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.

Meet Digby Who Has IVDD and a Doggie Wheelchair Just Like Me

Digby's mom, Emily emailed my mom asking if she would be upset if she shared a video she made of Digby her dachshund with IVDD to help bring positive awareness to this disease to those to in the UK where she and Digby live. She told my mom she used the same music and was inspired by Frankie and the video about me. Emily didn't want my mom to be upset that the video is similar... stay tuned until end for Digby's touching video.

It was so nice of Emily to be concerned, but of course not, my mom was not upset at all. Wow- the more of us who share our stories, she told Emily, the more dogs we can save who are diagnosed with IVDD. This is a beautiful thing!

So my mom told Emily, "Send the video on over and I'll share with Frankie's fans!"  So check out Digby, living a quality life despite an IVDD diagnoses. Could he be any happier?  Thank you, Emily and Digby for this video that will be another extension of our work that will no doubt save more lives.

http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d6a67304d6a51304d6a52384e6a51304d7a49314e7a633d0d0a&sb=1

Another Wheelie Dog in Town!

There's a new wheelie dog in town!  Well at least in the town over from me. Her name is Kahlua or a.k.a. Miss Lu or Tink.  She was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor August 25th. She was given two months to live. Yup, count it out on your fingers, Christmas Day will be four months since her diagnoses.  She is still pretty much the same, though her mom feels somewhat improved. Hot diggity dog!

Because of the brain tumor this has affected her back legs and walking. Kahlua's mom knows me and my mom well since she makes all our Frankie t-shirts and tote bags. So she knew getting Miss Lu a wheelchair was a viable option. 

Miss Lu stopped over today to show us her new wheels from Eddie's Wheels! Weeeeeeee..... she is still adjusting to them, but we hope in no time she will be buzzing around fast as a speeding bullet.

As far as her brain tumor, well we continue to pray for her and ask if you could send a little prayer to the big guy upstairs too. She's a miracle so far with almost outliving her 2 month prognosis.  We love you, Kahlua!

No Dog Wheelchair is too Big or Too Small for Eddie's Wheels to Build

Ok, this is just too cute not to share!  Check out sweet little Riley- the recipient of  a dog cart from Eddie's Wheels which is officially now the smallest wheelchair they have built to date.  Go Riley!

Frankie the Walk 'N Roll Dog Recommends Eddie's Wheels Dog Carts

Meet Allie: IVDD Does Not Stop Her From Being Spunky!

 

Allie

Last week my mom and I received a very nice email from Allie's mom, Katie.  She wrote to tell us she read my book Frankie the Walk 'N Roll Dog and found it inspirational as well as feeling like she was reading her dog, Allie's autobiography.  She attached this photo, and of course, I fell in love!

My mom asked Katie if she would share a little about Allie so here their fun little interview:

Barbara:  How old is Allie?

Katie:  Allie is 5.  She will be 6 in June.

Barbara:  Where did you get her?

Katie:  We got Allie from Starlight Kennel in Augusta, WI

Barbara:  When did she become paralyzed?

Katie:  Allie had her first surgery just before she turned 4 in May of 2009.  She made about a 95% recovery, but then she ruptured another disc in July of 2010. If she has enough motivation, she can walk really wobbly, but she usually uses her wheels or her parents to get around.  :)

Barbara:  What is Allie's favorite thing to do?

Katie:  Allie looooooooves to bury toys under rugs, blankets, dog beds, or even boxes, and then try to dig them out. We have many torn blankets and rugs because of this habit.  :)

Barbara:  What is Allie's favorite thing to eat?

Katie:  Allie loves to eat Caesar, the wet dog food. She used to get a little with her pills every morning after her surgery, and she was hooked. I still spoil her and give her some every morning, though she's not on medication anymore.

Barbara:  What do you love most about her?

Katie:  So many things!  One thing I love that makes her unique is that she can smell a toy from a mile away.  We can hide new toys in the most obscure places, and she will sniff them out and bark at the hiding spot until we give up and give her the toy. She also loves to open presents. This past Christmas we saved all our scrap wrapping paper and wrapped up all her toys with it.  She doesn't even care that it's an old toy inside. It's 30 seconds of heaven for her just to unwrap it.

Barbara:  What has Allie taught you?

Katie:  Allie has taught me that I have more patience than I thought! Seriously, though, she taught me not to let obstacles get in your way. With a loving and supportive family to help your though it, anything is possible.

Barbara:  Wow, would I have to agree on the patience thing as Frankie has really taught me that too!  BIG GRIN.  Thank you so much, Katie for sharing your spunky, beautiful little girl, Allie with us!  We wish you and Allie the very best always!

Note:  Allie's wheelchair comes from Eddie's Wheels.  A company we believe is truly dedicated to helping animals the best way possible.

Winston: The Incredible, Inspirational, Corgi on Wheels!

My little heart just burst with joy watching this amazing corgi... dance in her Eddie's Wheels cart! 

Some Doggie Friends with Wheels Brought to You by Eddie's Wheels

Daisy

Grace

Grey

Otis

These doggie friends are brought to you by Eddie's Wheels, the company who also made my wheels and gave me back my freedom to be a dawg! To all the dogs in the world in wheels... Keep on Rolling! You are the BEST!!!

Challenging Wheels

Question submitted by Mariah, age 10

Does Frankie have any challenges with her wheels?

Great question, Mariah! You know, at first I had a hard time figuring out how to get around furniture. Every five minutes I would be letting out a squeaky bark for my mom to help me get unstuck. Then one day I realized if I make a really wide sweep around the furniture, I don't get stuck. I also love to back up, so that helps too. :)
I also can't seem to judge doors into buildings for some reason. It never fails, I get one wheel stuck as I try to roll through. Luckily my mom is patient with me and always helps me through. I'm one lucky dog to have her for my mom.

How Long Did it Take to get your Wheels?

Question submitted by Phil, age 10 and Bita, age 9

It seemed like forever... but forever really is a very long time if you seriously think about it. So when I think realistically about when my wheels arrived it really was not that long. They took about 3-weeks to arrive. My cart was custom made in a darling little factory and then shipped to me by the big brown UPS truck. See our story and scroll down on the page to see picture of the factory where my wheels where made. And where other wheels are still made today for other animals too!