Have You Never Been Mellow?

Sorry about any inadvertent earworming the title of this post may have caused.  DeeDee, one of our favorite, most sparkling personalities, gets plenty of time to mellow out with her Bullmastiff foster sib Juliet and her lab sib Isaac.

In these photos, DeeDee sought out the company of these sleeping dogs to lie down with them.  Knowing their foster mom, she did *not* get up with fleas, no matter what the proverbial wisdom might claim.  DeeDee spent the last month or so recovering from palate surgery and she is doing just fine.  Here's a note we got about her recently:

"DeeDee continues to be her sweet, adorable self. In the weeks following her surgery she has become more playful, and frequently engages my husband and sons in her favorite game. It involves nibbling gently on their fingers, rolling on her back, waving her paws in the air, darting off, and then charging in for a repeat performance. She also enjoys playing a combination tug and fetch game. Her stuffies now cringe when they see her coming.

She seems to get a little saliva in her airway after assaulting her stuffies or chewing on a bone, but is able to clear it after a minute or so by coughing."

These retired breeders really pull out all the plugs in terms of charm and joie de vivre when they get to be part of a family.  From livestock to life of the party, that's what we say!  OK, we don't say that, we just made that up, but still, it's a pretty fair assessment of the shift in attitude many of our older girls experience once they are released from the workaday life of having and feeding puppies. 

And at the end of the day, once the performance has ended, there's nothing wrong with a little c*tnapping in and amongst the bullmastiffs. 

Mellow is as mellow does, sighs

The Frog Princess

De Soja Delights!

DeSoja is doing really well in her foster home.  Though she was unable to undergo spay surgery because she went into her heat cycle, she is continuing to learn about life in a family atmosphere.  Here is an update from her foster mom:

"Throughout the month we had many visitors in our midst and some extended time with family and friends at the beach house. DeSoja was definitely a little rattled by the necessary adjustments and revolving door of new faces. She is still a very tense and anxious little girl and I do my best to show her the patience, love and trust she so desperately needs. I notice she has come to seek out assurance and comfort with Onyx and Belle before anything else and that is a wonder and a joy to watch her interact more with them. They are both very accepting of her to the pack and seem to instinctively know she needs support.

They are very good therapists. She plays with them in a rather awkward way, and initiates their interaction occasionally. Onyx is such a pleaser; I think he knows it is a good thing and I praise him alot for giving little Soja the boost she needs. Belle just really likes to be in the middle of everything. George only seems to notice if she leaves a little kibble in her bowl and then he is right on it. Soja is pretty persistent about letting him know it is still hers, though, but not in a snarky way. She just pushes herself between him and the food dish.

She has come a long way in nearly two months, but I do worry about her “worries”. I so want her to be a happy and secure little frog. But maybe she is feeling a little more confidence in her life here because she actually showed some insistent barking and a rather uncompromising stance to a neighbor’s dog who visited the beach house last weekend. I had to put her behind a gate with Onyx and Belle to calm her down. I’m going to try to get her out away from home, just with me, now and then, to build her confidence and to see how she does especially when we encounter other dogs.

Her physical health is improving and after consult with the vet this week, we have agreed she is ready to be spayed. The surgery is scheduled for next Friday, 9.9.11 and my nerves are already on edge about it. I am a little concerned she could come into heat any time before then, though. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. My vet offered to pick her up on Thursday and take her into the clinic so I wouldn’t have to drive her in on Friday, but I declined. I know she lived in a cage so much of her puppy mill life that I want to avoid having to crate her if at all possible.

She is a delicate little soul, so timid and afraid of anything new to her. She still doesn’t want eye contact and doesn’t like to be held, but will stand for it a little bit more if I insist. She isn’t very treat driven so it makes reinforcement that it is good to be loved in that way a little difficult.

I am thrilled each time she comes to me for a little lickie on my hand. Sometimes when I am in the kitchen she tentatively comes up and steals a little lick on my leg, too.

I am beginning to think about what the future looks like for Soja…but one day at a time for this fragile mill girl."

One day at a time, one cookie at a time, one walk along the sandy shore at a time.  De Soja will be nestled in her adoptive family's arms before you know it, wagers

The Frog Princess

Kobee

Kobee has been in foster care almost a year.  He is well-loved by his foster family, but they would like to continue to open their arms to other needy fosters, so they are looking for a forever family that will love Kobee as much as they do.  Here's a note from Kobee's foster mom:

"Kobee is definitely a blessing.  This little guy came to us after being abandoned and not well cared for, but you'd never know anyone was ever mean to him, because from the first minute my daughters and I picked him up he showed us that all he wanted was a family to love him.  

