Daisy is a one year old French Bulldog who was surrendered to us by her breeder, citing that the other dogs in the home didn't get along with her. Daisy was described as a "dwarf" French Bulldog, which frequently leads to serious health implications for dogs, and sets off immediate alarm bells for us. Some puppies will even need to be put to sleep due to the pain it can cause, and upon Daisy's arrival, it became immediately clear she had breathing issues. We rushed Daisy to our vet and we were reassured that Daisy's quality of life could be remedied with surgery, as we didn't want to put her through multiple surgeries with long recovery periods if there wasn't a chance she could still have a long and happy life. Euthanasia is always a last resort for us, and is never a decision taken lightly, but from a humane point of view it was agonising to watch such a young dog struggle to do the thing we all take for granted, to breathe.

Shortly after arriving in our care Daisy received the lifechanging surgery she needed to breathe without painfully rasping, as we didn't want to wait a second to give her the vital care she needed, and the difference it made to her was like night and day.

Unfortunately, breathing wasn't the only issue we discovered. After 24 hours in our care it became apparent that Daisy was unable to keep her food and water down, which may be an issue with her throat as a result of her breeding. This has thankfully drastically improved since her surgery and a change to her diet, but she still has some issues which may need further investigation. It also became clear she has never been toilet trained, which makes us believe she was never intended to become a beloved pet.

At a year old, Daisy should have had her first season, but she hasn't yet, which is tells us her reproductive cycle has been suppressed. It may be that her ovaries aren't able to fully develop and are incapable of producing enough estrogen for her to come into season. She will be spayed, to remove any chance of tumours growing on her ovaries.

As well as her breathing issues, Daisy also suffers with two loose patellas (her knees), which means she waddles when she walks, and does not move with the ease that such a young dog in her prime should. She will need corrective surgery on both knees, as well as a spay to ensure she is never used to breed from.

Dwarfism elevates all manners of potential health issues and we frequently see inherited bone abnormalities in "teacup" or "micro" breeds. Mini Frenchies are usually created by breeders by actively encouraging dwarfism. They will take a Frenchie who already has genetic dwarfism or is the runt of the litter, and use her to make an extra small litter of puppies, sometimes inbreeding her with a related dog. Unfortunately there is still a public demand for Dwarf breeds and as a result hundreds of puppies like Daisy are born, and often euthanised each year.

We are struggling as a charity who have received no emergency support from the government, and as a sector that is being left to give lifesaving care to animals who offer no financial gain to their owners. We watch as other shelters close their doors around the Country and we are honestly, terrified. We do not want to think about what might happen to a dog like Daisy if we weren't able to help. At a time when we are seeing £2,000 adverts for staffie puppies, we dread to think of what would have happened if Daisy had fallen into unscrupulous hands. Some breeders force cycles using hormone injections, and with her health issues she would have almost certainly died. Seeing Daisy like this has been heartbreaking for so many, but unfortunately whilst there is still public demand for dogs like her, the breeders will continue to breed them, and they will continue to suffer. We ask that if you cannot donate to Daisy's care that you please share her story, so people who were unaware of these issues will learn about the hidden victims of the puppy trade.

Please note that due to Daisy's medical needs and the surgeries she will need over the coming months, she requires a home with people able to give her the nursing care she may need, who understand the potential issues she may have later in life as a result of her stunted growth. Daisy's profile went on our website for 12 hours, and we received 18,000 hits on her page, and over 200 adoption applications. Daisy is currently in foster care with a member of our team, and her French Bulldog who is loving being a "big sister", and having snuggle parties on the sofa wrapped in blankets. Due to the nature of Daisy's health issues she may remain with her foster carer, so we are no longer looking for a home for her. We raise the point of her popularity, as if each person who had looked at her profile was able to give £1, we could cover Daisy's vet bills and the vet bills of every animal in the Sanctuary for a month.

Please give whatever you can, and help us give Daisy the quality of life she deserves.