Fozzy was adpted from us some years ago and was found wondering the streets recently! We wonder what happened because she seems so loved and is so sweet! We don't know much about this girls past but were hoping to get her a wonderful home!

Foster Update 06/18/2011: Fozzie is just so sweet and friendly. I haven't heard her bark once since I've had her, or display any kind of aggression whatsoever. She's very mellow, as you'd expect a senior dog to be, but she still has plenty of pep left! So far she's done really well with both of my cats and both of my dogs. I think she'd be fine in a house with other pets, but would also be ok as an only dog so long as she got enough human attention. She seems to want to play with me more than my dogs, but like I said still gets along well with them. She really just wants a sunny spot in the yard to lay and someone to scratch her belly. I'm so used to having my hands full with two younger, very high energy dogs that she's been a welcome change of pace, and has made me think differently about senior pets altogether! Honestly, what a sweetheart. With her size and temperament, she'd be a very "easy" dog to have, the only issue being her hip. So far it's not presented a big problem and she gets around fine with just a bit of a limp, but it's something to keep an eye on.

Foster Update 7/15/11: I've had Fozzie about a month now, and she is still as sweet as pie. Honestly one of the sweetest dogs I've ever met. She loves to cuddle, and will physically do whatever she has to do to get a cuddle or some petting. She even nudges my hands while I'm typing just to try to get me to pet her. As far as cats go, I have two cats who have grown up with dogs. They typically just ignore my dogs, so Fozzie ignores them, too, even if they're sharing a bed. But when she sees a cat that's reacting to dogs (hissing and whatnot), then she gets excited, so I'm not sure how she'd do with a cat that's not used to dogs. She'd probably do fine, I just can't say for certain. And as far as other dogs go, she's finally started to play with my dogs a bit. She's always been good with them and any other dogs, just not very playful. Her energy level is still low/moderate, but she seems to have a lot more "pep" now. I'm not sure if she has just settled into her living situation better, or if the new joint mobility food (with glucosamine/chondroitin) I'm feeding her has helped loosten her up. She still limps on her back leg, which is going to be checked out soon by the vet, but even with the limp she LOVES going on walks. She can't go too terribly far, but she really enjoys getting on a leash and going outside, and very much prefers a quick walk to go potty than just going in my backyard like my dogs do. She also really loves car rides. Since she's so calm and friendly, I often take her around with me to places I wouldn't take my own rambunctious dogs. She loves people so much and they all seem to fall in love with her, too. She is just full of love and I know is going to make one lucky owner very, very happy.

Foster Update 8.3.11: Fozzie is still just sweet as pie, and continues to come out of her shell. I still can't believe how different she is from the dog I picked up at the shelter. Just goes to show that you can never really judge a shelter dog by how it acts in the shelter, because it's not an ideal environment for them. She was so depressed before, and is nothing but smiles these days. She loves everyone and every dog, and has recently become fixated on one of my cats for whatever reason (not in an aggressive way). I still haven't heard her bark, but when she gets really really excited, she lets out a kind of adorable grumble. And we still don't know what's wrong with her back hip, but the veterinarian said it's not hip dysplasia. Whatever it is, she limps but has plenty of energy (well, for a senior dog anyway). Such a wonderful dog and so full of love.

Medical update 9/2011: Fozzie recently underwent a proccedure were we taped her left hock joint due to chronic limping. The results came back the indicated she has some arthritis/ Degerative Joint Disease most likely due to an old injury or a hereditary condition. Fozzie leg is non painful and she gets around just fine. We feel that Fozzie will be fine without any further treatment. She really is a sweet loving dog and we hope someone will find it in there heart to love and adopt her!

According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, early Bulldogs were used in the bloody sport of bull bating. Some of these dogs emigrated with their masters from England to America. Eventually the English Bulldog was bred down in size and his personality was softened, but the American version remained a larger, fiercer dog. The American version has longer legs and more speed and agility than the English show dog. Thanks to the efforts of John D. Johnson of Summerville, Georgia the American Bulldog exists today. After he returned from WW II he was disappointed to find that, like the English Mastiff, they were almost completely extinct. He then decided to gather the best he could find from all across the rural south and bring them back from the brink of extinction. He has been breeding these dogs longer than anyone else in the world and his father bred them before him. He is an old man now (in his 80's) and these dogs have always existed in his family. He is the sole reason why they exist today. If it were not for his efforts they surely would be gone. He has been breeding them non-stop since then. The American Bulldog has also been used as a guard and in hunting bear, wild boar, squirrel and raccoon. They have even been trained to drive cattle and guard stock from predators. Farmers prize these dogs for their stamina, protectiveness, intelligence and working abilities. Some of the American Bulldogs talents are hunting, watchdogging, tracking, weight pulling, and guarding. An American Bulldog should never be confused with uniquely different breeds such as the American Staffordshire Terrier or the American Pit Bull Terrier. The American Bulldog is a brave and determined, but not hostile dog. Alert and self-confident, this breed genuinely loves children. It is known for its acts of heroism towards its master. These dogs have fought wild dogs, bulls and even fire. It is said "fighting off one of these dogs is like fighting an animal that possesses an alligator's head and a python's body." Yet when called off by their handler, they immediately obey. No wonder they are said to have "true grit, true devotion and true love." Because of its strong protective instincts, the American Bulldog should be well-socialized and obedience trained at an early age. Some may be aggressive with other dogs and reserved with strangers. They need to be around people to be truly happy. This breed tends to drool and slobber. They have a life expectancy of up to 16 years.