Frankie

#13-065 Frankie, age 5

Weight: 65 pounds

Available: Sept 1

Heartworm  Positive

Updated: 8/5/13

Updated pictures of Frankie.

“Oh my! We know he’s a Golden, but right now he looks more like Cousin It from ’The Addams Family’ – or a sheepdog, or a chia pet… we wonder if he has EVER been brushed. We’ve never seen such a matted little dog.” The shelter warned us that Frankie needed grooming in the worst way, and they weren’t kidding. But they also said he was a sweetheart, and they weren’t kidding about that, either. “He’s a little small,” said intake volunteer John, “but what he lacks in size he makes up for with the display of an abundance of love. He liked to be hugged and he took the treats I offered ever so gently. He happily posed for his photo session. He is so ready for a clean-up – we can’t wait to bring him in.”

When Frankie headed to the vet next day, you can bet “bathe and groom” was at the top of the list. The staff took a few good looks at his mats and rock-hard “dreadlocks” and told us: “There’s nothing for it but to shave him from stem to stern.” Exit the tangles and dirt and ping-pong-ball-size snarls, and enter a clean and fragrant fellow with an engaging smile (his teeth are surprisingly good) and a cheerful face lightly frosted with white. As they clipped and combed and shaved, the  techs made another discovery. “Hmm, wonder if he used to be real fat? He’s got loose skin on his chest and bottom, as if he’s shed a lot of poundage.”

Unfortunately, Frankie tested positive for heartworms—but his outlook is also positive! We have no doubt that he’ll sail right through. (He’ll take a month of the antibiotic doxycycline to start, so his heartworm treatments won’t start until late July.) 

Frankie’s foster mom reports that he is doing VERY well. He’s completely housetrained (always a pleasant surprise) and gets along just fine with his foster sister Heidi; they even enjoy mealtime side by side in the kitchen. Frankie really likes brushing – it must feel great to have his skin massaged after so many months of toting around all those tight, uncomfortable mats.  We’ve learned he is a great car rider, but we don’t know about swimming yet – though we will soon, as a new plastic kiddie pool has just arrived in his yard. “He wasn’t interested in it right off the bat, but he was also waiting for his dinner & had much more important things on his mind! We’ll see what happens over the next couple of days.”

Like many a Golden, Frankie can be stubborn and hard-headed. Foster mom is working on that. “He didn’t know any commands when he showed up, but he’s already mastered SIT. He is not entirely clear on the word NO, but he does respond to my ‘don’t do that’ noise – he’s seen Heidi react and is following her lead.”

As foster dogs often do, Frankie started out as quiet as a mouse, but has now shown that he does have a voice – he barks at deer wandering beyond the backyard fence. But he’s selective! He doesn’t bark at the people on the hike & bike trail or at other dogs walking by.

After the tough time he’s had, Frankie is loving his new life. How wonderful to have a cool, safe, loving home, with somebody else to take care of all his needs! In fact, he spent the first week or so mostly snoozing & recovering some energy. We were really happy to see that he even slept on his back, with tummy exposed and paws in the air—now THAT’S a relaxed and trusting dog who really feels secure! Now he’s perking up a bit, and even has begun to carry a toy around at times. Foster mom says he is “VERY friendly. Friendly with a capital F. He likes to follow you around & keep you company.  But he’s still leading a quiet life. He’s a real lover and he’s sure to get adopted in a flash just as soon as he finishes his treatments. I can see him living with a retired couple—a calm household and plenty of attention would suit him just perfectly.”