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Extinction of the French Bulldog

  • Writer: Samantha Knight
    Samantha Knight
  • Apr 16, 2022
  • 2 min read

Updated: Apr 18, 2022


I wasn’t intending on writing for our blog today. Was going to let the excitement build for the ‘Wrap Party’ tomorrow, but I have stumbled across these articles today and have mixed feelings to share…


Yes I agree breeders should be more responsible and test the parent dogs before going ahead with inpregnation. It’s not about wanting a perfect, trouble free pet, it’s about wanting the dog to have a full and happy life and not be suffering with horrendous health defects.


Yes there is also a part of me as an owner that doesn’t want to go through the heartache of loving these little bundles of joy until your heart wants to burst to then find the one you have isn’t long meant for this world.


Life comes with no gurantees but shouldn’t we do the kind and responsible thing and if we can prevent poorly pain ridden animals from being bred in the first place then we should absolutely do our best to ensure that?


Perhaps it takes the romance out of it or goes against the saying of ‘life will find a way’… All I know from my first hand experience is that to watch suffering in a human or a pet and feel useless in stopping it, makes for a cruel world.


Having said all of that, I 100% do not believe in the banning of these beautiful well natured French Bulldogs. They are an absolute delight to parent and I think every household should have one!

Rather than banning I think the answer is to ‘crack down’ on breeding and to put pre-parent testing into place as law. Easier said than done to police I’m sure.


My final thought on the matter is this;

Whilst I think it’s great that more awareness is being raised for IVDD, what I would hate to see happen right now when we are a long long way off eradicating this genetic disease within the breed (if we ever will) is for potential new owners to test puppies prior to giving them a home.

My worry would be, What happens to those puppies that test positive for a health defect?


Do these puppies not find their forever home? Do they come to some gruesome end?

If I would have tested my boy as a pup, I still would have taken him home but would have started preventative care from the off in a bid to fight off such aliments.

Am I a minority or is that what everyone would do?

Maybe my judgement is clouded now because he is a part of my life, but back then when I met him for the first time, could I have walked away if I knew he was destined to not be my perfect pup??


NEVER! I loved him from the moment I set eyes on him. I saw all of his siblings but I couldn’t take my eyes off of my boy. We honestly connected from the off!


The UK will certainly be a sadder place without these little bundles of joy!

 
 
 

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THANK YOU’s

Whilst it goes without saying that a big chunk of credit for Lloris’s rehabilitation to being a walking puppy dog again goes unquestionably to him! There have been many helping hands along the way that are more than deserving of a mention … 


Thank you to; 

Davies Vet (Johnny & Alex) for their remarkable surgery, prompt action and after care. He came home a calm and happy dog…even if his legs weren’t working…his wound has healed remarkably well without scaring.


To Dr Rinnert van den Bergh - The Holistic Vet who never raised an eyebrow at his little accidents and always progressed him further after every treatment.  Lloris is especially grateful for the liver paste you would win him over with! 


To Nisha from Paws & Hooves - Hydrotherapy.  You have been remarkable in your patience with Lloris. Thank you for answering the phone when many others didn’t that day.  Finding you was meant to be.


To Willow Vets in Newport Pagnell who took Lloris on as a new case for his cancer straight away and operated within two days. The entire team of staff have been nothing but kind and professional and whilst Lloris will continue to hate you all (hate may be a bit of strong word…. But I’m not so sure?!) I on the other hand think you are all amazing. 


To his Uncle Cristian for building his ‘Frenchie Bouncer’ was a big game changer in our rehab! 


To his Grandad for building his Pig Pen which he has grown to love 


To his Nanny for his the daily love and company not to mention the endless cleaning of him and my house!  We truly couldn’t have got through this without you, you gave me the break I needed to keep my sanity. 


To Matt the Chippy for his back door ramp! 


To the IVDD Facebook support group.  I learned so much from you. https://www.facebook.com/groups/178483559398659/?ref=share


To my friends and family who reached out to help me. Everyone of you that messaged, read our blog and paid an interest in both his and my well being made such a difference on both the dark days and the light.   Lloris loves people so the visits and gifts all lifted his spirits and snapped him out of the sulks!


To Dan, Lloris’s dad. You stepped up when he needed you the most and answered our cry for help to get him to the hospital that day.  It will always be a shame we couldn’t stay the family unit we had wanted for him. We certainly tried!  Thank you for letting him live with me, I can’t imagine the heartache of giving him up. 


To the friend in my life that gave me focus from day 1 when I asked for help bringing him home … he said something like  “I have the dentist so can’t help you that day, I would if I could but … you’re going to have to get used to handling him and lugging him about on your own, so you may as well just get on with it now”. I thought he was being an unhelpful arse at the time but actually that was the best piece of advice I could have been given. Man up and get on with it.  You can’t turn back time or change anything. You are where you are, so take a deep breath and in the words of Nike - Just do it. 


And that we did! 

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