Please give a warm FBRN welcome to our miracle pup, Mugsy! This handsome boy has battled back from severe neglect, near starvation, and one of the worst cases of brachycephalic airway syndrome we’ve ever seen. He still has a way to go, but he is a fighter, and we know he has all of FBRN Nation cheering him on.

Mugsy was rescued from his original living situation by a couple who quickly realized his medical issues were more than they could handle, and they compassionately surrendered him to FBRN. At the time of his surrender, Mugsy’s airways were so obstructed that he could barely breathe, and just 15 minutes in the car put him into severe respiratory distress. His narrow airways also caused him to regurgitate multiple times a day making it hard for him to keep on weight. Mugsy underwent surgery to widen his palate and nares, but the long-term effects of his airway obstruction caused significant complications. He required a temporary tracheotomy and extended time in the ICU. It was touch and go for him, but thankfully the swelling in his airway decreased to the point that he was able to return home with his foster mom. Hooray!

Mugsy’s stay in the hospital took a toll on him, and he lost even more weight off his skinny frame. But the good news is his breathing has improved dramatically, and he’s finally able to keep food down! So, while the road to complete recovery is long, Mugsy has shown us that he’s ready for the journey. He has a lot of people in his corner, first and foremost among them his doting foster mom. She reports that Mugsy is a “stage 5 clinger” who gives hoarse little barks of protest whenever his humans are more than a foot away. Goodness, is someone cutting onions in here?

At somewhere between 6 and 7 years old, Mugsy still has many years ahead of him to be loved, cherished, and spoiled rotten. If you’d like to be a part of his miraculous recovery, then please click on the “sponsor me” link and tell us it’s for Mugsy. As you can imagine, his vet bills cost a pretty penny, so every donation helps. Mugsy will be sure to thank you with a little froggy bark of gratitude!