"He shows his love in so many ways.  First when he sees you in the morning or when you come home from being out, he marches, yes marches, excitedly and happily to your feet for you to give him a hug and belly rub.  If it wasn't for his diligent patrolling of the back yard throughout the day in evening, who knows how many squirrels, crows, and frogs would have taken over and run us out of our own house. We thank him for that!

Kobee is a friend to all.  Not only does he love me, my husband, and our children but he has a Great Dane brother, Great Dane sister, Pitbull brother, American Bulldog sister, his cat, and his bird, and any other foster that comes to stay.

"Kobee came to us a young sprightly little guy full of life and love to give.  Kobee also came with a special need; he is totally incontinent.  He is on meds that he takes easily when stuffed in a piece of cheese to keep him "regular." Kobee wears a diaper with a very stylish diaper cover on to help keep it in place since he has no tail to help.  He knows his routine and stands proudly while getting dressed, he even lifts each leg to put in the hole!

If he's outside sunning or monitoring the backyard, he runs free of his diaper.  Incontinence is simply managed and doesn't take away one ounce of Kobee's big heart.  Though this condition may seem like it could be a lot to take on or hard work, it isn't in the least. 

"This little guy just wants love, plain and simple."

Well, that makes him 100% normal and just like any other Frenchie in the love department, in the expert assessment of

The Frog Princess 

Dilly, dilly

Lavender came to us all smelly and balding thanks to a nasty bacterial skin infection and legions and hordes of yeasty beasties all attacking her poor hair follicles.  She's feeling a little better, though she's not yet out of the woods, not out of the dark, not out of the night.

Here's a recent report we received from her ever-lovin' foster ma:

"Oh the Lavender! Well, unfortunately her skin is not continuing to improve as we had hoped.




When they first brought Lavender home, she was so odoriferous they nicknamed her Stinky.  That's a pretty good stink-eye she's throwing around there, don't you agree?  We feel sure we'd have perfected our own stink-eye if someone had applied so rude an appellation to our own personage.  Stinky, indeed!

Her yeast will just not learn to take a hike. With baths, meds and lots of lovin' she can't clear up enough for her spay. We are on a food trial, and it's a bit tricky to get her to eat that hypoallergenic food; today was the first day of 4 that she was okay eating without looking at me funny. She continues to itch on the white side of her face and three of her feet.

I had to pick up the throw rugs around the house because she thought they made useful belly rubbin' rugs. She had a MRSA culture done, but we haven't heard any results back yet. We're hopeful the derm vet can be avoided.


"Despite the itchies, her social skills have been wonderful. She came in from the shelter thinking she was going to be the alpha girl, and she is now a playful and social little girl. She shares her toys (loves her stuffies), shares nyla bones, plays without becoming rough and growly, and she is no longer rude when another dog approaches me.   Being protective was to much work with so many dogs in the house, I suppose.

"Her potty manners have improved and she's using the dog door; however occasional reminders are needed when exiting her crate and after naps. If the weather is inclement, forget it! She will sit outside the dog door and wait for you to walk away and sneak back inside instead of running out, doing her business, and coming back inside. Jeez!"

We are completely in synch with young Lavender's feelings about having to piddle whilst raindrops beat down into our vulnerable ear canals.  How would YOU like that?  The least you bipeds could do is offer the shelter of an umbrella for the few little minutes it takes a froglette to heed nature's call.  They are YOUR floors, after all, and you are the one who wants them kept so dry and clean, chides

The Frog Princess 

Benny the Frog's Ninth Natal Anniversary

Infamous tomato thief and 19th hole lounge lizard Benny the Frog made time in his busy schedule to allow his mom to prepare a home-grown celebration in his honor.


Benny is a 2003 FBRN graduate.

In his working life, he often serves as an adjunct to his mom's duties as a Humane Educator for an east coast animal control office.  He gets to accompany his mom to schools and other locations to teach children about the responsibilities of sharing one's life with a rotten, no-good, tomato-stealing, golf cart-riding frogdog.

His mom tells us that sometimes, when Benny the Frog is feeling ornery, he will refuse to charm the children, and instead turns his back on them and fantasizes about living on a desert island with his beloved Fiona, maybe paddling lazily through a lagoon full of cherry tomatoes, each more delicious than the last.

Happy birthday, Benny the Frog!  We love you and your glorious rottenness.

