An Angel Walks Among Us

Angels come in all shapes, sizes, and…species. Take Gabriel, the French bulldog, for instance. While he doesn’t have the requisite white wings and halo, he is nonetheless an amazing being who spreads light and love wherever he goes. Like his namesake, the archangel Gabriel, this little guy with the big bat ears and soulful eyes acts as a messenger—in this case, to remind us about the power of forgiveness.

Gabriel has good reason to blame humans for his problems. For the past two years, his guardians (and I use this term loosely) ignored his increasingly deteriorating health. In their defense, they tried to help their sickly boy at first by seeking help from their veterinarian. Tests revealed that Gabriel had a cyst on his spinal column (which would explain why he was having trouble walking and had sores on the tops of his feet from dragging them), and an elongated soft palate, which, left untreated, can cause a whole host of life-threatening problems, such as damage to the esophagus, aspiration pneumonia (a fancy term for food that goes down the wrong pipe), and severe acid reflux, which can cause continuous vomiting. This once beefy French bulldog’s throat and palate were so swollen that he wasn’t receiving any nutrition and he must have been in agonizing pain. In essence, he was slowly starving to death and his “guardians” and veterinarian stood by and let it happen.

At this point, the treatment would have been rather simple and straightforward—surgically repair the soft palate, remove the spinal cyst, and administer medication to treat the acid reflux. But citing financial problems, Gabriel’s family refused the surgery and medication. Instead, they let Gabriel suffer...for two years! Their veterinarian explained Gabriel’s long-term prognosis and said he would put him to sleep when he became too weak (are you as shocked by this vet’s response as I am?).

Luckily for Gabriel, he had an angel of his own looking out for him. In December, the father of one of Gabriel’s guardians saw his frail “granddog” and was understandably very concerned. He called French Bulldog Rescue Network (FBRN) and asked volunteers if they could help. He cried when they said yes. (Why no one was ponying up the money for Gabriel’s treatment remains a mystery to me.)

Gabriel was soon surrendered to FBRN and that’s when volunteers went to work. Worried by his emaciated little body and labored breathing, a volunteer rushed Gabriel to a nearby emergency veterinary clinic, where he spent four hours being fed a cocktail of drugs and undergoing a battery of tests. By now, his organs had started to shut down and he was near death, and although everyone crossed their fingers and prayed, they really didn’t expect Gabriel to survive the night.

But he surprised everyone.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Gabriel has made an amazing transformation. He not only made it through that first, crucial night at the veterinary clinic, but over the next few days, he started keeping food down and had “plumped up like a little rum-soaked raisin,” according to his blog. The hydration alone made a big difference in his appearance—his eyes were no longer sunken, they were sparkling. His skin was less wrinkly, and he had become a total love muffin. I’m told that all the staff at the veterinary clinic kept making excuses to go back to Gabriel’s kennel and snuggle with him. Gabriel even had the opportunity to meet Oprah, who came into the emergency clinic with one of her dogs.

Since his treatment began in December, Gabriel has gained five pounds. His bones, which once jutted out so prominently, were now covered with a thin layer of fat as he began to pack on the pounds. He was still just skin and bones, though, and was living on a wing and a prayer. He would need long-term care, where he could rest and recuperate. Enter my friend and colleague, Karen Perkins, a volunteer with FBRN and mom to two of her own Frenchies, Lillie and Murpheee (and another foster pup, Rosebud). Since Christmas Eve, Karen has been fostering little Gabriel at her home in Santa Barbara.

Last week, I had the opportunity to meet this angel-in-a-dog-suit and while he looked shockingly fragile, he nevertheless greeted me with a kiss and a snuffle (as only bulldogs can do). I gently held his head in my hands and stroked his bony body, all the while reassuring him how much he was loved. Like most neglected and abused dogs I’ve met over the years, Gabriel has forgiven humans for their shortcomings and instead chooses to focus on the important things: treats and toys.

Thanks to the efforts of Karen Perkins and the French Bulldog Rescue Network, Gabriel is expected to make a full recovery and he’ll be ready for adoption in a few months. In the meantime, his medical bills continue to accumulate (they’re currently at $5,000.00). If you would like to help defray the costs of Gabriel’s care, please send a donation to French Bulldog Rescue Network (www.frenchbulldogrescue.org), PO Box 4764 , Glenn Allen, VA  23058 or e-mail Karen Perkins at kitfreid@yahoo.com to learn how you can foster a Frenchie.

Heaven knows that Gabriel and all the other angel animals out there could use a helping paw.

 

When Karen’s not playing tug-of-war with Gabriel and one of his toys, she’s busy writing her next column. Have an animal tale to tell? Let Karen know by sending her an e-mail message at karenleestevens@cox.net.

 

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By Karen Lee Stevens,
Founder & President, ALL FOR ANIMALS, Inc.
Copyright © 2008. All Rights Reserved.

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