Help Helen & Frankie on Their Long Road to Recovery

This is a plea for help for my dear friend Helen and her beloved miniature dachshund, Frankie. Just two weeks after his insurance ran out, Frankie was diagnosed with stage 4 IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) and had to undergo major emergency spinal surgery. The operation was a success—thankfully!—but that was just the beginning of his journey.

Now, Frankie faces months, if not years, of intensive physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and rehabilitation to regain his mobility. As any dachshund owner knows, IVDD is a cruel and all-too-common condition in the breed, affecting the discs in the spine and often leading to paralysis. Recovery is possible, but it requires time, dedication, and, unfortunately, significant financial resources.

Helen has already spent thousands on the surgery alone, and because Frankie’s insurance had expired just before his diagnosis, the costs of his long-term care are entirely out of pocket. To make matters worse, insurers won’t cover him now due to his pre-existing condition.

This is where we need your help. Any donation, big or small, will go directly towards Frankie’s rehabilitation—helping to fund hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, and mobility aids to give him the best possible chance at walking again.

Frankie isn’t just a special dog—he’s also my Minnie’s devoted little boyfriend. He always remembers her on Valentine’s Day, her birthday, and Christmas, and when we go on holiday, he welcomes her into his home, sharing his bed and his toys without hesitation. He has the biggest heart, and now he needs all of ours to help him get back on his paws.

Helen has given Frankie so much love and care, and now she’s facing an overwhelming financial burden. Let’s come together to support them and give Frankie the chance to live a happy, pain-free life.

If you can’t donate, please share this with friends, family, and fellow dog lovers—every bit of support counts!

Thank you so much.