The Frog Princess

The Value of a Formal Education

Licorice's foster mom sent us a little essay about her experience with the formerly naughty boy. She had great success with him as they went through classes together. Licorice has found a family of his own now. Here's her essay:

"Licorice came into FBRN as Bullet, and he probably should have been renamed Fonzie. He was dressed in black, knew rules didn’t apply to him, tried to intimidate other dogs and left his mark anywhere he thought they might pick up the message. But he had a heart of gold, and just needed to learn some social skills so he could move on to his forever home.






He was an easy people dog, if you could get past the wild leaps across the room onto your head, or the
grooves the leash dug into your hands when walking him in public. It became apparent that if this boy
had any hope of being adopted he needed to get some formal education, he needed to learn to interact
with people and dogs in a polite way. So he was enrolled in a basic obedience class.

Licorice swaggered into class, jumping at all the dogs and grabbing the lead in his mouth and screaming
if pressed to do something he chose not to. It was a rough ride, but with the help of knowledgeable
instructors, patient classmates and increasingly tough collars, Licorice graduated. (Yes, we finally went
to a pinch collar, and found the tool that got his attention. After the first night wearing it, he wore it
inside out but showed appropriate respect.)

The beauty of this was discovering that he was a smart boy who wanted something to do, wanted to
learn, wanted to please his foster mom. He moved on to two sessions of advanced work, and was
very dependable with all of the basic commands. In addition to the usual cute pictures, his available
page showed a graduate sporting a snazzy mortarboard, a calm dog doing a group down-stay, and a handsome boy heeling beside his trainer on a loose lead.

At any given time, FBRN has dozens of very cute dogs vying for the perfect forever home. How does one choose? In Licorice’s case, the successful applicant was attracted to him because he had some obedience training. He was able to move into a home where he will be exercised on a leash, and handled by two very responsible young men of 7 and 11 years. His new owners are so impressed with his accomplishments that they are considering adding a CGC (AKC Canine Good Citizen Certification) to his
resume.

Dogs no longer wander in packs searching for their next meal, so they need some replacement activity
or they get bored. That boredom is often behind all sorts of destructive behavior and the reason so
many dogs find themselves in rescue, wondering what in the world they did to be abandoned. So whether your dog is the love of your life or a foster looking for a forever home, consider training. It might be just tricks, basic civility, or competing in dog-sports such as rally or agility, but working with your dog is the best way to solidify that all-important bond. Try it, you and your dog might really like it."

It's almost time for kids to go back to school.  Maybe it's about that time for you and your frog, too? suggests

The Frog Princess

Vela Goes Shopping!

Some of our dogs are more fashion-conscious than others.  Vela has an entire wardrobe and never tires of making trips to the boutique for another outfit. 




 Here she is with her best friend and fashion consultant, Spock.

When she's adopted, she'll need a small walk-in of her own.

  

 Let's face it, some girls just have more style-sense than others.

 

 

And some girls just have that oo la la!

Not everyone can pull off every look. 

But Vela has an advantage.



She's French!


Check out Velamint's page and see if she might be the girl you've been waiting for. 

Just be sure you are prepared to put some mileage on your Canine Couture credit card, advises

The Frog Princess

Too Hot for Walks--But Not for Ice Cream!

Kees and his foster buddy are finding the dog days of summer too darned hot--sweltering, even!--for sidewalk strolling.  So when Mom and Dad ask if anybody is up for a trip to the ice cream parlor, guess who is bounding out to the horseless chariot to get a licky-lick of frozen custard?



Here's a note from Kees's foster mom, who took these photos on a recent outing:

"Kees' health has been quite stable for the last few weeks...knock on wood. He did have an allergy outbreak requiring 2 rounds of antibiotics, we are trying everything to keep his sores healing (no steroids for this guy).

 

We were out for our weekly trip to run errands and the DQ, it has been too hot for any walks so this is the kids' extracurricular activity....and a few licks of a vanilla cone. Kees has his spot on the console, on the job watching for my husband to come out of the store."

Our regular readers know that Frenchies cannot be outside in high temperature weather,  and none of our readers would dream of leaving a Frenchie in a car on a hot day, but it never hurts to remind folks that even 5 minutes is too long.  Better to leave your frog at home in the air-conditioning than risk an unwanted adventure like this one, advises

The Frog Princess

Everybody's Getting in the Act!

Our chip-in fundraiser is going much more slowly than we could wish.  However, we are so impressed with our volunteers' willingness to go above and beyond to raise funds for us!  Here, FBRN grads Ava and Manny snoopervise their people's lemonade stand fundraiser. 

Have you posted our chip-in widget to your blog or facebook page?  Please consider asking your friends to help support our efforts to get back to rescuing Frenchies!

We're not yet halfway to our goal, but we have only 9 days remaining. 



