Jan 21, 2019 – We’ll love You forever
Who would have ever thought that such a cranky little dog would leave our hearts feeling so empty? Our beautiful Frankie has left us. We weren’t ready – I guess we never are – but he told us he was. He slipped away peacefully, wrapped in our arms with Rudi’s cheek against his little face, knowing he was loved beyond measure … and letting us know he loved us, too. But for now, we are terribly sad, our hearts ache.
We realize that so many of you were a part of our dear little boy’s journey, and you loved him, too. You made it possible for us to save him. We truly believe he felt your love and that it gave him hope and new life. We are forever grateful.
Nov 4, 2018 – Frankie’s First Gotcha Day
What a difference a little love can make!
It was one year ago today that Dan arrived in Colorado after a flight to Greenville, South Carolina where he picked up tiny Frankie who was incredibly close to death. When Dan first held him, he said, “He’s so pathetic but very sweet, he reached up and gave me a kiss!”
One year later, Mr. Cranky Frankie Long-Legs is surprisingly still with us and he’s really excited to share his video, “Frankie’s First Year” with you!
Our sincerest thanks to everyone who donated, shared and prayed. Because of YOU, Frankie was given a second chance, and we’re tremendously grateful.
Love,
Dan & Rudi
PS: All these photos of Frankie were taken just this morning!
Feb 2, 2018 – Frankie – Day 90
Frankie is an old guy with some serious health issues and he may not have a lot of time left, but no matter what, we will make sure that time is filled with nothing but love and all the best that we can offer him. He has become quite bonded to us, wagging his tail and demanding our attention whenever he sees us, and we realize it would be detrimental to him to place him in a new home – no matter how wonderful and loving it may be.
So, there is one thing we now know for sure … he’s going to spend the rest of his days with us. It’s official … Cranky Frankie Long-Legs is now a Taylor!
It was 90 days ago that we rescued Frankie from the shelter in South Carolina. He was sick and emaciated, skin and bones, and he could barely walk – honestly, we didn’t think he would survive the first couple weeks. But Frankie received top-notch care from Dr. Prause (internal medicine), Dr. Sitzman (dentist), Dr. Lineberger (surgeon), Dr. Heaney (cardiologist), and the wonderful staff at Four Seasons Veterinary Specialists. Our sincerest THANKS to everyone who donated, shared and prayed. Because of YOU, Frankie was given a second chance, and we’re tremendously grateful.
Moving forward, we will do our best to manage Frankie’s medical issues, always making sure his comfort and happiness are the top priority. We love this little fella to pieces and it’s clear he loves us, too!
“Saving one dog will not save the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever.”
Feb 1, 2018 – Frankie – Day 89
Frankie is still underweight but, nearly 3 months after his rescue, we think he looks amazing! Now that Frankie’s mouth has healed, he seems to enjoy his food and he’s even eating from his bowl … this is huge! No more trying a variety of foods, no more hand-feeding, no more waking up during the night to encourage him to eat.
Frankie is thriving and we couldn’t be happier! We are eternally grateful to those of you who donated to his care. THANK YOU!!
Jan 29, 2018 – Frankie – Day 86
This is Frankie’s first road trip with us (and perhaps his first road trip ever). We stopped at a rest area in New Mexico this morning which had a small dog park and our dogs enjoyed running around for a bit in the 60-degree temp! Frankie peed on every tire and didn’t fall over once!
You can see how hunched Frankie’s spine is in this photo – he has 3 deformed vertebrae which caused this. It’s a genetic deformity and likely didn’t create much of a problem for him through most of his life, but now, as an old guy, he takes gabapentin to be comfortable.
And so… the road trip to Arizona continues.
Jan 26, 2018 – Frankie – Day 83
A typical scene at our house. We’re always encouraging Frankie to eat … and he’s getting better at it all the time!
Jan 24, 2018 – Frankie – Day 81
This morning Frankie had an appointment with his dentist, Dr. Sitzman. He was very happy with how Frankie’s mouth has healed up. And Frankie’s pretty happy about it too!
