wheelchairs for pets

Let’s Help Get Disabled Dogs Rolling!

Posted by Barbara Techel

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As I mentioned last week, Blankets in Bloom has extended a very lovely offer to help raise money for The Frankie Wheelchair Fund — the fund I started almost four years ago to help paralyzed dogs who are in need of a wheelchair.

Many paralyzed dogs are incontinent. Catherine of Blankets in Bloom saw a way to help these dogs in need by designing waterproof dog blankets and beds.

Gidget, who has IVDD and incontinent herself, was the first dog to test drive a waterproof blanket. We give it four paws, two perky ears, and an arf! arf! up!

Today through Sunday, March 20th, Blankets in Bloom will donate 20% of the proceeds from waterproof blankets, beds, and covers to The Frankie Wheelchair Fund.

To check out them out please visit Blanket in Bloom’s page on their Etsy site by clicking here or on the photo of Gidget above.

If you know of someone with an incontinent dog, please do share this information with them too!

Thank you so much to Catherine of Blankets in Bloom for reaching out to me and to her big heart for wanting to do something helpful for disabled dogs in need.

Want to see all the dogs helped so far from The Frankie Wheelchair Fund? Check it out here! Cost of custom wheelchairs run from $350-$1,500.

The Frankie Wheelchair Fund is proud and honored to work with Eddie’s Wheels in the design of all custom wheelchairs provided through our fund.

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Yet Another?! Yup! 54th Disabled Dog Gets Wheelchair thru The Frankie Wheelchair Fund. Come Meet Her!

Posted by Barbara Techel
Yet Another?! Yup! 54th Disabled Dog Gets Wheelchair thru The Frankie Wheelchair Fund. Come Meet Her!
Abbey in her new set of wheels!

It’s true!  Abbey is the 54th dog the Frankie Wheelchair Fund had the honor to grant a wheelchair to recently. This is the note I received from Hearts4Doxies who Abbey found her way to for a better life:

Barbara Techel, you are Abbey’s guardian angel and we love you.

Before being rescued, our little girl was forced to live outside for years due to her incontinence, never having an opportunity to leave her homemade cart that was far too small, damaging to her spine, and causing her constant pain and emotional distress.

abbey roe

I don’t know as I’m her guardian angel, but I feel blessed to be part of Abbey’s joyful new journey. So many have helped me and continue to help me with donations which makes this all possible. So many guardian angels out there!

And this note from Abbey’s foster mom, Kristen:

We, as her foster family, are forever grateful to Barbara Techel . Abbey is living the dream and chasing the birds in her awesome new set of wheels. Thank you Hearts4Doxies and Barbara for giving Abbey a new chance in life. If she could talk she would say, ” Thank you!”.

I’d say the look on her face says it all and yes, thank you, it is!  So so thrilled to help you dear, Abbey.  Keep on rolling!

To donate, apply or learn more about the Frankie Wheelchair Fund please visit the website National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day.

Abbey’s wheelchair custom made by Eddie’s Wheels for Pets.

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Optimistically Hopeful Celebration

Posted by Barbara Techel
Optimistically Hopeful Celebration
Gidget learning to use a wheelchair

Since writing a post last week about Gidget having seizures, I’ve heard from so many who understand what it is like to have a dog with epilepsy.

I try to remind myself of all the lessons I’m learning, though challenging at times. And I also want to celebrate in the goodness that comes from this too.

I shared on my Facebook page yesterday that Saturday was 30 days since Gidget had her last seizure. I’m optimistically hopeful we are on the right path with the combination of the Chinese herbs and Potassium Bromide drug that is helping her stay seizure free so far.

I understand this can change at any time — there are no guarantees. Epilepsy is a tricky one to figure out and deal with. But I have hope and that goes a long way.

We did have to adjust Gidget’s meds as she was pretty out of it and it was bothersome to see some of the side effects.

But almost a week later, most of them have for the most part, have gone away. The only challenge right now is the ataxia (weakening of the hind legs). She still can’t walk.

And this is when you count your blessings. And I’m thankful to still have Frankie’s wheelchair from Eddie’s Wheels that I bought in 2006, which became Joie’s for a short time, and is now perfect for Gidget.

In the mornings I buckle her in and she works on navigating from the living room to the kitchen to get to her breakfast. We hear lots of clanks and thumps as she learns to navigate around the furniture and get past walls. But when there is food involved, well, she’d fly in that wheelchair just to get to it!

So she is trying hard and I smile with a grateful heart that she has that perseverance that only a dog can have!  Doxie power!  Full speed ahead!

If it ends up that her being able to walk on her own again does not return, and I’ve heard from others that this can be the case, I’ll take that. I can work with that, and Gidget is showing me that she can too.

And the biggest reminder of all is that each day is precious. To be grateful for all of it and to remember to celebrate the good days.

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