Emaciated French Bulldog Saved from Neglect Becomes Devoted Foster Dad to Over 200 Puppies (Exclusive)

Louis is the king of dog fosters, but he brings more of a “fun uncle” vibe to parenting his pets.

The French bulldog is one of 8 rescue dogs that live with Kelley Likes and her husband Joe Shininger at their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Likes says Louis runs around the house “like a meatball with legs,” but he wasn’t always so active and enthusiastic.

In 2018, the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR) — where Likes works as vice president of philanthropy — rescued French from neglect.

“Our animal law enforcement team was called to a situation where animals were left inside a home for three weeks without food or water. And Lou was one of those animals. He lived outside, so he got frostbite on his ears. He also had was about 12 pounds when he came in. And now he’s a 32-pound dog, so very skinny,” Likes tells PEOPLE.

Louis, a French bulldog in 2018 after being rescued from neglect by the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region.

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After the rescue, Louis spent the night in the emergency department of the animal hospital to stabilize and was then transferred to the HSSPR. Here, Likes was immediately drawn to the dog and let the dog spend time in her office. While she told Shininger she was just giving Louis “a break from his kennel,” her husband wasn’t surprised when they adopted the dog a few months later after Louis gained some weight and was cleared to leave the shelter.

“He was pretty skinny. He was really calm and cuddly, and all he wanted to do was nap and lay in the sun, and we thought, ‘This dog is great.’ And then when he started to put on weight and feel better, his personality started to come out and we realized, ‘Oh, he’s fooled us,'” laughs Shininger.

French bulldog Louis (bottom left) at home with his siblings.

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The former sleepy pet has transformed into an energetic dog that loves to jump, play and “dominate”.

“He lives with dogs that are all bigger than him, and he’s just running the show. He’s the big guy in our house, very much like a Napoleon complex,” Likes says.

So in 2020, when Likes and Shininger decided to start adopting puppies through HSPPR, they were pleasantly surprised to discover that Louis could be a big mollusk too.

“That first litter we brought home, we didn’t know how he would do with other puppies. He loves other dogs, but we didn’t know what kind of puppies he was going to be,” recalls Likes. “That first litter we had, we put them in a soft-sided carrier to slowly introduce them to our dogs. Louis didn’t want that.”

French bulldog Louis relaxes with a foster puppy.

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Instead of getting to know the puppies gradually, Louis immediately started playing with them.

“It’s been a puppy’s playground ever since,” adds Likes.

In the last three years, Louis has helped his pet parents adopt more than 210 puppies.

“They love him, and he loves them. He loves to play and roll around and make them bite his face. And that’s how I think the first couple of puppies started, and now there are litters of puppies chasing him around our yard.” I love it about Louis’ skills as a foster parent.

French bulldog Louis plays with one of his over 200 adopted puppies.

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Likes and Shininger say Louis’ help with foster puppies is also a plus for young dogs. Louis’ playful demeanor and gentle demeanor help the puppies adjust to interacting with other dogs, making them more adoptable.

“He definitely helps with socialization. Our puppies are between a week and eight weeks old, which is a critical period for socialization. He’s a crunchy and loud creature, and he gets the puppies used to all kinds of sounds and smells because he’s up in their business as much as he can to be,” Likes says.

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“He has this welcoming energy that allows puppies to come out of their shell and trust him. And then, trust other dogs and people,” Shininger adds of Louis’ fostering skills.

And while Louis often has a goofy, laid-back approach to parenting, according to Likes, the French bulldog also knows how to set boundaries.

“One thing puppies need to learn is what’s appropriate and what’s not. If someone bites a little too hard or plays too hard, Louis isn’t afraid to let them know. But it’s always love and sport, and he always plays right back after,” Likes says.

Louis the Frenchie with a foster puppy.

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In general, adopting a puppy is an advantage for the whole family. While the puppies get the attention they need to develop, Louis stays active and young, and Likes and Shininger get a relaxed Frenchie.

“It makes him tired at the end of the day, which is great for us; it’s great to tire him out and enrich him. It’s good for the puppies; it’s good for him. He loves it. You can tell when he’s rolling on his back; he’s got a big smile.” , says Likes.

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“It just lights up whenever we bring the puppies home,” adds Shininger.

French bulldog Louis smiles while playing with a foster puppy.

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The family hopes that Louis’ adoption success will inspire other animals to try to adopt a pet from the shelter, even if it’s just for a weekend.”You may not know how your pet will react to other animals, but it’s worth a try, and it helps meet the needs . I know we’re seeing more and more puppies coming into the shelter. And so Louis gets a lot of use. It’s fun and rewarding. I think a lot of people are hesitant because they think they’re going to keep them all. And that’s fine, keep one or two.” Likes says.

To learn more about the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region and how to support the organization’s lifesaving work, visit the shelter’s website.

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Source: HIS Education