It’s not often that a dog goes from the ICU to the Available Page in just over a month’s time. But Kobe is no ordinary dog, and his transformation is nothing short of miraculous. Thanks to the support of his many friends and sponsors, Kobe is ready for the final stop on his FBRN journey—a forever home of his very own!

Kobe came to FBRN as a malnourished, neglected, disaster of a dog with a cloudy eye, misshapen head and a mile-long list of medical ailments. His breathing was labored and he was painfully skinny, as he regurgitated most of what he ate. Poor Kobe was in such great discomfort that he could only sleep for a couple of hours at a time, which is a far cry from the 12-hour beauty naps we normally expect from our Frenchies. That’s where you, our FBRN family, came in. Your generous donations towards Kobe’s care exceeded $7,000, which went a long way toward paying for his long hospital stays and multiple tests and procedures. Thanks to your support, Kobe was able to get all of the surgeries he needed, which included a neuter, removal of his diseased eye, hiatal hernia repair, and surgery to his palate, nares, and saccules (a.k.a. the Brachysephalic Deluxe Package). That’s a lot of medical procedures for a 19-pound Frenchie, but like we said, Kobe is no ordinary dog, and he put up with all of the pokes and prods and probes and sutures and needles like a champion. Go Kobe!

Now that his airway has been widened and his hernia fixed, Kobe is having a much easier time swallowing and digesting his food. However, due to his history of regurgitation, he still takes Cisapride and Omeprazole (Prilosec) on a daily basis to keep his tummy settled. He also takes a supplement that supports liver function. Kobe’s forever family must ensure that he takes these medications regularly, and have the means to provide him with proper veterinary care should any of his previous ailments make an unexpected return. For example, he must see a veterinary ophthalmologist for glaucoma screenings in his good eye--so far there is no sign of disease, according to our vet, but because of his history, he must be checked. (Frenchies are a lot of things, but cheap ain’t one of them!)

Of course, anyone who meets Kobe would agree that he is worth every penny. Even at his sickest, Kobe was sweet as cherry pie; now that he’s feeling better, his personality is shining through. He’s generally a laid-back character, content to sun himself in the flowerbed or gnaw a bone at the feet of his person. But every so often, he gets a serious case of the zoomies, and then watch out! Kobe definitely enjoys the company of other dogs, and particularly loves to wrassle with his foster sister or play a game of tug o’ war. On top of that, he’s never met a person he doesn’t like, and the feeling seems to be mutual!

Kobe is not only a lover, but a scholar as well. This smart boy is leash-trained, crate-trained, housebroken, and knows all of his basic commands—and he’d happy to learn some more in exchange for a tasty treat. Indeed, Kobe is quite the foodie, and will let his people know it’s mealtime by marching into the kitchen and sitting by his bowl until someone gets the hint that dinner should be served.

The perfect home for Kobe would be one with Frenchie or other brachysephalic breed experience. Although Kobe has made a 180-degree turnaround since his surrender, his health will need to be carefully monitored. Of course he’d love to have his people home during the day, but he would also be fine with someone who works a 9-5, so long as he gets a midday potty break and chance to stretch his legs. He’d also be thrilled to accompany his person to work, where he would definitely increase everyone’s productivity with his sweet face and Frenchie charm. As for other dogs, Kobe is surely up for a canine companion or two, so long as they are friendly and non-territorial. He’s is not a particularly dominant dog, but he can get possessive when it comes to food, so it’s best that he be fed separately in a multi-dog household. Kids suit Kobe just fine—he’s not picky when it comes to his people—but any resident children must be gentle and old enough to understand that Kobe must be approached carefully—since he only has one eye, he will startle if not approached from his “good side.” Kobe has never met a cat, so in the interest of keeping everyone safe, we have to say no to kitties or other small animals.

Kobe’s foster mom has seen him through thick and thin, and poured an incredible amount of time and love into this sweet boy. She says, “Kobe is a very special dog—he melted our hearts from the time we got him and every day we love him more and more. I couldn't be more proud of how much he has improved while he has been in our care. He went from a dog that could barely eat or sleep, to a playful and active little monster once he got the care he needed. When we walk him, I am stopped constantly on the street—everyone wants to say hi and hear his story and see his progress. He is a local celebrity! He is also 'top dog' at the animal hospital where he was coined 'The Mayor of the ICU'.”

If Kobe has melted your heart (join the club) and you think he’d be a perfect match for your family, just click on the link below to fill out an application and tell us why. And be prepared to travel—Kobe is lying in his flowerbed and sniffing summer blooms in the neighborhood of the Big Apple, and he will not be shipped.

FBRN does not ship dogs as cargo. Adopters are expected to pick up their dogs from their foster family.

FBRN dogs are in foster care in people's private homes. For the foster families' safety, we do not disclose specific locations, and we don't set up meet and greets prior to applications. For detailed information about the dogs in our care, please read the extensive bios on each dog.