Emaciated French Bulldog Saved from Neglect Becomes Devoted Foster Dad to Over 200 Puppies (Exclusive)

Louis adores playing with the young puppies his owners bring home from the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region

Louis is the king of dog foster dads, but he brings more of a "fun uncle" vibe to his pet parenting.

The French bulldog is one of 8 rescue canines who live with Kelley Likes and her husband, Joe Shininger, at their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Likes says Louis runs around the house "like a meatball with legs," but he wasn't always so active and enthusiastic.

In 2018, the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region HSPPR) — where Likes works as the vice president of philanthropy — rescued the Frenchie from neglectful conditions.

"Our animal law enforcement team was called to a situation where animals were left in a home for three weeks without food and water. And Lou was one of those animals. He was living outside, so he got frostbite on his ears. He was also about 12 pounds when he came in. And he's a 32-pound dog now, so severely emaciated," Likes tells PEOPLE.

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After his rescue, Louis spent a night in the emergency room of an animal hospital to get stabilized and then moved into HSSPR. Here, Likes found herself instantly drawn to the dog and let the canine spend time in her office. While she told Shininger she was just giving Louis "a break from his kennel," her husband was not surprised when they adopted the dog several months later after Louis gained some weight and got the all-clear to leave the shelter.

"He was pretty underweight. He was really sedate and cuddly, and all he wanted to do was take naps and lay in the sun, and we thought, 'This dog is great.' And then, once he started gaining weight and feeling better, his personality started coming out, and we realized, 'Oh, he tricked us,'" Shininger laughs.

The formerly sleepy pet transformed into an energetic dog who loves to jump, play, and "rule the roost."

"He lives with dogs that are all bigger than him, and he just runs the show. He is the big guy in our house, very much Napoleon complex," Likes says.

So in 2020, when Likes and Shininger decided to start fostering puppies through HSPPR, they were pleasantly surprised to find Louis could be a big softie, too.

"That first litter we brought home, we didn't know how he would do with other puppies. He likes other dogs fine, but we didn't know what puppies would be like," Likes recalls. "That first litter we had, we put them in a soft-sided carrier to introduce them slowly to our dogs. Louis would not have it."

Instead of gradually meeting the puppies, Louis started playing with them immediately.

"He's been a puppy playground ever since," Likes adds.

Over the past three years, Louis has helped his pet parents foster over 210 puppies.

"They love him, and he loves them. He loves to play and roll and have them bite his face. And so I think the first couple of puppies started it off, and now he's got litters of puppies chasing him through our yard." Likes says of Louis' foster dad skills.

Likes and Shininger say that having Louis' help with the foster puppies is also a plus for the young dogs. Louis's playful demeanor and affectionate attitude help the puppies adapt to interacting with other dogs, making them more adoptable.

"He definitely helps with socialization. Our puppies are anywhere between a week and eight weeks old, and that's a critical period for socialization. He's a snorty loud creature, and it gets the puppies used to all kinds of sounds and smells because he is up in their business as much as he can be," Likes says.

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"He's got this welcoming energy that allows puppies to come out of their shell and trust him. And then, trust other dogs and people," Shininger adds about Louis' foster dad skills.

And while Louis often has a goofy, relaxed approach to parenting, according to Likes, the French bulldog also knows how to set boundaries.

"One thing puppies need to learn is what's appropriate and what's not. If someone bites a little too hard or plays a little too hard, Louis is not afraid to let them know. But it's always love and sport, and he always goes right back to playing afterward," Likes says.

Overall, puppy fostering has been a perk for the entire family. While the puppies get the attention they need to thrive, Louis stays active and young, and Likes and Shininger get a relaxed Frenchie.

"It makes him tired at the end of the day, which is excellent for us; getting him tired and enriched is great. It's good for the puppies; it's good for him. He loves it. You can tell when he is rolling on his back; he's got this big smile," Likes says.

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"He just lights up whenever we bring the puppies home," Shininger adds.

The family hopes that Louis' fostering success inspires other animals to try fostering a pet from the shelter, even if it's just for a weekend.

"You might not know how your pet will react to other animals, but it's worth a try, and it helps fill a need. I know we're seeing more and more puppies come into the shelter. And so, Louis is being utilized quite a bit. It's fun, and it's rewarding. I think many people are hesitant because they think they'll keep everything. And that's okay, keep one or two," Likes says.

To learn more about the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region and how to support the organization's life-saving work, visit the shelter's website.

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