Frankie and Andy's Place

Results: Since our inception in 2015, Frankie and Andy's Place has provided a beautiful, loving and luxurious 'final chapter' for over 170 formerly cast aside, neglected or abused dogs. Our uniquely holistic approach has extended the lives of a huge majority of these dogs, who came to us in hospice care and ended up adding many more months than expected on to their life span. Our life extending holistic protocols have been shared with, and adopted by, numerous local pet rescues and veterinary hospitals in order to help further pets in the community. Once these senior and hospice dogs have settled into their new forever home, they are 're-purposed' into emotional support dogs for the benefit of those in need of a warm 'nose nuzzle' in our community. This has been an unparalleled success, with thousands of people, from special needs school children, elder folks to handicapped adults reaping the rewards of our weekly community visits. These visits give opportunities for anyone who needs it, to share a moment with a kind, gentle and non-judgmental therapy dog. Our 'Helping Hands, Healing Paws' community Pet Food Pantry Outreach, founded in October 2023, routinely helps to feed around 600-700 pets per month, distributing free pet food in areas where financial crises and homelessness has meant that without our help, many families would be forced to surrender their pets to the local shelter. Our distribution of dog and cat food to rural shelters who have run out of food has also been instrumental in saving the lives of many animals. This particular part of our outreach serves veterans as a priority and provides a delivery service of pet food to our local veterans resource center. 'Helping Hands, Healing Paws' also has a commitment to serve unhoused folks in our wider communities, resulting in a regular partnership with Advantage Homeless Daycare Center in Athens, Georgia, where food and necessary resources are distributed with love and without judgement. Our 'Senior Solutions' help and advice service, founded in 2022, is open to anyone who needs our help in matters of dog behavior, pet wellness and nutrition, rehoming, animal law resources, temporary homelessness and rehoming strays. In 2023, this service provided 377 pet owners in need of help with pro bono consultations, free pet food and in two cases, help with temporary placement of their dogs due to homelessness, and prevented 12 families from surrendering their dogs to the local County shelter. Our mission and it's success, has grown solely on the basis of collaboration, respect, generosity of spirit and a firm conviction that we are all responsible to help each other, that 'your pet's problem is my problem' and that with the right help, we can all achieve success.

Target demographics: Rescue senior dogs

Geographic areas served: Winder GA and surrounding environs

Programs: We have long believed that dogs come into our lives, not just to provide friendship and comfort, but to teach us, to open our eyes to what is really important in life, and to help us cope with the stresses of everyday living. The beauty and serenity of this environment combined with the wisdom and empathy of some of our working dogs has brought comfort and relief to a number of humans dealing with anxiety, fear, self-harming issues and bipolar disorders. All under the watchful eye and guidance of an experienced mental health professional. This shelter provides a home like environment, furnished comfortably, with sleeping quarters for the dogs, but also a main living area where they can come together and mingle with their carers and work with whoever needs them.