Louisiana Dog Rescued From A Hurricane Loses His Hearing, But His Dad Finds A Beautiful Way To Comfort Him
When a tiny puppy was displaced by a hurricane, one man stepped up to give him a home in Louisiana. Nearly 15 years later, their beautiful bond is stronger than ever.
A Storm And A Second Chance
Almost 15 years ago, a massive storm changed the course of one tiny dog’s life forever. Hurricane Gustav was making landfall in New Orleans, Louisiana, leaving countless animals displaced and in desperate need of help.
Living halfway across the country, a man named Luke knew he had to do something. He decided it was the perfect time to get an animal out of harm’s way.
He connected with a local New Orleans rescue and began looking through their available pets. That’s when he saw a picture of a tiny, five-pound dog who instantly stole his heart.
The Airport Handoff
Luke knew immediately that this little dog belonged with him. He arranged for the tiny pup to be flown all the way up to Ohio, where he was living at the time.
The moment they met at the airport was unforgettable. Luke picked up the tiny dog, hugged him, and kissed him.
“You’re home,” Luke whispered to him. “I’m your daddy.”
The Perfect Name
Luke decided to name his new best friend Franky. However, the rescue organization had originally given the puppy a very different name: Playful.
Luke already had a name picked out, but as he watched Franky grow, he realized the rescue workers had been completely right.
A year later, Luke admitted to himself that he probably shouldn’t have changed it. Franky was incredibly energetic, and the name Playful had captured his awesome spirit perfectly.
Helping An Anxious Brother
Franky’s joyful energy didn’t just bring happiness to Luke; it also changed the life of his canine brother, Dino. Dino was another rescue dog who had survived on the streets for the first nine months of his life.
Because of his rough start, Dino was a very anxious dog. But having Franky by his side made a world of difference.
Over their 10 years together, Dino made huge improvements, largely thanks to Franky’s comforting presence. Though Dino is no longer with them, Luke and Franky still deeply miss his presence.
A Sudden Silence
As Franky entered his senior years, life threw him an unexpected curveball. About three years ago, he completely lost his hearing.
Veterinarians believe the senior dog may have suffered a mild mini-stroke. They explained that when dogs have very mild strokes, the symptoms can sometimes go completely unnoticed until the hearing loss sets in.
The adjustment was incredibly tough for both of them. Franky was a dog who knew so many different words, and he was used to his dad talking to him all day long.
The Music He Left Behind
The most heartbreaking part of Franky’s deafness was losing his connection to music. Franky absolutely loved listening to classical tunes with his dad.
Every morning, Luke would play Bach cello music for him. But Franky’s absolute favorite was an opera song by Wagner called “Ride of the Valkyries.”
Whenever Luke played that specific song, even if Franky was fast asleep, the dog would flip his head up and take off running to his playroom to grab his toys. Luke deeply misses those musical moments.
Finding New Ways To Connect
Because Franky can no longer hear his dad’s voice, he relies heavily on physical touch to feel safe. If he doesn’t see Luke right away, he immediately starts searching for him.
Luke has adapted beautifully to his senior dog’s needs. He makes sure to always give Franky some kind of physical contact to provide him with constant comfort.
A gentle pet or a warm hug lets Franky know that his dad is right there, watching over him just like he always has.
A Social Butterfly
Despite his age and his hearing loss, Franky still loves to be wherever the people are. He is incredibly social and wants to greet every single person and dog they pass on their walks.
If he doesn’t get to say hi, he gives Luke a disappointed look. Because of this, Luke is perfectly trained to help his dog make friends.
“Hey, nice to meet you. This is my dog,” Luke will tell strangers. “Can you please pet him too?”
Defying The Odds
Now living in Houston, Texas, Franky has developed the soulful, wise look of an elder statesman. He is deaf and arthritic, but he is still remarkably healthy.
Franky is nearly 15 years old, completely defying the odds for his breed, which typically only lives 10 to 12 years.
Luke attributes his best friend’s impressive longevity to their active lifestyle. For years, the pair took an hour-long walk every morning and another hour-long walk every late afternoon.
An Unbreakable Bond
To celebrate Franky’s upcoming 15th birthday on July 5th, Luke plans to decorate his car and drive around the neighborhood so everyone can come by and pet his beloved senior dog.
Their bond remains as strong as the day they met. Whenever Luke flies through the airport where he first picked Franky up, he still looks over at that exact spot and gets emotional.
Luke can’t remember life before Franky, and he refuses to imagine life without him. To him, Franky is a once-in-a-lifetime dog who will always be his child.
