GoGo!

We welcome a new girl to the party--all that is missing is a pair of Gogo boots! This tiny dancer made quite a trip to her new foster home, thanks to volunteers' help in the transport, but she is settling in very nicely. Here's a note from her foster mom about her first few days in foster care:

"I'd like to introduce GoGo. After a long drive and several volunteers' help, GoGo made it to our house. She is a sweet pied baby, 11 months old. Apparently she and her sister, also 11 months had began to fight and the owner didn't feel capable of resolving the issue.

So far, GoGo has been very loving and friendly with everyone here, including the dogs.
She enjoys playing with the kids and I believe once she settles in she will be pretty frisky!

She will need to be spayed and have a good going over by the vet.

Here are a few pictures, she hasn't made herself comfortable yet, so they aren't the greatest!

She is adorable though!"

Adorable about covers it, agrees

The Frog Princess

Let the Sunshine In!

That's just what we did when a happy young thing came shining through our mail slot! Here's what her foster mom had to say about her first few days with Sunshine in the house:



"Sunshine, an 11 month old beauty, was picked up on Saturday. A petite and demure fawn, she is sure to win many hearts. She loves playing with my kitties, chasing her squeeky ball and going for walks.

She has been getting a lot of attention from the neighbors since she looks stunning in her new pink wardrobe (PetSmart had a 75% off sale) while on her strolls. She seems to get along well with the family pugs.

Sunshine also seems to be enjoying the robust health of her youth. I'm sure we will have an abundance of applications for this charming girl when she goes up for adoption!"

Pink is just the color for that pretty baby. Heavens above, that little black masked fawn girl is going to set hearts a-fluttering from here to there and there to here! The applications crew will have to gird its loins and batten down the hatches, fears

The Frog Princess

Bluto Passes On

From time to time we receive a dog into foster care that is much sicker than anyone realized. Batboy, Addison, and Tobias the Toad were dogs we knew and loved too briefly. We heard today that Bluto has crossed the bridge.


"I am so saddened to tell you all that sweet Bluto passed away last night at the vet's office. Although we only had him a short time, he still leaves behind a very sore spot in my heart.

On Wednesday evening, when I arrived home from work he had all of a sudden taken a
turn for the worse. He refused all food (even meat and treats) and he threw up all that he drank. He felt very hot to the touch and his face and paws were raw and red. We took him in and they immediately put him on iv liquids. He was running a fever and was dehydrated. The vet took an x-ray & said his tummy was very "thick" and his liver was very small. Although he has been on antibiotics & steroids for 2 weeks, he had developed another infection on his feet and face.

The vet believes that he had lymphoma. She is very surprised that it had not been diagnosed earlier. From what she tells me, it's not often that a dog goes downhill so fast, unless he has had the disease for awhile. At least I can say that he was loved and had lots and lots of belly rubs this past few weeks. He is now pain free and happy."

Our foster families are so generous and loving with our dogs, whether the time in foster care is a few days or weeks or more than a year.

Sleep tight, Bluto. With all our volunteers, we send thoughts of comfort and peace to the foster family from

The Frog Princess

Paizlee's Puttin' on the Ritz

One of four dogs we acquired through the generosity of a Good Samaritan who saw them advertised in filthy conditions on Craigslist, pretty Paizlee has been through the spa, and now she's clean and shiny and ready for all that life as a beloved lapdog can offer. Here's her foster mom's note about her:

"Paizlee is a love bug!! She is settling in wonderfully. She is learning to go potty outside and make herself home on any piece of furniture she likes. She is great with all of our dogs and cats. She is not familiar with toys or how to play with Graycen [another puppy mill survivor].

Her breathing is a huge concern and we are working on getting a few pounds on her so that she will be able to have surgery for her spay, palate and broken teeth. She is a true joy and just tries to snuggle with you when you get on the floor with her.



For a girl that is 6 years old, she has a lot of youth, even with everything she has been through. She



was a breeding machine for this puppymill and now she is free from that torture and enjoying her new life of relaxation."