His next appointment today was with his internist, Dr. Prause. An issue that Frankie has had since we first rescued him is gastrointestinal distress and we’re still trying to zero in on the cause. It’s believed that he has chronic inflammatory bowel disease and because of that, we’ve been very careful regarding the food he eats and the medications he takes. Frankie continues to have some internal bleeding and also bouts of bloody diarrhea (2 separate issues). A blood test was taken today to check his thyroid again – to be sure it’s not being overly stimulated. Plus there’s a variety of other smaller issues, as you might expect with a little guy of Frankie’s age.
An immediate concern is that Frankie has had 2 seizures in the last 5 days. We’re keeping a very close eye right now. Hopefully there will be no more, but it’s worrisome.
Aside from all that, Frankie’s happy and content. He’s as demanding as ever, he takes plenty of naps and when he’s not napping, he wants attention – ear scratches mostly. He growls at the girls when they come near him, but if he chooses to go near them – then that’s a whole different story!
Jan 21, 2018 – Frankie – Day 78
“Snowflakes on my tongue, fresh mountain air, a pretty cute hat, and a warm fuzzy blanket … what more could a guy ask for?” -Frankie
Jan 19, 2018 – Frankie – Day 76
We let Frankie choose which shirt he’d like to wear today. It wasn’t an easy decision for him, he has so many, but he settled on … it’s raining love. <3
Jan 17, 2018 – Frankie – Day 74
Nothing like a nap in a belly band on a potty pad in the warmth of the sunshine. Hope your day is just as bright as Frankie’s!
Jan 16, 2018 – Frankie – Day 73
“I feel like I’ve been run through the ringer and spit out the other side. Yup, it was a rough day. I woke up expecting breakfast, but no, I got surgery instead. Dr. Sitzman closed up the hole in the roof of my mouth. I don’t actually recall it, but I can feel it with my tongue. Then my breathing got weird, so Dr. Prause messed with me for a bit, she’s my internist and she has a really sweet voice. Then Dr. Heaney, the cardiologist, thought she outta take a look at my heart, so out came the big machine. I didn’t like it – not one bit. Back in the oxygen cage I went. I kept trying to tell them, I’m just a little stressed being here and the best prescription for me is to go home. They finally listened and that’s what I’m doing right now. Whew, what a day.” -Frankie
Jan 14, 2018 – Frankie – Day 71
Several of Frankie’s belly bands were drying in the sun this morning. Frankie circled them several times before deciding to pee on them … and now they are back in the laundry. What a sense of humor that little guy has!
Jan 12, 2018 – Frankie – Day 69
A funny thing about Frankie is the amount of laundry he produces! Seems like every 4 or 5 days we are washing an entire load of “Frankie stuff”. He pees a lot and because of his deformed spine, it tends to get on his clothing. He gets cold easily so we try to keep a t-shirt on him when he’s indoors and of course a sweater or jacket when he’s outside. And then there are the belly bands and the blankets…. Not complaining at all, it’s a labor of love. Anyway, in this picture he is wearing a little jacket that was completely handmade for him by our friend, Marie. He promises not to pee on it!
Jan 11, 2018 – Frankie – Day 68
It’s going to be a great day!! Frankie is eating his breakfast like a good boy. Next, he gets to go for a walk outside in the sunshine.
Jan 9, 2018 – Frankie – Day 66
This morning Frankie put on his R2-D2 hoodie and got all ready to go to see Dr Sitzman at Four Seasons Veterinary Specialists for his fistula surgery …. but things didn’t go as he planned. You see, last night Frankie developed diarrhea, which wasn’t all that big of a concern, but things got a little worse as the morning progressed and Dr Stizman decided to wait on the surgery, and so Frankie spent the day being treated and observed.
We’re on our way to bring little Frankie home. Poor Frankie. He tries and tries to get healthy, but it seems there’s always something.
