Ginny Came Through Like a Champ!

Ginny, our splay-legged little puppy, underwent double femoral head ostectomy today with a cherry-eye surgery on top!  You can see the cherry eye in her right eye in the photos. 

So far, so good--the vet called to say Ginny had come through with flying colors, and her foster mom will be picking her up in a couple of hours to take her home for a lengthy recuperation period. If you've been following Ginny on the foster page, you know she usually walks with the help of a hobble to keep her splayed legs together so she can walk and run and play.  After the surgery, she should not need the hobble at all, and she should be pain-free.

 

Here is a video of Ginny walking with her hobbles.  As an energetic young puppy, it will be wonderful to see how she enjoys life without the wobbles! 

Ginny could not have had this surgery without the love and support of our friends and sponsors!  We thank you for always being there for our Frenchies in need. 

Enjoy the holiday weekend!  Hope the weather is sunny and warm where you are!

The Frog Princess

Lolita!

She may not be a pubescent siren, but she's terribly appealing, nonetheless!  Lolita came to us with a puppy mill background, and if you've read the article on puppy mill survivors, you know that acclimating mill dogs to family life can be a bit of a rocky road.

So far, so good for Lolita, though!  Here's an update from her foster mom:

"I can't say enough great things about little "Lolita!" She has fit right in to our little family.  I had my reservations, since Lolita came from a puppy mill, but she is so happy and mellow. She is very easy going and nothing seems to phase her. She bounces around every time you let her out of the kennel but she always stays within sight of me, and LOVES to cuddle on the couch.

"Lolita gets along fabulously with my Frenchie/boston (Emmitt) and my golden mix (Oscar). Both of my dogs are used to many other dogs and just ignored Lolita for days. However, just the other day, she initiated play with Emmitt. It is so funny to see two Frenchies snort and roll around! They mirror each other constantly and Emmitt loves having someone (almost) his own size to play with!

"Emmitt has also been helpful with potty training. Lolita is crate trained, but between her UTI and just learning about house breaking, we still have our small accidents. Besides the first night, she has not pooped indoors, so that is a big plus!

"I was having trouble getting Lolita to eat. She would eat if hand fed and though she loves any type of people food (She's a little bit of scavenger), she just picked at dog food. I tried 5 different types, all to no avail... until.... I put her food dish next to my two boys and fed her along with them. Apparently that was the trick and all the encouragement she needed. She now eats two full meals a day!

"Lolita will have her abdominal ultrasound check up in a few weeks, but her skin is becoming less itchy and her UTI seems to be getting better. Her grade 2 patellas do not seem to bother her too much. We have gone on walks and she trucks right along.

"Lola got her welcome package... had to post some pictures in her new hat and sweater. She immediately curled up in her blanket and fell asleep"

During Lolita's spay surgery, the surgeon discovered a couple of tumors.  She will be having an ultrasound soon to see if there has been a recurrence.  Please keep a good thought for Lolita!  If you have some influence with the Big Dog upstairs, Lolita could use a bit of intercession, pleads

The Frog Princess

Mimosa

 

 Mimosa is one of those lovely dogs who is always thinking of others.


 She heard that the midwest has been having ridiculous weather--SNOW!  In MAY!  That's crazy.


So she went outdoors and sacrificed some of her morning to soak in some vitamin S and toast her lovely hide to that delicious, perfect shade of juuuuust right so that her friends in the snowbelt could enjoy some springtime vicariously. 



On account of it's nice to share, and it's pretty obvious that this year some people will be moving directly from dead of dreadful winter to hotter-than-the-hinges-of-hell summer.

Mimosa wishes that everyone has a bright, sunshine-y day!

And as we gaze out our picture window on this lovely day, it seems your wish is the weatherman's command, observes

The Frog Princess

Landlocked? Not Locksley!

Handsome and regal Locksley joined his foster family on their holiday to Cape Hatteras recently!

Locksley has the soul of a sailor, and spent much of his time gazing at the bounding waves, sniffing the sea-breeze, and searching for sand-dollars.


Here are some photos and a report of Locksley's vacay from his foster mom:

"Locksley made his first trip to the beach with us and loved it!





"He must have had a window to look out of in his previous life, as he constantly stares longingly at our

casement windows (all he can see is the sky from his angle). Or maybe he's just nebby.

[FP: "Nebby" is a regional term indicating nosiness.  Kind of ironic considering the paucity of nose most Frenchies suffer!]

"Hatteras is super dog-friendly, so he also went on a few adventures to an art gallery and a few stores!


"He LOVED all the windows at our beach house, and was constantly looking out at everything. And he loved the beach; smelling the sand and walking through the waves like he owned the place."






LIKE he owned the place?!  Madame, it's clear Locksley is king of all he surveys! asserts

The Frog Princess

Chelios!

Chelios is making great strides in curbing her naughty behavior.  Well, perhaps we should say she's making progress.  At any rate, she's better than she was.  Kind of.

Here's what her foster mom wrote about Cheli:

"Cheli has been with us for about a month now and has made improvements on most fronts. No worries for all those naughty Frenchie lovers out there, she still has her naughty moments. Her nippiness has toned down I think, due mostly to being familiar with us and our dogs. She is now fully integrated into the house and enjoys playing with Hadley and Odin! It is particularly entertaining when she plays with her fellow deaf friend Hadley--so many grunts and barks for two who have no idea what sounds they are making. Her leash manners have improved greatly, and she only needs a couple reminders that she is supposed to walk next to me and not in front. She does best when walking with Odin: monkey see, monkey do! She still will lunge a bit at some cars that pass by, but she sometimes totally ignores them. Birds, squirrels and suspicious leaves are another story; they obviously must be attacked. She'll need a strong leader to remind her that she does not always get what she wants.

"Her biggest trigger is food. She will snap at Odin or Hadley if they are too close when there is food around, dog or people food. She's never bitten anyone (human or dog) about it. It is easily mitigated

when she is fed in another room and kept away from us when we are eating. She has gotten better about toy guarding and happily chews on bones with the other dogs around as long as they are not actively trying to take it from her. She does not react at all when a person takes it away.

"Her favorite naughty thing to do is to zoom past me when I am trying to coral her back inside when we go out to the back yard. We have a very large fenced in backyard which she loves exploring. When I start to approach her to guide her back inside, she will take off in a full sprint in the opposite direction. Or even better, she'll zoom off toward the patio doors like she is going inside but them whiz right by them. Nanner nanner!!! I spent 10 minutes chasing her around the backyard in the rain two weeks ago. I'm sure I looked ridiculous, but I think she was very pleased with herself!

"My favorite thing she does is when ever P. or I come home, she immediately finds the closest dog toy (bone, stuffed dino, keys) to prance around with in her mouth. It's like she is celebrating we are home!

She'll continue to prance all over the house for 5 minutes, just so happy to see us! Odin does the same thing, but it's much cuter when a 20 lb Frenchie does it (sorry Odin!).

"We are visiting some family this weekend which will be a big test of Miss Cheli. She'll interact with new people, new dog and a 10 year old. We'll take it slow, but it'll be good to see how she'll react in unfamiliar home, but with people she knows.

"Had a mini photo shoot today. I plan on making her an adoption video in the coming weeks for her available page!"

I don't know about you, but I can hardly wait to see some deafie Wrasslemania!

Anticipatorily,

The Frog Princess

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