I have a rescued pug here. I had planned on just taking him into my home to foster. the breeder got him back and she called to see if I could foster him. while I got soo attached and Max had been beaten everyday for 6 months of his life..so this was my chance to try to make a difference in his life. I bonded far to much and KEPT him. he was for sure meant to be..
he had made such leaps and bounds in a year and half..done really really well...
he is going to go on the therapy program here to do some work at the hospital I hope soon. he is a pleausre to have around here..

the day I got Max

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and here he is a year and half later..

Max is on the left

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here he is playing with Gus

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Rescues are special dogs. can only imagine how hard it is too loose one.

It's been tough and I'm not the type to cry much, but that first day I thought I would never stop. I try to hype myself up by thinking of all our happy times and that she and I loved each other so much. She was my first rescue and the first time I meet her I wasn't even there for her but another rescue (Ms Buckett). The rescue called me to see if I would take her and the rest is history. Somethings are just meant to be.

you are in my thoughts
must be a very emotional time for you

I just picked up Sugar ashes from the vet. Now she is home and we feel more complete. I guess we all want them to live forever, it just seems 10 yrs is way to short of a time. Living in the Midwest with the variety of temp and it's humid in the summer it is a strain on them. I'm thankful everyday that I was able to bring much love and joy to her while I had her. Miss her so very much.

I think the main factor that shortens their lifespan is that they are brachycephalic and that abbreviated respiratory plumbing causes stress, exposes them to more infections, makes it harder to adjust to climate/environmental changes, and in general puts them at greater risk...but that is the same major difference that makes this dog unique from a hound!

just sad that the bulldog has such a short life span
ElaIne posted some great info thread the other day about bulldogs and lifespans..
too short..
she said generally about 10

In this articale it listed the average lifespan of bulldogs at 6.7 years

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aging_in_dogs

Factors affecting life expectancy
Apart from breed, several factors influence life expectancy:

Diet - There is some disagreement as to the ideal diet. The oldest dog on record was Bluey, an Australian Cattle Dog, who died at 29 in 1939. In the 2000s, at least two dogs were still living at 27 or 28 years old, but one was fed a purely vegetarian diet[7] and one fed primarily on kangaroo and emu meat[8].
Spaying and neutering - according to a study by the British Veterinary Association (author AR Michell is the president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons), "Neutered bitches lived longest of dogs dying of all causes, though entire bitches lived longest of dogs dying of natural causes, with neutered males having the shortest lifespan in each category." [6] Neutering reduces or eliminates the risk of some causes of early death, for example pyometra in bitches, and testicular cancer in males, as well as indirect causes of early death such as accident and euthanasia (intact dogs may roam more and be more aggressive), but also raises the risk of death from other conditions (castration favors prostate cancer in males, and neutered males have the highest rate for this condition[9]).
For more information, see Health effects of neutering.

A major study of dog longevity, that considered both natural and other factors affecting life expectancy, concluded that:

"The mean age at death (all breeds, all causes) was 11 years one month, but in dogs dying of natural causes it was 12 years eight months. Only 8 per cent of dogs lived beyond 15, and 64 per cent of dogs died of disease or were euthanased as a result of disease. Nearly 16 per cent of deaths were attributed to cancer, twice as many as to heart disease. [...] In neutered males the importance of cancer as a cause of death was similar to heart disease. [...] The results also include breed differences in lifespan, susceptibility to cancer, road accidents and behavioural problems as a cause of euthanasia." [6]
[edit] Effects of aging
In general, dogs age in a manner similar to humans. Their bodies begin to develop problems which are less common at younger ages, they are more prone to serious or fatal conditions such as cancer, stroke, and the like, they become less mobile and may develop joint problems such as arthritis, and in old age often become less physically active. Additionally, they become less able to handle change, including wide climatic or temperature variation, and may develop dietary or skin problems or go deaf. In some cases incontinence may develop.

"Aging begins at birth, but its manifestations are not noticeable for several years. The first sign of aging is a general decrease in activity level, including a tendency to sleep longer and more soundly, a waning of enthusiasm for long walks and games of catch, and a loss of interest in the goings on in the home." [10]
The most common effects of aging are:[11]

Loss of hearing
Loss of vision (cataracts)
Decreased activity, more sleeping, and reduced energy (in part due to reduced lung function)
Weight gain (calorie needs can be 30-40% lower in older dogs)
Weakening of immune system leading to infections
Skin changes (thickening or darkening of skin, dryness leading to reduced elasticity, loss or whitening of hair)
Change in feet and nails (thicker and more brittle nails makes trimming harder)
Arthritis and other joint problems
Loss of teeth
Gastrointestinal upset (stomach lining, diseases of the pancreas, constipation)
Urinary issues (incontinence in both genders, and prostatitis/straining to urinate in males)
Mammary cysts and tumors in females
Senility
Heart murmurs
Diabetes [12]