Special Needs Pet Feature: Rainbow Diamond

There are so many caring pet parents out there who take care of special needs pets. To bring more attention to these joyful animals, and extraordinary people, this is a new feature to my blog. If you care for a special needs pet and would like your pet featured, please email my mom through her  website contact.  Send a photo and she will forward the questionnaire for your pet to be featured in an upcoming post.

What is your pets name?  

Rainbow Diamond.

How old is your pet?  

We think she is between 3-5 years old.

Where did you get your pet?  

Diamond Dachshund Rescue of Texas. She was rescued in a puppymill raid. We were her foster parents. Now, she is a permanent member of our family.

What is your pets physical challenge?  

Rainbow came into Diamond Dachshund Rescue of Texas with 27 fractures in her back and a disintegrating spine. She was paralyzed. Miraculously, her fractures healed and her bones regenerated. She can walk now, and is starting to be able to move her tail.

What is your pets favorite thing to do?

She loves to run around in the back yard! She is super fast! She also enjoys yelling at the local wildlife and neighbors.

What is your pets favorite thing to eat?

Roast chicken!!! We even have a special recipe called Yummy in Rainbow’s Tummy Roast Chicken! It is in the notes on RBD’s FB page if you want it.

What do you love most about your pet?

I love it that Rainbow is very goofy. She makes me laugh every day.

What has your pet most taught you?

Believe in miracles because they happen all the time. No one thought Rainbow would live, no one thought she would ever walk or be pain free. Now she is alive, walking, and pain free. Never give up hope!

Anything else you’d like to share? 

Rainbow is on the Bissell Spot Bot Box. She also has a fun and family friendly live webchat on Thursday nights at 7pm at http://www.momtv.com/rainbows-rescue-romp

Thank you, Rainbow for stopping by and sharing your story!  You are an inspiration and all your hard work, along with your parents, and all they do to help pets is so admirable.

Valentine Special on Frankie the Walk 'N Roll Dog Book Series

Frankie the Walk 'N Roll Dog book series is great for the young and old in your life to give the gift of love, hope, and inspiration.  In honor of the day devoted to love, Valentine's Day, we are running a special on our book series.
Regularly $14.95, they are now $10.00 each along with shipping reduced to half!  But hurry, this offer will end Feb. 14th, 2011, but the gift of Frankie's stories will live on in the hearts of your loved ones for a long time to come.
PS:  Even if you don't give as a Valentine gift, Frankie books make great birthday gifts or for upcoming holidays such as Easter so this is a great time to stock up!  Frankie the Walk 'N Roll Therapy Dog Visits Libby's House also makes a great gift for the elderly in your lives.

Each copy ordered will be autographed by author Barbara Techel and pawtographed by Frankie!

Order your copies today!


A true, inspirational story about a dachshund whose life started out just like any other dog walking on all four paws until a spinal injury leaves her paralyzed. Frankie is custom-fitted for a wheelchair and learns to keep on rolling. Her zest for life will have you cheering and she will give you hope that all things are possible. Frankie will leave an everlasting and loving paw print on your heart. A book for all ages to teach overcoming challenges and also compassion for the physically challenged.

Frankie the Walk 'N Roll Dog keeps rolling along in her doggie wheelchair. This paralyzed dachshund' unabashed healing, exuberant spirit, and spunky personality is a blessed gift to everyone she befriends. In this true, inspirational story, Frankie tells how she became a registered therapy dog and shares her visits to Libby's House, a senior facility where many residents have Alzheimer's or dementia. Frankie teaches us that patience, listening, and understanding opens our hearts to what matters most-love.

World's Oldest Dog

Wow, I just found out about a dog that is 21 years old! That is 147 in human years. She is a dachshund, which is very, very cool, and her name is Chanel. She used to be red, but as you can imagine, being 147 has your hair turning a bit white. The New York Post has her photo's and story. Keep on rolling, Chanel! I hope to live at least as long as you did!

