SoCal French Bulldog Rescue Needs Our Help!

As an advocate for the French Bulldog, I know I'm doing everything I can to promote healthy and ethical practices not only in the dogs I produce, but with the ongoing mentorship for my clients on how to best care for their Frenchie. When I home a puppy to one of my good families, I am available for any questions that may come up with the pup for the duration of her lifetime. And, as every good breeder should have in their contract, I will take back a pup or dog at anytime if the client is unable to care for her, for whatever reason, and help find placement for the babe. Frenchies of Glen Ellen dogs will NEVER end up in rescues or shelters. My very limited breeding rights (we only want to breed the best of the best, right?) that I may sell also reflect on my values. I breed for the improvement of the Frenchie and for family enjoyment first and foremost.

The popularity of the Frenchie is undeniable, and my goal is to not only help our breed, but the good people out there who want a healthy and balanced fur family member. Unfortunately, not all breeders have the same values as I, or my sweet little community of like-minded breeders, do. The horror stories I hear about poor breeding practices and terrible business scams abound in the Frenchie world. It's especially stressing out the animal shelters and small rescue organiztions where pups and dogs are dumped if they have health issues, or a breeder has had enough with a litter, or dog, they can't sell.

SoCal French Bulldog Rescue, and good rescues like them, are having to clean up what poor breeding practices has created. The strain, financial and emotional, on these organizations is vast. I can't help but add, if breeders had screened their dogs PRIOR to breeding, a lot of these issues these dogs are displaying could be avoided. Breeding only for color, for money, or to win ribbons in the show ring, is part of the problem. We can't ignore this fact any longer... I mean look at the babies who are suffering because of our selfishness.

SoCal French Bulldog Rescue

The background on the good people who run this particular rescue is really inspiring. Here is a bit of who they are, as sent over to me by Charlie Alu, a volunteer. Unlike a lot of rescues, 100% of the donations go straight to dogs. And they support good breeders; we aren't the bad guys here. Poor breeding practices is.

"Debra Munt, the founder/president, started showing FB about 12 years ago. She began volunteering with SoCal Bulldog Rescue/SCBR (English bulldogs) about that same time. 

As Frenchies gained popularity, Debra agreed to foster them through SCBR since they specialized in English bulldogs, and they could not manage the intake of Frenchies. Fosters are VERY specific when it comes to what breed they are willing to take in..English bulldog lovers DO NOT translate to Frenchie lovers!

Approximately 4 years ago, Debra created SCFBR as a separate umbrella from SCBR; however she was still fundraising under SCBR non-profit status.

As you know, Frenchie popularity really gained traction about 3 years ago and that forced Debra to apply for her own non-profit status (IRS letter attached).  Deb has run the rescue on her own until I joined her this year. I am not sure how she has managed to do it, but I know much of what has been paid for has come out of her own pocket. Debra also lives with MS, so I know running this rescue takes a physical toll on her as well.

I met Debra when I started volunteering for SCBR. I had two Frenchies at the time but there wasn't a nearby FB rescue near me so I chose SCBR. My first two Frenchies, Mac (born 2012) and Artie (born 2013), were bought from a neighbor/acquaintance who breeds as a hobby, and partial living. At the time I knew nothing about breeders..just that I loved the breed and wanted one (or two!).

Come to find out, my breeder was not breeding for health... and was less than forthcoming about the health conditions of the parents of my two boys. I became very well educated about breeders after having my two boys and volunteering with SCBR.

When I learned Debra was involved with the Frenchie side of rescue I started to help her out here and there...I helped fundraise when I could, and fostered for her (my third Frenchie is a foster fail from SCFBR).

Watching what has happened to Frenchies this past year has killed me...The irresponsible breeders, as well as, a VERY uniformed public. Being the #1 breed in America has not done FB any justice.

So, this year I signed on to create the Facebook page and help Debra with fundraising. It is something I enjoy doing and I know she desperately needs the funds to pay for the Frenchies in our care. 

That covers everything I can think of...please let me know if you have any questions. Any fundraising help you can provide will help tremendously. Neither Debra, nor I, take any money from the donations. 100% goes towards the care of the dogs."

Thank you Charlie, and Debra for your dedication to our breed! I'm honored to be connected with you, and will do what I can to share education on better breeding practices and to contiune to loudly advocate for our breed.

And, in the spirit of paying it forward, I have pledged for 2024 a $100 donation per dog I place, and $50 per stud fee to go to SoCal French Bulldog Rescue... in the name of Frenchies of Glen Ellen, or my wonderful future client's name. Good Karma is pricesless, right?

I do hope other breeders will follow suit with donations in 2024 to a worthwhile cause. All I can do is lead by example (and I'm certainly not perfect), and hope and pray we all can come together to do the right thing for the Frenchie: Screen your dogs PRIOR to breeding them (OFA or PennHip); check their spines for birth defects or abnormalities, run a DNA panel, peek and evaluate their hips, patellas, heart, eyes, elbows and trachea. Perhaps, take a spin at a local dog show to have your dog structurally evaluted prior to breeding. No dog is perfect, but at least YOU know what you're working with, and if you're set on breeding, you know whom to pair it with to improve on the health and function of the dogs you produce. DON'T sell breeding rights indiscriminately! Wait until the dog is old enough, and has had some preliminary OFA testing, to approve rights. A puppy can change so much from 8 week old cherub to a strapping 12 month old teenager. Even the best lines can produce pet-quality pups. Be the one who is advocating for BETTER.

Like I tell my son, Max, integrity is the choices we make when no one is watching. And good Karma is priceless!

Lots of love, and Happy Thanksgiving, from Natale and the Frenchies of Glen Ellen gang

xxxxxxx