Mr Bojangles – Available – South West

Age: 5 years old

Current location: Bideford, Devon.

I CAN LIVE WITH

Children: Yes, dog savvy children 10+.

Cats: Yes, dog savvy cats.

Dogs: Yes, calm and laid-back female, must be accepting of other dogs in the home.

A BIT ABOUT ME

Personality:

Mr Bojangles responds beautifully when called by his full name—he is very much a “Mr Bojangles” rather than a “Mr B” or “Bo”!

Having spent his life as an independent outdoor dog, Mr Bojangles is now discovering the comforts and routines of being an indoor pet, and he is taking to this new way of life very well.

He may not be a traditional lap dog, but he loves being close and will happily follow you from room to room. He enjoys gentle strokes and is beginning to discover the joy of a tummy tickle, although hugs are not really his style. Building this trust has taken time, which makes every little step forward feel especially rewarding.

Mr Bojangles is a wonderfully affectionate boy who thrives on human company and attention.  At times his enthusiasm can bubble over, and he may jump up or gently mouth when overexcited, particularly if he is pushed away. Because of this child under the age of 10 years old wouldn’t be suitable for him.

With calm, consistent boundaries and a predictable routine, he can continue learning how to express that excitement in more settled ways and will be the perfect work in progress full of love to give.

He is a highly active boy, once his harness is on and he is out of the door, Mr Bojangles is in his element—he walks well and genuinely enjoys exploring the world with you.

Behaviour:

Mr Bojangles already knows “sit” and is beginning to understand “wait”. His foster family have also been gently introducing “paw”, although he is not especially comfortable having his paws touched, so this will need to be approached patiently and at his pace. Around mealtimes, food can make it harder for him to concentrate beyond a sit, but he is also practising “wait” while out walking and is making encouraging progress.

He is still learning a reliable “leave” or “drop” command. When he has a toy, he often hopes it will become a game of tug and can be reluctant to let go. If play pauses and he is given a little space, he will usually drop the toy once he realises the game has finished.

Mr Bojangles can be quite vocal during play and may growl when he is excited; this is his enthusiastic way of inviting you to join in rather than a sign of concern.

He absolutely loves toys and enjoys a mixture of soft and durable chew toys, with balls being a particular favourite in the garden. When playing alongside another dog, he has taken their ball and been reluctant to give it back. This appears to be playful determination rather than guarding, but calm supervision and continued work on swapping and releasing toys will help him learn good sharing manners.

Mr Bojangles can be mouthy in play and when seeking attention. This is not intended aggressively, but it is a behaviour that will need patient, consistent guidance. He is also rather fond of nibbling slippers—especially while they are being worn—and, as he may not naturally distinguish between his toys and children’s belongings, toys and tempting items should be kept safely out of reach.

Food is a huge source of excitement for Mr Bojangles, particularly as his own mealtime approaches. If people are eating nearby, he can find it very difficult to settle and may jump up or persistently seek attention, despite never being fed from the table. Feeding him at the same time as the household sits down can help, and his new family will need to continue calmly reinforcing boundaries and rewarding settled behaviour.

Needs:
Mr Bojangles needs an active, patient home where he can be included in everyday family life. He thrives on human company, so he would be happiest with someone who is at home for most of the day and can give him the attention and companionship he loves.

A calm spayed female companion would benefit him greatly and could help him feel settled in his new home. Experience of bulldogs or similarly strong, lively breeds would be helpful.

Because Mr Bojangles can become very excited, jump up and occasionally catch fingers during play, he would be best suited to a home without young children. Dog-savvy children aged 10 or over may be suitable, provided interactions are supervised and they understand how to give him space when needed.

Mr Bojangles is a lovely, affectionate boy who is still learning the manners and boundaries expected in a family home. He will need patient, consistent training, a predictable routine and calm guidance to help him continue making progress.

He is extremely active and will need two good walks each day, plenty of play and access to a secure garden.

