barbara techel

The Animal Anthology Project Published! Includes the Story of Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog’s Therapy Work

Posted by Barbara Techel

From The Animal Anthology Project Blog:

Featuring stories from the nation’s most reknowned authors of animal tales, The Animal Anthology Project has been published. Contributors include notable Lois Duncan (Hotel for Dogs), Bob Tarte (Kitty Cornered), Sy Montgomery (The Good Good Pig), Irene Pepperberg (Alex & Me), Carl Safina (Song for the Blue Ocean), J.A. Jance (NY Times bestselling author of the Ali Reynolds series), Dr. Marty Goldstein (Starring in Oprah as America’s premier holistic veterinarian), and Hugh Warwick (A Prickly Affair: My Life with Hedgehogs).

To buy the book either head to your local bookstore or go on amazon.com. To help The Animal Anthology Project and the Best Friends Animal Society buy a book today! Out of more than 1,000 submission we have selected our favorite 50 to appear in print.

I’m very honored and proud to be among all these wonderful authors whose story was accepted and now published in this book done my 16-year old Christine Catlin.

I Want to Be the Female Version of Jon Katz

Posted by Barbara Techel

Kylie on the path behind our house

As many of you know who follow me here on my blog, my all time favorite blog and author is Jon Katz– no kidding, right?

Sometimes I wish I were him. But in a way I guess I am.  We both like to write. We both like dogs and animals.  We both enjoy trying to just enjoy the simple moments and joys of life. He is (well) known as Bedlam Farm.  I am (not as well) known as Joyful Paws.

So let’s see.  He lives on a farm in NY. I live in a little cottage style home in WI. He has three dogs. I currently have one. He has three donkeys, many chickens, a few barn cats, and sheep.  I’m really short in all those departments I’m afraid to say.  But I do have wild birds and hummingbirds.  Lots of bunnies.  Some squirrels and the occasional woodchuck.  Even had a Sand hill Crane family in my backyard last summer.

Everyday he walks his three dogs on a path on his property. Though that will soon change and a new path will be forged at his new farm house. I walk Kylie on the path behind our house when it is not too hot– which hot it has been most of the summer so far– so not much path walking has gotten done.  And to this day she still is not the most enthusiastic walker- never was, and I suspect she never will be.  I’ve accepted that about her.

I may not have all the animals and life that Jon Katz has, but I know enough to find happiness in what I do have. It is all a matter of choice, afterall. It is where I am in this moment at this time and I’m pretty happy and content.  When I need a donkey or farm fix, I get lost in Jon’s blog.  But for the most part I really do give thanks for the simple, sweet life I’ve carved out here with my supportive and loving husband, John. I feel a wee bit short in the dog department right now, too, but that will hopefully change as I continue to move forward.  Though as promised to John, not until after our fall trip to Vermont.  Hey, maybe I’ll run into Jon Katz and his wife, Maria there as I know they like to escape there, too.  Now wouldn’t that be something?

So I’ve decided, yes, Jon is great and I love learning from him about his writing and his life. I take it and sift it and adapt to what is right for me. So I guess this then means I would just rather stay me. Yup- I like me and I like my life.  It has been something I’ve worked hard on the past ten years and wouldn’t trade where I’ve come to the place of mostly peace and acceptance about who I am and what I do have. Life is good.

 

Going Out on Top. My Last Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog Presentation.

Posted by Barbara Techel

Our last official Frankie presentation today at Intergenerational Senior center

As many of you know, I announced Frankie’s retirement from therapy dog work as well as visits to schools, etc. about two weeks ago.  We still have two therapy dog visits to do and one short talk in August about Frankie’s work as a therapy dog— But today was my official last time of sharing Frankie’s story with a “live” audience. While we will still do presentations via Skype to classrooms, (and I encourage schools to book us for those), this was the last in-person and “in-dog” presentation.

I shared on my Facebook wall this morning that today was one of those days I was wishing I wasn’t so dang sentimental because I feared I may cry at some point during my presentation. My very wise Mom said to me that my being sentimental is what makes me uniquely me. While I’ve for the most part embraced that as what makes me, me, I was glad to be reminded.  I also appreciated Jill’s comment on my post on Facebook to look at this as “going out on top.” I like that. We are going out on top and we did just that today.

When I first began my work with Frankie five years ago I really thought we’d keep doing this until the day Frankie passed. But I know now this is the right time and it is the right decision for both of us. While I know of some therapy dogs and other “celebrity” dogs that have done their work until their last days which may have been right for them, I didn’t feel this was right for Frankie.  One very important thing I’ve learned through working with Frankie as a therapy dog is that her needs come first and it was a promise I made to her at the beginning.  I think it is important  that those who work with or have a therapy dog, that careful thought is given to when it is time for their pet to ease out of their work.

So did I cry today during my presentation?  Well, I did get choked up at the beginning explaining this was my last presentation and how much my work with Frankie has meant to me. I heard a chorus of sweet awwww’s come from the audience and wrap around me like a big hug. It made it easy for me to go on. I wanted to give them my 100% best and leave them with a positive impact.   And like Jill said, “We are going out on top.” What a way to go!

I’ll continue to share Frankie with all of you as she enjoys her retirement years.  I’m also working on a special announcement that will be part of Frankie’s legacy- and I hope to announce that in early August. So our work is not done- it is just evolving in a new way. I plan to embrace our new path and continue to give thanks for all that God has blessed me with.