Frannie was a rescue Greyhound and off the track only 3 days before we got her.  What a joy she was with such a gentle, sweet spirit!  She had raced for 4 ½ years (she was a winner!) but when we got her she was extremely thin with raw spots on her hind quarters due to being in a cage so much of the time.  Slowly, our girl started to gain weight and eventually the rawness went away.  She settled into her new life with my husband and I and was a gentle giant to each of our grandchildren as they came into our world.  She loved to run figure eights in the front yard and romp in the snow when winter came.  Then, her energy spurt sated, she would cozy into her pillow and sleep for hours!  She particularly enjoyed standing on the bow of the boat as we went through the islands of Shadow Mountain Lake.  Those geese swimming in the channels were so exciting for her!

My husband and I met in our later years – 50s to be exact!  He had never had a pet so this was quite a new experience for him.  However, she was immediately ‘his’ dog.  Having spent so much time with male trainers she took to him from the start!  She quickly learned if she nuzzled him enough he was ‘hers’ and he would cuddle and pet her for the rest of the evening.  He went from novice pet owner to experienced dog lover over night!

Frannie was there for us as I recuperated from a serious car accident…she seemed to know when to come over and share her comfort without being asked.  And when I was diagnosed with cancer, she patiently let me cry into her neck for as long as I needed.  It has been only fair that I care for her as she took her journey through her own cancer.  The decision to put our beloved Frannie to sleep was wrenching.  But being able to do this in our home, on her own pillow, was such a blessing!  We are so grateful to have found Caring Pathways!

We now begin a different time without her.  We will never forget her big, doe-like eyes looking at us with such love and trust.  She completed our world and will be forever missed.

Rest well and run with the wind, Frannie!

Skip and Sam