The Frankie Wheelchair Fund

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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Meet Annie: #25 Dog Helped with a Dog Wheelchair through The Frankie Wheelchair Fund

Posted by Barbara Techel

annie eAnnie resides happily at Hotdog Hill Sanctuary in Virginia.  Kim, who runs the sanctuary shared with me that Annie’s previous owner surrendered her to a rescue and the rescue was going to leave her at the pound – which likely meant she would have been euthanized. Kim took in her last year.

Annie came with a wheelchair, but unfortunately it was for the size of a Corgi. After reading a post of Kim’s saying that Annie kept falling out of her wheelchair, I reached out and offered to help with the funds for an Eddie’s Wheels wheelchair so it could be fit exactly to the measurements of Annie.

It wasn’t until today as I prepared to write this post and asked Kim the age of Annie(which she is between 5 and 6 she thinks), that I found out Annie does not have IVDD. Her injuries were caused by human’s hurting her. Kim has to be careful to not approach Annie too quickly to pick her up as it frightens her. She also requires extra gentle care because of her previous life experiences that weren’t good. It made me all the more happy that providing a wheelchair for Annie will help her lead an even better life. And I’m happy that Kim shared that Annie now plays with her which means she is healing and learning to trust again.

Kim said, “You know, it’s funny. Every time I put Annie in her cart, she runs to her bed.” You can see her in a short video here doing just that. It made me chuckle and reminded me of how Frankie and Joie always did this, too. Those doxie’s and their beds!

I sometimes feel odd saying what “number” it is that The Frankie Wheelchair Fund has helped, with Annie being dog #25, because they are so not numbers in my heart, but beautiful, sweet souls. But I’m so honored and proud that I have been able to help this many dogs so far. It’s just one of those things in life that happen that you never see coming. So each time I get the opportunity to help another dog live a better life, it fills me up in ways I can’t find in right words to express.

I continue to be so grateful for those that have contributed to the fund so that I’m able to carry on Frankie’s legacy. If you would like to learn more about the fund please visit the website at National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day.

Two Years & 26 Dogs Later.

Posted by Barbara Techel

frankie fund bannerToday, the summer solstice, two years ago, is when Frankie made her transition into eternity.

Today I pay tribute to Frankie who changed my life in ways I never saw coming. I’m a better human being because of her. I carry her in my heart always. I no longer shed tears of sadness for the loss, but treasure the oodles of beautiful memories that light up my heart every time I think of her. To carry on her legacy through The Frankie Wheelchair Fund and National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day are two of my greatest honors. I carry on your motto with pride: Always be positive, make a difference, and keep on rolling!

Guess what Frankie? Gidget and I are heading out on a special mission this morning.  I can’t help but think your spirit led us to do this. We will be doing a home inspection in a nearby city for an older couple wishing to adopt a chihuahua from a neighboring state. I have a feeling you’ve got a paw in helping this little one find her new home. We have accepted the mission and hope that this little new one has a new forever home soon. I have a feeling you already know the outcome.  Forever and always, I will love you my Frankie girl.