frankie the walk n roll dog

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.

 

Frankie Retiring from Therapy Dog Work. Together We Move Into a New Phase of Life.

Posted by Barbara Techel

Going through photo’s of Frankie’s therapy dog work, ran across this one when we had a special request to visit Froedert Hospital. This man had a stroke and he LOVES dachshunds.  Frankie made his day! 

I thought the tears were done. Yesterday I sent notice to Libby’s House, Senior Assisted Living and Sharon S. Richardson Hospice letting them know that as of July I will be retiring Frankie from her therapy dog work. While I’ve contemplated this for quite some time (semi-retiring her in January) I felt a relief in letting the facilities know, but I find myself having a hard time with it today—knowing this decision is now final.  But I won’t ignore the tears and will accept it as a way for me to move through this.

I’ve always known how much my work with Frankie has meant to me—it has been huge. A part of me is finding a great deal of peace and comfort in knowing her and I can enjoy quality time together, just her and me. But another part of me is having a hard time knowing one phase of our life together is complete. I had no plans to share this today and was planning to wait until she was officially retired in July, but I felt the need to write about it.

As I told Libby’s House and Sharon S Richardson Hospice I have no doubt God meant for me and Frankie to travel the path we have. While my heart feels such a loss, it also is feeling so blessed remembering all the wonderful memories of our therapy dog work. And I’m really grateful I was given this opportunity.

Frankie’s health is good and it truly is just a feeling I have in my heart that now is the right time to have Frankie retire. She deserves it and so much more. As I started to contemplate this decision and was finding more time to blog, as well as work on my new book, I found an acceptance in it all. I want to enjoy our new phase of life together and not get lost in the sorrow of what we’ve let go. With every end is a beginning. I remind myself to be still and listen.

Frankie and I will make one more visit to hospice this month and then one more to Libby’s House in July. Frankie will retire just in time for her 13th birthday in August. We’ve begun our summer by going for more impromptu walks, Frankie soaking up the sun and all the good smells as she rides in style in her pet stroller, bike rides with the wind blowing through her ears, lots of naps for Frankie, and much time snuggling and appreciating all that she means to me…. her papa, and her dog sis, Kylie.

It has been quite the honor and privilege to witness many “golden moments” watching Frankie roll into a room, filling it with sunshine, joy, and love. To witness a feeble hand reach out to pet her, a smile move across a lonely face,  and a memory return that was lost-there simply were no words in those moments, it can only be felt by the heart- and my heart expanded in ways I can never describe adequately in words. To share Frankie with someone who only had days or months yet to live, and give them the love that only a dog can, cracked my heart wide open each and every time. I welcomed that opening as it reminded me what this thing called life is all about. In each of our moments together doing our therapy dog work, I was reminded to not take life too seriously, and to enjoy each glorious moment…

Stay tuned as I’m working on a video of photo’s of Frankie’s therapy dog work and will share that sometime in July.

 

Postively Impacting the Life of a Young Artist

Posted by Barbara Techel

Third graders from Immanuel Lutheran school, Haley, winner of our “Be Creatively You” contest.

One way in which I define success is being able to leave a positive impact on the life of a child. So it was especially rewarding to have partnered with the talented young artist, Cassy Tully for a design contest to encourage the arts in children.  Since the idea was to have children design an outfit for Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog, we also encouraged the children to read about Frankie in her book series, which also then encouraged reading.

Having Cassy, the artist and me, the author come together for this project was one those magical days I will forever cherish and remember.  The super wonderful thing is that Haley, our first place winner, truly wants to be an artist.   Many of her fellow students want to be artists, as well as authors.

Haley and her classmates were treated to a presentation this past Tuesday by Cassy and me, with Cassy talking about how art is made and I talked about how a book is made. The finale was sharing a little bit about Frankie’s story and then having the kids pet her.

The third grade students of Immanuel Lutheran School all went above and beyond in the design of the outfits for Frankie, so in our eyes, they were all winners!