Frankie’s story starts out just about as happy as a black Labrador could want. He lived with his “Dad” and 2 canine siblings. They enjoyed playing ball in their yard, snuggling up together on the couch to watch TV and just having a good old time. One day, suddenly, everything started to change. One of Frankie’s 2 legged canine siblings passed away. Shortly thereafter, his other canine sibling also died. Then just as suddenly, his human Dad unexpectedly passed away and went to meet his other canine friends at the Rainbow Bridge . Frankie was with his human Dad when he passed, and he remained beside him until he was found. Frankie, at age 11, was now homeless.
Frankie luckily was transferred to the care of Placing Paws, and Placing Paws went to work to find him a new “forever home”. Many people graciously fostered Frankie for a short time, but none for a permanent forever home. It wasn’t anything he did wrong: He just needed to find a permanent place to call home. Unless someone told his sad story, no one would ever know Frankie had through so much. He loved everyone who gave him attention and all he wanted was to be loved back. He had perfect house manners, loved adults, kids and other dogs. All Frankie asked for was some good food and lots of love and he promised to return all the love given and more. We at Placing Paws all knew that if someone would give Frankie a forever home until it was his time to cross the Rainbow Bridge , he would be forever grateful.
Frankie was fostered in the home of Placing Paws volunteers Jim and Linda. Shortly after his placement, Frankie had a grapefruit sized lump removed from his side that unfortunately was determined to be cancer. Placing Paws kept a close eye on Frankie and Care Animal Hospital monitored him very closely with regular check ups and X-rays when needed. However, due to his uncertain health and future, Placing Paws made the decision to “adopt” Frankie as a sanctuary dog. Jim and Linda had fallen in love with Frankie, and he had become a part of their family, so they agreed to permanently love and care for Frankie until he passed to the Rainbow Bridge .
Frankie spent a year living with Jim and Linda and their dog Kara. Frankie greeted everyone with a wag and a WOOF and quickly learned to snuggle into a dog bed bought just for him. Frankie chased June bugs in the spring and basked and snoozed in the summer sun near their atrium door. He greeted Trick or Treaters at Halloween, welcomed Jim and Linda’s whole family at Thanksgiving and had a special ornament made just for him on their Christmas tree. During the winter months, Frankie enjoyed nibbling on snow like it was his personal treat. Frankie was adored, loved and cared for and he kept his word and returned this love a hundred fold and more. Frankie taught many about the power of love and of second chances. At last, Frankie had found what he was looking for – his final “forever home”.
A year later, with Jim and Linda beside him, Frankie went peacefully to the Rainbow Bridge . Although Frankie’s passing was sad, and he was grieved by many, we all take comfort that in the end he found what he was looking for – a long and amazing life and a “forever home”.