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We came to the realization that we really missed our Linda Louise. Not wanting another big dog because we knew that we would have some transference issues by putting Linda Louise’s personality onto another English Bulldog therefore, we decided that we should get a French Bulldog. A Male. We will name him Fred after an old family friend, Fredrick O. Leech, who was called ‘FO’ by all his dear friends. Three dogs! you are thinking . . . are you kidding! Three dogs are too many you say. Well a French Bulldog is smaller – we can handle that. So we researched the breed found a wonderful breeder via a referral from the best darn Bulldog Vet in Southern California – a Dr. Butchko. After e-mails and a few phone conversations we were set. The next litter of French Bulldogs was going to be one that was going to be having our Fred in it. Then one evening shortly after we made our decision, we had dinner with a veterinarian friend of ours. At dinner, our vet friend mentioned that we needed to stop by the hospital because there was something there that he thought that we would like. Thinking that he gets a lot of gifts from clients, we figured he was going to re-gift something that had to do with one of our dogs – like a small figurine of a Jack Russell Terrier. So we stop by the hospital and follow our friend in. We walked past his office and into the ICU area. Then our friend stops by one of the kennels and proudly states – ‘here’s your Fred’. And there curled up in a ball was this 7 month old Bassett Hound. If you could see the look on my husbands face you knew we were doomed. Well our Fred (not his original name) had shown up at the Vet with a severely broken Femur and needed surgery that included the placement of two pins. I am not one to judge and I will state VERY clearly that the majority of people in this world are not willing, or able, to spend a lot of money on their animals. For them it is okay to make the decision to put the animal humanely down and move on. However, in this case, the owner, after being informed of the cost that it would be to repair the femur, decided to put the dog down. The vet seeing something in Fred offered up alternatives. The owner was offered a discount and a payment plan – which they kindly turned down. Then the vet asked that they sign the dog over to the hospital, they would do the surgery and then find the dog a new home. The owner was thrilled with the idea. Please note that the owner was also told that they had 24 hours to change their mind and they would still get their discount and payment plan. They did not return. Fred had been at the hospital for two weeks and was ready for a new forever home. And there we were. I, being the rational one that evening, offered to come back the next morning to pick Fred up. That way I could prepare our home for a new dog and more importantly, prepare Chester and Bobbie Lee (our Clumber Spaniel and Jack Russell) for a new member of the family. BUT NOOOO my besotted husband insisted that Fred needed to be out of the hospital and taken home right away! Another night in the hospital, not his dog! Well Fred earned one of his nick names that evening – ‘Bad Dog’ Fred. He was se sweet sleeping in his kennel, that we quietly open the door to get closer to him – he was playing POSSUM! Before we knew it, off he went . . . for a dog with such short legs, he could run. And run he did all through the hospital with three of us chasing after him. His ears flying, tail waging – boy he was having fun . . . Oh have I mentioned yet that our friend said that the most
wonderful thing about Fred was – ‘HE DOESN’T BARK’. Well HE WAS WRONG!
Do you realize just how loudly a Basset can bark? No sleep for us that night. Keep checking
our site for updates on Fred! Click here for more information about All-Care Animal Referral Center. ©
copyright My Dog Won't Eat.com 2002. All rights reserved. Last updated
4/1/05. home |
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