HAPPY TAILS OF PETS WE'VE HELPED
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Happy Tails of Pets We've Helped
Thank you to BluePearl in NYC for telling us about Frankie's Friends and helping us and our lovely little dog, Abilene, who required emergency surgery to remove her left eye after she was attacked by another dog. It made all the difference in the world to us. And Abilene is happy and thriving. What a wonderful organization!
Bronwyn & Michael
Dear Frankie's Friends, There really aren't words enough to thank you for giving our baby Gusto a second chance at life. He is being treated by the greatest group of people at BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Tampa. Special thanks to our Oncologist Dr. Kane for his professionalism and to our family clinician Dr. Trakas from Country Chase Veterinary in Tampa who recommended the good people at BluePearl. When we found out that Frankie's Friends could help, we were literally in tears. If it wasn't for your caring outreach and dedication to helping those in need, we would have had to of foregone the chemotherapy that Gusto needed for his lymphoma.
There are not enough words my fiance and I could use to adequately thank you for the assistance you gave us when we found out our 7-year-old cat, Hemingway, was diagnosed with high grade hemangiosarcoma in his rear left leg. Thanks to your support, Hemingway had a successful amputation and is now undergoing chemotherapy with a bright future ahead of him.
Hemingway is such a special part of our family. I adopted him in Saranac Lake, NY when it became clear to me that my dog -- Patrick, who I also adopted after he was rescued from two separate abusive homes -- needed a constant but calm companion.
The shelter was having trouble getting a kitten named Squiggles adopted because he had extra toes and a crooked tail. He and I fell in love right away, I renamed him Hemingway for his extra toes, and he was happily accepted and raised by the dog. As a result, Hemingway is very friendly and brave; he loves when we have visitors as much as he loves a good snuggle on a quiet night at home. He even plays fetch better than Patrick does!
As a teacher who has been forced to work part-time, who is engaged to a self-employed artist and entrepreneur, your support and sponsorship in Hemingway's time of need was very much needed. Without the help from your foundation, I don't think Hemingway would be alive today. We are so very grateful to you and we -- our whole family, human and animal alike -- send you our deepest thanks.
Fondest regards,
Norah
On Dec. 16, 2012, we rushed Lucy, a fawn colored American mastiff (she's quite the looker!), to the Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners in Manhattan with seizures. She has epilepsy that is generally controlled very well with her daily medications. However, this particular evening she had eight seizures in 90 minutes. We got her to BluePearl as soon as possible. Once Lucy was stabilized and the seizures under control, the doctors found that Lucy had a foreign object in her stomach. She had swallowed a glove. Because the glove was blocking her intestines, her medications were not being delivered to her system properly which brought about the cluster of seizures. Now that everything had been figured out and she was ready to have the surgery to remove the glove, came the financial estimate for surgery.
Needless to say it was way beyond our means at the time. We agonized over night and the next morning. Finally we had resigned ourselves to having Lucy euthanized. It was the hardest decision either of us have ever made. Our Lucy, our sweet, sweet Lucy was not going to get the surgery that she so desperately needed and we were completely helpless to do anything about it.
It was the most awful, gut-wrenching, helpless feeling I've ever felt. Completely lost. As we were readying ourselves for the subway ride to BluePearl to visit Lucy and say goodbye, my phone rang. It was Dr. Gibeon, that morning's attending vet, with news that Frankie's Friends by way of Dr. Amanda Owens had granted the funding required to save Lucy. We couldn't believe it! Trying to put the feeling of hearing that into words is impossible. I've tried so many times.
"Thank you" doesn't seem like enough, but it's the simplest and most honest. So, thank you.
THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!
- Robert & Jim
Thank you so much for all that you have done for Ayashe. She is very appreciative of your help, as is her mommy and daddy.
I (Monique) am Native American and being proud of my heritage, wanted her name to mean something special. Ayashe is a Native word meaning little one. Ayashe also happens to be a Cree hero (though it is spelled a little differently).
Ayashe was adopted by us on Mother’s Day 2004 when she six months old. She was a stray who was found on a fire escape. The North Shore Animal League mobile home was parked not to far from our home. We went in and of all the cats there, we fell in love with her immediately. She came into our home that very same day after a visit to Dr. Halpern at Lefferts Animal Hospital in Queens. Well, as soon as she walked through the door, she let the world know that this was now her home. It was like she had always been there. She never really got out of the habit of being up high, as we would find her on the table, on top of the computer, dresser and in the window. We learned that she doesn’t just like looking at birds, but she likes to ‘bark’ at them. The first time she barked at a bird from the window, I could have sworn we had a dog in the house instead of a cat.
She is a very loving cat who takes over the room when she’s in it. She also takes over the bed, but then what pet doesn’t? She’s a happy little girl. We love her very much. Everyday she gives us unconditional love. She is more than a pet. She is family. We are so very fortunate to have her in our lives, and we are equally fortunate to have Frankie’s Friends, and the folks at the Zeus Varis Fund in our lives as well. This is the best Christmas gift we could have ever received.
Again, thanks from Ayashe, Monique, and Daniel!
Sending purrs, thank yous and best wishes for the holidays. Colette's photo should tell you she's doing great! She just passed her one-year Cancer survivor's anniversary. We couldn't have done it without your help. Hugs,
Carol
Hi, My name is Morticia, "Tish" for short. I am now five months old. I was born in Missouri and shipped to a NYC pet store as a young puppy.
One day not long after I had gotten to the pet store a young man came along and saw me there. He fell in love with me and took me home with him. I never really felt very good, even at the pet store. I didn't eat well and then I stopped eating.
I ended up in the intensive care unit at BluePearl Veterinary Partners specialty and emergency pet hospital after being in my new home less than a week. I was a very sick pup and almost died. My stay at the vet hospital was a financial drain on my new owner and his family.
They were thinking they may have to give up the fight and stop treatment when a donation from Frankie's Friends came through to try one more treatment. It was an expensive procedure but due to the donation it was able to be tried.
It worked! I started to get stronger. I was able to return home after more than a week at the hospital to recover. I now feel pretty good. I love to eat and love to go to Central Park to romp and play with all my new dog friends.
Thank you so much, without your donation we may not have been able to continue treatment. It was a turning point for me.
I hope many people continue to donate to Frankie's Friends to help other families and their pets. It certainly helped save my life. I continue to bring such joy to my owner and everyone I meet each day.
From the bottom of our hearts we thank you,
Tish & Tom and family
Dear Frankie's Friends & Trustees of the Dr. Agnes Varis Charitable Trust, My chihuahua, Peaknuckle, a 6 pound bundle of love, was given to me as a gift 10 years ago by two dear friends who had raised him on a sheep farm near Albany, NY (yes, he knew how to herd from the other side of the electric fence). I was on a road trip on my way back home to where I was living in Juneau, Alaska, when I met their little dog. He was my friend Jimmy's favorite, but when Jimmy saw the connection that Peaknukle and I had, he offered him freely. I had never had my own pet before, and Pea had never, ever been off of the farm. A little reluctant and terrified as I drove off of the farm, Jimmy and his partner yelled out to me, “be careful of the eagles in Alaska!”
Well, ten years later, now that we live in New York City, I can't imagine a day without Peaknuckle. He survived Alaska, where he chased a bear up a tree, loved to run behind me in my cross-country ski tracks, and where he was a celebrity. He survived a national tour of our one man, one chihuahua, clown show – touring to SF, Minneapolis, Boulder, and New Orleans. He survived a Clowns Without Borders trip to Chiapas, Mexico, bringing his mischievous spirit and inspiring laughter for indigenous peoples who were rebuilding their villages after earthquakes. Peaknuckle even survived all the petting at my Aunt Nancy's independent living complex where he was a regular performer.
Peaknuckle has meant so much to so many people – most of all me. People tell me that we worry about our pets, “because they are like our children.” Peaknuckle, always snuggled up to me or tucked into my jacket, is like one of my limbs. When he was diagnosed with a nasal carcinoma, I wasn't prepared. His mother Sweet Pea, father Peanut and sister Calliopea had all had long and happy lives. I discovered what it must feel like for the many parents that I see doing “clown rounds” with the Big Apple Circus' Clown Care Unit as a “pediatric clown doctor” for children with life threatening illnesses.
Thank you for your help, both in raising money for cancer research and for the amazing gift from the Zeus Varis Fund. The care he got at BluePearl was unparallelled and the radiation, not without its side effects, seems to have reduced his tumor considerably and he is breathing much better. My heart swells with gratitude at the possibility of more adventures with Peaknuckle.