Such a pretty girl! Once her immune system is up to the stress, she'll have spay surgery and then be ready for a family. Watch the available page for her. We hope there will be lots of people who see the value in a used up breeder girl who once lived in conditions unworthy of any animal, except maybe rodents, who seem to like things a little on the nasty side.

Or so we hear, hastily adds
The Frog Princess

Theo is Hungry

Here's Theo, a dog found wandering out west and picked up by animal control. He's got a bad knee--maybe a fall from a horse, maybe he took a bullet--and his breathing is a little harsh. That's going to happen out there where the alkali dust blows in the hot winds all day.

The boy seems to have done all right for himself during his time afoot. Not too thin. Musta been able to earn a plate of beans here and there, maybe wrangling cattle or sheep. Maybe he did some guard dog duty. He isn't saying.

His foster mom says he doesn't have any trouble communicating some things, though:

"I think foster Theo is hungry again this morning. He is carrying around his stainless steel dog bowl and scooting it across the floor. My resident dogs are watching him like he's nuts as they are trying to sleep thru the rain storm we are having AGAIN!"

He's a man and a manly man, that's what it is. Manly men know how to get their women up and out to the kitchen to rattle them pots and pans.

Just allow a woman to give you some advice, ol' Theo. When it comes to demanding we women get up and get out to the kitchen on your say so, some we will and some we won't. And some will get up and put a knife in ya.

Just a little homespun warning from

The Frog Princess

Doze Has a Nap

Doze was picked up by a Good Samaritan who saw him being thrown off the back of a quad in the desert of Arizona. She turned him over to a Boston Terrier rescuer, who spent a good bit of money getting him tuned up before she turned him over to FBRN. Sadly for Doze, he was diagnosed with Valley Fever, a very common condition involving fungal spores and the lungs. Lots of people who live in or near the southwest get it and never know it. But some people (and other animals) get it and must undergo treatment. Doze is on an antifungal medicine for the next while. His foster mom wrote to us a couple weeks ago to tell us how Doze is doing on the medication:

"I would love to give everyone a great update about our sweet Doze, but unfortunately his recovery this week has been slow. His little spirit is down, and he sleeps all day long. (He only gets up to go outside and bask in the Arizona sun or to get a quick drink.) He no longer has any interest in toys or playing with the other dogs. Although he still wants to cuddle with us, and we are more then happy to offer our laps, and love to this boy. On the bright side he still loves to eat and is always up for a treat. He now knows that the word cookie always leads to tasty goodies. Doze has a vet appointment tomorrow morning. In addition to his sleepiness he now has a yellow milky discharge from his penis. This poor boy cannot catch a break. I will let everyone know what the results are tomorrow when we get back. Also here are some new pictures of our sleepy boy Doze."

And here's a report one day later, after a trip to the vet:

"Well, Doze had his vet visit today, and right away the vet staff noticed how different this boy's mood was. It is believed that the large amount of antifungal medication was making him feel bad. We have now reduced the amount of Fluconazole that Doze gets. In addition he will be getting a pain medication for the next week. The vet said that we should see results in the next few days, and if not it is back to the vet! Also he was not overly concerned about the discharge from his penis. It was just a topical infection, and with a simple solution he flushed it out.
I gave Doze his first dose of pain meds an hour ago, and already he is acting better. He came over to be loved on, and then he wanted to finish his breakfast! I will keep you posted on his improvements!"

Dogs can't talk, so they can't tell people when they are feeling low. It's up to dogs' people to pay attention and notice when they are behaving differently. Keep your eyes open and if your dog is crankier, sleepier, thinner, zippier, or drinking more fluids than usual, a trip to the vee ee tee might be in order.

Lucky Doze! It pays to have an observant person in the house, observes

The Frog Princess

Nounours Means Teddy Bear

What a sad story.
Children come along and the resident frog just can't get adjusted to the loss of time and attention. Poor Nounours, a nine year-old boy, is going to be on the available page next week. Here's a look back at his introduction to the volunteers last month, just before Christmas:


"Introducing Nounours, a 9 year-old brindle boy! Nounours means "teddy bear" in French and was chosen because he looks just like a living, breathing teddy bear! He is a sweet senior boy who was surrendered by his owner because he was having a hard time sharing his mom with her young skin children. He's been with us since Sunday and is adapting fairly quickly to his new routine.