Jan 3, 2018 – Frankie – Day 60
It’s hard to believe it’s been 60 days since precious little Frankie came into our lives. He continues to thrive despite some serious health issues, and we are doing all we can to make sure he’s as comfortable and as healthy as possible. On Jan 9th he’ll have surgery to repair a fistula and at the same time a complete blood panel will be done. We’re hoping for good results and maybe an answer or two. He was initially thought to be 12 years old, but it’s really quite evident that he’s at least 14. And a very sweet and handsome 14-year-old at that!
What a demanding little fella he is!! He cries like a puppy if he wants attention. When he’s hungry, he insists we stop whatever we are doing and feed him (even if it’s the middle of the night) and of course, we jump! Frankie thinks carpeting, furniture legs, and pee pads were all created equal – and he’s 100% deaf so we can’t explain the difference to him (though our persistence is starting to pay off – we think). “Cranky Frankie” continues to be his nickname – according to his foster-sisters. It’s true, Frankie has a few issues …. but don’t we all?
We love him to pieces!!
Dec 31, 2017 – Frankie – Day 57
As you can see in this video, Frankie craves attention! He will follow us around, always hoping to be picked up and held.
The past few days Frankie has been eating better, but there are times when he just isn’t interested in food no matter what we offer him. He’s still very underweight, yet he continues to gain strength little by little. The dermatitis is almost gone, and most of Frankie’s hair has grown back and it’s shiny! We’re still dealing with some medical issues and on January 9th Frankie will have surgery to repair an oronasal fistula.
A couple days ago Frankie did something that was very encouraging. Normally he’s been pretty grumpy toward his foster-siblings and he will (defensively) growl if the girls approach him … though he’s totally harmless. But a couple days ago, completely on his own, he climbed into a bed with Olive, Cricket and Riley and napped with them!
Dec 30, 2017 – Frankie – Day 56
We explained to Frankie that there is a winter storm named after him. He just crawled under his blanket … he wasn’t enthused at all.
Current info about Winter Storm “Frankie” can be found here: www.weather.com/winter-storm-frankie
Dec 26, 2017 – Frankie – Day 52
Frankie wants everyone to know that he had a really great Christmas! Over the past few days he spent a lot of time in front of the fire napping on Stella’s bed, but he also got to wear his Christmas jammies, he slept with his Santa toy, he watched the snow from the window, and he eagerly ate most of his meals.
Frankie is doing quite well, though there does seem to be an issue with his kidneys and also, on January 9th he will have surgery on his mouth again to repair a large fistula (opening from the roof of his mouth into his nasal cavity). This was repaired during his last surgery, but he had so much damaged tissue that the sutures didn’t hold.
But despite all that, he seems to be really enjoying life. He’s been wandering around the house a lot, checking things out. He hollers when he wants something, in fact, he keeps us on our toes! He’s still “Cranky Frankie” as far as his foster-sisters are concerned, but that’s okay, they don’t mind, they humor him!
Dec 19, 2017 – Frankie – Day 45
The pathology results came back today from Frankie’s biopsies and GREAT NEWS, no evidence of cancer! He’s starting to eat a little better and should start gaining weight again. Frankie has been on Baytril since his surgery (which was one week ago) and we’re hoping that clears up what appears to be a kidney infection. Actually, we are already seeing improvement. Tomorrow morning Frankie will see his doctors at Four Seasons Veterinary Specialists and his mouth will be checked to be sure everything is healing okay, plus his sutures will be removed from the other 2 surgeries. It will be good to be past all that! Meanwhile … “Cranky Frankie” is doing great!
PS: The nickname Cranky Frankie was given to him by Miss Pickles. Frankie doesn’t prefer her company not one bit!
Dec 18, 2017 – Frankie – Day 44
Frankie’s first outing since his surgery. We’re heading to the cabin for the night!
Dec 17, 2017 – Frankie – Day 43
“Bowls are for sissies.” – Frankie
Five days post surgery, Frankie refuses to eat from his bowl, so … well … we oblige him. At least he’s getting food in his belly.
