Frankie’s Story

Frankie’s Story – Not for the Faint of Heart

Frankie came to us after being brutally attacked with a machete. His tiny body was torn apart by three deep slices. Someone carried him to our front doors, and from that moment, the fight for his life began.

Despite the pain, despite the trauma, this little puppy had so much love inside him. For three long months, Frankie endured multiple surgeries, battled infection after infection, and clung to life even when he was weak. It took round-the-clock care from volunteers, local veterinarians, and myself. This was not a one-person effort —this was a community of people refusing to give up on him.

Like Cypress, Nala, Dhurva, Ms. Ginny, Mommie, Coco, Raisin, and every other dog that came through our foundation, Frankie’s journey was unique. Each dog’s needs were different, but all of them required the same three things: food, love, and shelter.

Frankie’s healing was not only physical but deeply emotional. One volunteer in particular, Sophia, became his person. I always ask each volunteer to “find their dog”—to pour themselves fully into one soul. For Frankie, that was Sophia. She was by his side through it all. And Frankie was never alone. My entire pack surrounded him throughout his rehabilitation. When he couldn’t walk, they laid beside him. When he was too weak to play, they stayed close, watching over him. And when he was finally ready, Frankie joined the pack on walks, hikes, beach days, and climbing adventures — doing everything side by side, as family.

Like every dog that passes through our care, Frankie grew up immersed in love, discipline, and community. He even learned three languages—English, Spanish, and French—because Sophia spoke French to him.

This is why we say: our dogs become the best family dogs. Frankie is living proof of what food, love, shelter, and a community of caring people can do.