He has a very sweet disposition and seems to get along with just about any other dog he encounters, although he does have a tendency to bark when he wants something and not stopping till he gets it, and also a thing for humping Chelsea. At 35 lbs., he could stand to lose a pound (or five!) and we will work on that while he's with us.





He has a good amount of energy for a nine year old and only a few gray hairs, so hopefully he will have several good years to share with his forever family. We will take him to vet after the holidays and assuming he checks out as healthy as he seems, he should be a quick move to the Available page."



With a clean bill of health and a slimmer frame, Nounours is anxiously sniffing the air for the people who might decide that he is the frog for them, forever and ever! Looking at that mug close up, we believe we can see the appeal of the older Frenchie, yes, indeed! A touch of Louis Jourdan, perhaps? considers

The Frog Princess

Junebug in January

We adore Junebug. A Good Samaritan saw this sad-eyed, worn out, sick and pitiful girl for sale and just couldn't bear the thought of her being sold to someone to make more puppies. The Good Samaritan met the owner in a dark parking lot in a not-so-nice part of town, threw some cash at her, snagged little Junebug and ran. We don't advise buying dogs from anyone in a dark parking lot! But we are so glad Junebug is out of harm's way!

Here's a note from JB's foster mom. The photos capture her unique beauty. What a difference in these photos from the photo that accompanied her advertisement.


"Junebug is making great progress. She was spayed, micro-chipped, and received all her immunizations over the holidays and bounced back very quickly from the surgery. My vet said she has definitely had multiple litters of puppies. Her ears are clear now, although he said she had some scar tissue in both ears as a result of chronic, untreated ear infections, but not enough to affect her hearing.

Although she's still thin, her coat is filling in nicely, the bald spots are hardly visible anymore, and her allergies seem to be under control. She has also put on some weight, which she really needed.

She is very active and playful and gets along great with Duke and Sophie. She is quite the sprinter; I was in my front yard with the three of them, and she saw a deer across the street, bolted after it and chased it down the street like she was a greyhound. I was huffing and puffing by the time I caught up with her. Thankfully, she didn't get close enough to it to be in danger. That's all I need is to get black-balled as a volunteer for letting her get kicked by a deer! Needless to say, she won't be going out without a leash, and she will definitely need a home that is fenced in.

She is such a sweetheart and so affectionate; she follows me wherever I go. She is so low maintenance that it would be very easy to keep her! I think she will be able to go available in the next couple of weeks, and I am so hoping she will be adopted quickly. She has some traits and mannerisms that are very terrier-like. I have attached some photos of her in all her cuteness!"

Isn't she a pretty girl? We all think she is just adorable, gushes

The Frog Princess

Ralphie is Ready

for spring to stop dawdling and get here, already!

Sure, sunbeams on a living room floor have their place, and nobody is knocking them. But what is better than slapping one's tummy up against a freshly-warmed sidewalk and the smell of wormy earth heaving and the sight of grass greening up again?

We are right beside you, Ralphie! Can't wait, sighs

The Frog Princess

Benjamin Button

Benjamin Button has been working out. He wants to be the dog that every guy wants to be and every woman wants to be seen with. Now that his red, itchy skin and patchy coat are a thing of the past, Benjamin wants you to see him as the gorgeous hunk of manly beast he always was but couldn't show off. Amazing what a special diet and a special drug regimen will do.

No, not raw eggs and steroids! He gets his diet from the vet and his Atopica from the discount drug store. And look--from a 98-pound weakling to the world's sheckshayesht frog in just a few months.

Yes, indeed. He's got it all. Except a special person who can see it.

Maybe his person is out there. Maybe you know a family who needs a perfect Frenchie gentleman in their life? Maybe the someone is you.

Check out his bio. Look at his photos. Do 8 reps and see if you can resist.

Heavens! Those eyes are so...oh, my, whispers

The Frog Princess

PS You can see part of BB's workout routine here.

