A Little Weenie Named Frank!

So, it was 2017 and I had gone through hell and back. I just lost my step dad, he was my rock, my mentor and my biggest supporter, I’d walked off my job, lol, yes I literally walked off my job – future blog post so stay tuned! And whether I liked to admit it or not, I was, well, depressed.

As I spent most of my days and nights in my tiny two-bedroom apartment scouring job sites, I often pondered this question,

What is it that would make me happy?

New clothes? Ookay. A lump sum of cash? Well…. A dog? A dog?! In here?! I could barely find space for visitors let alone having a furry four-legged friend running around day and night. Besides, where would he go to the toilet?

The job? It was going well, better than my last one. I was the home room teacher of a year 2 class and it felt good to have some sort of a routine going again in my life. Did I feel happier? Did the depression lift? No, not really, not until one stifling hot evening in March when I walked past a pet store window and saw him.

Que sappy music.

Frank, the calmest, most level-headed looking dog in the window. While most pooches turned around in circles in hopes that someone would stop by, Frank just lounged back casually in his box, closed his eyes and snoozed as if he had better things to do.

Now, I am sure many of you reading this are thinking,

Jacqui, really? The guy’s locked up in a plexiglass cage, people poke and bang on the window all day. And, and, that’s beside the point! You, you mean to ACTUALLY tell me you bought a dog from a pet store?

Well, let me continue….

So, that night I first spotted Frank in the pet store window I was walking by with a friend and we were on our way to meet some other friends for dinner.

“Stop, stop, stop, can we go in?”

My friend looked at me as though there was something horrifically wrong.

“You wanna buy a dog?”

“I wanna seeee a dog, there’s a difference you know!”

So, in we went in.

“Can I help you?”

I swing around and before us stands the manager.

“Is there anything you’d like to see?”

Without hesitation I pointed up at Frank.

“Yes, that one.”

The manager opened his cage door and Frank, being Frank, lifted his head and looked at us as if to say,

Oh, a potential owner? *Scoff* Ha! Really?

“He’s a real sweetie this one, just can’t seem to convince people of that.”

Being the animal lover that I am I immediately asked why.

“Most Malaysian’s don’t like black dogs. Oh, yes, and this, she said pointing to his silver dapple markings, is a big turn off for most. “

Wow, how’s he supposed to help that?  I thought to myself as she handed him to me.

Glimpses of his  stellar personality started to shine even more, a sign from heaven? as I cuddled him in my arms all the while listening to the manager as she read out his stat card.

Breed: Silver, dapple dachshund

Age: 7 months

Birthday: July 3^rd 2016

GASP! We’re both cancers!

Scared that I was about to do something TOTALLY impulsive, I quickly handed him back to the manager all the while proceeding to complain about my current living situation and how it really isn’t well, doggie proof. She suggested alternatives: pee pee pads in the shower, ah no, a crate for him to stay all day, so not fair!

I reassured her I would think about it.

“I’ll give you a discount!”

 I smiled at her as I hummed and hawed, heartbroken that this fella started out like this and by the sounds of it might be here for a very long time. I thanked her for her time and before she could utter another word, left the store with my friend.

Two weeks later and it was coming to spring break at my new school. In that time I made a ‘radical’ life change by giving up my tiny ‘minimalisticish’ apartment for a more spacious house. Side note, I tried to convince myself that I was renting a house for me, but it all truth it was so I could get Frank; I’d gone to the pet store two times after my last visit just to make sure he was still here.

The Sunday before I was slated to go back to school my mom and sister were in town, they already knew I was eying a little weenie at the pet shop and both suggested we go see him.

“In fact, said my sister on our way there. I had a dream you got him.”

GULP!

I remember feeling extremely anxious that afternoon as I lead them both into the pet store, wondering will they like him? Will his ‘true colours’ shine through? Will I say, Ah forget it?!

“It’s this one,” I said as I pointed to Frank who still, three weeks later was right where I’d left him.

“Oh Jacqui,” exclaimed my mother as she ‘melted’ into a giant puddle on the floor.

The manager from before recognised me and walked over.

“So, you’re back?”

Laughing nervously I told her that I could not stop thinking about this little guy so I thought I would bring my family to meet him.

The manager smiled as she unlocked the cage, grabbed Frank, put him inside his little play pen and then encouraged us to get to know him a bit better.

“Sis, come on, you have too! said my sister as she bent down to scratch him behind the ears. And we can take him for a bit if you want, you know until your all settled into your house and all, mom and I already discussed this.”

Aaah, this was such a huge decision!

We probably spent a good 20 -30 min in the store snapping pictures as we ooohed and awed over Frank.

“So, said my mom. What do you think?”

“If it makes you feel better I can hold him for you for a couple of weeks until you get everything set up? And, you can just pay half today? said the manager.”

I looked down at the little guy, who I’d literally in that moment I’d just named Frank, I swear to God our eyes locked and I felt as though I wanted to cry.

YOLO, you only live once, they say!

“Okay, I’ll do it!”

My mom, sister and the manager cheered and as I handed over my debit card I started to wonder,

What the hell am I doing?

It was exactly two weeks later when I picked up Frank and smuggled him into my apartment.

That first weekend was good, as my mom and sister were there. But, my first week alone with him, well….

He cried most of the night and would not stop unless I put on some sort of ‘soothing’ white noise. He barked his head off every time I shut the door and left for work and I’d return every evening to steaming hot piles of poop that had slopped their way through the rungs of his cage and caked onto his foot, as a result of staying in the cage all day. And, to top it all off, he pissed everywhere! On table legs, in the middle of the floor, on my foot. I remember my fourth or fifth night alone with him thinking,

Can I get a refund? 

On a weekly phone call with my mom, I gave a weepy explanation of as to why I’m not fit to be a dog owner and why no one should have ever convinced me this was a good idea in the first place. She listened, as all good mothers do, stopped me and said,

“We already told you, we’ll take him! Just say the words!”

So, on the weekend of my sister’s birthday celebration, I not only packed my bag, but I packed Frank’s. For while I so would have loved to keep him around and take him to my new house, I thought it would only be fair for him to stay with my mom and sister as I was starting to feel bad about his ‘less then stellar’ apartment setup.

Frank staid with my mom for about six weeks.  He got the attention he needed as he adjusted to his life beyond the confines of a store front window, he had a huge yard to run around in and a couple other dogs to ‘socialise’ with.

As odd as it may sound, this tiny weenie has been such a positive influence in my life. And, at the risk of sounding like a total cornball, I truly believe that Frank was brought into my life for a reason. Not only has he been such fantastic company but his infectious joy and contagious personality reminds me daily to do and follow only the things that make me feel good. So yeah, I owe a alot to this stumpy four legged guy for inspiring me to ‘think outside the box,’ find what feels good and just go for it. The main inspirado for my business, Frankly Speaking: thanks boy!