Thank you for helping promote this fundraiser!  Stay cool and hydrated with some refreshing lemonade, advises

The Frog Princess

Treats from China Still Suspect!

One of our volunteers mentioned that her vet had seen two dogs with Fanconi-type kidney failures this month.  Unfortunately, both young dogs died.  They had both been eating dried chicken-strip treats imported from China, recently purchased from the US's largest discount chainstores. 

You may remember that in 2007, there was a wave of dog deaths resulting from treats manufactured in China, involving melamine.  It appears that the problem with death and illness has been ongoing, though it hasn't been publicized, and in recent months, a rise in dog deaths in Canada resulted in this post:  http://news.vin.com/vinnews.aspx?articleId=19077. 

If you purchase your dog's treats from the supermarket or large discount chains, be sure to look very, very carefully at the packaging.  Though the bag may say in larger lettering, "Manufactured in the US," it may say elsewhere, "Made in China" in very small letters.

The vet in the article cited above suggested feeding your dog small quantities of fresh vegetables and fruit (excepting onion, raisins, grapes, etc.) or single cheerios-type cereals.  Don't be like the enthusiastic dog-owner who switched to carrots for treats and whose nauseated dog presented the vet with a one-pound pile of carrots in the exam room!  Let your Frenchies fill up on fruits and veggies between meals, but don't top them off!

Here's a photo of FBRN grad Norm (formerly Albee), anxiously awaiting his healthy, homemade dinner.  Poor guy looks about ready to keel over from the pangs!  He's weak, weak from the hunger! 


We could eat a little something ourselves, now that we mention it, considers

The Frog Princess

Walt Wizney is FAMOUS!

Lookit Walt Wizney on the news today, helping to teach people all about two kinds of mange. 

Here's poor Walt before, on his first day at FBRN.  See the lesions on his back and the elephant skin on his poor paws?

And here's a recent photo of Walt enjoying some sunshine and green grass after 6 weeks of treatment with FBRN.

We do good work, people!  Why not join the dozens of Frenchie-loving supporters who have donated to our special chip-in fundraiser?  It's one time when jumping on the bandwagon is a GOOD thing, reassures

The Frog Princess

Toulouse Helps FBRN Recover!

FBRN had a couple of tough months in May and June.  We spent deeply into our savings in order to treat some dogs who were in far worse condition than we thought when we committed to taking them in, and also to care for some of our current foster dogs who needed to be boarded at the vet's at great expense because they had very treatable conditions that were contagious or that required 24-hour observation at the vet's.  It never rains but it pours, right?  Couple these coincidentally expensive and kind of bizarre occurrences with a dip in donations and we find ourselves operating on a very narrow margin.  We must build back our reserves.

Fortunately, we have indefatigable and charming supporters and volunteers who are willing to put themselves out in the public eye and to work hard for the rescue and all our nutty, needy little foster frogs. 

This is the elegant raconteur and kiss-meister, Toulouse.  He volunteered to give ALLLL the laydeez a little licky-licky for a nickel.  Or a dollar.  Or ten.  STEP right up, and GITcher Frenchie kisses here!

We are currently accepting with humble gratitude any funds you can spare to bring our bottom line up to a healthier, greener, cooler place--a place less red and itchy and humid and too ding-dang hot for easy breathing.  Please help us!  Truly, any amount is appreciated. 

Toulouse and his friends at the recent Reliant Show in Houston send you virtual smooches!

With a few thrown in for good measure from

The Frog Princess

Patton is a Big Baby

Handsome and manly Patton has a secret. 


He likes to travel in a baby carrier. 

Here's a note from his adoptive mom:

"Just giving you an update on Patton. He's doing great! Having some allerigies and hates the heat of course, but he is a happy little clam. We took him to a party the other night and he got to play with all the other dogs.

"I have included some pictures of him! He has caught a couple toads this summer. He hasn't killed them, but he carries them around in his mouth.

"He has become quite a talkative fellow, it's hilarious when he barks!

"One of our friends gave us this baby carrier thing (I have enclosed a picture of  Patton enjoying it) Patton loves to hang out in it, which is kind of weird, I think. When you take him out of it he likes to sit on top of it on the floor."

Nothing wrong with a little snuggling in the snuggli, that's our view.  Of course, it might be a little warm for that in some parts of the country, but to each his own! 

If you live in Florida or south Texas, you may know all about the bufa marinus, or cane toad, but just in case you are traveling through Florida with your frogdog, remember that those bufas are poisonous.  You can read about them here.

And if you live in or near Arizona, you may know about another poisonous toad, bufa alvarius.  Here's a photo and instructions of what to do if your dog grabs a nasty toad.

