My name is Maestro!

Posted 1 week ago

Cared for by Pound Dog Rescue

Adoption fee: $800

This helps Pound Dog Rescue with pet care costs.

My basic info

Breed

French Bulldog

Color

Brindle

Age

Adult

Size

Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg) (when grown)

Weight

–

Sex

Male

Pet ID

PDR2088

My details

Good with kids

Good with dogs

Not good with cats

Shots current

Spayed / Neutered

Housetrained

My story

Here's what the humans have to say about me:

For Adoption: Maestro!
Please read our dog bios carefully to be sure that the dog you are applying for suits your family and lifestyle.
We at PDR believe in the benefits of post-adoption training for our dogs and their families. This allows for continued socialization, learning and helps to create a well-mannered and balanced dog. Post-adoption training is a requirement in our adoption process.
To apply for adoption and for more information on our process and requirements, visit our website at https://pounddog.ca/adoption-info/.
You’re about to meet the most special dog who charms everyone he comes in contact with!! He loves all people and thinks everyone should be his best friend. This is Maestro and he is a gorgeous blue and tan French Bulldog who is 3yrs old. He weighs about 24 lbs. Now before we get all our Frenchie loving people wanting to adopt, we have to stress that it is very important that anyone interested in Maestro read his bio in full, as he is a special needs little guy. It’s nothing that slows him down and he certainly doesn’t know that he is differently abled, but it is something that his new family needs to embrace, manage and love him for.
See, Maestro was previously owned by a senior and had been given to his owner as a gift. They loved Maestro, but unfortunately were not prepared financially for a Frenchie, which is a breed known for many medical issues. Terribly, Maestro had a herniated disc injury occur in his back. He was paralyzed in the back end and needed a lot of management. His owner did not opt for the surgery that could have fixed Maestro and instead chose to manage his condition as best as they could. The owner was struggling with their own serious medical issues and couldn’t care for Maestro as was needed, and sadly surrendered him to a pound. Thankfully the pound saw a dog that was happy, friendly and eternally optimistic and they reached out to rescues to find a spot for him. We are Bulldog lovers and took him on fully prepared to schedule the back surgery we expected he would need. We were very pleased to discover upon meeting Maestro for the first time that he was much more mobile than we were thinking…he was zooming around on his leash, with his wonky back end, super thrilled to be meeting us all. We got right to work on the vet visit, and then an appointment with a neurology specialist at OVC, and were really disappointed to learn that unfortunately, too much time had passed since the disc herniated, to when we got him; and the window for surgical repair had closed. Had his owner surrendered him a month or so sooner, we could have maybe helped him more, but we were told at the specialist appointment, and then again in a consult between our vet and the specialist, that he was not a surgical candidate. His back was healing itself but without that surgery, it will only heal to a certain extent, and there is a 6mth window for this healing. Maestro is closing in on that and we can say that as he is today, he is happy, pain free, medication free, and able to get around very well…..but….he has limited feeling in his back legs. He walks with a straight gait in the back end and his rear legs don’t always know where they are going. It’s more noticeable when he is walking slowly, and much less noticeable when he is racing around…and let me tell ya, he can race around!!! Maestro doesn’t need any assistance with walking and he can sit, lie down, stand all on his own. He has a wonky back end but he has a solid front end and as a Frenchie, he has a muscular chest that really helps with his mobility. When his disc initially herniated, he was fully paralyzed and lost the ability to express his bladder. We are happy to say that along with being mobile now, he also has control over his bladder and is able to do all bathroom duties on his own. He does though, sometimes squirt a bit of urine when getting up or if excited, so he wears a diaper in the home to protect against that. It doesn’t happen all the time, and often he has a clean diaper, but he doesn’t mind the diaper at all and stands nicely for us to put it on when he comes in from outside, and it catches any unintended squirts that may happen. He is clean in his crate and doesn’t need his diaper when crated. He will come with a nice selection of doggy diapers…we just need his new person or family to be fully committed to caring for a dog that has mobility special needs and are fine with a dog that is diapered in the home. He also sometimes pees on his front legs so he gets regular quick baths to keep him clean, usually just leg wash downs. He is fine to bathe and it’s easy to do.
We really want to focus on that all that is great about Maestro as there is so much more to this little dog than his disability. Maestro is a joyful clown of a dog and everything we all love about Frenchies. He is a big cuddle bug and loves to be on your lap. He loves his walks and gets so excited when you put his leash on. He is equally good on walks around the neighbourhood, or on a long line out in the fields or on trails. If he is always to be walking on cement or pavement he should wear little booties or socks on his back feet to protect them as sometimes his back feet scrape the ground. On the grass or softer surfaces, this isn’t required. Maestro is great in the car and is a fantastic travel companion. We crate him in the car for his safety and he settles in quietly for the ride. He is eternally happy and always has a grin on his face. He is a dog that makes people smile when they see him and he is always happy to meet a new friend. Maestro is a very social little dude and he thinks everyone should be a buddy of his.
