Kristina Helfer has always had a home full of dogs. Helfer works as the adoption and foster coordinator for Wise Animal Rescue, and over the years, she has taken in a few animals from the rescue group herself. This includes two pit bulls named Piper and Frank. Both pit bulls were found emaciated and covered in mange, and Helfer helped nurse them back to health.
In spring 2018, Helfer took in her newest animal: a 16-year-old Chihuahua named Tito.
Tito’s owner got sick and couldn’t care for him, and so she surrendered him to a shelter. Wise Animal Rescue found Tito there and took him in. When little Tito first arrived at the rescue organization, he had an infected mass on his back and a collapsed trachea. Because of that, he could barely breathe.
A veterinarian put together a medical plan for little Tito, and Helfer took him home with her. There, she started giving him medicine to help his breathing.
Helfer introduced Piper and Frank to Tito. Frank and Tito started bonding immediately.
“Frank immediately took to him,” Helfer told The Dodo. “He was going over to check on Tito constantly — just sniffing him, licking him … At first I was worried how Tito would react just since he’s very elderly and wasn’t in good health. But he took to Frank just as much.”
Frank sometimes suffers from anxiety, but he never lets that stop him from comforting the other dogs and people in his house. Helfer calls the sweet pup ‘Nurse Frank.’
“He is such a dad, and extremely in tune with other dogs. I’ve had foster puppies before that he’s stayed right by and licked to help keep clean. He just has this instinct to gravitate toward dogs who need help.”
Tito had surgery to remove the mass on his back, and his breathing got better. Frank stayed by Tito’s side from morning until night, making sure the little dog was okay.
Once Tito was well enough, Helfer wanted to start taking him around her neighborhood. But the little dog couldn’t walk very far, and so Helfer knew she needed to come up with a creative solution.
That’s when Helfer came up with the idea of having Frank carry Tito. Frank was up for it!
Everyone loves seeing Frank and Tito on their daily walks. Many people will stop Helfer to say how adorable the pair are.
“When we walk by, people are like, ‘That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!’” Helfer said. “They’re definitely breaking stereotypes about pit bull mixes, and senior dogs. Walking them is really special.”
When Frank and Tito aren’t taking walks, they spend most of their time napping together or sharing snacks. They’re also both big fans of lounging by the pool!
Frank and Tito are truly doggy soul mates. If you’d like to see more adorable photos of Tito and Frank, check out their Instagram page.
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