The Illinois English Bulldog Rescue was formed in 2009 to find homes for purebred English Bulldogs. They rescue dogs from shelters and puppymills and accepts dogs from owners who for any reason can no longer provide a home for their bully. The bulldogs that come through the rescue program are seldom in “perfect” condition in terms of health, temperament or both; however with a little love, medical attention and time, rescued English Bulldogs make great companions.
IEBR does not find dogs for people - their mission is to find great people for wonderful dogs. IEBR directors are recognized rescue advocates by BCARN - Bulldog Club of America Rescue Network. Illinois English Bulldog Rescue is dependent on the donations of their supporters and are now a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization - which means that your donations are Tax Deductible! Please consider donating to this wonderful organization!
Bulldogs can be possessive to a fault. If you can’t appreciate their possessive nature, you certainly will not appreciate their inherent stubbornness and determination. Training takes lots of patience, but they can be successfully trained for obedience and agility competition.
Common Bulldog health problems include: elongated soft palate, small trachea, allergies, dermatitis, hip dysplasia and heart problems.
Bulldogs are extremely intolerant of heat. Close supervision is required during outside activity, especially in spring and summer to prevent over-exertion leading to over-heating. Bulldogs should never be left unattended in the backyard. Not only can it be dangerous for their wellbeing, but the breed is often targeted for theft.
When selecting a pet, the most important breed characteristic to consider by far is its temperament or disposition. Failure to thoroughly investigate temperament is the biggest mistake anyone can make in selecting a pet, especially a Bulldog.
If it is a status symbol you want, please do not even consider buying a Bulldog! You and the dog are sure to be disappointed in each other. For one thing, the modern Bulldog cannot tolerate isolation. Bulldogs simply cannot stand to be ignored. They crave attention, and they will do almost anything to get it.
IEBR exists to care for displaced or abandoned English Bulldogs. With that in mind, please take a moment and read how the adoption process works. They do not promise specific bullies to families. Please understand the bully you are interested in may not be the right match for your home. Please consider this information before applying to adopt.
"We are very careful where we place these dogs. They have already lost everything in their world at least once and we want to know that where we place them will be the home where they can live out their lives happily and safely for all involved. You may express interest in a dog, but unless the above situations fall into place we would not put the family and the dog together. If you have any questions on this process feel free to write IEBR and we will do the best we can to answer them for you. Please note that we are an entirely volunteer based organization and most of us hold down full time jobs in addition to our rescue work so it may take us a couple of days to get back with you."
-The IEBR Board of Directors