SPECIAL NEEDS- Petunia has Spina Bifida and came to us from the shelter in Tahoe!  She is our newest superhero puppy that is a part of the UC Davis/ Shriners research project for Spina Bifida English Bulldogs. She gets around really well but she is incontinent.  SHE WILL ALWAYS WEAR DIAPERS.  She is a chonk and loves everything and everyone, and wants to be with humans all the time. If she could, I think she would want to climb inside you and be with you always.   

Having Spina Bifida means that mostly people will need to worry about skin care and bowel and bladder management.  This can be managed in several different ways.  I keep my pups in a pen at night and when I am at work so they are diaper free, but there are other ways to manage it.  There is a great group on FB for English Bulldogs with Spina Bifida which could give you some ideas on care.  A website that I feel is helpful to understand bowel management is-   https://www.handicappedpets.com/blog/bowel-management-incontinent-pets/ ). 

She is a research dog, so she will need to continue to make trips to UC Davis for the first year of her life to track progress after her study. Anyone adopting to her agrees to do this.  You can find out more about the study at:  Spina Bifida- how cute puppies can lead to healthier children - Recycled Pets NorCal

 Our incontinent bulldogs just wear baby diapers or a combination of those and washable ones, but each owner figures out what is best. For her, I am currently using baby diapers and suspenders.    Honestly, most days it is about 30 minutes of work to manage all the diaper changes and special care that is needed. In some ways, having diaper dogs are easier (don't have to worry about puppies needing to go outside and getting viruses, don't have to worry about them going out when it rains or is too hot --since they are very temperature sensitive--, can go on long car rides without having to stop etc). I can say the diapers are probably easier than potty training too! 

If interested, you can go online and find our adoption process and apply online at:     http://recycledpetsnorcal.org/adoptpet/

Adoption fee: $400 (waived to a home with a human also with Spina Bifida)

Includes spay, microchip, and up to date on vaccines. 

All our animals are spayed/neutered, microchipped, and up to date on vaccines. You can find out more about our adoption process at: http://recycledpetsnorcal.org/adoption-process/