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.

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 gives us real hope. The next step is the required pre-operative testing to determine whether she is a strong candidate for cataract surgery.

And now, because of the incredible support Frannie has already received, her pre-op testing is officially scheduled.

If she clears that testing and her ophthalmologist believes she's a strong candidate, we're moving forward with surgery.

We have never known a sighted Frannie.

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

She hikes. She paddleboards. She travels with us in our van. She has gone on airplanes and adventures and experienced a world much bigger than the one she knew before she was rescued.

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?

So if Frannie clears her pre-op testing, we're giving her that chance.

Frannie's pre-operative testing and bilateral cataract surgery are expected to cost approximately $6,000. We've also chosen a veterinary ophthalmology team in Omaha that came highly recommended and offers us a more manageable path to getting her the care she needs.

Thanks to everyone who has already donated, we've raised enough to cover her pre-op testing and have officially scheduled it.

Now we're working toward the much bigger expense: her surgery.

We're hoping to raise approximately $6,000 toward Frannie's medical care, and we'll take care of her travel, time off work, and other expenses that come with getting her there.

If you're able to contribute, we're incredibly grateful. And if donating isn't possible, sharing Frannie's story may be the thing that puts her in front of someone who can help.

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.