A secure garden is an absolute must for Mr Bojangles, as he adores being outdoors and needs a safe space where he can enjoy the fresh air, explore and play. He is in great shape, walks well and loves human interaction. In foster care, he feels safest and settles well in the kitchen, and he sleeps quietly through the night.

Mr Bojangles is crate trained, and continuing to provide a crate in his new home is strongly recommended. It gives him a familiar, secure place to relax while he continues learning the routines of indoor life and what is expected of him.

Walk/exercise:
Mr Bojangles is most accustomed to walking on his own and is excellent on the lead. He likes to stay very close to his handler and will usually stop when they stop. As he has sight in only one eye, he may occasionally bump into the back of your legs, so a little awareness and patience will help him feel secure.

His recall is still developing and becomes less reliable when there is a lot happening around him. He can trot happily beside his handler without a lead, but this has only been practised cautiously in quiet areas without distractions. His foster family have worked hard on his lead walking, and this should remain the safest option while his recall continues to improve.

Mr Bojangles has shown no concerning behaviour around other dogs while out walking. However, his enthusiastic, bulldozer-like approach can sometimes feel overwhelming or intimidating to other dogs, so calm introductions and attentive handling will help everyone feel comfortable.

Despite enjoying his walks once he is outside, Mr Bojangles sometimes playfully hides in his crate when he sees his harness. Closing the crate door before bringing the harness out prevents him from retreating there. He will usually settle on his bed or the floor and allow the harness to be put on.

Toilet trained:
Toilet training is still a work in progress, as Mr Bojangles had no experience of house training when he arrived. He has made excellent progress: he is now clean throughout the night and has not had an accident for several weeks. As he does not yet let you know when he needs to go outside, he will need to be taken out at regular intervals while this routine becomes established.

Travel:
Mr Bojangles initially found travelling very stressful and could become extremely unsettled. A seat-belt restraint alone does not suit him, as he tries to climb around. He now travels securely in a crate, which works well. He is generally more settled in a car, the greater visual stimulation can make him more vocal.

Dogs should always be transported using a suitable seat-belt restraint or a secure travel crate.
Because of Mr Bojangles’s individual needs, applications will only be considered from homes within one hour’s travel of his current location.

**TRANSPORTING DURING WARMER WEATHER IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE CAR AS COOL AS POSSIBLE**

Things to be aware of:

Mr Bojangles has had his eye removed, and dental surgery to remove his worn down teeth.

Sometimes Mr Bojangles is excited to play but don’t realise his size, any young children in the home must be supervised, as they have the potential to jump and knock children over.

Children must understand that bulldogs need time to settle in and have space to rest peacefully and uninterrupted.

Additional information from Mr B’s foster family:

Mr Bojangles is a really sweet and loving dog. He craves attention and loves to play tug of war. He’s extremely active and very fit and healthy. He’s come so far during his foster journey and is still learning what is expected of him. He’ll make a wonderful companion.

Mr Bojangle’s adoption donation fee is £ 400 will need to be paid in full prior to him/her/them going home which will also be subject to a home check.

**Every dog rehomed by GBSR receives Rescue Back-up for their whole Life. And the admin team are available for advice and support for the whole of that dog’s lifetime via Messenger, therefore the successful applicant will need to have an active Facebook and Messenger account for the life of the dog. If you cannot agree to this, please don’t apply**

***ALL DOG’S MUST BE COLLECTED WITHIN 7 DAYS OF ADOPTION***

🚨 PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE APPLYING 🚨

1. You MUST MEET ALL the dogs’ criteria, have you read the adoption criteria in full?
2. COMPLETE APPLICATION FORM
3. PAY YOUR £5 SUBSCRIPTION – SEE NOTE BELOW*
4. PAYMENT REFERENCE must on the application form to cross reference. Mention if you have paid by Paypal or Bank Transfer if you are unable to provide a Transaction Number so we can check.
5. PAYMENT METHOD Via Enthuse using the link below.

https://geordiebullies.enthuse.com/donate

Note:

UNLESS WE SEE PROOF, YOU HAVE PAID; WE WILL NOT PROCESS YOUR APPLICATION AND YOU WILL NOT BE CONTACTED.

