Joyful Paws

Walk N Roll Dog is all a Twitter!

Frankie is rockin', rollin' and a twittern'!  You can now follow her updates on Twitter!

Frankie in the Canada Library

Our teacher/friend from Canada sent us this photo of a "Frankie" display she did in the school's library.  The photo's are of Frankie wearing her shirt that Karen and the students sent her.  Ever since I decided to write Frankie's book and now sharing it with the world, I have met some very kind, beautiful people.  Karen is definitely one of those people.  Her support of Frankie and me continually touches me.  

This display with the hearts around it reminded me that almost one year ago I launched Frankie's book into the world (Feb. 24th, 2008).  I never imagined in my wildest dreams all the good things that would happen.  I still remember that day vividly and I remember driving home after the event feeling like I was in this dream.  I'm happy to say the dream continues to expand.  It continually reminds me that following ones heart is truly the only way to really live.  It is my hope that more and more people will follow their hearts... and I think with all the changes we have seen of late, this will become more and more the path others will choose.  Now that will be beautiful!  There is so much good in the world.  We just have to keep our eyes open and flowers will always bloom within our hearts even in the dead of winter.

Frankie makes the Front Page of The Sheboygan Press!

Extra!  Extra!  Read all about it!  And yes, Frankie is being just a wee bit more spoiled today!  If that is even possible!  She is quite spoiled already (and deservedly so!).  Hee Hee!

Thank You Elkhart Lake Elementary and Middle School!

Living in Elkhart Lake for the past 22 years has been wonderful!  Though for many of those years I did not know many people and little by little I started to know more and more.  Between last week and this week Frankie and I visited the school and did a total of six presentations.  We had a ball!!

The staff and the students and especially Mrs. Nevin's the librarian extraordinaire were so good to us.  Frankie and I now feel like a part of the school family.  I left today feeling so good about all the new friends we have made.  I have always loved Elkhart Lake, but now I love it even more.  My community has been so supportive of Frankie and now being at school has made us feel even more a part of wonderful Elkhart Lake.

The teachers just started putting together websites for their classes.  They took pictures of our visit and I want to thank Mrs. Reineking and Mrs. Matthias for posting pictures of our visit (please be patient as the photos take a bit to download).   Thank you again, especially to all the students for their enthusiasm, kindness and compassion for Frankie.  We will never forget our three very special days with all of you!!

Thank You to our Canada Friends!!

Frankie and I were so thrilled to receive a package in the mail on Saturday from our friends in Canada!  You may recall a while back Frankie and I did our first Skype-Webcam session with a school in Canada.  It was sort of a test idea to see if it would work.  It was GREAT FUN!  As a thank you, the teacher, Karen and the students sent Frankie and I Vancouver T-shirts.  We love them!  Canada will be sponsoring the 2010 Olympics and these are some of the T's.  Thank you so much to our Canada friends.  Even though it was below zero when we posed for this photo our hearts were and are still warm from your kindess.

   

Petizens Animal Community

Check it out!  A fun community for animals and their humans.  They found Frankie's blog and contacted us to do a story to help spread our message.  Check it out!  Thank you, Petizens for sharing Frankie's story of hope and inspiration!

Logan, the Sky Angel Cowboy

Thank you once again to my mom for sending me this link to Logan, the Sky Angel Cowboy.  You will most likely need a tissue, so you may want to grab one first before you listen. :)

Life is the Ultimate Adventure

"When in doubt, show up early.  Think less.  Feel more.  Ask once.  Give thanks often.  Expect the best.  Appreciate everything.  Never give up.  Make it fun.  Lead.  Invent.  Regroup.  Wink. Chill.   Smile.  And live as if your success was inevitable, and so it shall be."  ~The Universe

Today Frankie and I did a presentation for our local community school.  This was the first time we presented to 6-8 grades.  I was nervous preparing for the presentation, which I tweaked and added different aspects for the older kids.  I was nervous because sometimes bigger kids can have more challenging attitudes.  But it was also a wonderful opportunity for me to reach out to them with my message of hope and help them apply it to challenges in their young lives.  It was also an early call and our first presentation was at 7:50a.  I checked my email once more before heading out the door.  Awaiting me was the quote I shared with you above.  It could not have been more perfect!... and today was a complete success!  Now I am giving thanks for the new avenue this has opened up for Frankie and I to keep sharing our message.

If you like the quote above you can sign up for FREE to receive your daily message from the Universe.  So many times it is so right on... it never fails to keep me believing in something larger than myself.  You can sign up at TUT.

 

Education is Key

I received a wonderful email (below) from a dachshund parent facing the potential of her doxie being paralyzed. She granted me permission to reprint her email.  As I read the note I held my breath and then cried tears of joy when I read the outcome.  This all hit home for me.  I was also uneducated in disk disease when Frankie went down.  I almost made the fatal mistake of thinking the only option was euthanization.  Writing Frankie's book and sharing her story I hope will educate others about animals with disabilities.  Getting this note made my heart sing.  I talked with Diana on Saturday.  She will now continue the message by sharing Vienna's story with her Sunday school class... and in turn others will be educated... and more and more will know the options... and more animals will be saved.  What a beautiful thing.

"My name is Diana. My husband is Aaron. We have a 5 yr old dachshund named Vienna. We've had her since she was 5 weeks old and has brought us many laughs and smiles.
About 2 weeks ago she suffered a ruptured disc. We were devastated as we know first hand what can happen. We've had it happen to 2 other doxies. Unfortunately we weren't too knowledgeable about the condition and did what the vet recommended, putting them to sleep.
With Vienna, we are trying an aggressive steroid treatment. We can't afford surgery so this was our only option really. We are very dedicated in her care and both me and my husband work together to make it better for her.
We went to the vet this past Saturday and they weren't impressed with her progress at all. I cried that day so much. My husband always said we wouldn't get a cart or do anything else passed the aggressive steroid treatment because it wouldn't be the "same" Vienna. It'd be robbing her of life. And we both agreed to give her 4 more weeks of the treatment and if nothing then we'd euthanize her.
I came across some articles today along with your web page. I cried and cried while sitting at my desk at work! Your Frankie gave me hope and totally renewed my mind. I thought that a cart would be so sad, so devastating for her but the more I read information and see videos, the more I'm convinced that Vienna would still be our vibrant, loud, hyper dog!
I'm pleased to announce that literally just 10 minutes ago I showed your video and website to my husband and it changed his heart. We are no longer going to even THINK of putting Vienna down. Instead we are going to do everything we can such as therapy here at home, to bring her legs back. If it's impossible, then we will use the cart for her.
My heart has been literally broken these last few days and now I can smile again!!
Thank you so much for your story and all the information you have on your website. You just saved my Vienna.
 
 
Sincerely
 
Diana, a previously uneducated doxie owner"

Can a Cat, a Rat and a Dog be Friends?

Guarnteed to make you smile! Check it out!