A lifetime Mistake for my whole Family
I'm writing to let everyone know of the recent heart break we have had from the purchase of our bulldog Dixie from Ferner's Bulldogs of Knoxville TN. I searched for a long time to find an almost all Fawn bulldog. My Dream dog all my life. Then Ferner's came up on the web search. There she was my little Dixie. She was only a long days drive from our house in Charlotte NC. The kids and I set off to see our new baby. I'm not sure that it really mattered to me at the time that she was 3 months old and 1/2 the size of the other puppies of a newer litter. Dixie was sweet, quiet and adorable. I did ask to see the parents and I was told I could if I wanted to but they were 30-40 minutes drive from the owner's home (Jennifer). They are being kept at "The Barn". After driving all day with 3 anxious kids I said ok well maybe you can just show me their pictures. When the photo album came out and I was told she wasn't really sure which was the dad and she forgot the mom's name. I should of drove away. I think I thought I was going to save this little puppy in some way. It was a mistake that will haunt me forever.
January 16, 2009 we brought Dixie home. First check up good. The norm's full of fleas and parasites. Not norm skin mites. We got rid of those so we thought. Then the infections started 6 months in. Ear, nose, feet. 12 months into this we almost lost our little Dixie with Pheumonia. During the chest xrays they had noticed a severe Deformation of the Spinal Coloumn. It appears that it was not developed correctly. Some parts were missing altogether other parts all smooshed together which could be very painful according to the vet. There is no cure/fix. She was hospitalized for 10 days for the pheumonia. $3567 later she was better and home. Our little baby.
19 months Pheumonia again
20 Months Seizures from Epilepsy started. They were just a few a day then got more severe. Dixie was on daily meds. Even though she was on the max dose she could have without causing kidney or liver failure our little Dixie began to have Grand Maul Seizures.
Skin infections started at 22 months. I was told she had skin mites again. We have battled with this On/off since day one.
July 5, 2012 what should of been a wonderful day for me wasn't. I was on the way to the hospital to see the birth of my second grandson when my husband called me. Come home right away he said. I said for goodness sakes what could be more important then this. He said, "Dixie just bit Emilie (my 6 year old) and it's bad. I did an interstate u-turn and went home. My little dog had bit my daughter for no aparent reason. This is the dog who has everything she could ever want. She sleeps on the couch, eats gormet food and has spa days. She just went over to her and bit her in the face. Emilie almost lost her eye. She will be scared forever. I was informed by the Sherriffs that It can happen during july 4th due to fireworks. It makes the dogs very irritated. He told he wouldn't do anything serious yet. I waited.
2012-2013 Infections, seizures, vet bills galore.
November 9, 2013 Dixie bit the grandson who was recently born. Bit his hand, almost removing the finger.
Dixie is now in the custody of Union County Sherriffs waiting to be put down in 10 days.
I love my dog. She is my little baby. I dreamed of having a bulldog for 24 years. Everyday I wished I never heard of Ferner's Bulldogs. Please for your family's sake buy somewhere else.