Dec 15, 2017 – Frankie – Day 41
This morning Frankie decided he’d like to catch a few rays! This was the first time since the surgery that he was “okay” with leaving his bed, mostly because he’s been on heavy pain medications. Getting him to eat has been a struggle and we’re hoping today is the turning point for that too. We received the results from Frankie’s abdominal ultrasound and spinal radiographs (nothing alarming), but we’re still waiting on a couple biopsy results – we’ll share the information soon. All in all …. 6 weeks since his rescue, Frankie is doing great!
Dec 13, 2017 – Frankie – Day 39 (Late morning)
Frankie is now home from the hospital and he was really happy to climb into his bed. He’s been through a lot in the last 24 hours – remaining teeth pulled, bone graft to reinforce jaw, neuter, undescended testicle removed, growth on anus removed (we believe it was a hemorrhoid, but a biopsy is being done), plus he had an abdominal ultrasound and spinal radiographs since he was already under anesthesia (we’ll have results soon) …. but be assured that Frankie is on plenty of pain medication and he’s being kept very comfortable. All the above procedures were absolutely necessary to make sure Frankie has the best quality of life possible.
In this photo, Frankie is laying on his new bed with his favorite toys, on his super soft blanket, with the heating pad underneath – plus the ThunderEase calming diffuser is plugged into the wall …. thanks to those of you who generously donated these, and other items, to help us care for this sweet and deserving little guy.
We are especially grateful to everyone who donated. YOU are the reason Frankie’s future is looking bright!
Dec 13, 2017 – Frankie – Day 39 (morning)
We’re on our way home from the hospital with Frankie!
Dec 13, 2017 – Frankie – Day 39 (early morning)
We’re on our way to pick up Frankie at Four Seasons Veterinary Specialists. He did really well through the night and, from what we understand, he lets everybody who comes near him know that he’s ready to go home!
Dec 12, 2017 – Frankie – Day 38
Please keep Frankie in your thoughts today as he will be having surgery soon. He’s in great hands but it’s always worrisome when an old dog goes under anesthesia.
Today Frankie will lose his remaining few teeth and also have at least one fistula repaired. He will be neutered and an undescended testicle will be removed. During this time they will also take radiographs of his spine and repair what appears to be a hemorrhoid.
Frankie is going to be feeling so much better very soon!
**Later that day: It’s been a long day! Frankie came through surgery just fine and did really well under anesthesia, but he will remain in the hospital through the night to be monitored – just as an extra measure of precaution. Thank you for keeping precious Frankie in your thoughts and prayers. We will provide an update first thing in the morning.
Dec 10, 2017 – Frankie – Day 36
Frankie continues to make steady progress. He’s starting to develop some muscle tone and he (almost) broken into a trot morning! You can see in this photo that his hair is growing in, but he still has dermatitis and gets itchy sometimes. We’re hoping that his thyroid medicine fixes that problem soon. He’s very vocal (even at night), and it’s been suggested that a Thundershirt and diffuser might help. Anyway, all is well and Frankie’s future is looking bright!
Dec 9, 2017 – Frankie – Day 35
Frankie went for a short walk on this sunny morning, but what makes this video particularly special is ….. he is wagging his tail! (it’s obvious in the shadow when he’s walking toward the camera)
Dec 8, 2017 – Frankie – Day 34 (evening)
Frankie still needs lots of nourishment to gain weight and get his strength back, so we are always making dishes of food for him and trying to encourage him to eat. Well, this evening he fell asleep in the dish! Poor Frankie!
Dec 8, 2017 – Frankie – Day 34 (morning)
Our good friend Dianne crocheted Frankie a very special blanket – and if you look closely, you’ll see that it even includes a sunflower!
Dec 7, 2017 – Frankie – Day 33
Frankie recently had a visit with Dr. Sitzman (our dentist at Four Seasons Veterinary Specialists) and we also consulted with internist Dr. Prause and surgeon Dr. Lineberger.
