French Bulldog"Pablo"

This Article is dedicated to “them”. To all dogs, of whatever breed, who due to fashion trends find themselves in terrible conditions. Especially, and only for personal reason, to the French Bulldog, and to one of these in particular, Pablo (Paul).

Some of the photos may distress those of a sensitive nature, if you don’t wish to see them, don’t click on the blue links.

They say he had a female companion, that they were always together and that one day she died. They say that´s why he was sad. They say that he had come from Bulgaria… They don’t need to know the name of the breed to talk about him, they call him, “The dog in the advert”.
He’s a pied Frenchie, with big languid eyes. He was born, probably in the Czech Republic, supposedly on the 16th August 2002. However, he had the misfortune to end up in a part of Spain noted for its poverty and backwardness. He was sold, together with his companion, with the idea of producing puppies. In fact, he has never known what it is to have someone hold out a friendly hand to lick, his eyes his body tell you his story and shows it. He’s a simple product of whimsical fashion, of a breeder without scruples, of a speculative mind, and above all of sheer ignorance… and, he didn’t end up suffering the same fate as his companion due to a stroke of fate.
Also because he has a strong constitution, his mind was lost long ago in the pain. The Frenchie in him is seen in a pair of bat ears and a damaged body. His Frenchie character, if he ever had one has vanished, maybe it will never come back, but with luck his innate Frenchie temperament will win through.
As long as the business of trading and speculating with dogs continues, and in the case of this breed, an expensive trade, his case will not be the only one. In fact, it isn’t the only one. Please don’t look for the guilty parties amongst the ignorant, bad enough in itself, think about our own part in this. For just one moment, let’s stop and take stock, look at ourselves. Aren’t we encouraging all this? We pay astronomic quantities for what we call “show dogs”. Puppies 12 weeks old! Sometimes they meet our expectations, sometimes they don’t. Some people call themselves breeders take advantage of this “boom” in the breed and sell at outrageous prices, the man in the street hears of these prices it makes him think there is a “nice little earner” in breeding dogs of this or that breed...
The people who really like a given breed and work for that breed aren’t the breeders who sell for the highest prices. They don’t talk so much about show quality dogs. They well know how difficult it is to tell how a puppy will turn out as an adult, and how easy it is to be wrong. Their main concern and interest is to find a good home for the pups, and so continue their breeding.
Some buy an adult pair from someone who wants to get rid of them because they haven’t come up to expectations. They come in poor condition, badly treated, depressed and ill… One of them dies, the other… the other, his name is “Paul”. You might guess why he was given this name. He was saved when he least expected it.
Please, STOP...
Stop buying just because something is in fashion, study the breed, its pros and cons. Fall in love with the breed because you know something about it or don’t fool yourself. Don’t be in a hurry, ever.
Stop buying from shops, or dealers or from those back yards with dogs piled up in crates or cages. In any place where you see a sad looking Frenchie pup amongst other fashionable breeds. The majority have spent a long journey cooped up in cages. They are carriers of diseases and they have left and will leave much sadness behind them.
Don’t ever buy without seeing first. Never mind about a great website with lots of whistles and bells. Don’t let yourself be blinded!
Stop thinking you’re going to make a nice little pile if you buy a bitch and out her to breeding… Nothing could be further from the truth, not only with the French Bulldog, but almost any dog of pure breed. You may well end up losing the bitch, and even if you don’t, why make her suffer? Can’t you make a bit of money some other way? Let the real breeders do the work, they know what they’re doing and even they often have problems.
Stop imagining that if you buy an expensive, super dog, that he will be “the national stud”. Not even if he comes backed up by three rows of Ch from all over the world will it guarantee that his offspring will be like him. That is supposing that he can have offspring. It’s rare that a great show dog is also a good stud, they rarely coincide. Open your eyes!
Stop using that “superdog”, offering his services at stud all over the place. Don’t exploit him in that way. As a social animal he has certain rights, preferences and feelings. Just like you.
In addition what usually happens from so much publicity is that his name will be used as bait to sell pups that are not his.
Stop supposing that you will be able to have a French Bulldog living outdoors. This is a delicate breed that doesn´t support either the cold or the hot. Its skin is damaged in continuous contact with dust or cement. It needs individual and special attention and care. Think about this before having one!
Please stop for a moment, and think of something other than fashion, whim, money, personal prestige and goals based on speculation and exploiting living beings.
“Paul” now has a comfortable life, little by little he’s getting stronger, but will he ever get really better? Sometimes it seems that he even smiles. He still bears the scars of all that has happened to him, psychological and physical scars.
He has friends who love and care for him. He has been lucky, the “God of Frenchies” looked down and smiled on him. But… there remain many in horrendous situations. How many more have to suffer this misery before you rethink the situation and conclude that already they have been too many?
So, please… STOP, THINK and DO SOMETHING!