No better way, I think, than to start a Monday with a happy, rolling, weenie dog!
Meet Magoo! He’s been rolling awhile now in his Eddie’s Wheels cart. His mom has had a few knocks and is trying hard to pay off the surgery for Magoo with a Go Fund Me effort (she is soooooo close!).
Magoo’s mom reached out saying:
I hope you can help us. If I can get this bill paid down, I can start Magoo in PT on an appointment by appointment basis. When I have these debts paid, I will happily pay it forward to you in what small donations I can muster over time.
Magoo’s mom also had many people say she should put Magoo down, but she knows IVDD is not a death sentence and she is doing all she can to help Magoo.
And just so you know, Magoo’s wheels have not slowed him down one bit. Check out these short videos below.
Donate, apply, or learn more about the Frankie Wheelchair Fund here.
When I knew I had to share my dachshund, Frankie’s story.
Even though I hadn’t a clue how to put a children’s book out into the world.
And I was scared. Very scared.
But the drive to make a difference pushed away the fear.
I offered my prayers up to God telling him I was up for the challenge and the work and asked for His guidance. He didn’t fail me. I didn’t fail him.
It has been seven years since I published Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog.
And to this day, I still receive emails from people sharing with me how the book has touched them.
This means more to me than I can ever express adequately in words.
Today, I share with you one such reader, Danielle, who reached out to me recently to let me know how Frankie’s story has not only positively impacted her life, but the lives of her 4-year old twin girls. (Just a side note that she also refers to Cassie Jo, who was my chocolate Lab):
I’ve been reading your blog for years, and I’m finally getting around to contacting you. Why? I originally started reading your blog when Frankie was alive. My own Dachshund, Dixie, had gone down when she was 4, so your posts about Frankie were uncannily relevant to my experience and of course, inspirational.
Fast forward to today. Dixie is 15 years old. She is still going, but not as strongly as before. She continues to teeter around or use her cart. I have expressed her bladder and bowels for 11 years now. It’s our version of “normal.”
For my 4-year-old twins, normal is a dog who cannot pee or poop on her own, cannot jump, and whose non-wagging tail cannot express her joy, although she is still patient beyond belief, soulful, and our best friend.
Now that my twins are finally old enough for “Frankie, the Walk ‘N Roll Dog” I read it to them (slightly abridged). They delighted in the story of a dog that was “just like Dixie.” They were tickled that a story finally reflected their reality with their pet—they probably also felt that their reality was validated.
Through the story, they also came to understand Dixie’s experience of becoming disabled, how she endured surgery and recovery, beginning to use her cart, etc. The story helped them to connect more with Dixie and better understand my connection to this amazing being that has been a part of my life since she fit in my hand and her eyes were still closed as a puppy.
Also, through the telling of Cassie Jo’s death and later learning that Frankie has since passed on, they began bombarding me with a series of questions about the death of Cassie Jo, and pondering Dixie’s mortality. I feel they are better prepared now for Dixie’s inevitable decline and for what is certain to come within a few months.
Thank you, Barbara, for sharing your and Frankie’s story. When I read about it years ago, I never imagined how it would impact my future children.
-Danielle
And then the love icing on the cake, recorded in their own voices, messages from each of Danielle’s girls about Frankie:
Thank you, Danielle, and your beautiful girls for touching my heart.
Thank you for visiting!
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As the mom of an IVDD pup, and two before that who lived a happy life in wheels, this is the best gift ever for Mother’s Day to share with you that another little dog gets her wheels because of The Frankie Wheelchair Fund.
Meet Lacey. There was a whole fleet of people who helped this little girl find her new home. It was an honor to play a small part in a big journey for Lacey as she left a home who loved her so much, but couldn’t care for her any longer, and had the courage to give her a better life.
From Patricia to Tamara, Michelle, Eli and Zachary who played a part in helping Lacey find her way to Helen who is now her new forever mom.
She had some medical issues to contend with, one of which was to have her tail amputated. But as you can see in the photo, she is doing just fine. She is learning to walk in her wheelchair and I have no doubt she will soon be doing zoomies all around the yard soon! This should also help her work off some of the weight she had gained.
Wishing Lacey all the very best!
To learn more about The Frankie Wheelchair Fund and how you can apply or contribute please visit the website National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day.
To learn more about dog wheelchairs, please visit Eddie’s Wheels.
As a reminder, 100% of proceeds of the purchase of this very roomy and durable tote bag from our friend at Beangoods goes to The Frankie Wheelchair Fund.