Frankie started another round of antibiotics for an overgrowth of bacteria in his system, and also in preparation for his upcoming dental and neuter surgery. During that visit one of Frankie’s upper canines was gently removed … and a what a huge relief that was for him. Frankie was started on thyroid medicine and we’re hoping to soon see some changes. While Frankie is under anesthesia for his dental, Dr. Lineberger will be performing his neuter surgery. The good news is that Frankie’s undescended testicle is not in his abdomen, but instead it is just under the skin, which will make the surgery less invasive. The surgery is set for December 12th. This will give more time for Frankie to gain strength and well-adjusted to his thyroid medicine.
As he’s gained weight and strength, Frankie is now quite mobile and he likes to explore our house. He’s a grumpy guy with all his foster siblings, but they ignore his growls (and that’s starting to improve a bit too). He’s becoming quite the character!
Dec 3, 2017 – Frankie – Day 29
We would like to personally thank everyone who donated to Frankie by sending items. but unfortunately, we don’t have all your names. So… we decided to share a little information about how the items you donated are being used.
Sweaters, pj’s and t-shirts: Being so sick and underweight, it’s been important to keep Frankie warm. He wears a t-shirt most of the time and some days we go through 2 of them because his spine is arched so much that he sometimes pees on himself. Sweaters are a must for being outside since we live in Colorado! The pj’s are so cute and Frankie mostly wears them after baths.
Bed, heating pad, blankets: Frankie sleeps much of the time in the bed in this picture above. The heating pad is amazing! Since Frankie constantly gets in and out of bed and doesn’t seem to know how to burrow, the pad keeps him warm and comfortable. The gray blanket in this picture is Frankie’s largest and warmest. The smaller blankets we received are used daily and they are super soft.
Toys: They are super cute and really soft, and while Frankie doesn’t actually play with them yet, he snuggles with them. We’ll take pictures soon!
Pens: The collapsible playpen goes with us every time we take Frankie someplace, but he primarily uses it in the Harley’s Dream office. It’s perfect for that purpose. The large stationary pen is set-up in the family room of our home where all our dogs spend a majority of their time. This way Frankie has a safe place to be especially if we’re not home.
Pee pads: The washable pads are used to line Frankie’s pen and they are perfect for that purpose, we wash them regularly but it’s worth it. The disposable pads are used constantly. During the days that Frankie had diarrhea, we went through about 16 a day!
Miscellaneous items: We go through lots of food because we are always trying to encourage Frankie to eat – a fair amount gets wasted because it’s important that we keep it as fresh as possible. The new food and water bowls are perfect! Frankie gets the fish oil daily. Pill Pockets, an absolute necessity since Frankie takes daily meds. When Frankie pees on himself, we use the lavender wipes to clean him up. The scissors are used to trim his nails which need regular attention. The Bach Rescue Remedy is good to keep on hand in case Frankie is stressed. The shampoo has been perfect for Frankie’s itching due to dermatitis.
Dec 2, 2017 – Frankie – Day 28
It was 4 weeks ago today that we brought Frankie home from the shelter. During the first few weeks he progressively improved, but the past 4 days have been a little rough for him. He developed diarrhea (with blood) and he was also not wanting to eat – he just wasn’t feeling well. He’d even lost some weight. But now, after a couple doctor visits, Frankie is on an antibiotic and he is eating well again. More blood test results showed that he is hypothyroid so he was started on thyroid medicine. That should clear up some other issues as well.
So….. despite all that, little Frankie is once again doing well. Tomorrow we’ll give you an update on his appointment with Dr. Sitzman (our canine dentist) – it went quite well. Things are looking up for Frankie and we are so relieved!
Nov 27, 2017 – Frankie – Day 23
It was an unseasonably warm day today (high 70’s) and Frankie was able to go outside without a sweater. He is still really thin, but you can see in this video that he’s been gaining weight and his hair has started growing, filling in the bald patches, and his coat is beginning to shine. He wags his tail now (just a tiny bit) and we hope to capture it on video soon!
