Dear LSBCR family and friends, Today, our grief ebbs as we celebrate a long and blessed life. Gabby conquered a prognosis of two weeks after her visit to the emergency animal emergency hospital during Valentine’s week 2023. Instead of 14 days, she thrived for 14 months. She suffered no overt pain, but a diagnosis of congestive heart failure and internal organ deterioration required six different Rx meds twice per day and Rx food.
Time and decline conquer all mortals. Our sweet little girl rested in my and Meg’s rooms before she folded into the arms of Morpheus, who handed her to God, who delivered her to the warm embrace of Uncle Glenn Hall. She lives happily in her truly forever home, escorted by Glenn, who has many other Bullies in his care. Ever the Marine, Glenn clothed the welcoming platoon in Dress Blues. Chesley, the Bulldog mascot of the Marines, led the procession.
Gabby passed naturally, in the comfort of her loving home, with the people she loved most. When she moved in 8 ½ years ago, all she asked was for a caring home. She bore crate scars from being caged as a mill Momma who was denied the comfort of even a cloth bed. She craved love and responded energetically to every opportunity to spread her innate happiness.
In her younger years, she ran and jumped over two foot high plant pots when she played outside. She hopped onto the sofa at night to kiss my face for as long as 11 minutes. I was unsure if a morning shave would be necessary! She slept beside me in the bed, and sometimes across the pillows so I could feel her breath. Over the years, she taught us unconditional love, trust, companionship, and steadfast happiness. Gabby blessed us in more ways than we thought possible.
Even at 11 years and 7 months old, she soldiered on. She had little energy and total incontinence, but kept fighting until the last few days. Her appetite waned, but we changed her diet to slow cooker brisket and potatoes, which she relished. When she recently rejected her meds, we concealed them in her favorite meats, fruits, even deserts. We denied her nothing and did everything to show our love. All of us in LSBCR recognize that we are all that these sweet Bullies have in this life. We owe them every advantage.
Although characterized as an “only dog” upon adoption, she mothered scores of fosters and temporary visitors during her reign. Our Bullies evolve in fashions which we bipeds can only imagine. Gabby loved all her family members, skin and fur. We like to say that. “They don’t make dogs better than Gabby.”
Gabby enriched our lives. She chose us. It was our honor to meet and exceed her expectations. Thank you, sweet daughter.
Until we meet again…
Gabby was ADOPTED!!!! Gabby found her perfect fur-ever family and moved in with them on Saturday. She is now living the life of luxury and enjoying being the center of attention as an only dog. We couldn’t be happier for this sweet girl and even though we miss her we know she will want for nothing and will be getting all that she deserves for the rest of her life. The Menard Family has grown by 1 and is blessed beyond measure to now call Gabby their own. Here is the 1st fur-ever update from Gabby’s new dad: “We have been blessed by Gabby’s adoption; she is a true gift from God, as was Lola (the Menards’ late bulldog). As such, she deserves our love, attention, care and devotion. It has been a busy weekend. We purposefully planned many errands (Hollywood Feed, Best Buy, our auto mechanic, etc.) and activities in which Gabby could participate and star as a celebrity. Gabby is at peace, calm and utterly comfortable and happy.” Please join me in congratulating the Menard family and Gabby and wishing them all a happy life together
Gabby is a 3 yr. old female that weighs 52lbs. Gabby joined Lone Star Bulldog Club Rescue today. She came to us from a local shelter. She will be going to the clinic to be spayed and then onto her foster family. This beautiful girl will be looking for a forever home soon.
8/30/2015 Update: Gabby girl has had a very busy and eventful week! The week started out with a visit to the clinic to get Gabby spayed. The vet said she was healthy and very well cared for prior to entering rescue. Yesterday, Gabby attended the rescue event at Hollywood Feed and loved meeting everyone and getting so much attention complete with petting and back scratches. Gabby is a fairly mild mannered girl that loves and craves attention. She wants to be with her people at all times and will happily claim any empty lap as her own. She is also always available for any belly rubs or back scratches that might be offered. She is great with kids and seems to enjoy their company. The first few days in foster she seemed to prefer to hang with the shorter people in the house but yesterday and today she has clung pretty close to her foster mommy. But if at given moment she thinks someone is considering to offer her a scratch or rub down, she’s off running to them wagging her whole body.
9/13/2015 Update: Gabby continues to be a joy to have around. She is really showing her personality and her occasional stubborn streak like when she really doesn’t want to go to her bed. She is fully potty trained but has had a couple #2 accidents but only when you don’t keep her out long enough in the mornings. She says that its foster mommies fault not hers.
9/20/2015 Update: Gabby has had a great week. She still loves people and wants to be wherever they are. Gabby is a very active girl that loves to play, run and jump and then loves to cuddle up for a long nap.
9/26/2015 Update: Gabby has had another great week. She is really enjoying a few extra minutes outside for some sun basking since its finally cooled off a bit in the mornings and evenings this week.