dachshunds

Celebrating Dodgerslist – Come Join Us & Win Prizes!

Posted by Barbara Techel

I, for one, am eternally grateful to have discovered Dodgerslist when Frankie was diagnosed with Intervertebral Disc Disease on April 15th, 2006. They gave me hope and peace of mind that despite Frankie’s diagnoses she could lead a quality life. And boy, has she ever!  IVDD is not a death sentence – education is key.

Dodgerslist is celebrating 10 years of saving lives through their website and educating others.  Join them in the fun for prizes and heartwarming stories, plus a photo contest.

Here is their offical announcement:

Come join the celebration!
Ten short years ago, March 27th in 2002, a Yahoo Group called Dodgerslist was created. The first members were a number of Dachshund owners searching to understand the mysteries of IVDD they could not find answers to through their vet. They wanted and needed answers to figure out how to give the best care to help the dog recover, to learn all the treatments available that could save dogs from being put to sleep. Now ten years later, the Dodgerslist web page has exploded with good, solid information written by Board-Certified (ACVIM) neurology veterinarians, physical therapists, and vet techs targeted specifically to the IVDD dog and the right care to help with healing.
With the help of well over 4300 current members now representing many other breeds besides Dachshunds prone to disc disease, the mission to educate continues. Full-color, professional-looking educational brochures, a DVD on intervertebral disc disease, and copies of the Quarterly “Dodgers Digest” are hand delivered to vet clinics all over the United States. Our DVD has been mailed to many corners of the globe to help IVDD victims from England to South Africa to Australia!
Make plans to join our fun 10-year celebration complete with prizes and heartwarming stories…tell everyone you know and join the “Photo Contest.”
Watch for more information starting March 12th at http://www.facebook.com/​Dodgerslist or http://www.dodgerslist.com/
See you at Facebook!
Linda Stowe, Founder of Dodgerslist

 

Learning Not To Judge- Turn it upside Down

Posted by Barbara Techel



Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog wins 1st place in Dachshund Costume contest in 2008 at

GermanFest in Milwaukee, WI

As I perused Facebook this morning, I came across this photo above of Frankie on Everyone Loves a Dachshund Facebook page. I was so grateful for the fact that they shared the photo uninitiated by me, but also because it helps spread our positive message.  And here it is almost 4 years later and it has resurfaced.

As I read the comments (to date over 63- as well as this photo has been liked so far by over 450 people and shared over 130 times) there were about four negative comments… mostly that it was mean or cruel. My first reaction was to judge– “How could they say that,” I wondered? They don’t know me and don’t understand what a wonderful life Frankie leads. I had a lot of emotions bubble to the surface. All the good and positive comments were washed away because my heart hurt reading the negative ones. But then I caught myself.

I realized in that moment that I was being given another opportunity. An opportunity to educate those that may not understand. Those that don’t know how deeply I love this little dog– how I’ve poured my heart and soul into wanting to save other dogs being put to sleep through Frankie’s example– how I’ve worked tirelessly to encourage children to see their challenges as positive like Frankie does.

They didn’t know any better, I thought. They had no idea what this photo was all about. I could help them understand. So I set aside my hurt and judgment and shared my thoughts about the photo– as well as took the opportunity to educate about Intervertebral Disc Disease and dog wheelchairs.

They also say no press is bad press. I realized I was judging, caught myself, and said, “Frankie taught me not to judge.” Am I 100% good at this? No, I slip up now and then, but I will say I am much more aware and I try hard to be a better person.

So no press is bad press, so I took the opportunity to share that not only has Frankie taught me not to judge, but she has taught me many lessons which I’ll be sharing in my upcoming new book, Through Frankie’s Eyes: One Woman’s Journey to Her Authentic Self and the Dog on Wheels Who Led the Way. I invited them to check out my website and sign up for updates on when the book will be released.

So what began as what I initially thought as a bad thing– judging– being hurt– turn it upside down, and it became a beautiful opportunity in so many ways. Thank you Everyone Loves A Dachshund for this most unexpected, but welcome opportunity.

Divine Gifts. Carrying on Frankie’s Mission.

Posted by Barbara Techel


Frankie enjoying more down time. She likes it!  She likes it!

Today I heard from someone who follows my blog. She shared with me how she admires the work I do with Frankie, as well as how some of my posts have helped her relax more and see the spiritual side of things. Thank you dear follower- oh, how I appreciate your kind thoughtful words.

She also has a doxie in a wheelchair and would like to do the same work as I do with Frankie. She feared I may take this as possibly her being a copycat, so at first she was afraid to reach out to me. With Frankie’s semi-retirement she felt a bit more comfortable in approaching me. I assured her I think it is wonderful that she has admired our mission and is inspired to do so with her pup. It also made me sad that we have to think in terms of someone worrying that others may be upset if we “copy” their idea. While Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog will always be just that and no one can take that from her, what a wonderful opportunity to help share the message she has begun. This wheelie dog and her owner will do things in their own way and thus touch the lives they are meant to touch- just like Frankie and me have done. And how beautiful to know more doxie lives can be saved through more awareness. These are all divine gifts, I think. I consider it a great honor.

While Frankie is officially semi-retired and I continue to share her message on a more limited basis, I still see myself as always doing this line of work. Likely not to the degree I did for the last five years, but to some degree now. And the day Frankie does move on I hope to continue working with children in some fashion educating them about special needs pets and using these pets shining example to help they, themselves to be positive. That may mean another special needs doxie or special needs pet in my future. I don’t know the clear answer to that yet- but I see a vision of it being a part of what I continue to do… along with new things emerging in terms of my helping animals.

But to my dear blog follower who found the courage to reach out and share her thoughts with me about her vision, I thank you. It’s another rippled pepple that will go out into the world to touch the lives of those we have not yet reached or may never reach– which in turn will make a positive difference– and that is what life is all about. Divine gifts indeed.

“The life I desire is a work in progress, and even though I can’t see the entire picture from where I stand at this moment, it is coming together in a perfect way. It’s comforting to me to remember that divine ideas have their own timing. When I can wait, in calm expectation; ready to act, but not forcing it, an idea, a suggestion from a friend, an opportunity, a new way of thinking about a perplexing problem, will come bounding into my life and bring with it the answers that I have been seeking.” ~Mary Muncil, White Feather Farm Blog