national walk n roll dog day

Celebrating Dogs in Wheelchairs Because Paralyzed Dogs Deserve a Chance at Life

Posted by Barbara Techel

I put this little video together of some of the paralyzed dogs that The Frankie Wheelchair Fund has been able to to fund wheelchairs for since 2012.

You can see more photos of wheelie dogs the fund has helped on the website I created which is also a special day I founded to honor and celebrate all dogs in wheelchairs, National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day.

I’m very proud of this continued effort to bring positive awareness to dogs who have become paralyzed but now lead a wonderful life because of the help of a wheelchair.

There are so many who have joined this effort either in sharing this special day with others, adopting a paralyzed dog, donating to the fund, or just simply supporting by saying thanks and believing in what this message is all about.

Every single time I see a paralyzed dog learn to walk again in a wheelchair it makes my heart soar! I never ever tire of seeing their enthusiasm for life and how they just get on with living their lives, teaching us what perseverance is all about.

Up next:  Douglas, the 43rd paralyzed dog the Frankie Wheelchair Fund helped and soon Jason, another paralyzed dog helped.

**Eddie’s Wheels is the company I work with in providing these custom made wheelchairs.**

—

Thank you for visiting!

If you like my journal posts, you can subscribe here today.

A Cause Near and Dear to My Heart. Giving the Gift of Mobility to Paralyzed Dogs.

Posted by Barbara Techel
Your purchase will help grant a wheelchair to a paralyzed dog in need.

It’s that special time of year again! My annual fundraiser to raise money for The Frankie Wheelchair Fund which grant wheelchairs to paralyzed dogs in need.

My dachshund, Frankie, who was in a wheelchair for six years, profoundly changed my life for the better over ten years ago. It’s why I founded National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day & The Frankie Wheelchair Fund to not only pay tribute to her, but to honor ALL dogs in wheelchairs around the world.

Frankie

I’m so excited about this years design which was created by artist, Brianna Brunsell of Silly Dog Magnets.  She was so very kind in donating her time and talent.  Mary Shafer won the contest I recently ran coming up with this years slogan “Enjoying a Wheelie Good Life!”

When Frankie was first paralyzed I sometimes heard from others that they felt a dog couldn’t live a quality life in a wheelchair. But I was witness to a little dog with a huge spirit and who didn’t seem to mind having wheels as back legs and went on with life like it was no big deal. She truly inspired me…and so many others.

While dachshunds are most commonly afflicted with a disc disease that can leave them paralyzed, there are other breeds also affected. Whether it’s Degenerative Mylopathy, severe arthritis, missing limbs, or old age, a wheelchair can certainly give a pet the gift of mobility and help them live a longer, quality of life.

I saw a need for funding for paralyzed dogs in rescues, and for families in financial stress and it’s why I started this fund to try and help.

To date, the Frankie Fund has helped 44 paralyzed dogs get a wheelchair who may never have been able to have one.

pickles-c-e-300x242          lucy-3-300x233

National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day was founded in 2012 as a way in which to bring positive awareness that dogs can indeed live a quality life even if in a wheelchair. It is celebrated every September 22.

Every time I have the opportunity to see a dog regain their mobility through learning how to use a wheelchair, it is a beautiful moment. I never tire of it and I’m so grateful we have this option for our dear animal friends.

princess  lady-s-300x207

My goal is to sell 100 t-shirts and/or sweatshirts this year which would enable me to help 4-5 small dogs. But of course, I’d love to exceed this goal as it will only mean more dogs that will benefit.

Thank you for your consideration of supporting this cause that is near and dear to my heart. You can purchase a t-shirt or sweatshirt by visiting the campaign here.

Thank you for visiting!

If you like my journal posts, you can subscribe here today.

It’s a Contest for 2015 National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day!

Posted by Barbara Techel

Contest for National Walk 'N Roll Dog Day 2015!

In August 2012 I founded National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day. As many of you may know, I founded this day in memory of my dachshund, Frankie who was in a wheelchair due to paralysis from disc disease.

Frankie rolled for six years touching the lives of many through visits to schools and many facilities as a therapy dog. Her life is chronicled in two children’s books I wrote about her and my memoir, Through Frankie’s Eyes.

I wanted her legacy to live on after she passed away on June 22, 2012.  And I also wanted a way in which to honor ALL dogs in wheelchairs around the world.

You know why?

Because they deeply inspire me and still do to this day!

The official day of celebration is September 22.  Along with this day and bringing positive awareness to the public that dogs in wheelchair can and DO live quality lives, I have a campaign to raise money for The Frankie Wheelchair Fund.

This fund, in Frankie’s name, has granted 43 wheelchairs to date to paralyzed dogs in need.

Yup! That is worth a Yahoo, don’t you think?

And this year to celebrate, artist Brianna Brunsell of Silly Dog Magnets has generously donated her time and talent in creating a illustration for the special day which will be available for sale as t-shirts coming soon!

And here is where I need your help!

We need a slogan for this year so I’m running a contest and have created a Facebook page just for the contest which you can check out here. This is where you can also leave your idea for a slogan!  And I welcome all ideas!

Winner will receive a t-shirt with their slogan on and the illustration Brianna is working on to celebrate National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day 2015. I will also include a signed copy of my memoir, Through Frankie’s Eyes to the winner.

Funds raised from the sale of t-shirts will benefit the Frankie Wheelchair Fund to help more paralyzed dogs in need. Yup, we need another yahoo!

The average cost of a wheelchair is $385 so as you can see we hope to raise a nice chunk of change to help as many deserving disabled dogs in need as we can.

So head on over to our Facebook page for the contest, give it a “like,” leave your idea, and please help spread the word.

Thank you!

Please note that contest is open to US residents only due to shipping costs.

Contest ends August 1, 2015.

Thank you for visiting!

If you like my journal posts, you can subscribe here today.