Help Frannie See Again

Three years ago, Frannie came into our lives after being rescued from a breeder, where she had been used to produce litter after litter of puppies. From what we know about her past and the way she was when she came to us, we don’t believe she had experienced much freedom or socialization.

When we brought her home, she had to learn what it meant to simply be a dog — to explore, feel safe, be part of a family, and experience a world much bigger than the one she had known.

We slowly learned all of her little quirks, never realizing that Frannie was essentially blind.

I suspected very early on that something was wrong with her vision and even sought veterinary care for it, but we were reassured. Over the years, Frannie adapted so incredibly well that most people would never know just how little she could see.

It wasn’t until recently, after continuing to question her vision and finally seeing a veterinary ophthalmologist, that we got the answer: Frannie has dense cataracts and is considered essentially blind.

This is Frannie’s story.

Watch how we somehow had a blind dog for three years and didn't know it. Watch Reel Here!

We now believe her vision may have already been severely limited when we rescued her.

That realization broke my heart, but it also gave us something I wasn’t expecting: hope.

For the first time, there is a possibility that Frannie could actually see.

Her retinas look healthy, which gave us real hope. And now we have the news we were hoping for: Frannie passed her pre-operative testing and is officially a candidate for cataract surgery.

We're moving forward.

We have never known a sighted Frannie.

And somehow, this is the life Frannie has been living.

She's happy. She's independent. She barks at absolutely everything. She plays with me, bosses around her ridiculous little Griff brother, sits in the sunshine, travels with us and confidently navigates a world she can barely see. She's even paddleboarded, hiked and gone on airplanes with us.

She adapted so incredibly well that we simply didn't understand how little she could see.

Looking back, though, so many little things finally make sense. She hesitates getting on and off furniture. She startles when one of our other dogs approaches because she can't see them coming. And she often stays close to me instead of confidently exploring on her own.

I can’t help wondering what her world could look like if she could see it.

Would she become more confident? Would she explore the house differently? Would she interact more with our other dogs? Would she finally get to see the people who have loved her for the last three years?

Frannie's pre-operative testing and bilateral cataract surgery are expected to cost approximately $6,000.

After researching options across several states, we chose Animal Eye Clinic of Spokane for her care. They offered us a more affordable option and, just as importantly, could get Frannie in much sooner.

Thanks to everyone who has already donated, we've covered her pre-op testing and made an incredible start toward her surgery costs. Now we're raising the remainder needed to give Frannie the chance to see.

Our fundraising goal helps cover her anticipated medical expenses and fundraising fees. We'll continue sharing Frannie's progress, milestones and surgery updates in the Updates section here.

And if donating isn't possible, please keep sharing Frannie's story. You truly never know whose heart she might reach.

Three years ago, Frannie learned what freedom felt like.

She learned what it meant to have a home. A family. Adventures. A ridiculous little Griff brother. A whole life that belonged to her.

Now we're hoping to give her one more thing:

the chance to see it.

And selfishly, I'd really love for her to see us for the first time.

Thank you for loving Frannie with us.