Frankie's Blog Has Moved - Please Join Us At Our New Home - Today!

I'm so happy to announce that our new website is up and ready for you to see and enjoy!  Even better is my blog is incorporated right into the website, along with my mom's blog, Joyful Paws.

We'd hate to lose you so please be sure to visit our site today and sign up to receive my blog posts so you don't miss out on anything. You'll need to do this soon as I'll be closing this blog down on March 15, 2012.

This is how to subscribe so my blog posts are delivered via your email in-box:

Scroll down to SUBSCRIBE TO FRANKIE'S BLOG on left hand side and under my photo you'll see where you need to enter your email.

Scroll down to SUBSCRIBE TO JOYFUL PAWS BLOG (on left hand side under Frankie's photo) and enter your email address.

You can also subscribe to our newsletter updates (if you already follow us this way, you won't need to do this step again).  You'll see subscribe button in upper left hand corner for newsletter updates.

Of course you can always follow us the following ways as well:

Barbara on Facebook

Frankie on Facebook

Barbara on Twitter

Frankie on Twitter

Barbara and Frankie on Youtube

Frankie the Walk 'N Roll Dog, Author & Artist Team Up to Inspire Younger Generation

(click on flyer to enlarge)

Local artist, Cassy Tully and I are very excited about our special and unique contest we are sponsoring. It is open to all third grade students in Sheboygan County school's.

Be positive, make a difference, and be creatively you!

I love the idea of an author and artist coming together in this way to help inspire and encourage our younger generation. We have mailed out 64 letters to area third grade teachers and hope they will be as excited as we are to present this contest to their students.

We are encouraging students to use colors, paint, chalk, markers, or colored pencil to design an outfit for Frankie with template will we provide. Cassy and I will personally judge the entries in April. Winners will be announced shortly thereafter.

Grand prize winner will receive a presentation for their classroom from Cassy and I. Cassy will share her art process and I will share my writing process. They will also receive a special visit from Frankie the Walk 'N Roll Dog.  Winner will also have their winning artwork framed by Cassy Tully-Fine Art. It will be displayed in Cassy's gallery/shop until time of our school presentation. They will also receive a bundle of Frankie books, tote bag, magnets, and Frankie greeting card designed by Cassy.

We hope this will be so well embraced that we can do it again for next year... and who knows, maybe take it bigger at some time in the future.

Valentine's Day Gift Giveaway!

Valentine's Gift Giveaway at Joyful Paws blog today (my mom's blog!) so be sure to stop on by!!  Ends at midnight today.  Good luck!

Valentine Gift Giveaway Tomorrow- Don't Miss It!

Be sure to stop by Joyful Paws blog tomorrow on Valentine's Day... the day of love... and sharing love with a special Gift Giveaway my Mom and I are doing! Time sensitive so don't miss out!

Teaching Kids About Special Needs Pets & How to Be Positive Despite Challenges

It's hard to believe it is has been since 2008 that Frankie and I have been teaching kids about special needs pets, while also encouraging them to see their own challenges in a positive way. This is such rewarding work. Each visit we now do seems even more precious since Frankie is semi-retired.

Recently we visited a small catholic school, Shepherd of the Hills. It was such a delightful school and the kids were oober crazy to meet Frankie! I'm so excited to share these photos with you that the school took and granted me permission to share.  Each photo describes what Frankie and I teach the kids during our presentation.  Side note:  It was catholic school week, so today's theme was tropical, so that is why the students are all dressed so colorfully.  :)


This student is learning how to put Frankie in her wheelchair with a little help from me.


Student learning how Frankie's wheelchair all fits together.


A big round of applause for this student doing such a great job in helping Frankie into her wheelchair


Explaining to the students how I have to express Frankie's bladder since she can't do that on her own because of her Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD). I then show them a photo of how I hold Frankie over the toilet as I express her bladder. As you can imagine, this gets lots of giggles!


I ask for three volunteers to come up and learn how to do physical therapy on Frankie. This student is getting ready to do one of the exercises I did for Frankie when she was recovering and healing.


This student is learning how to do a range of motion exercise for Frankie


This student learned how to move Frankie's leg and pretend like Frankie was pedaling a bicycle in this exercise


Showing Frankie's dog wheelchair to the students so they can see what it looks like without her in it


The grand finale is showing the students how I trained Frankie to walk in her wheelchair. I hold a treat in my hand and as soon as I start to walk, Frankie follows me.  The students cheer and clap and this always warms my heart... right down to my toes.

My Recent Visit to Notre Dame Elementary School

Elementary students from Notre Dame School of De Pere were treated to a visit from author Barbara Techel, right, and her inspirational pet — Frankie, the Walk ‘n Roll Dog — on Jan. 19. / Submitted


Reprinted from the Green Bay Gazette:

Notre Dame School of De Pere
The elementary students were treated to a visit by Frankie, the Walk 'n Roll Dog, on Thursday, Jan. 19. Frankie and her owner, author Barbara Techel, shared their touching story with the students.
When Frankie, a dachshund, suffered a spinal injury, Ms. Techel had her fitted with a custom wheelchair. Frankie persevered and now volunteers as a therapy dog at local hospitals and nursing homes, spreading joy and hope wherever they go.
Their message to the Notre Dame students was threefold: think positive, make a difference and keep on rolling.
Students were able to purchase books about Frankie and have them signed by both Barbara and Frankie — with her paw print. A portion of all book proceeds is donated to various disabled animal charities