In Memory of Tuffy
Sadly our sweet Frenchie, Tuffy, died peacefully at the University of Missouri Small Animal Hospital on July 20, 2008, after a brief but intense battle with lymphoma.
She was a true ambassador for the breed. Her gregarious personality belied the tough circumstances she experienced most of her life as a breeder in a puppy mill operation. FBRN rescued her in 2006 and she found her way to our home in July of that year.
The final two years of Tuffy's life were very happy. She most enjoyed patrolling the back yard, but would occasionally outsource the heavy lifting to her half-breed Frenchie sibling, Mr. Chips! (particularly if she detected the promise of a fallen crumb). She had a voracious appetite and developed a tendency to dance, excitedly, before dinner in a manner reminiscent of Michael Jackson in the music video "Thriller." She hated thunder, fireworks and other loud noises and tended to run upstairs to hide under the covers when she heard them. At all other times she demanded to be carried up them and let her owners know it by standing in the foyer at the base of the stairs and barking. A very outgoing dog, she loved people, but eyed children cautiously. She could most reliably be found in her master's lap, receiving belly scratches. She loved Project Runway, but snored through most Kansas City Royals games.
Tuffy was known by many names; T-Bird, Tuffy-Bird, the Tuffinator, Baroness von Tuffenheimer. She is survived by Mr. Chips!, Wilbur, also a FBRN grad, and Gray Kitty from next door, who tormented her along the fence line. Her owners sorely miss her and are grateful to FBRN for their commitment to rescuing and rehoming these amazing creatures. The Mannings
In Memory of Chester
1997-2008
Chester became part of our family on Mother's Day 2006. What a wonderful gift. He had a red bow on his neck when we went to pick him up at his foster home. We couldn't believe that Cowboy Chet was really ours, we were so happy. Sadly, Chester passed away on Friday morning August 1, 2008. He woke up having a seizure and was rushed to the vet. They were unable to stop the seizure and after over an hour we had to make the painful decision to let him go. Chester was our LOVE. He was a crazy, funny old man that made us laugh everyday. He always "needed " his mom and if I sat down anywhere in the house he would be right there, climbing in my lap for me to hold him. I would cradle him like a baby. His tongue would stick out (as it always did) and he would puff his lips and blow air out at me and I would do it back at him over and over again and he would just look at me with his cloudy eyes and you just knew how much he loved you. He would walk around the house looking to make sure I was home and that would make everything o.k. He couldn't see well but he always knew when he found his mom. If he was alone in a room and we were still in the house he would moan and make all these crazy little sounds just so someone would look in on him and if we didn't go over to him and grab his little face and give him a kiss, the noises just continued. But of course we couln't help but oblige him because he was so darn cute. On grocery shopping day he would be in the kitchen ready to inspect every bag. He would put his head in each bag, never taking anything out but needing to sniff and inspect each item. His vision was bad and he couldn't hear but he had a keen sense of smell and enjoyed smelling new things. He loved to sniff the fresh cut roses we would bring in from the yard, his little nose would wiggle like crazy. He loved to go to the beach and even though his legs were wobbly and getting around was a chore for Chester, he insisted on climbing over the driftwood. He reminded me of a little bulldozer plowing his way over the logs.
We have so many terrific memories of our Chetty Ray. He was 11 years old and I wish he had been ours to love his entire life. We feel so blessed as a family to have been given the opportunity to be his final home. The pain we feel in losing Chester seems like it will last forever. As time goes on it will be easier. The pain will go away but our memories of him will last forever. I would tell him,"Chetty Ray, you're the "bestest" boy ever". And that he was!
We love you Manny!
Mom, Dad, Nick, Chloe and Caroline
In Memory of Caleb

Caleb was the kind of dog you had to love. I was lucky enough to meet him when I came up to my grandparents for summer vacation. We fell in love almost right away. Every morning he would come into my room to wake me up with his little kisses. After he had his surgery you could tell just by looking at him that he felt better. Caleb was doing so well and we thought he would get better and be able to move on.
Unfortunately, two weeks later we lost Caleb to a sudden complication from the surgery. We all miss him so much and he will live in our hearts forever.
In Memory of Fred

1997 -2008
Three years ago my family won the dog lottery when we adopted 8 year old Fred and 7 year old George together from the French Bulldog Rescue Network. When their loving owner had become too infirm to care for them, the wonderful volunteers at FBRN opened their collective embrace to these two senior citizen canines until they came to our forever home with us. Some said the dogs won the lottery too.
These two dear old guys came to us after we had recently lost two loyal rescue companions, a 17 year old Schnauzer and a 15 year old Corgi. Their Frenchie sister, Bette, also a rescue, was a little lonesome. Actually, that probably isn’t quite true. We were the lonesome ones because Bette always thought she was the only dog…but she quickly came to love her new buddies.
Fred and George have been a delight in our lives with their sweet nature, quirky endearing habits and the abundant love shared unconditionally with us all.
Dear angel face Fred crossed the rainbow bridge last week, and there is a hole in our hearts that will be tough to fill. He packed more love into the past 3 years than we could have ever imagined.
Our first days with George and Fred involved a cross country roadtrip to Chicago from their Frenchie foster home in Virginia. There was an overnight stop in Pittsburgh where a four star hotel put out the welcome mat for all of us. Fred and George balked at the gilded revolving doors at first but welcomed being carried over the threshold to all that luxury. Fred and George snuggled into our bed that night and straight to our hearts. They didn’t miss a night in our bed since.
Fred and George, along with Bette, knew every cushy spot at both our weekend home in the Indiana Dunes on Lake Michigan and our suburban Chicago home. They all loved going to the office with us and endeared themselves to our dog loving and tolerant co-workers.Fred had the most adorable habit of “dancing in circles” whenever he was excited. Everyone who knew him loved that little dance and the polite little showman put on all the theatrics whenever he was asked. He also liked pizza crust and was intent on getting his share when we had ours. He would stand near the kitchen counter, look up and bark until he got his treat.
We’re all grieving today, especially George. We’ve shared our lives, our hearts and our beds with numerous dogs and a cat, but losing one never gets easier. It is a hard day here and I miss that little guy terribly.
In Memory of Sadie

Our beautiful girl Sadie has crossed the Bridge.
She came to us the year before last, and was fostered through a tough
time. An enormous tumor was removed from her abdomen, which proved to
our delight and rejoicing to be benign. Sweet Sadie was eventually
adopted, but when the resident dog didn't care for her,
she returned to her foster family, who joyfully took her back and
adopted her themselves.
Sadie came back to her foster family and her siblings as if she'd been
on a swell vacation! And she fit right in and was happy, and she made
her family whole.
We were very sad to learn this spring that Sadie had been diagnosed
with lymphoma. Despite chemotherapy and research and the best care
that could be provided, Sadie was fading. Her family made the
decision to give her peace and an end to her pain.
Our beautiful, funny, dancing Sadie is waiting for us, doing
pirouettes in her tutu on the far side of the Bridge. We'll see her
there someday.
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