Frankie’s book sales to benefit Alzheimer’s Association

Author Barbara Techel, a former Sheboygan Falls resident, and her Walk ‘n Roll dachshund pet Frankie, who has a disability and uses a custom-fitted doggie wheelchair, are making headlines again – this time as a registered therapy-dog team.

Techel and Frankie passed a series of tests in 2008 to earn this special designation. They have been trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, hospices, mental institutions, and schools.

They began regular monthly visits to Libby’s House Communities in Plymouth in fall 2008. Despite the spinal-cord injury Frankie, now 10, contracted in 2006, her exuberant spirit and spunky, yet people-friendly personality endeared her to the residents there.

Techel was moved to tears upon observing the camaraderie between Frankie and the residents, many of whom have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. So, last year she decided to write the second children’s book in her Frankie series, titled “Frankie the Walk ‘n Roll Dog Visits Libby’s House.”

The author is now reaching out to the Alzheimer’s Association through an upcoming event. She and Frankie will appear at Libby’s House East, 2653 Valley Road, Plymouth, from 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 28. Techel will autograph copies of her book, and she will donate 30 percent of the proceeds from book sales that day to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Christine Thill R.N., owner and administrator of Libby’s House, is grateful for Techel’s generosity and compassion.

“All one needs to do is to see the expression in the eyes of those Frankie touches to know she is tangible love,” Thill said. “When the body fails, the spirit soars. Frankie’s visits, along with Barb’s gentle nature, are true blessings to Libby’s House.”

Tracy Cinealis, senior living specialist at Libby’s House, noted, “Frankie’s visits are part of the therapeutic programming that all residents at Libby’s House benefit from. Frankie brightens the residents’ days.

“From the moment she comes in the door, there is this therapeutic bond, with the smiles occurring, and you see the love in the room,” Cinealis added. “The residents communicate with Frankie – some verbally and others – non-verbally. We are honored that Barb wrote a book about her visits to Libby’s House.”

Techel also autographed copies of her book at Book Heads, 216 E. Mill St., Plymouth. Her 49-page, soft-covered book, is on sale there, at amazon.com and through her Web site, www.joyfulpaws.com

Joyful Paw Prints is the name of Techel’s publishing company, located in her Elkhart Lake home. Lightning Source Inc., a company specializing in print-on-demand and self-published books, printed the book.

The non-fiction book’s story, narrated through Frankie’s point of view, informs children about how she contracted her spinal-cord injury and became a therapy dog and shares specifics about some of her visits with Libby’s House residents. The book’s theme emphasizes that no matter what challenges one faces in life, he or she has much to offer.

“We all face challenges in life, but dealing with them is much easier when there is understanding from significant others, even animals,” Techel said. “Frankie uses her disability to bring a message of hope and encouragement.”

Another of Techel’s messages in writing the book was to encourage children to spend more time with their grandparents. In part of her dedication, she wrote, “To grandparents everywhere, who share with us their wisdom, their grace and endearing love.”

“Frankie the Walk ‘n Roll dog Visits Libby’s House” contains professional, computer-generated, color sketches by another Elkhart-Lake resident, Victoria Kay Lieffring, a freelance designer. A Kohler Co. employee, Lieffring renders the designs for the structure and display of the company’s tradeshow booths.

Techel and Frankie began visiting schools after Frankie was fitted for her doggie wheelchair. On a visit to teacher Julie Hauck’s classroom at Longfellow Elementary in Sheboygan, Hauck pointed out that she felt Frankie would make a good therapy dog. An added bonus is that Hauck was a tester for Therapy Dogs Inc. and volunteered to put Barbara and Frankie through the testing procedure.

Some of their tests were completed at the Sheboygan Senior Community in Sheboygan, and they were officially registered as a therapy-dog team in summer 2008.

A couple months later, “A therapeutic programming leader from Libby’s House asked another therapydog team member if she knew of a therapy-dog team who could visit Libby’s House. And that therapy dog member referred me there,” Techel recalled. “I called Libby’s House to inquire, and they were very welcoming.”

Techel pointed out that in visiting residents at Libby’s House she has been deeply rewarded. “These visits opened my heart and eyes to realize that people may not always understand what seniors are going through and that all they want is someone to listen to them and spend time with them,” she said. “I really want to encourage others to visit them.”

Frankie has reaped rewards through visiting residents and elementary-school students as well. Because of her bringing positive awareness to animals with disabilities, she was awarded the Wisconsin Pet Hall of Fame Companion Dog designation and is the official mascot for National Disabled Pets’ Day.

Meanwhile, Techel and Frankie continue to visit nursing homes, schools, hospitals and hospices in the area. Techel’s first book, published in 2008, was “Frankie the Walk ‘n Roll Dog.” She said she has a third book in mind for the Frankie series.

Since 2005, she has contributed articles and columns about animals to Elkhart Lake’s newspaper, Depot Dispatch. She is a member of the Wisconsin Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, Dog Writers’ Association of America and the Wisconsin Regional Writers’ Association.

Note: For further information about the Feb. 28 book signing at Libby’s House, phone Tracy Cinealis at 946-8730. To contact Barbara Techel, phone 377-1749 or send an e-mail to barbtechel@verizon.net.