Nov 26, 2017 – Frankie – Day 22
Read the blog post: Frankie’s Little Jaunt in the Forest
Nov 25, 2017 – Frankie – Day 21 (evening)
EXCITING NEWS!!! Frankie has gained .88lb (which is nearly a pound, and more than a quarter of his body weight). He has about one more pound to gain but he’s well on his way!
On Tuesday we’ll get the results from Frankie’s blood panel, but preliminarily, things are looking very promising. On Thursday, Frankie will see Dr. Sitzman, our dentist at Four Seasons Veterinary Specialists and if everything checks out okay, surgery will be on Dec 5th.
GO FRANKIE, GO!!
Nov 25, 2017 – Frankie – Day 21
When we rescued Frankie he was so emaciated and extremely frail. Honestly, we didn’t know if he would survive the first week with us, but….. now, 3 weeks later, FRANKIE THRIVES! In this video, he is getting his 3rd bath and as you can hear, he moans and groans the entire time. We’re not sure if he loves it or hates it, but nonetheless, he needs it.
Nov 23, 2017 – Frankie – Day 19
It’s been 2 ½ weeks since we rescued Frankie from the shelter in South Carolina and in the past few days he’s made more progress! He can now lift his leg when he pees (without falling over), he barks when he wants something (we don’t always know what, but we try to accommodate him) and HE GIVES US KISSES!
Pictured here is Frankie with our grandson, Alex. They like each other a lot. Alex lives with us and he’s always very helpful in caring for his “Bud”.
Nov 22, 2017 – Frankie – Day 18
A special thanks to the wonderful ladies at FABB (Fur Angel Blessing Blanketeers) for making this beautiful blanket especially for Frankie. He loves how soft it is and the colors are his favorites!
Nov 20, 2017 – Frankie – Day 16
Frankie loves to be held and he loves to snuggle. Yesterday he had a couple visitors and he enjoyed the attention very much. He’s pictured here with Julia (from Pennsylvania)!
Nov 19, 2017 – Frankie – Day 15
Read the blog post: Frankie Borrowed Harley’s Sweater
Nov 18, 2017 – Frankie – Day 14
Today marks 2 weeks since Dan flew to South Carolina and brought Frankie home, and though this little guy has caused us much worry and concern …. watching him “come alive” has filled our hearts with joy. But honestly, it’s YOUR support and donations that saved Frankie. Without your help, it wouldn’t have been possible.
Once Frankie is strong enough, he will need surgery on his mouth and also he has a retained testicle (cryptorchid) – both will need attended to as soon as possible. And then he will be ready for his forever home.
We know that many of you have suggested that Frankie “already is” in his forever home … there is nothing we would love more than to add this precious little guy to our family permanently, and as difficult as it is, it’s just not possible. It’s important that our program “Harley’s House of Dreams” works … so we can find another little senior dog that needs our help.
Nov 17, 2017 – Frankie – Day 13
For the past three days Frankie has been eating better than ever and his system seems to be adjusting to eating nourishing food on a regular basis. During the first week especially, he had a lot of tummy troubles but that has mostly subsided. Next week Frankie will see Dr. Prause again and we’re excited to see if he’s gained a little weight. Though it might not be apparent in his photos, Frankie has absolutely no fat on his body, and virtually no muscle. It feels very odd to pet him and give scratches (he’s just so boney) …. but of course we do it anyway and he really enjoys the attention! He’s a precious little soul.
Nov 16, 2017 – Frankie – Day 12
Nutritious food, warm blankets, polka dot jammies … as Teddy always says, “Life is Good!”
Nov 15, 2017 – Frankie – Day 11
Today Frankie met our big girl, Stella. He was worried at first but quickly realized that Stella only wanted to say hello .. and she is easy for a little Chihuahua to push around! Frankie has become a little more mobile and he was happy to be outside for a few minutes. He continues to thrive and nothing makes us happier!
BTW, Stella is a 12 year old 110lb Anatolian Shepherd and as gentle as a lamb.
