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Three Months Ago Today My Heart Exploded…

Posted by Barbara Techel

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…with love for my new found love dog on wheels. It’s hard to think Joie has only been here for three months. It truly feels like she was always here. Always meant to be here.

Before this I had never rescued a dog.  Cassie, Frankie and Kylie all came from breeders. Before that I had cats which most came from the humane society. Joie is my first rescue dog.  I’m pretty sure this will be the route I choose going forward when the time comes for another new one to love.  Which I hope is many moons away, as this little one sure has my heart full up with joy and sweetness.

Something that has really amazed me with Joie is that she made herself right at home. She seamlessly fit right into our lives. It truly was, and is, quite magical. I feel very fortunate for this, as I know that is always not the case. I know John worried what we might ‘be getting ourselves into’ not having had the opportunity to first meet Joie before committing to taking her into our home.  But as I spoke of when I first saw Joie on Facebook through Oregon Dachshund Rescue, I just knew in my heart she was the one. For me it is another affirmation of trusting ones intuition and following it.

When Frankie passed, I never thought I’d find another dachshund as sweet as she was. There would never be another Frankie. And while there will truly never be another Frankie, Joie is a new light and love in my life that I didn’t think possible. I keep pinching myself at how lucky I am to have found another very sweet doxie.  Though sharing this with a friend of mine she laughed and said, “Of course you found another sweet dachshund Barb, because you are sweet.”

That was very kind of my friend to say and yes, I suppose we do attract into our lives what we are like. But I also believe we attract into our lives what we most need at the time. I’m not quite sure what that is with Joie yet. But I’m up for whatever it is I’m supposed to learn from her. Or maybe it’s just simply to love and enjoy her the best I can. I know I can do that. She certainly makes that easy!joie 1

And maybe I was just supposed to learn what it is like to rescue a dog.  A dog with IVDD and in need of a wheelchair. And I still sit in awe of that as I would have never considered this had I not traveled the path I did with Frankie. Now this is all I ever want. To care for IVDD/wheelchair dachshunds. I’m so thankful Frankie opened my heart wide open to this… and that my heart got to explode once again with this intense, amazing, deep, love.

Meet Jackson: Another Recipient of the Frankie Wheelchair Fund

Posted by Barbara Techel

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Can you believe how cute that face is?  Love it!  Below is a note I received from Jenelle Conley of Lilly Bear’s Rescue about Jackson:

Hi, my name is Jenelle and I run a small rescue in Northeast Indiana called Lilly Bear’s Rescue. We took in a very sweet 3 year old Dachshund named Jackson. He was adopted out to an older woman who loved him so much. After about 4 months in his new home Jackson was chasing a squirrel in his back yard and slipped 3 disk in his back. He was instantly unable to walk. She took him into the vet where they tried steroids because she was unable to afford surgery. The steroids did not help Jackson and she was forced to return him to the rescue. She was just physically unable to take care of him as a handicapped dog.

After taking Jackson back we have been taking him to a Chiropractor and are hopeful he may one day walk again but in the meantime we thought getting him a wheelchair would help him get around better. We began the search for a wheelchair when we found the company Eddies Wheels. They told us about Frankie and offered to build Jackson’s wheelchair for no charge! We are so grateful for your work and just wanted you to know that Frankie was able to help another Dachshund! Thanks again you have changed Jackson’s life! 

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I don’t know about you, but this never gets old hearing from those we could help… and all because of all of you who have donated to the Frankie Wheelchair Fund to make this possible, I say a big thank you once again. Be sure to stop by Lilly Bear’s Rescue and watch the video of Jackson fetching his toy– the little girl’s giggles are priceless!

Please  join me in wishing Jackson the very best as he live’s a full, happy, quality life in his Eddie’s Wheels wheelchair.

If you are interested in helping with our efforts to help dogs in need of wheelchairs (those in rescue or families in financial stress) please visit National Walk ‘N Roll Dog website where we have an on going Chip In set up.  This fund is also a wonderful way in which to honor or memorialize your pet or a pet you may know’or just to make a feel good donation. Feel free to also join us on Facebook where we recently hit over 1,000 followers!

