Introducing “For the Love of Animals: A Collection of Short Stories, Series One

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

This is the first in a new series that I have written for all animal lovers!

INTRODUCTION

My life transitioned when my chocolate Labrador, Cassie, was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer in late 2004.
Watching Cassie live each day with the same joy she always had, even with cancer, made me yearn for more joy in my own life. Because of Cassie, I took a three-month hiatus from my small business, to work with a life coach, and think about what I truly wanted for myself. What would bring me more happiness? I wondered.
From that sabbatical, I discovered how deeply I truly love animals. I decided to become a writer so I could share my love of animals with others, the many lessons I believe they teach us, and all the joy they bring to our lives.
I like to think of my journey since then, as “Joyful Paws.” You see, I paused (paws) long enough in my life to really give thought to what makes me most joyful. In turn, that has helped me to live with more purpose. And I happened to learn all of this because of a dog.

Short Stories in Series One

The Silly Names We Call Our Pets
Puppy Antics
The Dance Of A Dog’s Dream

Available on Kindle through Amazon or as a PDF at Joyful Paws website that you can download to your computer.

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Your School Could WIN a Free Skype Visit with Inspirational Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

Skype visit with school in Illinois last spring
Oh so easy to enter!  All you have to do is let your child’s (or grandchild’s) school teacher or librarian know we are giving away a FREE Skype presentation with Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog (you can do that by forwarding this post along with a personal note).

Then all the teacher or librarian needs to do is email us with this note in the body of email:

Our school would love to win a free Skype presentation with Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog!

Please include contact name, school name, address, phone and email. Send email to barb at joyfulpaws dot com.

Teachers/librarians can enter through midnight September 14, 2011. Winner will be chosen at random and notified on Thursday, September 15.  Skype presentation will need to be scheduled no later than May 30, 2012.

Open to schools in US and Canada.

For more information on our Skype presentations check out our free Skype ebook on planning a Skype visit with us.

Frankie will inspire and uplift your students to be the best they can be!!

The students had such a great time during their webcam visit with Mrs. Techel and Frankie.  They were even more inspiring in person.  Mrs. Techel had Frankie right there with her during our web cam visit.  Frankie even fell asleep on her desk.  She showed the class how Frankie got in and out of her wheelchair, explained how she cared for Frankie, gave us a first hand view of her writing studio, and explained the writing process from the gathering of ideas, to the editing, and the publishing stages. ~Karen Elz, 3rd grade elementary teacher,  Shiloh Point Elementary School, Georgia 

Special Needs Pet Feature: Shoshone

Posted by Barbara Techel


What is your pet’s name? 

Shoshone.

How old is your pet? 

One year old.

Where did you get your pet? 

A breeder.

What is your pet’s physical challenge? 

Born with multiple eye deformities that can cause glaucoma.  At the age of 4 months old, she got glaucoma in her left eye and it had to be removed to eliminate the pain she was having due to high eye pressure.  No eye pressure eye drops would bring down the eye pressure so the eye had to be removed.  She has the same problem in the right eye and at 6 months old she had a retinaplexy surgery done the the right eye to try to keep her retina from detaching.  She will probably lose the right eye in the future.  I am so devastated about this.

What is your pet’s favorite thing to do? 

She loves to play with her sisters, play with her toys and take long naps on her daddy or my recliner.

What is your pet’s favorite thing to eat? 

She loves her Benefil Chicken and Rice dog food, Milk Bone and chicken jerky treats.

What do you love most about your pet? 

She is precious, with a wonderful zest for life and is so gentle and loving toward people and other animals.

What has your pet most taught you? 

With all she has gone through, she is happy and full of life.  She has taught me that even though she has disabilities she makes the most out of life and enjoy it to the fullest.

Anything else you’d like to share? 

I just want to say that I love her with all my heart and will do anything I can for her to have a normal life, with some sight, for as long as I can.

 ***If you care for a special needs pet and would like your pet featured, please email me through my website contact. Send a photo and I will forward the questionnaire for your pet to be featured in an upcoming post.***

My life changed for the better and my heart grew ten times it size when my dog, Frankie ruptured a disk and ended up in a doggie wheelchair.  That may sound odd, but it lead me to a calling that has brought me so much joy.

I love being an advocate for pets with special neeeds educating others that disabled pets are just as lovable as any other pet. I also feel so blessed to help kids of all ages see their challenges in a positive way through Frankie’s example. Frankie is an incredbile gift not only in my life, but she has helped thousands of children through the book series about her, as well as the visits we do to schools in WI and schools across the US and Canada via Skype.

Sharing other pets with special needs expands on the message that all animals deserve a chance. Sharing these pets helps to spread a positive message and every time I meet a new special needs pet I feel my heart grow even bigger.  I hope it does the same for you and you pass on the love.

Learn more about Barbara and her love of special needs pets

Learn more about Barbara’s special needs pet, Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog