Frankie's Friends Featured on CBS 5 in Nashville

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by Shannon Royster

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Melanie Fauchet wants every child to have a fighting chance, so she's opened up her home.

"I have 15 children. Ten of them are adopted majority handicapped from a variety of countries," said Fauchet.

She and her husband are drowning in medical bills. "I mean we have doctor's appointments at least every week," said Fauchet.

But that didn't stop the Fauchet family from spreading their love even further.

"When we heard about Nova needing a home we just decided that would be a nice thing," said Fauchet. "He's a very friendly and nice dog."

What they didn't know is Nova too would soon need medical care.

"He chased a squirrel over a ledge and the squirrel went over and landed fine, but Nova jumped over and didn't land fine," said Fauchet.

The 2-year-old German Sheppard mix broke his leg, and it would cost $3,300 to fix it. Fortunately, financial help she didn't know existed was on the way.

"Once you apply to care credit and your care credit is denied, then we can move into the application process with Frankie's Friends." said Carla Ciuffo of Frankie's Friends.

It's a national non-profit group new to Tennessee that provides grants to qualifying pet owners.

"We can only help people if people help us," said Ciuffo. They rely on public donations to the group's Hope Fund.

Once approved for the grant, the hospital and attending vet also make a contribution.

In this case, all of Fauchet's bill will be taken care of except 500 dollars, something she said she can handle for Nova.

Frankie's Friends does not fund primary care like ear infections, teeth cleaning, vaccinations and preventative care.

Nova is expected to make a full recovery after surgery next week.

If you need help for your pet or if you would like to make a donation click here.

Email: sroyster@newschannel5.com Facebook: Facebook.com/NC5ShannonRoyster Twitter: Twitter.com/NC5_SRoyster

Thanks for more time with Winston

Although Winston lost the battle with his lymphoma, the treatments helped for a while and gave us more time with him before we lost the battle. For that time we had, we will always be grateful for Frankie's Friends' assistance. We weren't aware that there was such a wonderful organization and we plan to tell everyone about Frankie's Friends and encourage support for it.

To all the donors to Frankie's Friends: thank you with all our hearts for helping us with funding to fight our Winston's lymphoma. Your kindness will never be forgotten!

- Larry and Connie

Hangin’ 10 for Frankie’s Friends Raises $56,000 for Tampa Bay’s Pets

TAMPA, Fla. – Frankie’s Friends charitable pet foundation’s fundraiser, Hangin’ 10 for Frankie’s Friends raised in net of more than $56,000 to help Tampa Bay area pets Nov. 3. The money raised from the event will be used to help fund emergency and specialty life-saving treatment for pets whose families cannot afford it. In addition to the money raised at the event, BluePearl Veterinary Partners will match 25% of the amount raised at the event for deserving pets in services provided at their hospitals.

Candy and Eddie DeBartolo and the DeBartolo Family Foundation were the presenting sponsors of the event. Hangin' 10 for Frankie’s Friends was filled with the sights and sounds of beach life including live 1960s beach music performed by Cactus Jack and the Cadillacs.

Silent and live auctions were held, which included the auction of a 2012 Harley Davidson Sportster, two red-carpet trips to the American Music Awards, a flight in a fighter jet, 20 box seats for a Lightning game, a Jason Hullfish wall mural, and two tickets to the Super Bowl.

“We’re so thankful for the members of the community that came out to support Frankie’s Friends this year,” said 2012 event chair Lisa DeBartolo. “We were able to exceed our expectations for a second year in a row and guarantee more financial assistance to provide life-saving specialty and emergency care to pets whose families could not afford it otherwise.”

There were 230 guests in attendance at the event.

If you’d like to help save the life of a pet whose family cannot afford the cost of medical care visit www.frankiesfriends.com or call 888.465.PETS.

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Fundraiser to help Tampa Bay’s pets

Fundraiser to help Tampa Bay’s pets

TAMPA, Fla. – Frankie’s Friends charitable pet foundation is scheduled to hold a fundraiser here Saturday, Nov. 3, from 6-10 p.m. at T. Pepin Hospitality Centre on North 50^th Street in Tampa.

This year, the event is called Hangin’ 10 for Frankie’s Friends. The money raised from the event will be used to help fund emergency and specialty life-saving treatment for pets whose families cannot afford it.

Presenting sponsors of the event are Candy and Eddie DeBartolo and the DeBartolo Family Foundation. Hangin' 10 for Frankie’s Friends will be filled with the sights and sounds of beach life including live 1960s beach music performed by Cactus Jack and the Cadillacs.

Silent and live auctions will be held, which will include a 2012 Harley Davidson Sportster, a red-carpet trip to the American Music Awards, a flight in a fighter jet, 20 box seats for a Lightning game, a Jason Hullfish wall mural, and two tickets to the Super Bowl along with many more items.

“In 2011, our first fundraiser for Frankie’s Friends raised more than $50,000,” said 2012 Honorary Event Chair Lisa DeBartolo. “This year we hope to raise even more money to continue to help pets and families who are in need.”

Two-hundred-fifty guests are expected to attend.

For more information, see the Frankie’s Friends website at frankiesfriends.com or call the event hotline at 888.552.5066.