Don’t forget– should your dog or someone’s you know be diagnosed with Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) be sure to visit Dodgerslist for all the educational information you will need to help save your dog (or someone else’s) life.  THERE IS HOPE!

Joyful Paws Looks Back at 2012. A Few Tears. But also Much Joy.

Posted by Barbara Techel

As I look back on 2012 I see how the writing and final preparation steps of my manuscript, Through Frankie’s Eyes led the way to where I am as we get ready to close out 2012… and it was the final gift of my dear, sweet Frankie.

Just the other day my friend Cassy asked when I started working on my book to be released in February 2013.  I really had to think. After looking back at some things, I realized I started the actual writing of it in January 2011. But the idea came to me six years ago. Interestingly enough, I realize now, the story I wanted to write six years ago had to morph into what it has ultimately become– I had many paths I first had to travel. Finishing my book was a huge accomplishment for me this year. It will now carry me into 2013 and a whole new journey.  As I look back I see how everything was all in divine time.

January the manuscript was ready for the crucial eye of a developmental editor… and then the real work began.  As I diligently went back and forth with my manuscript with the editor, little Frankie lay at my feet, guiding me each step of the way.

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February, March and April continued the shaping of my manuscript. I also began giving serious thought to fully retiring Frankie from her therapy dog work and school visits already having semi retired her.

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May my manuscript went to my copyeditor and the process of polishing it even further began. It was really beginning to take shape and I couldn’t believe how far I had come. Frankie continued to be the confident presence I needed to finish this important piece of work for me.

June I officially retired Frankie from her work and one week later she passed into eternal life. It was not anything I could have ever anticipated, nor did I fully understand the impact of her truly knowing she knew I was ready to move on without her guiding me from the physical world– but now in spirit and always in my heart.

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July is honestly somewhat of a blur. But from Frankie’s passing came her legacy and my work with her expanding in a way I am so thankful for.  The outpouring of love for my love dog on wheels was truly remarkable. The Frankie Wheelchair Memorial Fund was established to help small dogs in need of wheelchairs be able to get one.  Whether a family is in financial stress and needs one for a beloved pet, or a dog in rescue was in need, the memorial fund donations collected was $2,700 and began helping dogs in need. Filmore (below) was the first dog we were able to help!

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August things really began to take shape as I realized the profound love of one little dog on wheels and carrying on her legacy with National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day being established and founded as a day to be celebrated every September 22. It was founded in Frankie’s memory, but also in honor of all dogs in wheelchairs around the world.

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September kicked off a fundraiser for The Frankie Wheelchair Fund in conjunction with National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day.  With T-shirt sales marking the first annual celebration over $900 was collected for the wheelchair fund. Oodles of photos for our photo contest poured in also and it was such a joy posting them all to our Facebook page dedicated to this special day. How thrilled I was also for LoveyLoaves Special Needs Animal Sanctuary and Astrid Diaz Coraballo and a local animal hospital in Puerto Rico who also embraced this day with celebrations of their own. September also began the little whispers to my heart that I was ready to love another little love dog on wheels. The push also began to make my book a reality and begin the book cover design and book layout process.

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October we welcomed little Joie into our lives after our dream destination of visiting Vermont was complete. I continue to be so grateful for the help of Oregon Dachshund Rescue with a very special thank you to volunteer, Linda, for flying all day with Joie from the state of Washington to our home state of Wisconsin. Also, not a day goes by that I don’t think about Joie’s mom before me who had the courage to let Joie go.

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November and December continued work on all the design aspects of my book and the beginning of what will now be the real work–birthing it and pushing it out into the world. December 27 I held the actual paperback proof in my hands and yes, shed a few tears of what it all means.  Tears of what was, what is, and what will be mixed with much emotion of some sadness, but much happiness, too.

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Though it has only been one year that has passed, I feel like a whole chapter of my life has closed– and I feel like a whole new chapter is beginning. I embrace 2013 with open arms ready for the journey to begin.

Wishing each of all that you wish for in 2013.  And a huge and grateful heart to each and every one of you for being on my journey with me. There are no words to express my sincerest thanks, but know I am deeply grateful.