Frankie Raising Money for Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary

Hot-diggity dog! I am so excited to announce that a portion of my book sales for the month of April will be donated to Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary. This is one of my favorite organizations! Why, you ask? Well because they take in disabled animals and love them their whole very long life. Isn't that the greatest?
My mom and I really want to support their efforts so that is why we have decided to donate a portion of my books sales to them. So if you were holding off on buying a book, now is the time! It also makes a great gift for another and teaches the valuable lessons of compassion and tolerance.
To read the swell press release my mom did about this donating event, please read here.
If you can't buy a book, but can help with a donation, we'd love that too. Just tell Rolling Dog Ranch that Frankie sent you!

Meet Lucy, the Tri-Pod Dachshund

You just HAVE to meet Lucy! My mom wrote her story on her blog, so be and sure to check it out. March 26th post at Joyful Paws Blog. Lucy, I think you absolutely ROCK!!

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!

Is it Hard to Take Care of Frankie?

Question submitted by Josh, age 11

My mom said I could answer this question cause I have heard her tell other lots of times that it really is not hard to take care of me. I do require a little more care than other dogs, but mom says she does not mind. She hugs me close and tells me how she loves taking care of me. Aren't I a lucky dog?
What I really need help with is going to the bathroom. My mom trained me to balance my front feet on the end of the toilet. Then she feels towards the back of my tummy where my bladder is. When it is full it feels like a balloon with lots of water in it. She squeezes real gentle and out comes the potty... right into the toilet... then FLUSH! Hee Hee.
Other than that I get a bath once a week in the sink which I really love. And I need help getting in and out of my wheelchair which takes about 1 minute or less. Mom says, yes, it was an adjustment, but now it is just part of our days and our routine and is no big deal at all.
I'm so glad my mom loves me so much! I love her too. Arf-a-roo!

How Do You Feel About Frankie's Injuries?

Question submitted by Tom, age 11

Before I hand this question over to my mom, I thought I'd say something. Even though I was injured I am still me. I think sometimes humans think that just because I can't use my legs (or any other animal for that matter who can't) that it is just too sad. For me that is not true. I am the same happy dog. Here's my mom's answer...

I was sad, of course, when Frankie was hurt. If I could I would wish that she would walk again on all four paws. But I don't dwell on that. Instead I am grateful Frankie is so happy. I'm grateful God has chosen me to be Frankie's mom and to help spread a positive message about animals with disabilities. If I felt sad the rest of Frankie's life that would not do anything good. It wouldn't change the fact Frankie can't walk. But finding a way to bring good to her injuries is what it is all about. So all in all, even though initially sad and hard, Frankie's injuries and her recovery have been a big blessing.

Thank You Elkhart Lake Elementary and Middle School!

Between last week and this week Frankie and I visited our community school and did a total of six presentations! We had a ball!

The staff and the students and especially Mrs. Nevin's the librarian extraordinaire were so good to us. Frankie and I now feel like a part of the school family! I felt today feeling so good about all the new friends we made. I have always loved Elkhart Lake, but now I love it even more. My community has been so supportive of Frankie and now being at school has made us feel even more a part of wonderful Elkhart Lake.

The teachers just started putting together websites for their classrooms. They took pictures of our visits and I want to thank Mrs. Reineking and Mrs. Matthias for posting pictures of our visit (please be patient as they do take a bit to download).

Thank you again, especially to all the students for their enthusiasm, kindness and compassion for Frankie. We will never forget our three very special days with all of you!!

Frankie's Special Wheels

Question submitted by Lucas from school in Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Frankie, Where did you get your wheels?
My wheels came from a company in Shelburn Falls, MA called Eddie's Wheels (www.eddieswheels.com). They are a really cool company! Eddie had a dog many years ago that couldn't walk. He had a back injury. Eddie's regular job at the time was an Engineer. This meant he liked to design and build things. When his dog couldn't walk he went into his basement and designed a doggie wheelchair for his dog. Eddie's vet said it would never work and didn't think the dog would walk in it. But he did! The vet was amazed!! The vet started telling other people about Eddie and sending their dogs who couldn't walk to him. That is how Eddie company started. He now makes wheels for dogs around the world!!
My cart is custom fit to fit me. My mom and dad measured from the base of my neck to the end of where my tail starts. This would determine how long my cart would be. They then measured from the top of my belly to the bottom of the floor. This determined how high my cart would be. The rest is history... once my cart arrived and I figured out how it worked, nothing stopped me from zooming around the house!