dogs with disabilities

Friends Forever: Special Needs Boy & Special Needs Dog

Posted by Barbara Techel

It is a day I will remember as pure joy for as long as I live…

Two years ago, a 3-year old little boy named Jackson was having a hard time accepting wearing a night brace on his leg because of a form of Cerebral Palsy he has. His mom found my book, “Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog” and read it to him.  Almost immediately he saw the connection and said, “I have to wear my brace like Frankie!” He now refers to his brace as his “Frankie brace.”

He just turned five and his mom planned a birthday party for him. When she asked who he wanted to invite he said, “Barb and Frankie.”  Now keep in mind, Frankie and I met him when he was three, then again a year ago, but have only been with him twice. Frankie and Jackson have this amazing connection that I have a feeling only the two of them truly understand.

They live near Barrington, IL which is roughly a 3-hour trip from our home in Elkhart Lake, but when a darling little 5-year old special little boy makes such a request, it is hard to say no.  Besides, how often does one turn five?!?!  The best part is his mom decided to make it a surprise… and indeed it was.

Jackson’s mom, Dawn blind-folded him so he couldn’t see us come in.  When he and his mom knelt down, Dawn put Jackson’s hand on Frankie and said, “Who is this?”  Jackson pet Frankie’s head and said, “Frankie!”  He then could not get his blind-fold off fast enough to see his forever friend, Frankie.

So in pictures and video the wonderful event…

Dogs with Disabilities

Posted by Barbara Techel


Thanks to the blog Rebound Hounds I came across a website about dogs with disabilities that I did not know about, so wanted to share with you.

I love Dogs with Disabilities statement, “We can learn alot from dogs with disabilities!”  So true.  My life has increased in compassion, joy, and love ten-fold since Frankie, my dachshund was diagnosed with Intervertebral Disc Disease in 2006.  As many of you know, since then, I’ve become an advocate for animals with disabilities.  We have to be the voice for these special animals who do not feel sorry for themselves and live life to the fullest… and they deserve that chance, even when becoming disabled or born disabled.

Dogs with Disabilities has many wonderful resources and a great page on deciding on the right wheelchair for your dog.  As they said, it is a very personal choice, and I also want to add that not all wheelchairs are alike and each situation is different.  I especially liked their information on finding a vet also to care for your disabled dog.  Not all vets see disabled pets like those of us do who live with one do, so it’s important to have a vet who understands your pets needs and supports your decisions.

Last but not least, I loved the following on their home page-

Dogs with Disabilities…

  • Don’t feel sorry for themselves, we do it for them
  • Don’t know they’re disabled
  • Are accepting of what life has to offer
  • Accept as much help as their pride can take
  • Take each day as it comes and smell the flowers they can reach (and sometimes eat them)
  • Have more patience than we’ll ever have in the same situation
  • Don’t worry if we love them, they know we do
  • Do worry if we’ll take care of their needs – and shouldn’t have to
  • Don’t say what if, they just do what they can
  • Enjoy life just like other dogs, just not as rambunctiously
  • Worry about their status in the pack, it’s our job to reassure them they still have it
  • Don’t fear the future or worry about the past
  • Make every effort to do what they can to their maximum potential
  • Are not a burden, but a joy and a reason to slow down our own hectic lives