Frankie's story started in Ireland. Nothing is known of her past, she and a male German Shepherd were picked up roaming in Malahide on 28th Feb, 2005, and arrived at Ashton Pound, frightened and confused. Ashton is, unfortunately, not a no-kill shelter and dogs have only five days to be reunited with old owners, or find a new one, before they may be destroyed. Luckily for the Ashton dogs, a dedicated team of rehomers and fosterers work tirelessly to prevent this from happening wherever they can. They really have their work cut out. Despite their best efforts, and those of dog lovers all over Ireland, an astonishing 7 out of every 10 stray dogs in Ireland end up being put to sleep. Young dogs, healthy dogs...even pregnant bitches...without someone to offer a lifeline, their chances are at best, slim.

On the 1st March, a message was left in the urgent matters forum on the Irish Animals boards requesting a home for the pair. They waited patiently in their little concrete cell, which, as far as they knew was their new home. They made friends with all the staff there, and generally made the best of the situation they found themselves in. They couldn't possibly understand that after a week, if no one stepped in, that would be the end of their lives. But the kennel staff were all too aware, and were getting desperate. When, by the 6th, there had been no response to the call for a home, Dorothy left a heartbreaking plea, begging for help for the pair. Time was running out. Both were beautiful dogs, with wonderful temperaments, and having got to know them, she couldn't bear to see them die like so many others. In the meantime, back in Cambridgeshire, phone calls were being made, and another team of dedicated dog lovers were doing all they could for Frankie and her boyfriend. Within 2 hours of Dorothy's plea, transport had been arranged for Frankie and friend. It couldn't be done until the 8th...and everyone was hoping Ashton would agree to a stay of execution for an extra day. It was a tense time, and no doubt both in Ireland and Cambridgeshire, silent prayers were going out for this gorgeous girl and her boyfriend.

On the 8th March, the message was left...Frankie was in Maria's jeep, and heading for the transport van at the port! Her boyfriend had, thankfully, already been placed in a new home in Ireland, so Frankie came along with another of Ashton's waifs, instead. It was a major relief all round, and even Frankie must have been glad to get away from the grey walls of the pound. Everyone that dealt with Frankie realised she was a very special little girl. But at this point, no one knew just how special.

After a ferry crossing, and a long drive to Cambridgeshire, Frankie finally arrived at PFK. Rachel instantly fell in love with her, and the feeling was obviously mutual. While Frankie was a little nervous around men, she seemed quite comfortable with Rachel, and they became inseparable. It seemed Frankie may have already found her forever home...a little over a week passed, and Rachel began to notice something was up with Frankie...and by April it was confirmed that Frankie was expecting! It didn't bear thinking about that a month before, she could have been destroyed at the pound, along with all those little lives inside her. As soon as they realised, Rachel took Frankie to the vets for a check up. With the stress of what she'd been through, there was every chance she had a belly full of dead pups. Stillborn pups are another sad statistic of pound strays. Luckily for Frankie all the pups seemed healthy, and the Irish rescue team were informed. Everyone was delighted, and extremely relieved that Frankie had been one of the lucky ones.

The first week of April Frankie was brought up to the house in readiness for the new arrivals. By April 16th she was refusing food and showing signs of nesting so Rachel was sure Frankie was ready to give birth and kept a close eye on her. On the 17th, Frankie was trying to dig herself a den under a huge tree in the grounds and again refused food. She was restless and panting heavily. Rachel felt sure that the birth must be imminent...Maria kindly offered to give up her Sunday morning and was drafted in to take over Rachel's normal duties so Rachel could stay with Frankie...she watched and waited...and waited...and watched...and waited some more....by late evening Frankie was still restless and panting, and Rachel decided to sleep close to her for the night. She got the sun lounger and sleeping bag ready and got as comfy as she could next to the whelping box.

The 18th brought more fretting and panting. Rachel took Frankie’s temperature and checked in on her every couple of hours and eventually called the vet. The vet didn't seem too concerned but asked Rachel to bring her in, in the morning, if there was still no sign of the pups arriving. It was more to reassure Rachel than any need on Frankie's part! So Rachel spent another night on the sun lounger and set off for the vets first thing. The vet checked her over and said the pups were fine, although Frankie was carrying them quite high, which was most likely the cause of the heavy panting and no doubt her haste to get them out too! The rest of Tuesday was much the same, and Wednesday and Thursday too. Rachel stuck by her, enduring the sun lounger for another three nights, watching and waiting...

On Friday the 22nd of April, Rachel had a vet appointment for Max, and checked on Frankie at 9.15 a.m before putting Max in the car and setting off. At 10.05 Rachel's mobile rang in the waiting room...Frankie had given birth to her first pup!!! Rachel was stunned. After all the watching and waiting, Frankie had decided that she wanted to be alone for this special occasion! Although Dave was keeping an eye on her he was reluctant to intervene and Frankie made it quite clear she was just fine on her own!


By the time Rachel arrived home, Frankie had given birth to two perfect puppies...but even Rachel had a hard time wrestling them from their protective mum. Dave had no chance! They waited until the third pup was on it's way before removing the first, very quickly, to be weighed and checked over... it was a male, weighing 385gms, mostly black, with a white chest and back feet. One right front toe was white, along with the tip of his tiny tail. And what's more, he very obviously wasn't of German Shepherd origin...so whoever Frankie had been taken to the pound with, it wasn't the pup's father!

In all, eight little bundles arrived – the last at 2.35 pm - all healthy and strong, and all under the protection of supermum Frankie. In order of appearance were the first male, followed by a female also black and white with tan under her tail, weighing 340gms. Two more males followed, one with tan points and heavier at 385gms, the next was black and white again but only 240gms. Then another female, all black, 420gms (she obviously got all the previous pups nutrients!) The next male was chocolate with a white chest and feet weighing 400gms, then another female black with a tiny bit of white on her back toes at 380gms. Lastly came another black male with a white chest, and stripe down his belly at 385gms. Once they were all out, Rachel put Frankie outside to heed the call of nature, and took the chance to take some photos of the pups. It had to be done very quickly...Frankie was trying to get back in through the window!

The Irish Animals board was informed and requests came in to name the pups after the Irish team, and despite Rachel and Dave having reservations about naming them (it would be hard enough to let these babies go, without any further emotional attachment) they couldn't refuse Frankie's saviours this last request. So it was they were named, in birth order: Martin, Twist, Steel, Ben, Frieda, Misty, Dotsie and Zipper. But Rachel's ordeal wasn't quite over yet...she settled for another couple of nights on the lounger, just to keep watch. But Frankie got an upset tummy and needed to be let out to heed the call of nature at regular intervals during the night....and the next night, and the next....in the end Rachel had to endure the sun lounger for three weeks more than she would have liked!!!
 

Martin	Twist	Steel	Ben
Frieda	Misty	Dotsie	Zipper
Ben at 7 weeks	Dotsie at 7 weeks	Frieda at 7 weeks	Martin at 7 weeks
Misty at 7 weeks	Steel at 7 weeks	Twist at 7 weeks	Zipper at 7 weeks

To be continued........................