Elementary Students Write 100 Heartfelt Letters to Help Shelter Dog Find a Home

Three years ago, a puppy named Franny left PAWS Chicago for what she thought would be her forever home. But before long, she was returned — and she’s been waiting ever since.

Finding a new family hasn’t been easy for Franny. She’s best suited for a home without cats, young kids, or other dogs, which has caused many potential adopters to pass her by.

And like many long-term shelter residents, the longer she stays, the harder it becomes to get noticed.

Despite this, everyone at PAWS adores her. Volunteers describe her as sweet, playful, and full of charm — a dog who greets friends with her signature grin and a happy little wiggle, usually while carrying her favorite toy.

One day, Joey Masloski, who co-runs a TikTok account dedicated to finding homes for long-term shelter dogs, met Franny for the first time. She ran right up to him, tail wagging and toy in mouth, and instantly won his heart. He knew she needed something extra to help her stand out.

@eric.and.joey
Today I met Franny—the longest-term resident at @PAWS Chicago . She’s been in the shelter for nearly three years. Adopted as a puppy. Returned shortly after. Since then, she’s become a staff favorite—everyone I talked to mentioned her by name. Franny is sweet, smart, and has a few quirks. She needs a quiet home, no kids, and ideally a yard. She’s not that dog-social, but she’s deeply human-connected. She just hasn’t found her person yet. So this is Day 1 of posting Franny until she’s adopted. We’re going to keep showing up, telling her story, and doing everything we can to get her home. She’s almost 4 years old and fully ready for her forever. If you’re interested in adopting Franny, visit PAWS Chicago to learn more. If you want to support what we’re doing, comment “Bandana” to check out our shop. Every purchase helps us help more dogs like her. Let’s get Franny home.
♬ original sound – Jwlpiano_🎹 – Jwlpiano_🎹

That’s when Joey had an idea: enlist the help of local elementary school students. He visited four schools in the Chicago area, asking kids to write letters encouraging someone to adopt Franny.

@eric.and.joey
I had this idea—what if we got kids to write letters to Franny to help her get adopted? So I reached out to a few schools, and they showed their students Franny’s videos and photos… and the kids went off. Today, I picked up over 100 letters across four schools—and every single one had the sweetest message for her. 💌 Thank you to Winkleman, Countryside Montessori, Edison Park, and 12 Tone Music School for doing something this thoughtful. Franny still needs a home, and these letters are just one more reason why she deserves one. Franny does need a specific kind of home, so give @PAWS Chicago a call to see if she’d be the right fit for yours. 🐾 #Franny #AdoptDontShop #RescueDog #DogRescue #ShelterDog #AnimalRescue #LettersForFranny #PAWSChicago
♬ Upside Down – Jack Johnson

The response was overwhelming — more than 100 letters poured in, complete with colorful drawings and sweet messages like, “I hope you find a home, Franny,” and “Love you, Franny.”

Thanks to the campaign, Franny has since moved into a foster home, giving her a much-needed break from the shelter and a chance to adjust to life in a house again. But her foster family can’t adopt her, so she’s still searching for the perfect forever home.

Her adoption profile describes her as a “10/10 couch companion” who will greet you with “the happiest wiggle butt” every time you walk through the door.

“She’s still waiting — still sweet, still hopeful,” Joey says.

Maybe the next person to read her story will be the one to finally bring her home.

If you're interested in adopting Franny, you can check out her adoption profile here. To keep up with Masloski on TikTok, you can follow @eric.and.joey here.