Joyful Paws

Congratulations, Jenny Pavlovic, Author of 8 State Hurricane Kate

I came to know Jenny when we both were up for Merial-Human Animal Bond Award from Dog Writer's Association of America.  We now follow each other via our blogs and Facebook and I am honored to know her.

I am currently reading her heart-warming book (though at times so hard to read because your heart aches for the animals).  But it is an honest look at what these animals had to go through, and Jenny's courage in going to Katrina to help these animals is truly beautiful.  I applaud her and all the others for what they did to help these animals who had no one else.

I'm so happy to annouce her newest press release and the awards she has won!!

8 STATE HURRICANE KATE: THE JOURNEY AND LEGACY OF A KATRINA CATTLE DOG
RECEIVES THREE TOP AWARDS AT BOOK EXPO AMERICA
* INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER BOOK AWARDS "IPPY" GOLD MEDALIST *
* NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARDS FINALIST *
* FOREWORD MAGAZINE BOOK OF THE YEAR BRONZE MEDALIST *

8 State Hurricane Kate is the unforgettable story of the powerful bond
between a cattle dog rescued from a rooftop and the woman who wouldn't give
up on her. The heartwarming story of Kate's post-Katrina journey is a
testament to the will and perseverance of the dog and human spirit. As they
make that courageous journey together, new worlds open up for Jenny and
Kate, an amazing survivor and teacher. Kate's remarkable story, a tale of
love, courage, and compassion, has inspired many others. Her legacy is a
rescue network that continues to help animals across the country today. 50%
of book profits go to the 8 State Kate Fund, providing financial relief for
animals in desperate situations. Learn more and view the video at
www.8StateKate.net.

WAY TO GO, Jenny!  Frankie and I are so proud of you!

Frankie Begins Touring the World Wide Web June 1st!

Please join us in June for our virtual book tour! Throughout the month of June, authors, bloggers, parents, and animal experts will share their book reviews, interviews with Barbara, and other contributions.

There will be a SPECIAL OFFER FOR VISITORS TO THE VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR. Each guest who comments on a post in Barbara and Frankie's tour will be entered in a drawing for some fun, unique gifts that will especially appeal to Frankie fans and other dog lovers. We will give away several items from Frankie's store. These include two Frankie t-shirts and two Frankie tote bags.

We may also have a few more great bloggers joining this tour, so stay tuned for updates!

• Mon, June 1 -- Author, mom, and disability advocate Elizabeth Aquino at a moon worn as if it were a shellpublishes Barb's guest post exploring how to help siblings and friends understand kids who have disabilities.

• Tue, June 2 -- Veterinarian Dr. Kim Bloomer and her mastiff Shadrach posts Shadrach's interview with Frankie at Bark 'n Blog.

• Wed, June 3 -- Ellen publishes her interview with Barbara at To the Max, where she writes about parenting and life, including her beautiful son who has cerebral palsy.
• Thu, June 4 -- Alicia Clarke at Welcome to My Planetposts her book review. Alicia is an author and blogger who explores many things through her writing, including parenting kids who are on the autism spectrum.
• Fri, June 5 -- Book blogger Cheryl Koch posts her review at Cheryl's Book Nook.
  
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• Mon, June 8 -- Writer and dog trainer Charlotte Mielziner posts her interview with Barbara at Children's Dog Books.
• Tue, June 9 -- Dawn Kairns at Maggie, the Dog Who Saved My Lifepublishes Barb's guest post, exploring how Barbara's relationship with Frankie changed her life.
• Wed, June 10 -- Author and book blogger Margay Roberge posts her review and interview at Moonlight, Lace and Mayhem.
• Thu, June 11 -- Margay Roberge posts her review and guest post at Margay Leah Justice
  
  AND Alicia Clarke at Welcome to My Planetshares Barbara's guest post.
• Fri, June 12 -- Paige Visintin posts her review at Nurse Mommy.
  
