of Winter!

We would like to share this information with our readers:  FBRN has the most talented, generous, hilarious, loving volunteers in the whole world. 

That's a big claim.

Here's some evidence:

MAGNOLIA, our popular hospice girl (and deelybobber freak), expressed a wish for a bespoke coat and hat, on account of she is too little for a large coat and too zaftig for a medium.

Lo, and behold!  What should arrive in the mail for Ms. Mags, but a hat?  And a coat!  And as if these were not enough, a binkie!

All handmade by one of our volunteers!

Handmade.  By hand.  At home.  With her hands.

We'll let you FBRN friends and supporters who have never received a handmade item sit with that for a moment until the unbecoming little flashes of jealousy you might be feeling subside.
 

Meanwhile, Mags is ready for all the nasty slush and snow and cold and wind that winter has in store.

"Blow wind, and crack your cheeks!" sneers Magnolia.  And that's hatlessly, coatlessly, jealously seconded by

The Frog Princess

Become a Volunteer!

Is one of your New Year's resolutions to become more involved in your community or to increase your volunteer participation?  Do you enjoy Frenchies? 

If so, please consider becoming a volunteer for French Bulldog Rescue Network!  Don't fret if you can't foster--though we always have need for foster families--we have plenty of opportunities for people to participate!

We need all kinds of volunteers, including people who can transport dogs by car or plane (whether their own planes or on commercial planes), people who can foster dogs, people who enjoy fundraising, writing, database upkeep, people management, and other areas.

One of the benefits of volunteering is getting to hear about the dogs' day to day improvement in behind the scenes access to our volunteer forum. It's also wonderfully educational to learn about all the health and behavior solutions our foster parents and their vets come up with.  You'll be shocked at what you don't know!

You'll learn more about how the organization works and you'll be part of our success in rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming French bulldogs in need.

If you have time and interest, please drop our Volunteer Coordinator (eden dot nava at fbrn dot net) a note.  Be sure you are writing from an active email address.

We'd love to have your help in finding Frenchies wonderful forever homes, so please consider this blog post an engraved invitation from

The Frog Princess

Vestibular Disease and French Bulldogs Part Two

Many adult dogs experience an episode that looks like a seizure or a stroke, and we are concerned that some Frenchies are being euthanized needlessly due to misdiagnosis.

Vestibular disease presents suddenly. One minute your dog is running around or chewing a toy, and the next minute she can't stand up or remain standing, or she can't focus her eyes, and they are moving back and forth quickly in a motion called nystagmus. Her head may tilt either immediately or sometime later in the hours or days following the initial event. She may drool. She may panic. If you are like most people, you will almost certainly panic.  Try to stay calm and take her to the vet as soon as you can.

Deo suffered from vestibular disease.  In this photo you can see his head tilt and his left eye is a little less bright because of facial paralysis on that side.

Here's what is happening: your dog has lost her sense of balance. She can't figure out her relationship to the ground and that's why she's staggering. Most episodes are "idiopathic" which means nobody knows what causes them. Some speculate that there is a tiny blood clot in the area of the brain that affects balance, and as it dissolves, the condition resolves. But there is no agreement about what it causes it, and there may be a number of possible causes that result in the same set of symptoms.

FBRN grad Eva had a bout of vestibular disease, too.  She's not suspiciously squinting at you in this photo.  Like Deo, she had some facial paralysis on the left side of her face.  She's much better now. 

Vestibular disease, stroke, and brain tumors can share symptoms. Vestibular disease is a far more likely diagnosis than the other two, which is very good news. Your vet may suggest an MRI to rule out a brain tumor, but most vets will suggest you take your dog home, be sure she's eating and drinking well, and watch for signs of recovery, which should happen in a few days or a week.

Frida's experience with vestibular disease was very helpful to Eva's owner as she navigated the diagnostic process.  Did you know there are Internet support groups for virtually every medical condition a dog might have? 

In the days following the initial event, some dogs also experience facial paralysis, and the paralysis can be either obvious or subtle. Many dogs develop a head tilt, which may resolve in a few days, or a month, or never. Most dogs do recover within a month or so.

As the days pass following the initial event, you may find that your dog is not interested in eating. If you had the spins, you probably would not want to eat, either, but some dogs respond well to anti-nausea meds or to hand-feeding. Some people suggest that while your dog is recovering from the worst of it, you leave a light on, so she can find an object and orient herself to it even in the night.

FBRN grad Maxwell Smart had a vestibular disease episode.  His family wrote to us and asked us to do this report on VD.

Vestibular disease happens most oftens in dogs who are 6 years old and older, but some young dogs have had vestibular disease--Deo and Maxwell Smart were on the young side, while Eva was a senior dog when she had it.

Watching a dog have a seizure or experience a stroke or the symptoms of vestibular disease is very frightening, and it can be heartbreaking. Try to keep your head, and try to remember that what looks like a stroke or a seizure may well be something far less worrisome and will often resolve completely or nearly so.

 A New Year free of emergency veterinary clinic visits, that's the wish we wish for you, from

The Frog Princess

(This material originally appeared on FBRN's home page.)

Last Day of the Year!

Today is the last day of the year!

