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| For the love of a Frenchie |
| Written by Lisa Steinmann | |||||
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It isnt unusual to see Reba, a young French bulldog, swaddled in
blankets in a tattered baby carriage, enjoying a ride along Hillside
Avenue in St. Anthony Park. Young Meg and Nate Stover enjoy the
neighborhood strolls with the Frenchie their family is caring for. Reba has the bat ears typical of her breed, but of generous size. They soften the effect of her pug-nosed face, as do her round, nut-brown eyes. Shes gentle but insistent on getting a hands-on greeting from everyone she meets. Thats no small effort because she has to drag herself along to say hello. Reba started having trouble walking last fall and has been diagnosed with meningitis. Meg (11), Nate (7), and their parents, Rebecca Merica and Carl Stover, agreed to provide foster care for Reba this winter when her medical condition, along with a divorce, forced her owners in Minneapolis to surrender her. At this point, many dogs would have been euthanized. Reba, however, was placed in the care of the French Bulldog Rescue Network (FBRN), a nonprofit organization devoted to rescuing, rehabilitating and finding new homes for Frenchies in need. After several months of rest and therapy, Reba will be ready for adoption this spring.  Nate Stover, 7, clowns around with Reba, a French bulldog. The Stover family was chosen to care for Reba because of their proximity to and association with the U of M Veterinary Clinic. Rebecca Merica is an instructor in the School of Veterinary Medicine and thus well qualified to oversee the care that Reba requires. Soon after Reba arrived at the Stovers home she was taken to a veterinary neurologist at the U of M. A spinal tap revealed that she had been suffering from meningitis, and she was put on a course of antibiotics. Reba is showing steady improvement in muscle tone and alertness, and has weekly physical therapy. A committed and efficient network of people throughout the country supports Rebas care. FBRN, headquartered in Massachusetts, conducts much of its work via the Internet. It maintains a Web page that features information on the rehabilitation and adoption availability of dogs. There is a page for Reba featuring weekly updates and photos provided by the Stovers. Visitors to the site can make monetary donations and designate them with a greeting or comment. Get well Reba! Snorts and kisses from 4 Tennessee Frenchies: Buddy, Tonka, Gypsy and Dolly, reads one. Another says, For Reba: I was treated at the U of MN too! Hope your treatment goes as well. XO Kat. These donations, along with fees collected for adoption, will help FBRN pay Rebas medical bills, which the Stovers estimate will be several thousand dollars. FBRN also sponsors two Yahoo chat groups. As foster dog caregivers, the Stovers seek advice and conversation on rehabilitation matters with others in the network. This is the Stover familys first experience with FBRN, and they are impressed. This organization has it all together, Merica says. It runs like a well-oiled machine. Purebred dog rescue organizations started appearing about 10 years ago. FBRN originated in 2001. Along with the familiar Humane Society, dog rescue organizations offer a second chance for pets. One advantage of FBRN is that the people involved have extensive knowledge about the particular breed with which they deal. Rebas care is a good example of the thorough attention to the health and temperament of surrendered dogs. FBRN also vaccinates, spays or neuters, and plants an AVID microchip in each dog before adoption. The organization provides education about the breed for caregivers. It maintains rigorous requirements for foster families and prospective adopters. Applicants who want to adopt Reba, Shoeless Joe, Lucy Lou or others profiled on the FBRN Web site must submit an application that is reviewed by FBRN and the dogs foster family. A home visit is arranged before the adoption is final. Merica says the foster experience has had many benefits for her and her family. As a microbiologist, she enjoys discussions with Rebas vets about the diagnosis and treatment of meningitis. Having Reba has been an opportunity to learn more about health care for dogs, particularly French bulldogs, a breed the family loves. The whole Stover family, which includes a Frenchie named Gigi and a Sheltie named Sapphire, has grown fond of Reba. Nate and Meg have learned about the special needs and pleasures of caring for a disabled dog. Its about the dogs, but its also about saving something, says Merica. Its about pulling together and saving something.
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