£5 per year allows you to apply for as many dogs as you wish over a 12-month period from your first application. Please mention if you have paid by PayPal or Bank Transfer on any previous applications so we can cross reference.

Below is the link to the Application Form.

https://www.cognitoforms.com/geordiebulliesspringboard1/adoptionapplication2

Mr Bojangles’ story.

Please welcome the newest members of the ever-growing GBSR family… Mr Bojangles.

This isn’t our usual foster introduction, but we feel it’s important to explain how these two beautiful Bulldogs came into our care.

Around six weeks ago, we were made aware of concerns regarding the welfare of four Bulldogs.

As a registered rescue, we have a responsibility to follow the correct legal procedures. That means working alongside the appropriate agencies, allowing investigations to take place where necessary, and waiting for the correct surrender paperwork. It isn’t always the quickest process, but it is the right one—for the dogs, the families involved, and our rescue.

Unfortunately, before that process could be run its course, the situation spread rapidly across social media.

As emotions grew, so did the abuse. The family involved experienced harassment, intimidation and threats. Whatever anyone’s personal opinions, no one deserves to live in fear.

The relevant authorities investigated the concerns, and no enforcement action was taken. As more information came to light, it became clear the circumstances were far more complex than they had first appeared online.

Over the following weeks, we remained in daily contact with the owner. Throughout that time, she was utterly devastated. Every conversation was filled with tears, heartbreak and an overwhelming fear for the safety of her family and her dogs.

Sadly, the family have reported ongoing intimidation, with people attending their home, monitoring the property and making threats relating to the dogs. We have provided information to the police and are fully cooperating with their investigation into the reported behaviour.

Our priority has always been the welfare of the dogs, but we cannot ignore the impact this has had on the vulnerable members of the household, including a child.

Ironically, the behaviour of those claiming to be helping only created more fear and instability. Because of concerns for the dogs’ safety, they had to be moved between safe locations to reduce the risk of them being taken. That upheaval caused unnecessary stress for dogs who desperately needed stability.

In time, the owner made the incredibly difficult decision to surrender two of the Bulldogs into our care. We know how heartbreaking that decision was, and we are simply grateful she trusted us to give Maisie and Mr Bojangles the future they deserve.

We also know where the other two Bulldogs are, and they are safe, well and being cared for.

As we got to know everyone involved, it became clear this was never a simple black-and-white story. We won’t pretend to know every detail, nor will we publicly judge or shame anyone. Our responsibility has always been, and always will be, the welfare of the dogs.

We also want to be absolutely clear.

Vigilante behaviour is never acceptable.

If you genuinely believe an animal is suffering, report your concerns to the appropriate authorities. They have the legal responsibility and powers to investigate and act where necessary.

Harassment, intimidation, impersonating welfare officers, trespassing, unlawfully using drones, or encouraging abuse online does not protect animals. It places people in fear and can make it far more difficult to achieve the best outcome for the dogs.

We cannot become the enemy.

Rescue must always be built on education, compassion and empathy. By building trust with owners, we create opportunities for dogs to receive the help they need. Sometimes the bravest thing an owner can do is ask for that help.

Meet Mr Bojangles

Mr Bo is a handsome 5-year-old gentleman who arrived shortly after Maisie.

Thankfully, he has settled into foster much more quickly and is already showing us his cheeky personality.

Sadly, years of untreated medical issues mean he will need one of his eyes removed, along with dental treatment, all of which will be carried out as part of his veterinary care.

Despite everything, he is already proving to be an affectionate, lovable rogue who much prefers relaxing on soft grass than hard surfaces.

Both Maisie and Mr Bojangles have difficult journeys behind them, but they now have what every Bulldog deserves…

❤️ A safe place. ❤️ A warm bed. ❤️ Full bellies. ❤️ Veterinary care. ❤️ Patience. ❤️ Kindness. ❤️ And a future filled with love.

Welcome to the GBSR family, Maisie and Mr Bojangles.

Your new lives start here. 💜

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