Surrender a Frenchie

Surrendering Your Frenchie

French Bulldogs come into FBRN from many different sources: commercial breeding kennels, import brokers, public shelters, private rescue groups, or Good Samaritans trying to save the life of a stray. However, most of our French Bulldogs are owner surrenders, turned over by owners who can no longer keep them. Whatever the reasons, we do not question or criticize your motives for giving up your French Bulldog. We are here to help.

Life has thrown you a curve ball and you must surrender your French Bulldog - what now?

When you are ready, contact us, by e-mail or telephone. Don't be embarrassed and don't hesitate to make that first contact. Surrendering your pet can be a difficult decision to make, and we respect that. We will not pressure you to keep your dog OR to give up your dog. We will answer questions you might have that might help you to make an informed decision. We will ONLY take custody of your French Bulldog IF and WHEN you are ready.

We will need to know the following: Why are you surrendering the dog? Is the dog up-to-date on vaccinations and heartworm preventative? Is the dog spayed or neutered? Has the dog ever bitten anyone? Does the dog have any health problems? Is he currently being treated for them?

Once we have accepted your Frenchie into FBRN, we may need a few days to determine the best foster home and to arrange transportation. If the situation is critical, please let us know. We may ask you to meet one of our volunteers for the surrender, or we may send them to your home.

You will need to sign an owner surrender form, which states you have legal ownership of the dog, and which transfers those legal rights (and obligations) to FBRN. The following items, if available, should be brought with the dog: veterinary records, rabies tag and certificate, microchip information if your pet is chipped, a favorite toy or bone, bed and crate, collar and leash, any medication the dog is currently taking, including heartworm and flea preventative, AKC paperwork and registration.

After being taken into FBRN custody, your French Bulldog will spend a minimum of seven days in foster care as an evaluation period, and we may contact you during this period for more information. After the evaluation period, he will either become available for adoption, or begin receiving the long term veterinary care, training, or any other rehabilitation he may need in order to be adopted.

What if you decide you want your Frenchie back? You may have him back if he has not already been listed on the Available page or has been adopted, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, and if you pay FBRN's out of pocket expenses for his veterinary bills and any other costs he may have incurred while in foster care (such as vet bills, kenneling, training or behavioral consultations); and if there is no compelling reason why he should not go back.

By compelling, we mean compelling at the time of surrender, e.g., animal bites all over the dog, a prominent ribcage and backbone from malnourishment, long neglected health or behavior problems, or an evident and pronounced terror of people. Our goal is to provide the best possible home for French Bulldogs in need.

Caring for any dog for any length of time costs money, and while FBRN will take in any Frenchie regardless of the costs associated with that particular Frenchie, we do ask that you make an entirely voluntary contribution to FBRN in any amount you can afford. Our adoption fees do not even begin to cover our costs, so if you must surrender your Frenchie, please donate whatever you can to help.

To surrender your Frenchie to FBRN, please contact one of our state contacts in your area.

I adopted Willa Mae in Aug of 2008. Just about a year ago I saw her on the foster page and fell in love with that cute face. When she became available to adopt we put a lot of thought into adopting her and wanted to be able to give her the home she deserved. We were so happy when we found out we were selected for Willa's forever home. On Sept. 4th I flew from N.Y. to Wisconsin to meet Willa and take her home. She was so scared of everyone! Her eyes would just bug out and she was frozen in place. But with time, patience, a lot of love and a visit from FBRN'S volunteer and trainer, Kim Barnett, Willa has transformed into a happy little girl. She is such a funny, happy and loved little Frenchie! I just wanted to thank all of you that put so much time and energy into these wonderful dogs that need so much help. We are so happy with Willa and just love her to pieces!!!

Thanks again for our little angel, Willa Mae, that gives us so much joy!

Thank you to all of you for your help and dedication to these dogs and to our dog, Wookie, whom we had to surrender. Now that she has a forever home and a picture with her new daddy it seems to have put closure to the hole in our family. I am excited she is the center of attention in her new home, and has a dog-savvy family. Thank you for taking her in, caring so well for her and being selective in finding her the right home. This has been a difficult situation for us and we are thankful you were all there to help us out. If you have any contact with her new daddy please pass along our word of thanks for giving her a great home. She is a sweet girl.

Please know that our FBRN contact, Michelle has been wonderful to us through this. She was very kind. I just don’t have the words to express her greatness and dedication. Thank you!

I hope this finds you well! I am writing to say thank you so very much for all of your help. Just prior to Christmas we surrendered our much loved Frenchie, Bruno - now called Uno. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do but as you are aware our recent move did not sit well with him.

"I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to hold my hand through a very difficult task and that your placement coordinator and the foster Mommy that Bruno went to stay with were wonderful and never once did anyone make me feel worse than I already was feeling about my decision. All of your volunteers were AMAZING!

I had been checking on Bruno's progress and was thrilled to find out this afternoon that he has been placed in a new home! He looks extremely happy with his new mommy & daddy and I could not be more pleased! FBRN...thank you so much from the bottom of my heart!"

"Everything is going great. She is such a joy to have around - honestly, adopting Spice was probably one of the best things Jason and I have ever done. She even came back east with us for Christmas. My mom had a Christmas stocking and metal food and water bowls made with her name on them. She was a big hit with my family and with Jason's."