What a Three-Legged Dog Taught Me About Being A Part Of A Community

This weekend I went camping with my cousins in Indiana and met the most incredible dog ever. His name is Frankie and he’s a three-legged dog. My cousin, Sunday, owns him - he lost his leg in a horrid farm accident and almost died, but they decided his life was worth the effort to save. I think he’s pretty glad he’s alive too.

In one weekend I learned an awful lot about life from Frankie. First of all, I learned that life is pretty precious. When I was a young girl and would whine and complain about chores and life in general, my grandmother used to say, “Well… you got all your arms and legs now dontcha?” And that usually put me in my place. Yes. I was pretty lucky. I had all my arms and legs.

Frankie does not. Yet he still thinks he’s a pretty lucky dog. He does not whine or complain. Ever. Even when he can’t run as fast as others. Even when he is covered in sweat and completely exhausted. Frankie still makes the attempt. He does not give up. An example of this is in the above photo. We rode my cousins horses all over the beautiful Indiana countryside for hours. Frankie ran along behind the horses no matter where we went. Often, he straggled. With only three legs it takes a significant effort to keep up with two full grown horses. Yet Frankie would make the effort – putting his whole heart into the run. Panting furiously. Never giving up. If he somehow managed to get ahead of me, like the photo above, he would turn and wait to make sure I was keeping up with HIM.

When we got to the creek crossing, Frankie would not pause no matter how deep the water was. He would charge through and make it to the other side. Jumping out with a shake; tongue lulling out his mouth in happiness. What a dog!

Frankie pushes himself so hard to throw himself into living, that when he finally collapses, he lays in a heap panting deeply and barely able to move from exhaustion. Yet when he sees a member of his family who needs him, he jumps up immediately – no matter how tired – and helps them. He’s always there for my cousins offering emotional support, helping them with the horses on their farm, and hugging them whenever they need it. Frankie is incredible. Frankie is family. Frankie is love-embodied.

Definitively, Frankie is all about community. He’s building, connecting, and loving the people around him every day. Frankie is making a difference in a world that’s filled with negative mindsets.

If Frankie can live each day to the fullest with only three legs, we can live each day to the fullest with all our arms and legs. If a three legged dog can throw his heart into his community with such vigor and gusto, it seems that surely you can get off the couch and make a simple attempt yourself.

Make a difference for your community – love your community – and help others like Frankie does and I know your life will be full and beautiful for you. You will be living a dog’s life. That’s about as wonderful as you can get as far as Frankie is concerned.

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

Comments

[Mark Cory Dexter]

Hello, my name is Cory im Sundays youngest son, the one in the navy, im sure she mentioned me, your article was great, i grew up with that dog, and he is a good dog, misunderstood at times, but a great dog indeed...also i was wondering if you needed another story, i have one that i believe should be told...about a little girl that lived everyday with a smile even to the end..just let me know.

[Shawna Coronado]

Awww.... Frankie is SO wonderful. While I was there he came and put his head on my knee and looked at me with those beautiful eyes and I knew I was hooked. Who cares if he only has three legs - he has heart!

[Deborah Aldridge]

Now you've gone and made me cry. Bad Shawna!