special needs pets

Who Me? Poop In School?

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

Who me? Poop in school?

Today Frankie and I visited Jackson school. It was the second time they invited us back. As I was just getting into my presentation, Frankie decides she must poop right then. Well, I suppose when a girl has to go, she just has to go!

I calmy whisked her to the side, grabbed a plastic bag, and let her do “her thing.”  But of course, the kids could not let her poop in silence so there was a chorus of ewwwww’s, gross! and yuck! I found myself snickering as Frankie finished up her business.

Such a great teaching opportunity as I calmly said to the kids, “No big deal. This is a normal bodily function.”

I couldn’t help but think on the way home also about how I handled that all with a sense of calm. I guess after 325 appearances, one learns to just go with the flow. But I recall when I first wrote my children’s book and how I worried about writing about when she pooped in the waiting room of the vet’s office. I didn’t want to include that because I was embarrassed. But I was encouraged to include it, because others said kids would love it.  They were right. Every time I read the part in my book when Frankie pooped there is a scream of delight from the crowd- cracks me up every time.

It also reminds me of how at the beginning of Frankie’s paralysis and my frustration in trying to figure out the timing of when she’d have to go. I about went crazy cleaning up after her. But then one day realized, oh my gosh, it is only poop! There are way worse things in life. No big deal.

So as Frankie pooped in school today I was reminded of how far I’ve come. It makes me smile… and yes, even chuckle. But the best part is, I don’t get upset, but just keep moving forward with a sense of peace and calm. What a great place to be. Thank you my little dog on wheels for teaching me patience and humility.  Good dog, Frankie. Good dog.

By Honoring the Pets in Our Lives, We Honor Ourselves

Posted by Barbara Techel

This song has been especially resonating with me lately. Though originally by Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks, I love the remake done by the Dixie Chicks.

I’ve heard the song many times, but just awhile ago it took on a new meaning for me. This line made my heart skip a beat: “I’ve been afraid of changin’ cause I build my life around you.” I couldn’t get it out of my head since then. I knew I wanted to write about what this means to me, but was not quite ready to face all the changes happening for me lately.

I’m learning to trust my intution even more as well as honor it by following through on it’s guidance. I’m also learning more to trust what I am “hearing” from Frankie. It has not been easy. But as I move through this new experience, I’m finding a new kind of comfort and peace in it all. I’ve realized some things about myself that I couldn’t face the last year, but now that they have come to light and I’ve faced them, I’m ready to keep moving forward.

Another line in the song that touches me is, “Can I handle the seasons of my life?” So often we think we can’t, but when we look back, we realize it was all divine timing, and that indeed, we could handle them.

This week I made another step in what I feel is Frankie’s evolution of change. When I began volunteering with her as a therapy dog team, we visited three facilities a month. This past summer I let the hospital go, as it was just too big for Frankie to get around anymore. Then for the past two weeks I knew I had to readjust her visits down to once a month- the thought wouldn’t let me rest, so I knew it was time.

Do I let Libby’s House or Hospice go? I was so torn. I’ve learned so much about life and have enjoyed our visits to both facilities so much. Both have changed me deeply.

It then occurred to me that I could alternate our months visiting. That felt right. But the biggest thing I realized through all of this as I carefully put an email together to the facilities, was that I still struggle with disappointing people. I prayed they would understand and that they wouldn’t be disappointed. Tears filled my eyes as I hit the send button.  But at the same time I felt this weight lift from my shoulders. I knew I was doing the right thing.

Of course, as you can imagine, both places completely understood my decision.  I was especially touched by the director of hospice as she wrote back and said, “I have admired your relationship with Frankie; your desire to honor her and provide her a graceful retirement increases my admiration.”

Frankie and our work together has been a huge part of helping me heal in many areas of my life… as well as I do believe, she has helped others heal in their own unique ways too. By honoring her moving into a new phase of her life, I’m also honoring myself and what I feel in my heart is the right thing to do.

“If you climb a mountain and you turn around, and if you see my reflection in the snow covered hills…”

Frankie has helped me to climb a mountain in so many ways. As I turn around to look at my reflection I see a new woman who has grown in ways I could have never imagined… and it continues to touch the deepest part of my soul that I learned this all from a little doxie on wheels. God has truly blessed me.

 

One of Frankie’s favorite things to do is burrow into her papa’s sweatshirt sleeve. It is a joy to watch her do this… we wait and wait and wait… till her head pops out the other end.  

And within minutes she is fast asleep.

Divine Gifts. Carrying on Frankie’s Mission.

Posted by Barbara Techel


Frankie enjoying more down time. She likes it!  She likes it!

Today I heard from someone who follows my blog. She shared with me how she admires the work I do with Frankie, as well as how some of my posts have helped her relax more and see the spiritual side of things. Thank you dear follower- oh, how I appreciate your kind thoughtful words.

She also has a doxie in a wheelchair and would like to do the same work as I do with Frankie. She feared I may take this as possibly her being a copycat, so at first she was afraid to reach out to me. With Frankie’s semi-retirement she felt a bit more comfortable in approaching me. I assured her I think it is wonderful that she has admired our mission and is inspired to do so with her pup. It also made me sad that we have to think in terms of someone worrying that others may be upset if we “copy” their idea. While Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog will always be just that and no one can take that from her, what a wonderful opportunity to help share the message she has begun. This wheelie dog and her owner will do things in their own way and thus touch the lives they are meant to touch- just like Frankie and me have done. And how beautiful to know more doxie lives can be saved through more awareness. These are all divine gifts, I think. I consider it a great honor.

While Frankie is officially semi-retired and I continue to share her message on a more limited basis, I still see myself as always doing this line of work. Likely not to the degree I did for the last five years, but to some degree now. And the day Frankie does move on I hope to continue working with children in some fashion educating them about special needs pets and using these pets shining example to help they, themselves to be positive. That may mean another special needs doxie or special needs pet in my future. I don’t know the clear answer to that yet- but I see a vision of it being a part of what I continue to do… along with new things emerging in terms of my helping animals.

But to my dear blog follower who found the courage to reach out and share her thoughts with me about her vision, I thank you. It’s another rippled pepple that will go out into the world to touch the lives of those we have not yet reached or may never reach– which in turn will make a positive difference– and that is what life is all about. Divine gifts indeed.

“The life I desire is a work in progress, and even though I can’t see the entire picture from where I stand at this moment, it is coming together in a perfect way. It’s comforting to me to remember that divine ideas have their own timing. When I can wait, in calm expectation; ready to act, but not forcing it, an idea, a suggestion from a friend, an opportunity, a new way of thinking about a perplexing problem, will come bounding into my life and bring with it the answers that I have been seeking.” ~Mary Muncil, White Feather Farm Blog