Maestro is great with other dogs and can nicely live with another dog. It would be best for the other dog to be of similar size to him, or if larger, then an older, more mature dog, would be best. Maestro does like to play with other dogs and we need to guard against further back injury, so playing with a large dog would not be ideal. In his foster home he has a Frenchie bestie and they play really nicely together. He does respect the older dogs in his foster home and doesn’t bother them to play. Maestro loves chewing on dog toys and playing with stuffies. Maestro is not good with cats and will not be adopted out to a home with cats or other small animals in it. Maestro would be fine in a home with children old enough to be aware of his back injury and to be careful with him. Older children who won’t topple down on top of him or push on his back would be just fine.
Maestro would like a home where he isn’t left for a full work day. In his prior home someone was home all the time and so he isn’t used to be left for very long. He is crated when we leave and does well with this, but he is only left for a few hours at a time. He can be vocal initially when he is crated, but quiets down and then rests quietly until your return. His home needs to have easy access to a safe, fenced yard. When out of his crate he needs to get out to pee asap and so having his crate set up close to the door to the yard works well for him. He doesn’t like to be left outside alone for any length of time but does well to get his jobs done out in the yard, before then going for a walk. When he is out in the yard you will fully see just how able this disabled dog is. Maestro loves to RUN, and boy is he speedy. You would never know he has anything wrong with him when you watch him zoom from one end of the yard to the other. He loves to run and he does so with gusto. Its adorable to watch!! His little back legs just fly along with him, often popping out to the side, but he doesn’t care cuz he’s zooming!
Adopters with previous French Bulldog or other Bulldog experience are preferred, as they are a special breed with specific needs to keep them happy and healthy. He will need to have his wrinkles cleaned on a regular basis as well as special attention to any potential allergies associated with food. He is doing well on the food he is on in our care, which is a top quality diet, and he should be kept on this. Frenchies are prone to environmental allergies and he may need allergy meds throughout his life, although so far he has been ok and showing no signs of having any allergies. Adopters should also regularly maintain his teeth through brushing and/or dental treats. Potential adopters should be aware of possible breed specific health issues and commit to any financial needs he may have in the future to maintain his health. This is a breed that comes with an assortment of potential medical issues and they are known as a high maintenance breed for upkeep and medical care. His family needs to be fully aware of this and be financially able to care for anything that Maestro will need in his life. Which leads us to the question, what does the future look like for Maestro? This is hard for us to say exactly. Our vet has told us that there is nothing holding him back from being adopted, we just need to find that special person or family that has a kind heart and is willing to work with a special needs dog, and is financially secure should he have any future back issues. He still has time for his back to heal further and get more mobility, however he may never become more mobile. If he continues to get better, fantastic! We can say in the time we have had him he has strengthened and is more mobile than when we got him. If he stays as he is, that’s ok. He is happy, pain free and he is mobile. He can do the deck stairs, he can get around well, he is A-OK just as he is. Could he suffer another herniated disc? Yes, that could happen, or it won’t. We don’t know. But with Frenchie’s that is a risk you take. This is something that they are prone to. Should this happen, he would require back surgery immediately to fix it. His family needs to guard against this by not letting him become overweight, by keeping him lean and muscular, and by not letting him jump up on the couch (he does try sometimes!) or jump down from the couch, bed etc. When lifting him, support his entire back. Don’t let him engage in overly rough wrestling with other dogs…just general things to keep his back safe.
What we can tell you is that Maestro is SO worth the extra maintenance and care, and even that special care is minimal. It’s easy to put his diaper on…and we don’t care if he has a little squirt in it…oh well. Toss it in the wash and put on another. He is low energy in the home and super easy to have around. He likes to have a nice bed to chew his Nylabones in. He likes naps. He follows you around the house but settles in whatever room you are in. We block off the stairs so he doesn’t go up them as he would certainly try. He is quiet in the home and such an easy dog to live with. He loves cuddles and he makes us laugh all the time. If it weren’t for his hatred of cats we as his foster family would have adopted him…hands down. He is just so special. We know that there is a Frenchie loving person or family out there that will see what this amazing dog has to offer.
If you are interested in Maestro send us in an application and be sure to tell us in there why you feel that you would be a great fit for Maestro. The more you can tell us about your home, your knowledge of this breed etc the better. We know that there is super kind and compassionate person/people out there that would just love to have a happy little Frenchie companion and we look forward to meeting them!!