Nov 14, 2017 – Frankie – Day 10
Peace, Love, Rescue a senior dog!
Nov 13, 2017 – Frankie – Day 9
He still has some of his supper on his nose and he’s supposed to be getting ready for bed, but Frankie wanted to show off the new hat he received in the mail today from Bridget and her pack.
Nov 12, 2017 – Frankie – Day 8
Today was Frankie’s best day so far! He’s shown a lot of interest in what’s going on around him. He seemed to enjoy meeting his foster siblings (Cricket, Olive, Miss Pickles, Riley, Stella and Fernando) – previously he was isolated from the pack in case he developed kennel cough.
Sometimes he eats pretty good and sometimes he won’t eat at all, so that’s the biggest challenge right now. He needs nourishment. At this point he has absolutely no fat and virtually no muscle, so he continues to be very weak. But his increased alertness is very promising … and notice how bright-eyed he is in this photo?!!
Nov 11, 2017 – Frankie – Day 7
Frankie found his voice! He is doing well, though he hasn’t started gaining weight yet. We wish he would eat just a little more food each day, but it’s only been a week since he left the shelter. He had a good visit with Dr. Prause (internal medicine) yesterday and we decided to continue on the same course we’ve been on (same food, clavamox and gabapentin) and in 2 weeks we’ll do another blood panel. There are a few concerns, but until Frankie gains some weight and gets more of his strength back, we can’t really address them.
Please continue keeping precious Frankie in your thoughts. He’s such a gentle and trusting little soul.
Nov 10, 2017 (evening) – Frankie – Day 6
Today Frankie had a very nice and encouraging visit with Dr. Prause at Four Seasons Veterinary Specialists. We’ll give you more details about the visit tomorrow when we have a little more time – but just so you know, there was no bad news!
We made this video this evening and as you can see, Frankie is enjoying a little attention (he even “asks” for it). He’s soooo sweet!
Nov 10, 2017 (morning) – Frankie – Day 6
Fernando was kind enough to loan Frankie his “Livin’ the Dream” t-shirt today. We’re off to see Dr. Prause at Four Seasons Veterinary Specialists now…..
Nov 9, 2017 – Frankie – Day 5
Well… as you can see, Frankie has the longest legs ever! We’re just beginning to see glimpses of his cute personality. He continues to thrive and he now will look up and notice when we enter the room (prior, he wouldn’t even turn his head toward us). We’re feeling very encouraged.
Nov 8, 2017 – Frankie – Day 4
This morning Frankie was a little more active. He wandered around the living room a bit and even found a spot in the sunshine, where he eventually took a short nap.
Frankie’s blood results came back somewhat alarming but we are hoping most of that is due to his poor condition. We will be working closely with our internal medicine veterinarian, Dr. Lauren Prause.
This video shows how desperately underweight Frankie is. Currently he weighs about 3.5 lbs but we believe his goal weight should be 5.5 to 6 lbs. The great news is that he is eating well!
Also in the video you’ll notice Frankie sneezing several times. This only happens after he eats and it’s likely because he has at least one fistula (small opening in the roof of his mouth into his nasal cavity). Because of this we have to feed him firm but soft food. Once Frankie is stronger and can undergo anesthesia, dental surgery will clear up several issues for him.
We’ll explain Frankie’s spine and other health issues that are currently affecting him over the next couple days. We realize he looks pretty rough right now, but please be assured that he is not in pain.
He’s really so sweet and also just started asking for attention!
Nov 7, 2017 – Frankie – Day 3
Frankie continues to eat and drink and we’re very encouraged by his alertness. We’re waiting on results from his blood panel, but meanwhile he has an appointment scheduled with Dr. Prause (Internal Medicine) at Four Seasons Veterinary Specialists for this Friday.
Our granddaughter Anna says Frankie is “kissing cute!”