Popeye Plays Dress Up

It's January. Believe it or not, it is barely three weeks into winter. When the air is too chilly for squirrel v. Frenchie insult contests, and nobody is really into long walks on slippery sidewalks, what is a Frenchie to do to amuse himself?


Popeye plays dress up.

Phone home!


Even Rambo needs a nap sometimes.



























When 900 years old you reach, look as good, you will not.












"I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille!" leers

The Frog Princess

AKC Notes Rise in Dognappings

Long-time foster Gui checks the baby's crumb status.

See the entire press release here.

The piece includes a checklist of do's and don'ts to keep your dog safe and where he belongs: with you!

"PREVENTION
In the Neighborhood

* Don’t let your dog off–leash – Keeping your dog close to you reduces the likelihood it will wander off and catch the attention of thieves.

A very dapper Smudge demonstrates proper attire for a winter outing: Coat, collar, lead. Maybe even a little spray PAM for the bottoms of the feet to keep the ice-melting chemicals from irritating the paws.

* Don’t leave your dog unattended in your yard – Dogs left outdoors for long periods of time are targets, especially if your fenced–in yard is visible from the street.
* Be Cautious with information – If strangers approach you to admire your dog during walks, don’t answer questions about how much the dog cost or give details about where you live.



English bully Katie sleeps safe while chivalrous beau Sammi watches over her.

On the Road

* Never leave your dog in an unattended car, even if it’s locked – Besides the obvious health risks this poses to the dog, it’s also an invitation for thieves, even if you are gone for only a moment. Leaving expensive items in the car such as a GPS unit or laptop will only encourage break–ins and possibly allow the dog to escape, even if the thieves don’t decide to steal it too.
* Don’t tie your dog outside a store – This popular practice among city–dwelling dog owners can be a recipe for disaster. If you need to go shopping, patronize only dog–friendly retailers or leave the dog at home.

RECOVERY

Super Rutger takes a break from crime fighting to gnaw a nylabone.

* Protect your dog with microchip identification – Collars and tags can be removed so make sure you have permanent ID with a microchip. Thieves will not know the dog has a microchip until a veterinarian or shelter worker scans it so keep contact information current with your microchip recovery service provider. For more information, enroll your pet in a 24-hour recovery service and sign-up at www.akccar.org.
* If you suspect your dog has been stolen – Immediately call the police / animal controlofficer in the area your pet was last seen and file a police report. If your dog has a microchip, ask to have that unique serial number, along with the dog’s description, posted in the "stolen article" category on the National Crime Information Center.

Recent adoptee Darci is safe and sound.


* Canvass the neighborhood – Talk to people in the immediate vicinity where your pet went missing for possible sightings of the actual theft.
* Have fliers with a recent photo ready to go if your dog goes missing – Keep several current photos (profile and headshot) of your dog in your wallet or on an easily accessible web account so that you can distribute immediately if your pet goes missing.


* Contact the media – Call the local TV station, radio station and newspaper and ask to have a web post put out about your missing pet.



With a mug like this, it's almost hard to believe more Frenchies aren't getting stolen! This is Jetson, a new foster for us.

DON’T BUY STOLEN PETS

* Don’t buy dogs from the internet, flea markets, or roadside vans –There is simply no way to verify where an animal purchased from any of these outlets came from. Web sites and online classifieds are easily falsified, and with roadside or flea market purchases not only do you not know the pet’s origins but you will never be able to find or identify the seller in case of a problem.



Foster girl Aalis never goes outside alone. And in this weather, she can't wait to get back inside!

* Even newspaper ads may be suspect – Adult dogs offered for sale at reduced prices, for a "relocation" fee, or accompanied by requests for last minute shipping fees are red flags. Dog owners who truly love their animals and are unable to keep them will opt to find a loving home without compensation for re–homing the animal.
* Seek out reputable breeders or rescue groups – Visit the home of the breeder, meet the puppy’s mother, and see the litter of puppies. Developing a good relationship with the breeder will bring you peace of mind when purchasing.

Foster Gris-Gris and FBRN grad Eva get cozy.

Contacting breed rescue groups can also be a safe alternative if you are looking for an adult dog."

Keep your friends close and your Frenchies closer, advises

The Frog Princess

What big EARS you have!

For a deaf boy, Mowgli has mighty sizable hear honkers.

Though much-beloved, life in Manhattan was too frenzied for the boy, and when his response to being startled became a nip and a bite, his family made the sad decision to give him to FBRN, so we could find him a home where there was peace and quiet.

We think we'll be able to accomplish that pretty quickly.

We aren't sure we'll be able to address his fondness for root beer, however. Here's what his foster mom said yesterday:

"I wish I had been able to get a picture of him yesterday when I came home from work and found him snuggled up in his bed with a 2 liter bottle of root beer..."

There's a story in there somewhere. We just hope he stays off the hard stuff. Ginger ale. Fizzy apple cider. Root beer is just the gateway.

We'll keep a good thought for Mowgli, the poor guy who appears to be developing a sasparilla dependency, sympathizes

The Frog Princess

Hardee

Given the temps, that's just what this frog should be! Hardee. He was pulled from a shelter just before Christmas and has been enjoying the high life of an FBRN foster frog! Look for his introduction, along with a dozen or so new fosters, on our foster roster.

We adore the harness Hardee is wearing.

If winter comes, can spring be far behind, miserably asks

The Frog Princess

French Fry Is Unhappy

French Fry was fostered in Florida. French Fry was adopted by people who live in or near Tennessee. Tennessee has weather that is somewhat colder than Florida.


French Fry is a very happy girl and is ordinarily the sweetest and most adorable of Frenchies. But here she is thinking things we cannot share on a public blog about people who would snatch her from the warm and pleasant air of Florida and send her someplace where the first piddle of the day requires a warm coat and involves getting snow on her toes.

Poor French Fry.

We absolutely commiserate with French Fry, and we have to admit that some of those naughty words might also, in similar circumstances, escape the cherry lips of

The Frog Princess

Sammi Am

Nine year-old Sammi came to us a neglected, seriously underweight boy with glaucoma, cataracts, a bad back and an eye ulcer.

In a few weeks, check out the difference in his appearance and health. From his foster mom:

"Sammi went yesterday for his follow-up visit to the ophthalmologist to check the glaucoma in his left eye. Good news all around to report.The pressure was half what it was on the first visit. It is still not normal, but is acceptable. Once the Xalatan eye drops run out, they do not have to be renewed. He will continue to take 1/4 of an Acetazolamid 125mg tab twice a day. Sammi likes this because he hates the drops. It is also good for our finances, because the drops were
$95.00 per month, but the tabs are only $14.00. The Dr. said to monitor the eye's appearance and come back if it starts to appear too bulgy. He suggested I take photos for comparison puposes. He weighs 23.4lbs now, up from 18.2 at the start..\
So, I dutifully got out my camera and these pictures are the result. It was a sunny, mild day so we went out on the deck again. Pardon his drippy nose. He is not sick. His nares are very tight and that happens when he outside or excited. All the indoor shots are from when T. first picked him up so you can see the change. I think maybe one more pound, and then we have to figure out what his maintenance portion is. His coat is softer and his ears finally not crusty. More work to do on the coat. He still does not care for spa day, pooping and peeing in dismay.
He is a good boy, a quiet boy. He always goes potty outside now, awakening me at 4am with his wail so he can go down his ramp. I turn on the flood lights so he won't fall off in the dark. Wonder what my neighbor thinks of this behavior? Eating, sleeping, snacking -- Sammi whiles away his time in peaceful happiness."

We mentioned that some of our foster dogs received Secret Santa packages from FBRN



volunteers. Sammi was not forgotten! Here he is in his ultra-comfy, super warm and snugglesome bed with a coordinating blanket. You'd never have guessed that 8 weeks ago this guy looked like he'd been through the mill, would you?


Here he is in his faux leather jacket.

He's a good looking guy. Even if he does have uncivilized morning habits, allows

The Frog Princess