She adopted this adorable dog in need of help and nurtured her throughout her weight loss journey.
Dogs are cherished members of many families, often showered with love, attention, and, unfortunately, sometimes a bit too much food. While it is true that we love dogs, it is important to keep our furry friends healthy and happy. Dogs can also end up being overweight for many reasons, including overfeeding, lack of exercise and even certain health conditions. Veterinary student, Annika Bram, encountered an 8-year-old dog named Frannie who was severely overweight at 125 pounds and was going to get euthanized by her owners, per The Washington Post.
@franniesfight Frannie has been working so hard every single day and is now getting up much more often on her own! She still definitely appreciates the help getting up but when she really wants something (and she’s on non-slip ground) she can actually get up on her own! She has been particularly getting up when I leave her sight and she wants to see where I went! I often come back to her and she’s already standing walking towards me! I can tell she is going to be a major “Velcro dog”. She has improved SO much in this last month and we cannot see what this next month has in store for her! 💗💗 @Rovers_Retreat #fightlikefrannie #fyp #foryoupage #dogsoftiktok #dogs #goldenretriever #goldenretrieverlife #dogrescue #rescuedog #rescueanimals #animalrescue #obesity #weightloss #animalsoftiktok ♬ Happier – Marshmello & Bastille
Bram encountered Frannie on an Instagram post by Rovers Retreat, a rescue service for dogs. The post reveals how the adorable dog could barely stand up and was “defeated.” Her owners had made her live outside, and as a result, she developed callouses on her legs. Bram had only recently witnessed her rescue dog, Georgia, pass away last May and seeing Frannie reminded her of her lost dog who was also overweight.
Frannie became overweight as a result of predominantly staying in the backyard and eating a lot of table scraps that the family fed her. Coupled with her hypothyroidism, it caused her to gain weight very quickly. The condition is quite common among dogs and can cause unexplained gains in weight, skin issues and reduced energy levels. Sydney Maleman, president of the rescue group, revealed how it took four people to get Frannie into the back of their minivan.
@franniesfight Frannie has been working so hard every single day and is now getting up much more often on her own! She still definitely appreciates the help getting up but when she really wants something (and she’s on non-slip ground) she can actually get up on her own! She has been particularly getting up when I leave her sight and she wants to see where I went! I often come back to her and she’s already standing walking towards me! I can tell she is going to be a major “Velcro dog”. She has improved SO much in this last month and we cannot see what this next month has in store for her! 💗💗 @Rovers_Retreat #fightlikefrannie #fyp #foryoupage #dogsoftiktok #dogs #goldenretriever #goldenretrieverlife #dogrescue #rescuedog #rescueanimals #animalrescue #obesity #weightloss #animalsoftiktok ♬ Happier – Marshmello & Bastille
Even after being rescued, Frannie had to be treated for pneumonia. Once she had been somewhat treated for her condition, it became obvious that Bram was the ideal person to adopt Frannie. Maleman said, “Annika just kept following up. After talking to her, we just knew that she was going to set Frannie up for success; she was willing to do everything and anything for a dog she never met.”
@franniesfight Frannie had so much fun last weekend when we brought her to the snow so we took her again! I could already tell how much she has improved from last weekend as she was walking around so much easier and with a lot more confidence! And she also had lots of fun playing in the snow and helping us build a snowman, which she stole the tennis ball eyes off of 😂😂 Thank you so much to @dokbrand for sending Frannie these fantastic boots that help keep her paws protected and also increasing her mobility! They are a huge help! #fightlikefrannie #fyp #foryoupage #dogsoftiktok #dogs #goldenretriever #goldenretrieverlife #dogrescue #rescuedog #rescueanimals #animalrescue #obesity #weightloss #animalsoftiktok #petsoftiktok ♬ Don’t I Make It Look Easy – Meghan Trainor
Bram was also quite determined to turn Frannie’s life around, saying, “I knew I was the best person to help this dog, and if anyone was going to do it, I was going to do it. I wasn’t going to give up that easy.” Bram started a TikTok page for Frannie, which goes by @franniesfight, to document her incredible weight-loss journey. She ended up losing an impressive 31 pounds over the course of three months.
One of the latest posts on her page reveals how she could run after her favorite tennis ball. The caption reads, “She’s running!!!!!!!!! Guys this is huge!!!! The joy we shared when she realized she could RUN after her tennis ball was so incredible! Nothing can stop Frannie’s determination!!!” People were showering words of support for Frannie in the comments section. @bubbabiggle6 commented, “That is the most precious sight tonight! She’s got a new life and energy to live it. What a blessing you are to her. Frannies angel!” @donksthebaby said, “Bless you guys for giving her another chance at life.”