Do Wiener Dogs Bend In Half?

Posted by Barbara Techel

Three times a day I wash Joie’s belly and flush it with Betadine.  Because she was not spayed, they spayed her before she flew home to live with us.  She almost didn’t get to fly home the scheduled day because the incision had become infected.  But thanks to Jenell of Oregon Dachshund Rescue (ODR) and Linda the volunteer with ODR, the vet felt good about releasing Joie to them and knowing she would be taken care of when she arrived at our home.

Her belly is doing so much better.  We have a ways to go– but it has improved quite a bit.  I love this time with her when I treat her tummy as it is helping us bond.  It’s funny when I first lay her down her back feet are curled up to her front feet.  I tell her that wiener dogs can’t bend in half.  Then I tell her that she has to unfold so I can help her tummy get better.  As I talk quietly and calmly to her, her little legs relax and she goes into her “mama time” trance as I gently treat her incision.

I posted a photo on Facebook yesterday of Joie looking out the front window dressed in her infant onesie.   Some wondered why I have her in it. I keep her in this to protect her belly, which also allows her to scoot around on the wood floors to help build up the strength in her front legs which seemed weak when she arrived.  I’ll try to capture a video of her scooting, cause believe me, she has no idea she has IVDD and she can fly!  And it seems her front legs are getting stronger everyday too.  I’m anxious to take her to the vet who specializes in IVDD and I’ll be doing that in about two weeks.  Her tummy has to be fully healed before then so if the vet suggests a hydrotherapy treadmill treatment we can do that and learn how, so I can adapt to do it at home for her.

Meet Jessie: Another Recipient of the Frankie Wheelchair Fund

Posted by Barbara Techel

It’s a beautiful day when I hear from Eddie’s Wheels and learn of a recipient of the Frankie Wheelchair Fund.  Today I found out that this little sweetie, Jessie was helped by the fund.  The owners were able to contribute some of the money towards Jessie’s wheels and the Frankie Fund helped with $100 so this little one can now live a long, happy, quality life… thanks to all who were so generous in helping fund the Frankie Fund.

Currently we have $1,270 left in the fund to help two to three more small dogs. Leslie from Eddie’s Wheels also said there is a dachshund in Africa who is in need of a wheelchair and we hope to help that dachshund, too.  So stay tuned.  And thank you to those who have helped to make this possible!!

If you are interested in helping with our efforts to help dogs in need of wheelchairs (those in rescue or families in financial stress) please visit our website where we have an on going Chip In set up.  Next summer we will also look at doing another fund raiser like we did this past summer with special edition t-shirts that helped us launch National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day.

Uncertainty. Not Giving Into Fear. One Foot In Front of the Other.

Posted by Barbara Techel

The days are getting fewer where we can sit outside on our deck and enjoy our chimenia.  I’m glad for the beautiful fall day we had yesterday so we could get in what may be the last fire outside for a while, and I’m glad Joie got to be with us.  It was a bit chilly, but we dressed warm and had an enjoyable time.  As you can see from the photo, Joie felt right at home in John’s arms.  Kylie lay behind our chairs and seemed to soak it all in too.

Fall is always a time of reflection for me, as it is for John too.  We always have the best conversations it seems when we have a little fire going.  There is something magical about the flames, almost as if it puts one in a trance of feeling free to speak from our hearts.  We have some things we are thinking through and it reminds me that life is truly about transition.  Sometimes I think I’m finally starting to get that– or at least rolling with it better and understanding this is what this thing called life is all about. I really thought about all this after reading author Jon Katz’  blog post today about some big decisions he has made lately. One line that really struck me that he said was, “I can’t see inside of my own life. I don’t know if this was my finest hour or my most foolish one. I can’t say that for sure if I am being honest. How can I know? Maybe it was both wonderful and foolish.”

Life can feel so uncertain at times, and it has certainly felt that way as we moved through the past four years of what felt more tumultuous than I remember in a long time.  But I appreciate how Jon continues to live his life without that in mind, working hard to not giving into fear which I think means we truly can’t see the inside of our own life.  We can only do what we think is best and right for ourselves at any given moment.  And I’m not big into politics, but my husband, John is. But together we seem to come to the same place about how we feel about things.  John follows politics closely to gauge how he will go forward with his business, while I try hard to not let politics dictate the way we live…. somehow it seems to balance us out.

One step in front of the other, it’s all we can do.  Dogs do this everyday, don’t they?  They just live for this very moment. I keep trying to do just that.  I have a feeling it is a life long practice.  Today I submitted my manuscript Through Frankie Eyes to the graphic designer who will do the interior layout.  The cover is just about done and endorsements are all in. Progress is being made right here in my little writing cottage despite what at times feels like a stand still with the rest of the world awaiting the outcome of November 6th.