Patton was one of the Gulf Coast 10, a group of dogs FBRN took in a couple of years ago.  He's obviously very happy in his new home, thanks to FBRN, our donors and supporters, and his foster mom.  If you haven't already done so, consider donating to our chip-in fundraiser.  You can click on the last post to go to our chip-in site. 

Ten years of do-goodery!  That is something to celebrate, boasts

The Frog Princess

Please contribute!

FBRN is celebrating its 10th anniversary!  We are going to raise 30,000 dollars in 30 days--and you can help!

Please pitch in and chip in by clicking on the button below. 



With many thanks from

The Frog Princess

Wrangler's Progress

From a scaly, scabby, itchy, mangy boy to handsome devil in no time flat.  See what your donations do?

Wrangler is a much happier and perkier boy today!  See those ears?  Those are happy perky frogears.

You can read more about Wrangler here, recommends


The Frog Princess

Why Porkchop Can't Have a Kitty

Porkchop is going to the available page this week.  Last week when she was at the vet getting a broken toenail fixed up, her foster dad snapped this photo as evidence that though Porkchop is a very good girl in many, many ways, she is not going to be a good match for a family that has any kitties in the house. 

Porkchop's dad says she was trembling with anticipation at the thought of a cat-snack.

This poor woman was prepared to fling herself in front of Porkchop to save her puddytat if need be.  That's a good catmom, approves

The Frog Princess

Freud

Happy 4th of July!  We received some pics of some pooped pups we thought we'd share.  Freud's foster mom is reviewing applications, so he's likely to be placed shortly.  But we loved these photos and this note.  Who says frogdogs are couch potatoes?  They are mighty, mighty hunters!

"Well Freud has been with us for almost 2 months now, and he seems pretty happy being part of our family! But, no, we are not going to adopt him! We love him so much, but feel he deserves to be the center of someone's universe. I have spoken to a lot of families over the past week, and just did a home visit. As much as we will hate to see him go, we know he will make another family very, very happy.

Other than that, I don't have much to report! As sweet as Freud is, I can tell you he is NOT PERFECT! On Saturday we were at the dog run, and he and a Jack Russell were chasing a bird that was on the other side of a fence. All was fun and games until the Jack Russell CAUGHT the bird and ran off with it in his mouth, with Freud chasing him! Freud then got the dead bird, and I had to pry it out of his mouth!! Poor little bird! :(

Here are two pics of Freud with my guys - I call them the Three Amigos! This is basically what they do for hours everyday."  Freud is the little guy in the middle.

Of course we are not happy that Freud participated in the untimely demise of a bird, and we hope he was ashamed of himself (though we rather doubt it, judging from our experience of dogs with dead things).  Still,  we are very happy that he is out and about and making new friends--even if they *are* a bad influence!

Enjoy the fireworks, but don't forget to keep the dogs indoors and safe when the neighbors start setting off the noisy firecrackers.  If you are having company, be sure to keep dogs crated or closed in a quiet room, so they can't escape during all the comings and goings.  Here's a list of suggestions in case your dog is a little nervous around the loud noises that can accompany celebrations on Independence Day.

Planning to keep the drapes closed and the fan on.  We'll be getting our nervous boy's Thundershirt wrapped and the Rescue Remedy mixed up and we'll be turning the radio a little louder than usual this evening, and since we wouldn't dream of leaving him alone to freak out, we'll all be enduring the pops, booms, cracks and sweeeEEEEEeeees! together,

The Frog Princess

Starsky

Canada is not a hotbed of Frenchie activity, so last week we were delighted to hear that one of our Alberta volunteers had been called on to foster a slim young frog.

His name is Starsky, and he was surrendered because he seemed resistant to house training, and he often wet his crate at night. 


His owner admitted that finding time to devote to Starsky was an issue, so it may well be that Starsky's house training will improve in foster care.  So far, he hasn't had an indoors accident, and he's gotten the hang of the doggy door very quickly. 

As you can see, Starsky has some great coloring--very unusual.  At just 22 pounds, he is a smallish Frenchie. 



Starsky is getting along wonderfully with the dogs in his foster home, but his foster mom is keeping a close eye on him when he's around the family cat.  Starsky seems a wee bit too interested in the kitty, but so far he hasn't made any attempts to chase her.




Starsky is a healthy boy, he has a good temperament, and he plays well with other dogs.  This is a great chance for some of our Canadian friends to apply for a dog in the western region--doesn't happen often.  Starsky should be on the available page soon.  Watch for him!

The Frog Princess