Graciously yours,
John & Peaknuckle
Dear Frankie's Friends, I wanted to thank you for your assistance as my cat Petrie fights against Lymphoma. Being right out of college, I can truly appreciate this financial assistance. Petrie has not only been my pet, but one of my closest friends for the past 11 years. I found her in the woods when she was a kitten while my mother was fighting cancer as well. Ever since, Petrie has been with me through college and even rode shotgun when I moved down to Florida from New York. I have been in a lot of places where I have been away from friends and family, but I have always had Petrie with me to keep me from being lonely. Frankie's Friends has made it possible for me to ensure Petrie has a chance to fight this.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Nick
To everyone at Frankie’s Friends, There is no way I could let Thanksgiving go by without sending you a letter. Nova simply would not let it stand. I can’t even begin to coherently describe our odyssey; watching my beloved jungle cat, a.k.a. my kitty, Nova, slowly grow thinner than she should’ve been, finding out after two vet visits that she had tumors in her chest and throat and a rather clinical synopsis of what that possibly meant. The whirlwind of getting her to Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners into the gentle hands of Dr. Lachowicz, who was calm, kind and reassuring, but honest about what testing might reveal. The mixed emotions of relief in discovering she had “the most treatable cancer,” lymphoma, and the despair in realizing that my financial situation would never allow me to follow up on the necessary treatment to save Nova’s life.
Miou, a year younger than her sister Nova, had passed away from cancer only this past May, and I wasn’t able to do anything to help her, which is a living nightmare. When Dr. Lachowicz introduced me to Frankie’s Friends and all the amazing work you do, I swear I heard the heavenly choir. Tears of joy clogged my voice while speaking to Sharon and finding that we were indeed eligible, and your generosity brought me to my knees. I never dreamed that such caring, compassionate people existed. Knowing Frankie’s Friends had our back allowed me to concentrate on doing everything I could at home to encourage Nova’s health and comfort and proceed with a clear head as to her treatment and allowed me to be positive for myself and especially for Nova.
Sadly, despite the positive prognosis and treatment, Nova’s little body tired out and she left us on November 7th. I am utterly devastated. It has been one of the greatest comforts to me during this heartbreaking time to know that, thanks to Frankie’s Friends, Nova was able to have the best of care, which is what every parent desperately wishes to provide for their beloved four-legged child. You made it possible for me to do all I could towards her recovery and it is something I shall never forget.
Neither will I forget your incredible kindness during our first conversations about Nova’s diagnosis and your wonderful compassion in sending a lovely condolence card later on. The gratitude of my heart for all you’ve done for us (Nova’s remaining sister, Tara, and I) is deep and unending. Frankie’s Friends were truly the answer to our prayers and my every thought in the future will be in how to help you to give to others the support you gave to me and Nova, the love of my life for nearly seventeen years. God Bless you and everyone behind Frankie’s Friends and may He bless the memory of Frankie the sweet puppy who inspired such great love. You truly are angels.
When I say my Thanksgiving grace, Frankie’s Friends will one of the things I am most thankful for. Have a blessed holiday.
All My Gratitude and Best Wishes Always,
Danita
This is just to say thank you for helping us with our very precious pet. She is just like one of our children and we would have probably lost her if it was not for your help. With all of our love and appreciation,
- Don & Linda
We want to thank Dr. Levy, Dr. Gold, Dr. Wolf and the staff at Frankie's Friends for taking great care of Brownie during his pain. Brownie has been with us for eight years and he is a wonderful Shih Tzu dog. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with kidney stones and required surgery. Thanks to the Kallee Varis Emergency Fund we were fortunate to receive financial assistance. We are happy to see Brownie recovering successfully! Lizzette
Dear Frankie's Friends, Last year, around this time, our family was struggling with an unexpected tragedy. My cat, Orion, had a tumor and had been diagnosed with cancer. He would not have had very long to live without treatment.
Thanks to your support he is alive today, a whole year later, and is doing very well with his chemotherapy. He truly means the world to me. We just wanted to say THANK YOU!
- Alena and Orion
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I want to express my gratitude for the help that I was provided with. My dog Snow survived a car crash because of the help I was given. I was a very depressed guy before she came along into my life. Losing her would have been a devastating blow to me. I really want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving my best friend. - Raylim
I just want to take a moment to say THANK YOU for supporting Cleo and myself in our journey. I can't begin to tell you how much it means to us! Cleo was a rescue pup who came to me via Wag On Inn Rescue in 2007. She and her brothers and sisters had been rescued from a kill-shelter in West Virginia, and brought to New Jersey. When I saw the photo of her on the rescue website, it was literally love at first sight. We have had a happy, peaceful home since then, where she has lived with me and two cats, Sunshine and KC. KC is her best buddy! The recent discovery of a lump on Cleo's hind leg was startling and scary, and was shortly diagnosed as cancer. I could not imagine what life would look like without my baby Cleo, who sleeps right beside me each night and is a constant companion. Thanks to everyone at Frankie's Friends, Cleo and I can still expect to share many happy years together. With deepest Gratitude,
Erica and Cleo
