Last August, when the Cleft Pup Brigade shared a photo of Harold, a 4-month-old French bulldog, foster mom Andrea felt an instant connection. Harold wasn’t like other puppies—he was completely hairless, with pink, inflamed skin requiring intensive care. But Andrea was ready to go above and beyond for him.
“We saw him on their Instagram and immediately fell in love with him,” Andrea shared with The Dodo in a recent video. “I said, ‘I know I can turn this puppy’s life around.’”
Andrea welcomed Harold into her home, and while she fell deeper in love with him, her heart ached over how much he’d endured in his short life.
“Harold isn’t a naturally hairless Frenchie; he lost his hair because he was rescued from severe neglect,” Andrea explained. “To go from birth to the state he was in—that’s such a short time for a little puppy to experience so much discomfort.”
Despite his condition, Harold found himself in the hands of a dedicated foster family who immediately started a healing skincare routine.
“We gave him medicated baths every other day, which he loved because he enjoys being warm,” Andrea said. “Afterwards, we’d cover him in lotion to encourage hair growth and dress him in T-shirts or sweaters to help the lotion soak in.”
Harold embraced the care with gratitude, finding comfort in his soothing baths and cozy outfits. Thanks to Andrea’s efforts, his skin began to heal, and his personality started to shine.
“Within a week or two, we noticed peach fuzz growing back,” Andrea said. “His incredible personality emerged so quickly—it’s like he loves making people laugh.”
Harold’s favorite activity, however, was being held close by his foster family.
“He loves being held,” Andrea shared. “We’d take him on outings, and people would think I was holding a baby or sometimes even a Sphynx cat, especially when he wore a diaper before he was fully potty trained!”
Passersby were often surprised to learn Harold was a Frenchie recovering from a difficult start in life. But no matter the confusion, Harold charmed everyone he met.
Eventually, Harold found his forever family, one with a patient dog named Hippolita.
“At their meet-and-greet, Harold and Hippolita were so sweet and playful,” Andrea said. “Even though Harold’s a wild puppy, she was incredibly patient. We knew it was the perfect match.”
Harold quickly adapted to his new family and has been thriving ever since. Though Andrea misses him, she’s grateful he found a loving home.
“When you pour love and care into a dog that truly needs it, the reward is seeing them heal and thrive,” Andrea said. “It’s so special to be part of their journey.”
