BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Space Coast Frenchie Rescue, a Brevard County-based nonprofit, rescues and rehomes French bulldogs — commonly called “Frenchies.”
Since last November, the organization has been overwhelmed.
Founder, Ashley Pedersen, said more than 150 French bulldogs have been surrendered to the organization.
“I’m averaging one surrender a day,” Pedersen said.
She said the dogs didn’t come from Brevard County alone.
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“Miami is probably one of the saddest situations I’ve ever seen — and the west coast (of the state),” Pedersen said.
She said shelters are full across Florida; many of them have reached out to her hoping she can take their dogs.
Frenchies are a popular breed. Oftentimes, people breed and sell them for thousands of dollars.
Overbreeding has become an issue, though.
Breeders who have too many dogs can’t provide care for them, and staff at The Eau Gallie Veterinary Hospital in Melbourne and Pedersen’s Cofounder Courtney Schilling opened their homes to help.
At one point, Schilling had 15 dogs at her house.
Pedersen said that’s just a temporary solution though.
“The goal is to get everyone adopted,” Pedersen said.
Until then, they need donations and people willing to foster.
But an abundance of Frenchies isn’t the only issue of overbreeding.
Associate veterinarian Jocelyn Brickett said for some, breeding Frenchies is a get-rich-quick scheme, but when done improperly, it can lead to genetic issues.
One of the dogs in the care of the veterinarian is named Keller. He has medical issues as a result of improper breeding.
“Keller is a result of trying to breed the merle color, so they breed two merle dogs together, which leads to this kind of white syndrome, so he’s blind and deaf due to them breeding those two colors together,” Brickett said. “People need to stop doing that and leave it to the professionals.”
Jessica Bunnell has her own dogs but decided to foster a dog named Gambit. He has a medical condition that doesn’t allow him to use his back legs. So he moves around using a wheelchair.
Bunnell said most people are hesitant to adopt a dog who isn’t in perfect health, but she said his condition doesn’t make him any less loyal or loving.
“We as humans want everybody to be perfect, but none of us, so poor gambit, but he’s perfect and unique in his own way,” Bunnell said.
If you want to donate, become a foster or adopt a French bulldog, you can find out how here.
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