Georgia Magazine - November 2021 - 27

Alastor, a sweet " tripod "
(three-legged dog) available
for adoption at The Flawed
Dog, is housebroken and
would do best as an only
pet. He is at least 8 and came
back to The Flawed Dog
when his adopter passed away.
Left: A client at the Athens Community
Council on Aging snuggles with Cher,
a 16-year-old poodle from Frankie and
Andy's Place. Above: Many dogs there
are named for celebrities, including
Justin Timberlake, a three-legged
Yorkshire terrier.
According to Best Friends Animal Society, a national animalwelfare
nonprofit organization, nearly 15,000 dogs and cats were
euthanized last year in Georgia-the seventh-highest number of
euthanized animals among the states.
Beating the odds
Frankie and Andy were two dogs who not only defied the
odds but also became the inspiration for the sanctuary that
bears their names.
Frankie, a Great Dane, was found tied to a tree, left with no
food or water. He was taken into a shelter, where the fear, stress
and confusion led him to stop drinking and eating. Miller,
realizing that Frankie was on the brink of death, adopted him.
At that time she was working as a behaviorist and
rescuing one shelter dog at a time, then rehoming him or her
to the right person. Frankie found a home with two sisters,
who also adopted a Lab mix from a shelter. The shelter staff
had dubbed him N.N.D.-short for " No-Name Dog. " After
much repetition of the name, his new owner decided that it
sounded like " Andy, " and the name stuck.
The two dogs became best buddies, and the sisters and
Miller bonded over their passion for animals. Today, Miller
gratefully credits them as the " silent partners " who were
instrumental in making Frankie and Andy's Place a reality.
Andy was no match for Frankie in size, except for his
heart-big enough for every creature, whether two- or fourlegged.
Both dogs went on to become teachers of sorts, showing
the humans around them what senior dogs need, want and are
truly capable of.
Miller, who had years of education and experience in the
field, was willing to be schooled further. Her lifelong purpose
rose from her rage after seeing a trainer use a choke chain to
almost strangle her dog into submission. Her latest achievement,
the creation of the sanctuary known as Frankie and
Andy's Place, has proved to be a well-thought-out prototype
of the possibilities with senior dogs. Most importantly, this
becomes their final home; they are never homeless or up for
adoption again.
" The holistic approach is basically looking at the dog as a
whole-every area of his life, from his home environment to
his nourishment to his ability to have quality and meaningful
relationships he can trust, " Miller says.
Dubbed " the Cocoon, " the place is nothing less than a
five-star canine retirement home: homemade meals, unleashed
freedom, sunbathing, swimming, massages, light therapy,
medical and natural treatments, and a wealth of comfy chairs
and sofas. Just like in the 1985 movie with a similar name, the
seniors become miraculously rejuvenated.
When they are ready-physically and emotionally-these
older dogs transform into working dogs. Dogs are intuitive healers,
ready to share snuggles and wet kisses with the lonely, the
bullied, the introverted and the dejected. These dogs routinely
www.georgiamagazine.org 27
COURTESY FRANKIE AND ANDY'S PLACE
COURTESY FRANKIE AND ANDY'S PLACE
COURTESY THE FLAWED DOG
http://www.georgiamagazine.org
Georgia Magazine - November 2021

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