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• Mon, June 15 -- Kyra Anderson at This Momposts her review. Kyra is a mom and writer who explores the joy and challenges of motherhood and raising an amazing son with Asperger's Syndrome.
• Tue, June 16 -- Yael Cohen posts a presentation at Get IEP Help, where she offers assistance with navigating the special education maze.
• Wed, June 17 -- Nikki Leigh posts an interview with Frankie (the heroine of the story) at Fictional Characters in Depth.
• Thu, June 18 -- Mom and book blogger Julie Peterson posts her review at Booking Mama.
• Fri, June 20 -- Julie Peterson at Booking Mamapublishes a guest post by Barbara.
  
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• Mon, June 22 -- Stephanie Ward publishes her review at Laughing Stars. Stephanie is a homeschooler, bibliophile, and mom of kids with "special needs"
• Tue, June 23 -- Christine Stephan posts her review at Day Sixty-Seven, where she writes about parenting and raising a child on the autism spectrum.
• Wed, June 24 -- Author and book lover Christine Verstraete at Candid Canineposts her review
• Thu, June 25 -- Author Yvonne Perry shares her review with Barbara at Writers in the Sky Podcast and Blog, where she shares a wealth of information about writing, publishing and book promotion.
• Fri, June 26 -- Stephanie Ward publishes Barbara and Frankie's interview with her children at Laughing Stars.
  
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• Mon, June 29 -- Rashmi Srinivas at Mommy Reviewedshares a guest post by Barbara.
• Tue, June 30 -- Barb answers questions on Nikki Leigh's radio program.

 

For More Information and to Order the Book:

Joyful Paws

Frankie the Walk 'n Roll Dog at Amazon.com

Also Check Out http://www.joyfulpaws.typepad.com/

Virtual Blog Tour

Beginning June 1st, Frankie and I will be touring the internet via our Virtual Blog Tour.  I am so excited about this!!  Nikki Leigh, marketing extraordinaire, and her hard working assistant, Stephanie, have some great stops lined up for us. 

Ever since Frankie touched the life of 3-year old Jackson who suffers from a form of cerebral palsy, I wanted to reach out to more families of kids with special needs.  The human-animal bond is so extraordinary, and if Frankie can help a child face their own challenges with a bit more ease, it will make my heart sing!

Our first stop on June 1st will be with Elizabeth Aquino, published author, mom and advocate for her daughter, who has severe disabilities.  I will address how Frankie's book could help kids who have friends or siblings with disabilities- that despite challenges, children (or dogs!) with disabilities just want to do the same things as those who don't.

Hope you can join us on some of our tour stops!  I'll keep you posted.

Floral Therapy

Flowers are therapy for me.  I love to go to the nursery and take my time taking in all the colors of fresh new blossoms.  I also love to then come home and dig in the dirt.  Planting is such great therapy.  Dogs are great therapy for me too... so combining the two really makes my soul sing!  Below is Frankie "helping" me out at our favorite nursery, Millhome Nursery. She loves to ride in the flower cart and everyone knows her there too... gee, I don't know why.  HA!

 

Angels Sometimes Come in Unusual Forms

This story recently posted in the San Fransisco Chronicle proves that angels sometimes don't appear as we think they should.  This is so touching and eloquently written.  Thank you to Vicky, whose own beautiful story of her paralyzed dog is published in Almost Perfect Pets, for bringing this story to my attention.  Enjoy!

 

Little Girl Riding Pony Bridleless, bareback

This video really struck the depths of my soul.  So often I find it hard to adequately express in words how I feel about animals, and the connection I have with them.  This video of a little girl and her pony does it beautifully without words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmvDasFJmfY

Meet Longfellow, a Wheely Sweet Doxie

 

His name is Longfellow. What a perfect name for this one year old fast, flying fella! Have you ever considered a dog with wheels?

Well, this little guy is up for adoption. Sandy, his foster mom is taking care of him for now. But if he does not find a forever home, Sandy will not give up on him and make sure he is taken care of.

Longfellow was sadly mishandled at the age of 12-weeks old. A 5-year old child was allowed to toss him up and down, as if he was a stuffed toy. One such toss into the air ended in a tragic ending when the child did not catch him on the way down. He was taken to the vet with some use of one of his back legs.

 The family was instructed to give him steroids and strict cage rest. Five days later they returned with Longfellow, who now had no use of his legs and told the vet to put him down. The vet asked the family to sign him over to them. This was a good thing in one sense, which saved his life, but did not help the situation with his back legs. He was allowed to scoot all around the clinic, and never given a chance to heal properly.

