




Laverne (French Bulldog (short coat))
About the shelter
Underdog Rescue MN
P.O. Box 16453 St. Louis Park, 55416
Email Address
More about the shelter
Underdog Rescue and Placement was founded in 2000 by Shannon McKenzie. Having volunteered for several other animal rescue organizations, Shannon saw a need to help the dogs and cats often overlooked by other rescuers, the âUnderdogsâ
Our very first rescues included a pair of black kittens named Fenway & Wrigley, a pitbull puppy named Lucy and a tiny Toy Poodle named Lily (who was suffering from a head injury). No other rescue groups would take Fenway or Wrigley because black kittens are often overlooked by potential adopters, and, up until the time we rescued Lucy, rescue groups had not been allowed to rescue any dog considered to be a âPit Bullâ from Minneapolis Animal Control.
While in law school, Shannon McKenzie had the âanti-pitbullâ policy changed, with the assistance of Attorney, Marshall Tannick. Underdog Rescue continues to successfully rescue and place pitbulls and other âbully-breedsâ through a continued partnership with Minneapolis Animal Control.
Shannonâs dedication to the Underdog also extends to puppy mill survivors. Dogs that survive life in a puppy mill often come with a different set of challenges. They may require additional medical care, socialization and teaching of basic dog skills even though some may be adults. Our volunteers understand this and welcome these pets into their homes to show them what life as a dog and life with kind humans is like.
Our process for adoption is:
1. Potential applicant searches our available dogs and/or cats listings and completes an adoption application.
2. Our staff reviews the application and puts you in contact with the foster volunteer of the pet your interested in.
3. The foster volunteer coordinates a âmeet and greetâ with you and any other members of your household.
4. If the foster and adopter agree the pet is a good fit, a home visit will be scheduled. Upon completion of a successful home visit, you will complete and sign our adoption contract, pay the fee, and take home your new pet!
About Laverne
Distance: 1,021 Miles
Hi there, I’m Laverne, but you can call me Vernie!
I’m a confident little French bulldog who’s always ready to brighten your day. At 3 years old and 20 pounds of pure joy, I bring equal parts charm and spunk to every room. My favorite thing? Being your copilot on adventures! Whether it’s a car ride, a walk, or just hanging out with new friends, I’m your girl. Seriously, I’m a total social butterfly—I can’t resist introducing myself to every person I meet.
At home, I’m a perfect balance of playful and chill. I love zoomies in the yard, plush toys, and cuddling on the couch when I get the chance. At night, I sleep peacefully in my kennel, but during the day, I want to be wherever you are. I’m potty-trained, crate-trained, and I even know commands like “sit,” “come,” “kennel,” and “go potty.” Told you I’m smart!
Now, I’ll be honest, I do have some GI issues. It just means I’m a fancy gal who sticks to her prescription probiotic and special food (it’s worth it—I’m worth it!). I also take a couple of meds to manage my tummy troubles. But don’t worry—I’m super easy to care for, and I never let it slow me down. See more details below about my issue and treatment.
I get along great with other dogs, especially big ones, and I’d love a fenced yard for my potty breaks and zoomie sessions. Older kids are cool too, since I get a little bouncy when I’m excited.
Here’s the thing: I’m not just cute; I’m endlessly sweet, loyal, and ready to be your shadow. Bonus? I do the cutest yoga pose where I stretch out and kick my right leg in the air. Trust me, it’ll melt your heart!
If you’re looking for a playful, loving best friend who’ll make you laugh and keep you company, I’m your girl. Let’s make memories together!
Love, Laverne
Note, Laverne was diagnosed with Histiocytic ulcerative colitis and is on Baytril for this. She may need this med lifelong. She also has Moderate lymhoplasmacytic and histiocytic chornic and active enteritis. This is essentially IBS of the small intestine. She is on a steroid, Budesonide, and may need this lifelong. She takes a probiotic, Visobime, and eats a prescription diet from the vet. Because this food has some allergens, Laverne displays allergies on her paws and ears. A cytopoint injection helps with this. Down the road, it may be recommended to try a less allergen diet and see if her Colitis/IBS can handle that change. On this regime, Laverne is flourishing, gaining back lost weight, and a happy girl!
*Please note that some of our dogs are obtained from shelters, surrendered to our care, or released from breeders. Each animal's bio is based on our experience of the animal within our care, an educated guess based on physical characteristics, temperament and information shared. Each dog receives basic grooming when coming into rescue, but for some dogs they have not received grooming attention until recently and grooming may be required shortly after adoption. This will be at the adopter’s expense, so we encourage you to research the breed and be prepared for grooming expenses. Underdog cannot guarantee hypoallergenic or non-shedding qualities of any dogs in our rescue. Some of the animals come from situations where they are lacking experience in a home and confidence in humans. In turn, they require another companion dog and/or a fenced in yard in their forever home in order for them to feel safe. If you are interested in a particular dog whose bio states those needs and do not currently have them, please understand that your home might not be the right fit. Please use the filter on our Adoptable Dogs page to find the perfect match for your home.
Bulldogs are a member of the Brachycephalic breed and therefore have a host of health issues that may arise. Because these dogs are new into our rescue, health issues in the future may arise that we are not aware of. Some of these issues are allergies, eye issues, yeast infections, interdigital cysts, slipped disks in their back, breathing problems, among a host of others that can occur at any time or when seasons change. While breed experience is not required, we encourage you to thoroughly research the breed and its financial, medical, and environmental needs to be sure the breed is a good fit for you and your family. It is estimated that the average bulldog owner spends $2,000 per year on medical needs. In addition to her other surgeries, Laverne did have surgery on her nares and soft palate to improve the quality of her breathing. This is partially reflected within her adoption fee.
Bulldogs are one of the most expensive dogs to own, maintain, and rescue and our adoption fees reflect such expenses. The application process for bulldogs usually moves quite quickly as they are a popular breed, so we ask that adopters do research and be prepared for adoption at the time you submit your application. They are happy, goofy, playful characters and we are excited you are taking the first steps into rescuing one!
This dog requires an application fee. This fee must be paid within 24 hours or your application will be considered void. We will not review or contact applicants that have not completed the payment portion. Bulldog Applications will be responded to within 5 business days, after receipt of the application fee. Please understand that paying the fee does not guarantee you will be approved to adopt the bulldog. Our goal is place bulldogs in homes that are suited for their individual needs. You may be willing and able to provide a great home, but if it doesn’t meet the specific needs of the bulldog, we will not approve your application.
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More about Laverne
Age: Adult
Size: Small
Gender: Female
Location: Minneapolis, MN
OK w/ Dogs: Yes
OK w/ Adults: All
OK w/ Adults: All