The cost of cute: animal advocates ring the alarm over increase in French bulldog surrenders
CBC
Animal advocates in Montreal are sounding the alarm over an increase in the number of French bulldogs being surrendered because owners are unable or unwilling to pay for their care.
They say the breed may be cute but the dogs often come with chronic medical issues and people are unaware of the high costs adopting one can carry. What's more, their popularity pushes unethical breeders to bad practices, which perpetuates their innate health problems.
Montrealer Karolina Jez, admits to getting her "Frenchie" Rio from a breeder nearly five years ago.
"To me she was really the most special thing, everywhere she went she became like a little star of the show," Jez mused.
"She was the mascot of our local coffee shop. They called her 'Tonguies' because her tongue was always sticking out. She just made everybody happy."
But from early on Rio had serious health issues ranging from allergies to problems with her spine. An expensive surgery seemed to get her back on track, but then she was diagnosed with meningitis.
Her decline was fast. Eventually, she couldn't walk anymore and lost her zest for life.
Rio was only 4.5 years-old when she died.
"It was so painful to see how much she suffered and honestly we did everything we could," Jez said.
Jez suspects the seriousness of Rio's illnesses are connected to poor breeding practices and she now wishes she had done more research.
"Everything that I learned because of her, all the trauma that I've been through with her, all the suffering that I saw her go through — I think it's important for people to look at somebody like me and be like, 'You know what? I do need to educate myself. Look what she went through, am I ready to have this breed?' ... They are a living thing. They're not just a disposable toy," Jez said.
"I think if we adopt and we don't shop hopefully that's going to lessen — and maybe even one day — eradicate these 'greeders.'"
Not all Frenchies are as lucky to have a pet owner as dedicated as Jez. The Montreal SPCA says it's seen an increase in the number of surrenders of French bulldogs in the last couple of years.
Chocolatine, a three-month-old Frenchie, is currently under its care. She is recovering from a surgery to correct a rectal prolapse, which happens when the rectum becomes stretched and slips out of the anus.
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