Almost Home Rescue heard about Longfellow and offered to take him. They had a mylogram done which was about a month later, and it showed no bad discs or compression of the spine. The bad news was he likely had severe bruising and swelling because of not being allowed to heal properly. This caused permanent spinal cord damage and complete paralysis.

He also does not have control of his bowels and bladder. Sandy said, “I tell people as hard as it is to house train dachshunds he’s actually better than the rest. I can take him out to express him and know exactly when and where he will go!” I love her positive attitude.

Longfellow was fitted with an adjustable wheelchair from Pets MRC so as he grows, his wheels will grow with him. He is receiving acupuncture every couple of weeks and walks on a treadmill. He can even take 2 to 3 steps on his own now and then. Sandy said, “He may eventually be a spinal walker.”

If you have ever considered the rewards of a dog with wheels, here is your chance. He lives in Austin, TX and would love a forever home. Contact Almost Home Rescue

Just a note on what spinal walk is: Just like in humans, a dog’s brain sends a signal through our spine to tell the different parts of our body how to move. With spinal cord damage and injuries, the connection cannot get all the way through. But with animals, because they still have use of two other limbs, the back legs will follow out of repetition at times when the front legs move.

Messages from Your Angels

Yes, I do believe in angels.  I can't even tell you how often I have picked this angel!  Numerous times!  Whenever I need a little boost, or a shot of confidence, or just for fun, I like to talk to the angels to see who is watching over me.  As I got ready for my book signing on Saturday, I decided to pick an angel from my deck of Doreen Virtue Oracle Angel cards.

You guessed it.  I picked Angel Yvonne AGAIN!  It brings tears to my eyes every single time.  The card deck comes with a little guidebook and here is the additional message from Yvonne:

Animals respond to your kind and gentle ways.  You have a special understanding of them.  You can relate to the innocence and trusting nature of animals, and you feel a call to help them.  I am one of your guardian angels, and I am here to tell you of the beautiful ripple effect that your relationship with animals has created.  your love for animals has also forged a deep bone and appreciation with you and the nature angels.

All the animals whom you have ever loved continue to be with you like guardian angels.  Your love for them keeps these animals at your side forever.  Your pets in Heaven are happy, spiritually healthy, and playful and affectionate.  Your pets on Earth are surrounded by angels who bestow miracles upon you and them.  In many ways, the animals acts as angels for you and your loved ones.  You are someone who truly appreciates the angelic qualities of animals.  You are able to communicate wordlessly with these wondrous creatures, and your special bond with the animal kingdom is opening new doors for you right now.

Can you see why it brings tears to my eyes every time?  I feel like perhaps I should frame Angel Yvonne with her message and hang it in Myspace.calm. Perhaps I will.  Who are your angels?

 

 

 

 

Banker Rescues Daring Ducklings!

I was cheering, clapping my hands, and crying at the end of this video!  So cute!!

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7618021

A Beautiful Replica of Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog

Yesterday Frankie and I did a book signing at Book World in Fond du Lac, WI.  Tracy, the store manager was so accommodating and wonderful.  A beautiful table with a floral tablecloth was set up with doggie cookies and cookies for humans displayed on the table along with Frankie's book.  We had a nice steady stream of people coming in to meet Frankie.

During a small lull in the action Tracy brought over a gift for Frankie and me.  You see it above in the photo.  She made this replica of Frankie!  It is a beanie baby and his name is Frank.  Tracy then went to the hobby shop a few doors down and found these little tires.  With wire, some fabric, plastic ties and lots of imagination, she came up with this replica of Frankie.  I was so touched and tears sprang to my eyes.

I couldn't help but thinking on the way home how my dream of sharing Frankie's message could not continue to spread if it wasn't for people like Tracy (and all of you) who support us, encourage us, and believe in us.  It means so much to me.  It truly, truly does.  This journey with Frankie has been so remarkable, and it is because of all the genuine and beautiful people we have met along the way.  Thank you Tracy for everything yesterday!!  We hope to be back again when Frankie's second book is out!