paralyzed dogs

Joie, My Late Dachshund with IVDD, Forever Beautiful in Stained Glass

Posted by Barbara Techel

joie stained glassI received many lovely gifts for my birthday, but truly, none more touching than this stained glass of my Joie given to me by my mama. She commissioned an artist friend to do this for me.

It will be one year August 22 since Joie moved into spirit world. You may recall that I adopted her from Oregon Dachshund Rescue knowing she had IVDD and needed a wheelchair. John worked his magic and took Frankie’s wheelchair and adjusted it to fit Joie.

Joie was only with us for ten short months. But she left many gifts behind. Her biggest lessons to me were to pause, sit in stillness, and to understand that I no longer needed to prove my worthiness. I can rest securely in who I am.

As I did a bit of research for this post, I went to the Facebook page for the movie Joie took part in last August, The Surface Movie. I was wondering if there was any notice of a date of when the movie will be out in our area.

As I scrolled down the page I saw a post noting the movie is now complete. The post was on July 14th. Four days before my birthday and three days after my mom gifted me with this special gift.

Tears immediately sprang to my eyes. Joie’s spirit is strong and well. My heart smiles.

It will be bittersweet to see her in the movie (I’ll keep you posted once it is out in theater’s- projected to come out later this year). But I’m ready to see her sweet face roll across the big screen in her wheelchair. It is going to be a proud, proud moment.

The stained glass piece of her is a shining, loving reminder of how lucky I was to have her in my life, even if for just a short time. She blessed me in ways I would have not otherwise been blessed.

Meet Pickles: #26 Paralyzed Dog Helped with Wheelchair thru The Frankie Wheelchair Fund

Posted by Barbara Techel

pickles cReady to share in another happy dance with me?  Meet Pickles who is the 26th dog The Frankie Wheelchair Fund has helped gain mobility!

Pickles had a very tough thing happen to him. But little did he know angel number one was waiting in the wings and angel number two would come along soon.

You see, Pickles was thrown from a moving car. Being thrown from the car paralyzed Pickles. Angel number one saw this happen and immediately pulled over to help Pickles. She also just happened to be an animal advocate who has spent her entire life helping animals in need.

Unfortunately angel number one, though her heart of pure gold for helping so many animals throughout her adult life, didn’t have the finances to help Pickles. This is where angel number two swiftly moved in after hearing about Pickles. Meet Inga who has run Canine Crusaders rescue for 17 years.

inga and pickles eShe saw that angel number one was doing her best to care for Pickles. Expressing his bladder and helping him live a pretty good life despite not having a wheelchair to get around. She just knew she had to help them both have a better life!

This is when she contacted Eddie’s Wheels who sent her my way to see if The Frankie Wheelchair Fund could pay for Pickles wheels.

Well, as you can see by Pickles very happy, smiling face, the rest is history! He is having so much fun in his new wheels Inga has told me, even sharing a video of how he started zooming around almost the moment he was put in the wheelchair. Note: I’m not sure how to share the video on here since it was sent as a .mov file.  Sorry.

Pickles continues to live with Angel number one and is living life to the fullest. This angel mission now complete!

If you’d like to make a donation and/or become an ambassador helping us help dogs in need of a wheelchair, please click on the heart below. Or if you’d like to apply for the fund, please click here.

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Bialy, Special Needs Ambassador Dog Passes Away. Leaves Legacy with Special Foundation in her Name.

Posted by Barbara Techel

BialyEvery week on my Facebook page for National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day I feature a special needs wheelie dog as the cover model for the week. I’ve got photos lined up for quite a few weeks out. It warms my heart each week as I look to see who will be featured next, always bringing a smile to my face.

But today, as I prepared to share the next special dog in the line up as our cover model, I discovered going to Bialy’s page that she had recently passed away on June 19th. Erin, Bialy’s mom, still wanted me to share Bialy. I was very happy to do so, adding that I’d also share Bialy with you, my readers of my blog.

Like Frankie, Bialy’s legacy is living on in a foundation Erin has started in her memory. The Bialy Wellness Foundation will help other special needs animals with supplies, therapy and resources to help them live the best quality of life they can. I think this is pretty darn special.

From Bialy’s foundation page:

Bialy was found as a stray just before Christmas 2012. She was about 2 months old, had been severely abused with a wound on her neck and a fracture in T11 vertebrae. Bialy’s back legs were completely rigid and would not bend. Secondhand Snoots Rescue took her in to their adoption program, the Lucida Puppy Fund sponsored her veterinary care and Erin Kowalski, a canine massage therapist fostered her. The first vet she saw said she would never walk again because Bialy had little to no voluntary reflex. After seeking out consultation with a neurologist Bialy was put in a splint as her back healed. During that time Erin began performing up to 3 hours of massage daily on Bialy.  Read the rest here as well as see Bialy’s inspiring video.

Though her life cut short, the love and care she received is truly beautiful. To also have this legacy of helping other special needs dogs is so inspiring. It is my hope, that in time, Erin’s heart will heal as she carries on this special mission of helping more dogs because of her love for Bialy. All my best to Erin and those that loved Bialy so very dearly.