Franklin: The pug who tugs at hearts

Despite being told he  probably would never walk again, Karen Minton took Franklin the Pug into her home and is using a new veterinary treatment to get him back on his feet.

Jill Pickett

Karen Minton scratches under Franklin’s chin during a recent interview at Minton’s Elizabethtown home. Franklin uses a dog version of a wheelchair after he was struck by three cars. Minton took Franklin in after he was injured.

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Jill Pickett

Franklin has survived being hit by multiple cars and is now in the care of an owner willing to give him his best shot at walking on all four legs again.

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Jill Pickett

Franklin's wheels were paid for by Trio Animal Foundation in Chicago.

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Last August, while chasing his owner, Franklin was hit by three cars. The owner was a college student who didn’t have the money to care for the injured pug, Minton said.

Her friend, Linda Funk, witnessed what happened, took Franklin to a veterinarian and later contacted Minton.

Franklin’s back legs were damaged. Minton describes them as noodles. He cannot walk.

Minton arranged for Franklin to go to a pet rescue organization in the Northeast that was supposed to specialize in injured pets, but later learned the organization wasn’t what it seemed. So she brought Franklin back and has cared for him ever since.

Franklin still has medical problems, but these days he gets around in a specialized wheelchair.

Minton is a part of a rescue network. A friend with the Trio Animal Foundation in Chicago bought Franklin’s wheels from a company called Eddie’s Wheels. The rig was specially fitted for the pug.

It attaches with a harness around Franklin’s body and props up his back legs. He walks using his front legs and the wheels in the back.

Minton said Franklin seems to have feeling in his legs, he just can’t put one foot in front of the other to walk.

She also tried holistic treatments for Franklin — she’ll try anything to get him back on the mend.

The next step is an experimental treatment that uses stem cells from Franklin’s body. It will cost around $1,800.

Veterinarian Cathy White of Finchville Animal Hospital in Shelby County has had success on other animals at her clinic with the technique.

In the procedure, White will remove a small area of fat from Franklin. In a few hours, stem cells are separated from the fat and injected back into Franklin’s injured legs.

“If we can do the stem cell and he can walk again  — I have to at least try,” Minton said. “I was not expecting it to be so costly, but he deserves it.”

White also recommends water therapy for  Franklin. So Minton and Franklin workout in a friend’s pool.

Minton is familiar with abused and special-needs pets. She began taking in rescue pets 10 years ago including breeding dogs from puppy mills, abused  and neglected pets, and senior pets that owners can’t or don’t want to care for anymore.
Pet rescue networks are common all over the country, she said.

Animals that might need to be rescued should be reported to animal control, Minton said.

Part of the protocol of finding a lost pet includes advertising the animal has been found for at least five days.

After that, a rescue group can help.

From her experience, Minton does not recommend advertising that a pet is “free to a good home.”

She said she knows of people who claim pets under false pretenses and then use the animal as bait in dog fights.
Animal rescue groups can make sure an animal goes to a fit home.

She also warned to be leery of anyone who wants to meet in a parking lot and only take cash when they sell you a pet.

Those most likely are puppy-mill dogs that could have special needs stemming from mistreatment or a lack of socialization, she said.  Such dogs are more likely to wind up in a rescue situation. Minton recommends checking out breeders.

Many of the dogs she takes in, like Franklin, have been through some sort of trauma.

She began to tear up thinking of the love rescued dogs offer and how thankful they are that someone takes the time to care for them.

“I don’t know the words to describe it,” she said. “If you’ve never had one, you don’t know what you’re missing.”

Franklin and dogs like him are close to her heart.

“Just because they’re special needs doesn’t mean they’re not loveable or adoptable or can’t give in return,” Minton said.
“I’ve got three and I’m partial to the special needs and the seniors because those seem to be the ones nobody wants.”

One of her long-term dreams is  someday to live in the country and have a “retirement home” for senior and special needs dogs.

But for now she’s working with Franklin and he has become a bit of a celebrity. She’s amazed at how many people are interested in him.

He has more than 850 friends on his “Franklin ThePug” Facebook page. She started the page to network with other special-needs pet owners. Now, Franklin has friends in Australia, France, Germany, South America and other countries.
He’s received support from all over as well. A pug gift design company in California, Pugs Snuggly, has created a necklace and  proceeds from its sales go toward Franklin’s treatment.

Minton’s hope is that Franklin will be back on his feet again soon, but her home is his, walking or not.

To learn more about Franklin’s treatment or to support Franklin, go to www. finch villeanimalhos pital.com/index.html, http://franklinthepug.chipin.com/franklins-stem-cell-treatment, or www.pugsnuggly.com/gifts_ toys.html.

Becca Owsley can be reached at (270) 505-1741 or bowsley@thenewsenterprise.com.