We lost our 11-year-old toy poodle, Wynston, very suddenly in February 2024. The shock of losing him left a hole in our hearts that felt impossible to fill. While we were grieving deeply, his younger sister, Fujiko, was utterly devastated. She showed every sign of doggy grief- she became withdrawn, stopped eating, lost interest in play, and seemed endlessly tired.
The moment we truly knew something was wrong was during a walk by the water. Fujiko simply collapsed in the shade and refused to move. That was when we realized she needed more than time- she needed a little friend.
Less than two weeks later, we brought home Franklyn. He was just 11 weeks old, a beautiful toy x miniature black poodle with a small puff of white on his chest. Almost instantly, our home felt lighter. The grief for Wynston was still there, but the joy Franklyn brought was undeniable. He gave us laughter again, and Fujiko was full of beans having a new little brother.
Just nine days later, everything changed.
Franklyn had a freak accident in the backyard- still unexplained. We had been practicing walking on a lead and had just finished. He began running and suddenly flipped onto his back howling in pain. I was only a couple of metres away and reached him within seconds. He was conscious, but he couldn’t move. He was paralysed.
We rushed him into the car and made the 30-minute drive to our local vet. After monitoring him for a few hours, they advised us to make the four-hour journey to Sydney to SASH North Ryde, where further testing could be done. We didn’t hesitate. My partner rode in the back seat next to Franklyn’s crate, watching him every second of the drive.
The next day, we met Dr Patrick Kenny for the first time. He showed us immense kindness and compassion, listening as we spoke through our recent loss of Wynston and our overwhelming fear for this tiny new life. Franklyn underwent testing, including a CT scan, and was diagnosed with a spinal injury- most likely severe bruising. Slowly, his movement began to return. We left Sydney with cautious hope and strict instructions: four weeks of cage rest.
We came home to the mid north coast where we watched him constantly. Little by little, he grew stronger.
We made it to June before another devastating setback. Franklyn, now seven months old, knocked his head on the front of the couch and immediately lost the ability to walk. We booked an urgent appointment with Dr Patrick and once again raced down the Pacific Highway to SASH.
This time, Franklyn underwent both a CT scan and an MRI. With the benefit of his bones having grown, the scans revealed the underlying cause of everything he’d been experiencing: his skull and spine had fused together, creating instability between the first and second vertebrae in his neck. This instability explained his pain, weakness, and recurring injuries. Surgery was necessary- and urgently- otherwise he risked permanent paralysis.
Franklyn underwent spinal surgery the very next day. Two tiny pins were placed into his spine. Thankfully, the surgery was a success, thanks to the extraordinary care and skill of the entire SASH team, especially Dr Patrick and Dr Laura.
Five days later, we brought Franklyn home, beginning a long journey toward a new normal. His restrictions were strict- no rough play, no stairs, no jumping, no running. He required months of crate rest, with only short, controlled breaks each day. For weeks, he could only move while wearing a full-body harness and with our support. We spent hours sitting on the floor with him, armed with chews, squeaky toys, and endless pats. Slowly, he learned how to walk again. Eventually, he learned how to hold his own weight.
Franklyn has been through more in his short life than most ever will, and yet he remains incredibly brave.
He continues rehabilitation at SASH under the care of Dr Naomi, who has been wonderful in tailoring exercises for him and guiding us through his recovery at home. Franklyn still has his quirks—he only turns anti-clockwise, remains a little unsteady on his feet, and can feel overwhelmed by the world after spending so long confined—but he is doing tremendously.
Every day, he reminds us of resilience, love, and just how strong such a little soul can be. We couldn’t do it without the support of team SASH- thank you!!!
– North Ryde NSW
