barbara techel

Teaching Kids About Special Needs Pets & How to Be Positive Despite Challenges

Posted by Barbara Techel

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.

 

Celebrating our connection with animals who teach us to live joyfully

Posted by Barbara Techel


I am so happy to finally have a tag line for my new website, as you’ll see above in the top portion: Celebrating our connection with animals who teach us to live joyfully. Thank you, Mary Shafer for helping me to brainstorm this!

I’ve accepted the design, so now it is in the development stage. My blog, and Frankie’s will be incorporated right into my site, which I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. I also like the cleaner, more simplified look… thanks to my website mistress, Caryn Newton of Lantern Glow Design.

I wanted my new site to reflect more of who I am and the vision I have for myself as I continue to move forward with my new book… and who knows where else I shall go… I am a constant work in progress… just like we all are.  If I had to describe the website in terms of how it makes me feel one word, of course is, joyful, but also nostalgic, vintage-y, happy, content, animal love, and authentic.

I want to also take a moment to say a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who offered their thoughts on an image for the cover of my new book, Through Frankie’s Eyes: One Woman’s Journey to Her Authentic Self and the Dog on Wheels Who Led the Way.

Hands down, the photo below is what well over 150 of you chose. I, too, adore this photo. I will be giving some thought though to getting a shot that may show more of our faces, as this was a suggestion from some of you in the publishing and graphic design fields.  The fact is that it is winter here in Wisconsin and Frankie and I would freeze our little hiney’s off on the dock, so we will have to wait for warmer weather—so we will see about a new photo early summer.  I’ll then post photo below and new one for a new vote. Again, thank you everyone for taking the time to let me know which one you liked. I so appreciate it!!

Our Recent Visit To Notre Dame Elementary School

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

Elementary students from Notre Dame School of De Pere were treated to a visit from author Barbara Techel, right, and her inspirational pet — Frankie, the Walk ‘n Roll Dog — on Jan. 19. / Submitted

Reprinted from the Green Bay Gazette:

Notre Dame School of De Pere

The elementary students were treated to a visit by Frankie, the Walk ‘n Roll Dog, on Thursday, Jan. 19. Frankie and her owner, author Barbara Techel, shared their touching story with the students.

When Frankie, a dachshund, suffered a spinal injury, Ms. Techel had her fitted with a custom wheelchair. Frankie persevered and now volunteers as a therapy dog at local hospitals and nursing homes, spreading joy and hope wherever they go.

Their message to the Notre Dame students was threefold: think positive, make a difference and keep on rolling.

Students were able to purchase books about Frankie and have them signed by both Barbara and Frankie — with her paw print. A portion of all book proceeds is donated to various disabled animal charities.