Nov 6, 2017 – Frankie – Day 2
Yesterday Frankie had a medical assessment by Dr. Goldrick at VCA Veterinary Specialists of Northern Colorado. Initially we had planned for Frankie to visit the vet today, but we took him yesterday because he is so weak and lethargic (though that is likely because he is so malnourished). His vitals were good, he has a grade 2 heart murmur, some spinal pain during palpitation, severe dental disease including loose teeth and a few other issues. Some tests are being run including a blood panel. BUT… THE GREAT NEWS IS… Frankie is doing okay!
For the moment we will continue with clavamox for his mouth and nasal discharge, plus gabapentin for his spine. He’s eating, peeing and pooping normally. He’s more and more alert all the time and very happy to be on the road to health. He’s very sweet, and we were even given the okay to bathe him last night – which was great because he needed a bath terribly (it will take several more baths to eliminate the stench of his past).
Frankie is doing wonderfully! Thanks to all of you for caring about this little guy – and thank you so much for the donations. We’re excited for his future which will be filled with nothing but love and kindness.
Nov 5, 2017 Frankie – Day 1 (evening)
Frankie just had, what might have been, his first ever bath! He discussed it with us the entire time. (turn up your volume!)
Nov 5, 2017 – Frankie – Day 1 (morning)
We know these are sad photos, but we want you to see what tiny (3 pound) Frankie’s body looks like at this point. Please be assured that we are doing everything possible to help this precious boy and he is responding with an occasionally lick.
Nov 5, 2017 – Frankie – Day 1 (early morning)
Frankie has a great appetite! We can only feed him small amounts but we’ll be doing that several times a day. He is such a precious little soul and he appears so appreciative of every bit of kindness we give him.
Nov 4, 2017 (late night)
It’s been a long day for little Frankie but he is now safe and sound in our home. I hand-fed him some soft food, he drank a little water and now he is ready to be tucked in for the night. His condition is incredibly poor – he’s so emaciated, absolutely skeletal, he has sores and rub spots all over his body, scabs in his ears, a nasal discharge, severe dental disease. His spine is especially crooked and he has a few other issues. He doesn’t appear to be in pain but we gave him gabapentin anyway, and also clavamox for his mouth. We are grateful toGreenville County Animal Care for releasing Frankie to us – allowing us to give him a chance. We will do everything possible to make sure the rest of his life is filled with nothing but love and kindness.
I type this with tears in my eyes because Frankie is so sweet, yet so sad, and I cannot even imagine the suffering this little one has endured throughout his life.
Dan and I are so very grateful for your caring words and your generous support. – Rudi
Nov 4, 2017 (evening)
Frankie did great on the flight from Greenville to Chicago. United Airlines even upgraded him and Dan to first class! Dan said Frankie was an angel and slept on his lap the entire flight. (This picture was taken just before the plane took off). They arrived late into Chicago and had to run to catch the flight to Denver… fortunately they made it, and Dan said Frankie didn’t seem stressed at all. Right now they are enroute to Denver. Stay tuned for another update late tonight!
Nov 4, 2017 (midday)
Dan arrived at the Greenville, South Carolina airport and was met by (Harley’s Hero) Lisa and her husband with FRANKIE! Dan says, “He’s so pathetic, but very sweet, he reached up and gave me a kiss!” Soon they will board a flight home to Denver via Chicago and we expect them to arrive at 9:30PM.
Nov 2, 2017 – First post
There will soon be a new resident at Harley’s House of Dreams! Early next week, Frankie, a tiny 12-year-old Chihuahua, will be arriving from South Carolina after ending up in a shelter there in terribly poor condition. After an initial veterinary assessment by the shelter, it is determined that he will need immediate attention by our veterinary team. Please, we ask for your support in helping this precious little dog have a second chance at life.
Ever since Harley passed in March 2016, we have dreamed of establishing “Harley’s House of Dreams” to honor him by rescuing one senior dog at a time. Frankie will be the first, and we are excited to have the opportunity to provide him with whatever medical help he requires and shower him with love in the meantime, then find him a wonderful forever home where he will be cherished beyond measure.