If you are planning to donate to charity for tax purposes, today is the day to do it!  Your gifts will help hundreds of Frenchies enjoy a happier New Year!

 New foster Moon Pie shares some Happy New Year wishes!  She was pulled from a shelter on Dec 23rd.  She was surrendered after her family had a baby and Moon Pie developed some intestinal problems.  She'll be feeling better very soon!  And NEXT New Year's Eve, you can look for her on our adopted page.

Here are some of the frogs we took in during the week before Christmas.  We are so happy that we have the volunteers and the resources to keep these dogs out of the shelters.

Every year at holiday time, shelters (and FBRN) have a big influx of dogs who are suddenly persona non grata in their homes.  Maybe it's because the family got new carpet for holiday guests and the dog is soiling it.  Maybe it's because the stresses of the holidays push people over the edge and they surrender a dog they've been meaning to "get rid of" for a while.  Maybe it's because the holidays are expensive, and people realize they can't afford their dogs' medications or vet bills anymore.  Maybe it's unrelated to the holidays, and people find themselves in the kind of trouble that causes people to surrender their dog at any other time of year.  We only know that giving up a dog just seems so much more sad at the holidays when so many of us are in a joyful and celebratory mood.

Whatever the reasons, we are glad to be a safety net for dogs in the holidays and all year long.  We love getting to be the good guys and we love stepping up to help out, and we know our friends and supporters love that feeling, too!

Click on this link to make a one-time donation or to sign up for monthly donating.


Here's Mokka, surrendered on Christmas Eve with dreadful allergies that caused bald patches and blackened skin!  With your help, we will get him all fixed up!

Balthazar was taken in by a Good Samaritan when his family divorced and no one had time for him. Our volunteer picked him up a couple of days before Christmas.  He had a mast cell tumor removed recently, and we have just found a couple of bumps we'll be looking at shortly.  Your donations will help us get him vetted and ready for a fabulous forever family!

Manny, the pied boy front and center, was surrendered when his family had a baby and Manny took to snapping at it.  Manny never connected with the baby, thank goodness, but it was clear he'd be happier in a family where HE was the big baby. 

Though his family loved him, they fell victim to the hard times so many are experiencing, and they were unable to do what needed to be done for Alexander.  He came to us with allergies, flea infestation, tapeworms, elephant-skin on paws and abdomen, yeast and bacterial infections, and toenails curled into his paw pads.  He may be deaf.  He has a head-tilt, likely related to vestibular disease.  This poor guy is underweight (thanks to the tapeworms!), but he is making up for lost time at the kibble bowl!  He is fostering with a vet tech, and she will make sure all his bits and pieces are taken care of before he goes to live with his new family.  Your contributions make it possible for us to relieve his suffering and make him well.



All of us at FBRN, all the volunteers and all the Frenchies, want to thank you for your support! We wish you and your family and friends a healthy and peaceful New Year!

The Frog Princess

Happy holidays!

Warmest wishes for a happy holiday season and a healthy New Year!

We thank you sincerely, and we offer you our deepest appreciation for all the support you have shown FBRN this year and every year. Whether you have adopted from us, acted as a Good Samaritan, transported a dog for us by car or plane, sponsored a needy dog, come out to one of our events, stopped by the website to admire our foster dogs and the work of our volunteers, let us know of a needy dog in a shelter, bought a dog out of a puppy mill or from Craigslist to surrender to us, or subscribed to our blog and liked our Facebook pages, we are grateful for your time, energy, support, and help.

Cowgirl hitches a ride with Pilots and Paws!

Thanks to your hard work, we are thrilled to say we've helped 326 dogs so far this year. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to raise (and spend!) nearly $300,000 for veterinary bills. 

We are proud to say that we have no paid positions. We are all volunteers.

And that brings us to thanking our volunteers. We couldn't do it without you. Many of our volunteers spend hours every day working for FBRN. Our fundraisers, our transporters, our board of directors, our webteam and social media volunteers, our database mavens, and our regional managers, but especially our foster families deserve recognition and acknowledgment.

Volunteers and Frenchies at Weston Farm Vineyard and Winery event last month. 

Our foster families open their homes to Frenchies in need. Our foster families know their hearts will break when they wave goodbye to their fosters--who are usually so excited they never once look back--but they do it anyway.

Odell's adoption photo


Our foster families give their time and often their own money to repair the bodies and reclaim the spirits and renew the trust of our foster dogs. Thanks to our foster families' monthly reports and updates, we fellow volunteers get to watch the behind-the-scenes transformations of dogs who spent their lives in puppy mills or chained in yards or neglected in crates. We get to see foster dogs recovering from conditions or surgeries their owners couldn't or wouldn't pay for and we hear how much time and energy and love our foster families put into their foster dogs' care and rehabilitation. Our foster families deserve our greatest thanks.

The adorable, if slightly concerned, Remy, FBRN grad and foster mentor extraordinaire!

We thank you all, and on behalf of the thousands of dogs FBRN has helped throughout the years, we wish you a wonderful holiday season, whatever you may be doing! We wish you the company of good people and good dogs anywhere you find yourself! We wish you a New Year filled with peace and delight, and we hope you will realize all your resolutions, whatever they may be.

Sincerely,

The Volunteers and Dogs of FBRN