Rescued pup with cleft palate becomes Internet sensation

[joeybee12]

Lentil, a 9-week-old French bulldog puppy with rare facial deformities, is melting hearts and gaining thousands of online supporters with his inspirational story. His foster mother, Lindsay Condefer, was quite surprised her puppy became a viral hit when multiple news outlets from all over the world covered the story.


“All of a sudden this baby turned my life upside down,” Condefer, 34, told TODAY.com.

When Lentil was born Feb. 2 with a cleft palate and deformed nose and lip, The French Bulldog Rescue Network knew he would need special love and attention. As founder of the nonprofit Street Tails Animal Rescue and a pet foster parent with 12 years of experience, Condefer was a perfect choice to take in Lentil, who was the only surviving member of his litter. She took him home a couple days later and now feeds him through a tube every three hours.



http://www.today.com/pets/rescued-pup-cleft-palate-becomes-internet-sensation-1C9268930

[shenmue]

1. Squee!

Yay for adoptions. Yay!

[Arugula Latte]

2. Is that a common ailment for purebred Boston terriers?

I wish people would stop breeding cats and dogs...Grrr...Poor Lentil.

He's cute, and that's a cute name.

[joeybee12]

3. Not sure, but most purebreds have ailments common to their breed...

He is too freaking cute, though.

[gaspee]

4. Bull

I have purebred dogs and not a one has a health problem. I have dogs ranging from 15 1/2 years old down to 7 months. I have 6 generations of health tested champion dogs and I know where every single dog I've ever bred is. This broad brush anti-purebred dog propaganda is nonsense.

I'm active in rescue and breed education and in general dog education. Most people I know "in" dogs are the same way. You want to stop dog overpopulation? You want healthy dogs not to be put down? Stop people from breeding the dogs they bought in pet stores. Regulate breeding like they do in Sweden and the other Scandanavian countries. Get people to spay and neuter their pets. Shut down retail stores selling dogs. Close puppy mills. Donate to pet food pantries and to charities that help people without the means get the vet care their pets need. Donate to free spay neuter clinics.

It's harder to get a puppy from my lines than it is to adopt a kid (not quite, but almost.)

I don't know where this French Bulldog puppy came from - maybe a mill, maybe a backyard breeder - but people who dedicate their lives to dogs do not dump puppies with problems into rescue. We stay up all night saving puppies who are not thriving. We treat our dogs as family members.

Just like everything in life, there are good and bad people breeding dogs. Broad brush attacks are not only disingenuous, but they are also dangerously ignorant. People who do it because they love dogs and not do it for the money are out there and there are a lot of them. The people I know in dogs don't make money from dogs, they spend all of their own disposable income on their dogs.

My dogs are also my therapy. I'm fighting a major bout of depression right now and the only thing that brings a smile to my face is my dogs. I really shouldn't be reading DU when fighting depression - it's really not good for me. I usually let these anti dog breeding tirades slide right by because they are ignorant but this caught me at a week moment. I should probably delete this. Maybe later.

I clean up behind people who buy a cute puppy and then decide they don't want it when it becomes an adult - or they have a baby - or they don't spend the time required training that cute puppy to make it a dog they can live with - then it becomes someone else's problem.

People who want to do away with all breeding probably actually hate dogs and would be thrilled to see them all disappear.

[joeybee12]

7. Yes, they do...

Did I say anything about getting rid of breeding? Boxers develop cancer, bulldogs have breathing problems...there are problems that are more common to certain breeds.

[VanillaRhapsody]

8. Many Dalmations are deaf..heart problems in Dobermans and many breeds have hip displasia....so...

[gaspee]

5. It's a French Bulldog

From the article...

" Lentil’s rare combination of deformities makes him more at risk for inflammation of his lungs and nasal passages, which can make it difficult to breathe. While he’s survived longer than his siblings, he’s not out of the woods yet."

[Arugula Latte]

6. Oops. Brain glitch. Yes, French Bulldog.

Poor guy and poor sibs.

[KamaAina]

9. And yet children with the same condition are scorned

and bullied.

[OhioChick]

10. He's an adorable little guy!

[joeybee12]

11. I have to have him!