Frankie's Fighting Chance
Donation protected
** LONG EMOTIONAL STORY INCOMING! PLEASE READ TO THE END**
There she was, scared, skittish, looking up at me with those perfect big hazel eyes. It was February 14th, 2017 at the East Valley Animal Shelter. I had seen 8 dogs before her, all pits, all 5 years and older. She was the only female. She came into the enclosure, paced a few circles then bam, sat directly next to me. I didn’t grow up with dogs, but I knew a deep connection when I felt it. Her name was Rosie, but she looked just like a Frankie to me. It was that day I knew she was mine. She had a crazy skin infection on her belly, so swollen and oozed they couldn’t even tell if she was spayed. I wanted all of her, the skin issues, the timid vibes, she looked at me, and I could tell she felt the connection too. On the drive home, she was panicking in the front seat, as time went by she slowly relaxed. Finally, at the light before my place, she took a big sigh, she looked at me, licked my hand, and it seemed as if she realized she was finally safe.

The dog that blossomed in my care over the next year and some change is one of resilience and love. I never knew a love like this, a bond like this. It is as if her life before me didn’t exist. She overcame fear, got close to myself and others, and gave men a second chance. She grew to love playing fetch, toys that were hers and hers alone, many blankets to nest in, and extra large beds to dream upon. She knows me just by looking at me, her ability to see other’s needs, go in for comfort, remain calm, and just be her beautiful quiet self. She is love, she is my best friend.

She visited my grandma in the assisted living facility, smashing stereotypes and she rubbed up against the elderly, kissing my young cousins faces at Christmas, and absolutely crushing it in the dog-friendly department at our local dog park. She truly is a great advocate for Pitbulls all around.

Fast forward to September 19th, 2018. Her skin had been improving significantly over time, on meds, off meds, continued medicated baths, she had turned a corner vastly regarding her health. I discovered a lump near her throat while petting her. Freaked out I turned to google. Freaked out even further I got off google. I made the next available appointment with our lovely vet Stephanie. At this appointment, Stephanie remarked at how incredible her skin looked, how we are making the impossible happen and how well she is healing. I was ecstatic, upon examining the lump, she stated it could just be a cold, but they were going to take a sample and send it to the lab to be safe.
Tuesday, September 25th, 2018, I got the call that the results indicated that the lump is lymphoma. All of the air left my body. My baby, I don’t understand. We made an appointment with the oncologist for Wednesday at 1 PM.
The hours passed slowly, Frankie knew I was upset and was extra attentive as I lay on the bed. She cuddled up next to me, pressing her wet nose against my arm. She looked at me with those big eyes, it couldn’t possibly be her time. This is my girl, and I vow to help her the best I can.
The next day at the oncologist we spent over 6 hours there. We decided to pursue chemo after everything was considered. I can’t put a price on giving this girl a fighting chance. It was if as soon as that decision was made, Frankie knew. She looked at me with the most tender of stares, came over and nudged her head against me as I told our oncologist we were moving forward.
What our oncologist advised was the full 26 weeks of chemo. That comes out to around $20,000. This doesn’t include all the weekly medicine, CBD, and other extras. :( When I first heard this number my heart sank. But I looked at Frankie and knew that her community and my community could come together and make a dent in this for the sake of her health. We are here to help her though and fight this for as long as she feels up to it. Who am I to tell her otherwise? When I rescued from the shelter l promised to make every moment the absolute best for her. Through sickness and in health, I can’t give up on my girl. I never had a dog growing up, she is my first dog and I would do ANYTHING to keep her comfortable and happy.
I come here today humbled and grateful for all the kind wishes for Frankie’s recovery. If you can find it in your heart to donate, we appreciate you sincerely. If you can’t, please feel free to share. She deserves all the help she can get, if she wants to be here, you can be sure I’ll move mountains to make that happen. Thank you so much for your time.

There she was, scared, skittish, looking up at me with those perfect big hazel eyes. It was February 14th, 2017 at the East Valley Animal Shelter. I had seen 8 dogs before her, all pits, all 5 years and older. She was the only female. She came into the enclosure, paced a few circles then bam, sat directly next to me. I didn’t grow up with dogs, but I knew a deep connection when I felt it. Her name was Rosie, but she looked just like a Frankie to me. It was that day I knew she was mine. She had a crazy skin infection on her belly, so swollen and oozed they couldn’t even tell if she was spayed. I wanted all of her, the skin issues, the timid vibes, she looked at me, and I could tell she felt the connection too. On the drive home, she was panicking in the front seat, as time went by she slowly relaxed. Finally, at the light before my place, she took a big sigh, she looked at me, licked my hand, and it seemed as if she realized she was finally safe.
The dog that blossomed in my care over the next year and some change is one of resilience and love. I never knew a love like this, a bond like this. It is as if her life before me didn’t exist. She overcame fear, got close to myself and others, and gave men a second chance. She grew to love playing fetch, toys that were hers and hers alone, many blankets to nest in, and extra large beds to dream upon. She knows me just by looking at me, her ability to see other’s needs, go in for comfort, remain calm, and just be her beautiful quiet self. She is love, she is my best friend.
She visited my grandma in the assisted living facility, smashing stereotypes and she rubbed up against the elderly, kissing my young cousins faces at Christmas, and absolutely crushing it in the dog-friendly department at our local dog park. She truly is a great advocate for Pitbulls all around.
Fast forward to September 19th, 2018. Her skin had been improving significantly over time, on meds, off meds, continued medicated baths, she had turned a corner vastly regarding her health. I discovered a lump near her throat while petting her. Freaked out I turned to google. Freaked out even further I got off google. I made the next available appointment with our lovely vet Stephanie. At this appointment, Stephanie remarked at how incredible her skin looked, how we are making the impossible happen and how well she is healing. I was ecstatic, upon examining the lump, she stated it could just be a cold, but they were going to take a sample and send it to the lab to be safe.
Tuesday, September 25th, 2018, I got the call that the results indicated that the lump is lymphoma. All of the air left my body. My baby, I don’t understand. We made an appointment with the oncologist for Wednesday at 1 PM.
The hours passed slowly, Frankie knew I was upset and was extra attentive as I lay on the bed. She cuddled up next to me, pressing her wet nose against my arm. She looked at me with those big eyes, it couldn’t possibly be her time. This is my girl, and I vow to help her the best I can.
The next day at the oncologist we spent over 6 hours there. We decided to pursue chemo after everything was considered. I can’t put a price on giving this girl a fighting chance. It was if as soon as that decision was made, Frankie knew. She looked at me with the most tender of stares, came over and nudged her head against me as I told our oncologist we were moving forward. What our oncologist advised was the full 26 weeks of chemo. That comes out to around $20,000. This doesn’t include all the weekly medicine, CBD, and other extras. :( When I first heard this number my heart sank. But I looked at Frankie and knew that her community and my community could come together and make a dent in this for the sake of her health. We are here to help her though and fight this for as long as she feels up to it. Who am I to tell her otherwise? When I rescued from the shelter l promised to make every moment the absolute best for her. Through sickness and in health, I can’t give up on my girl. I never had a dog growing up, she is my first dog and I would do ANYTHING to keep her comfortable and happy.
I come here today humbled and grateful for all the kind wishes for Frankie’s recovery. If you can find it in your heart to donate, we appreciate you sincerely. If you can’t, please feel free to share. She deserves all the help she can get, if she wants to be here, you can be sure I’ll move mountains to make that happen. Thank you so much for your time.Organizer
Emily Blumberg
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