Name: Maestro
ID # PDR2088
Age: 3yrs
Gender: male
Spayed: yes
UTD vaccines: yes
Breed: French Bulldog
Colours: blue and tan
Coat length: short
House trained: has accidents, see bio
Special needs: yes, see bio
OK with kids: older
OK with cats: no
Ok with dogs: yes
Status: adoptable
Microchip: yes
Size: small
Location: Drumbo
Adoption fee: $800

Rescue

Pound Dog Rescue

Contact info

Pet ID

PDR2088

Contact

—

Phone

—

pounddog.ca@gmail.com

Website

http://www.pounddog.ca

Address

P.O. Box 261, Drumbo, ON N0J 1G0

Donation

donations can be mailed directly to address above.

Their adoption process

Additional adoption info

Prior to filling out an application on a dog make sure you have read that dog’s profile in its entirety and do some research on the breed(s) of dog you are considering. Make sure that this dog will suit your home and lifestyle. If you wish to proceed please fill out and submit an application online. Alternatively you may print the completed application and mail it to us. It is also a good idea to send us a quick email letting us know to expect your application. Be very thorough in filling out your application. The more we can learn about your family, home and past pet ownership the better. Also, be honest with yourself. Do not apply for a high energy dog if you are not already a very active person. A dog will enhance your life and be a willing partner in your activities but a dog will not change who you fundamentally are. A perfect match will be a dog that suits your current lifestyle and activity level.

Upon receiving your application an Adoption Coordinator will speak with your veterinarian if applicable so please place a call to your vet advising them to expect our call and authorizing them to speak to us about your veterinary history. The next step is for an Adoption Coordinator to contact you to set up an interview and in home visit. Should everything go well we would ask that you contact your references and advise them to expect a call from us. The final step is a meet and greet with the dog at the foster’s home where you can see the dog in an environment where it is comfortable and at ease. The foster will be able to answer any questions on the dog’s behavior, training and routine and you can make the decision if this is truly the dog for you.

Through this procedure we may determine that the dog you applied for is not a good match and we may make suggestions on dogs in our program that would be a better fit for your home. The decision is yours though and we would never push a dog on anyone. We can also keep your application on file and with your permission contact you when a dog we feel would be suitable for you comes up for adoption.

Should your application prove successful we ask for the adoption donation made payable by cash or e-transfer to Pound Dog Rescue. This fee helps defray the costs of veterinary care, upkeep, grooming and transportation for our dogs and is only a small fraction of the total cost spent on each dog in our rescue program. Once you have adopted a dog through Pound Dog Rescue you become part of our family! We love hearing updates about our dogs and receiving pictures! We will always be there for you for advice and support will do whatever we can to make sure you are happy with your new dog.

We the volunteers of Pound Dog Rescue thank you for considering a Pound Dog to adopt and look forward to hearing from you.

Go meet their pets

All of our dogs are cared for in foster homes, and therefore, not available for general public viewing.

More about this rescue

My name is Kim and my husband’s name is Jarett. We are a married couple that is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing dogs in need. Individually, and as a couple, we both have been rescuing and fostering dogs for many other organizations for a number of years. From this experience came the skills, knowledge and connections needed to make starting our own rescue a reality. Having done the work for others for so long and loving the experiences we’ve had, we came to the realization that we can do even more for dogs in need by branching out and having our own rescue group and dedicated team of volunteers. From this fledgling idea Pound Dog Rescue was born and it has grown significantly! It is truly amazing how many good people want to help us save dogs. Pound Dog Rescue would be an impossibility if we didn’t have our team of dedicated volunteers offering their unique and valuable skills and abilities to help grow the rescue. It’s amazing how many animal lovers there are in the community who will donate their time and efforts when they know it goes to such a rewarding cause; to help save dogs. To this date we have received overwhelming support and we know that Pound Dog Rescue and its legion of dedicated supporters will make a positive difference in the lives of many dogs. WE WILL SAVE DOG’S LIVES. And that is why we are here, pure and simple.

We get a lot of questions about our rescue when we talk to people so we thought we would take this opportunity to answer some of the common ones.

Where does Pound Dog Rescue get its dogs from?

All of our dogs come from low-income, low-resource animal control facilities (aka “dog pounds”) in Ontario. These facilities do not have the funding for fancy adoption wings with teams of volunteers and staff. These facilities are minimally staffed with over-worked employees. The dogs have a kennel to stay in that is usually dark and loud and chaotic. These facilities are holding kennels for all of the strays and owner surrendered dogs of their counties and townships. They don’t get to pick and choose the dogs they take in. By law, these pounds must take in any dog that is stray or abandoned. Because of this, kennel space fills up quickly and space runs out. Sadly, without rescue, many of the unclaimed or surrendered dogs will be put down to free up kennel space for the next dogs arriving. This is why we at Pound Dog Rescue will only take in dogs from these facilities. These dogs have very few options, the lucky minority gets adopted, and the others face certain death without rescue. It’s these dogs that we focus on and are dedicated to saving.

Why do we need rescue?

Rescue is needed because sadly, not all dogs live long, happy lives in loving forever homes. Many dogs end up in homes of irresponsible owners who don’t provide them with the training, socialization and care needed to live a happy life. For no fault of their own many of these dogs end up in a pound situation, all because they had the misfortune to be owned by irresponsible people. Sadly, many people still don’t spay or neuter their pets and breed them without any thought to providing quality homes for the puppies or proper care for the mothers. This adds to the already over saturated dog population and takes homes away from dogs already in a pound situation. Because dogs don’t get to choose their owners, rescue is needed. Once in rescue, we choose their next home for them. We strive to make certain that none of our rescue dogs end up back where they came from. We do this by having potential adopters fill out applications and we conduct home visits and interviews and do background checks. We take the extra steps needed to make sure we are sending our dogs off to loving, forever homes.

How does the rescue process work?

We have established a long standing and trusting relationship with a rural Ontario animal control facility. We select most of our dogs from this facility but we are open to helping any low resource pound. We take pictures and do write up’s of all of the dogs available to go to rescue organizations and we forward this information in an email to various different trusted rescues across Ontario. We work hand in hand with a large number of rescues to save as many dogs as possible. We at Pound Dog Rescue not only rescue dogs for our own organization, but assist and facilitate the rescue of dogs to a number of other trusted rescue organizations. We evaluate the dogs in need of rescue and we select dogs based on temperament and the criteria our available foster is looking for. We look to match dogs with fosters. We will never force a foster to take on a dog that they are uncomfortable with or ill equipped to handle. Once selected we have the dog vet checked, vaccinated, heartworm tested, microchipped, and spayed or neutered if required. The dog will then be placed in a preselected foster home to live on a temporary basis where it will be loved and cared for. While in foster care the dog will receive training, socialization, and handling all the while being observed and assessed for behaviour. This way we really get to know the dogs in our care and can confidently determine what will be the best forever home for each individual dog. A successful adoption applicant for a specific dog will have a meet and greet with the dog and it’s foster in the foster’s home. This way the applicant can talk directly with the foster who has been caring for the dog to learn first hand about the dog’s routines, quirks and mannerisms in a home environment. We fully believe that the foster parent knows the dog best and they are an integral part of our adoption procedure.

Is there something wrong with dogs from pounds? Why are they there in the first place?

For the most part the dogs that end up in pounds are there for no fault of their own. A lot of them were owned by people who were irresponsible and let them run loose and when apprehended, did not bother to claim them from the pound. Many come in because the person that owned them either selected a breed of dog that did not suit their lifestyle, or they expected a dog to come fully trained and didn’t want to, or know how to, put the time and effort required into training their dog. And unfortunately, many end up in a pound because they became inconvenient for their owners and the pound is the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to dispose of their dog. Some end up there because their owner passed away or had a crisis and were no longer able to care for their dog. We have seen almost every breed of dog in the pound in need of rescue…from the smallest of toy breeds to the largest of giant breeds and everything in between. We have seen many purebreds and just as many mixed breeds. There is no breed of dog that is exempt from being abandoned, lost or unclaimed. We have rescued and fostered countless dogs in our years of volunteering and we have never yet encountered a “bad” dog, or one who had an issue we couldn’t work through. Again, these dogs can’t help who they are owned by. We at Pound Dog Rescue work to educate the public on responsible dog ownership and fully encourage and insist on applicants researching and being educated on the breed of dog they are applying for. There is nothing more frustrating than seeing a beautiful Border Collie in the pound having been turned in because he was “too active” or a gorgeous Newfoundland Dog having been turned in because he grew “too big”. Unfortunately these are true stories and real excuses people have used to abandon their former “best friends” at the pound. How about the black Lab who was turned in because the owner redecorated her house and he no longer matched the decor? We aren’t kidding. It happened. So, the answer is no, not all dogs in a pound have something “wrong” with them. Most are there because of things they have no control over, like their breed, their colour or who the person was that happened to pick them out of their respective litters at 8 weeks old.

We thank you for caring enough to consider rescue. We hope you will choose to adopt a rescue dog. Rescue saves dog’s lives and gives dogs a second chance at finding a loving home. And if you want to save a dog and adopt through rescue, as we like to say around here…..There ain’t nothing like a Pound Dog!!!