A tragic story on Page 3W of today’s Williamson A.M. deserves our attention. Two sisters took a couple dogs to play in a pond near Spencer Creek Road. Shots rang out from a line of trees and one of the dogs dropped to the ground.
Nala, identified in the paper as an Anatolian shepherd mix, is in stable condition following treatment at Animal Ark Hospital.
According to the paper, anyone with information should contact Franklin Police at 615.794.2513 or anonymous tips can be sent via text to 615.814.7411 with the keyword 615FPD and a text message.
When the firefighters from the Fifth Avenue Fire House in Pittsburgh joined up with the 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry, they brought their mascot, a brown and white bull terrier who became known as Union Jack and carved out his own placed in Civil War history. When his soldier friends were fainting from thirst, Jack would always run ahead and upon discovering a pool of water would rush back, barking loudly with the news. When the soldiers struggled to stay alive on their five-day ration of five crackers, Jack went into action and would catch chickens for them.
We recognize accomplishments of Franklin dogs, especially in the area of service to the community, and also work with owners interested in using their dogs to reach out to others.
Franklin K9 Take 1st and 2nd in National Event!
Franklin PD Canines Sting and Titan let 27 challengers know that they were not be outdone - not in their house! And they did it convincingly! Working with their human teammates, our Franklin police dogs placed first and second overall, besting 27 challengers and winning 14 of 28 awards.
Franklin played host to the 2009 United States Police Canine Association Competition Thursday and Friday, May 14-15, in events including canine agility, obedience, suspect search and criminal apprehension.
“While very proud of their performance, I am not at all surprised,” said Chief Jackie Moore. “The Franklin Police Department stives for excellence in every area. The fact that our two competing officer/canine teams walked away with 50% of this year’s honors is evidence of just that.”
Along with winning first overall, Sgt. Aaron Compton and Sting won first in agility and total search; second in obedience, article search and criminal apprehension; and third in tracking. Having earned the highest combined obedience and criminal apprehension scores, Sgt. Compton and Sting also received the Sgt. Jimmy D. Anderson Memorial Award.
Officer Charlie Richards and Titan showed that our Franklin team has depth as well as quality. They took first in obedience and tracking; second place in total search; and third place in article search and box search.
And next year…..be on notice! Franklin’s two newest K9 Officers and their partners, Brad Dorman (Nash) and Brett Spivy (Axel) will join the fray!
Three join the ranks of our Franklin Dogs in Blue
The ranks of Franklin dog’s finest has grown with the addition of three “dogs in blue.”
Graduation ceremonies for Franklin Police Officers Brett Spivy and Brad Dorman and Williamson County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Grandy and their respective canine partners (Axel, Nash and Lexer) were held recently at Franklin Police Department.
Fellow officers and family members celebrated the completion of 20 weeks of intensive training for the officer and their new canine chargers.
The Franklin PD canine program is overseen by Sergeant Aaron Compton. “These officers should be commended for their dedication and hard work. Being a K9 Officer is one of the most demanding assignments in the department; it’s also one of the most rewarding,” says Sergeant Compton.
Nash and Axel join Sting (with Sergeant Compton) and Titan (with Officer Charlie Richards) in Franklin’s K9 program. It’s the handsome muzzles of Sting and Titan that appear with their human partners on trading cards distributed at community appearances.
Franklin Chief Jackie Moore says, “A strong K9 program is a vital component to the success of this agency. The success that we have had utilizing highly-trained dogs and handlers to help get drugs and dangerous criminals off of our streets is immeasurable.”
Deputy Grandy’s partner, Lexer, joins two other canines at the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Jeff Long says, “I particularly appreciate the opportunity we have had to work so closely with the Franklin Police Department in the training of Deputy Grandy and Lexer.”
Would-be criminals should beware! Three super Franklin Dogs started patrolling their beats on Friday, April 17.
Thanks to photographer Jen Cook for supplying images. Check out:
Franklin , Tennessee – April 5, 2010 – The Battle of Franklin Trust Board of Directors Chairman Marianne Schroer announced today a ceremony and dedication is set for Saturday, April 17th to formally open the recaptured tract of land that served as the garden for the Carter family and witnessed some of the most horrific fighting of the November 30, 1864, Battle of Franklin. The public is invited to attend this free event which will be held from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
It’s an event that every Franklin Dog needs to attend! The grand opening and dedication of a dog park at the historic Park at Harlinsdale Farm will be Monday, April 12 at 6 p.m.
The first 100 people (and their dogs) to visit the off-leash fenced park will receive a memento.
This amazing property is located on Franklin Road between downtown and Mack Hatcher. The 200-acre Harlinsdale Farm has been called the most significant historic farm associated with the modern Tennessee Walking Horse industry. Purchased by the City of Franklin, the park’s first phase was opened in September 2007.
The dog park, named The K-9 Korral, features half an acre of fenced area that was formerly the horses’ paddock. It is located on the south side of the barn, right off the parking lot area.
A notice from the Parks Department advises that dog licenses and rabies tags and vaccinations must be current, and dogs must be over 4 months old. when outside the fenced area, dogs must be leashed.
For more information, call the Parks Administration at 794-2103.
Core Value 3: OUR COMMUNITY AND ITS HERITAGE
We believe that as dogs can enhance the lives of families and individuals, they can also connect us on an individual and community level. We look for ways to use dogs to build bridge between members of our community. We recognize accomplishments of Franklin dogs, especially in the area of service to the community, and also work with owners interested in using their dogs to reach out to others. The Franklin Dog brand embraces our community’s history and its pride as a significant Civil War battleground.
Sitting on your coffee table may be a makeshift scrapbookof less-than-professional snapshots of your Franklin dog. But visit www.framedbyfletcher.com and see why there are a couple of Franklin dogs with portfolios to brag about. After all, they’re owned by quite a creative couple, professional photographers Jonathan and Blakley Fletcher.
Weddings, portraits, special events — the website showcases work in a multitude of categories, including pets. You’ll also find emotion-packed pictures of historic Franklin. The couple fell in love with the city on an earlier visit and moved here last year from Houston, TX putting them closer to family in north Mississippi.
Jonathan and Blakley didn’t come alone. About eight years ago, the Fletcher home welcomed two chihuahua pups (sisters, actually), Sandy (the boss) and Cheesecake (afraid of her shadow, afraid of walking on hardwood floors and afraid of drinking out of a bowl that is anything but plastic).
“We can’t imagine life without them,” Jonathan says.
So which is easier to photograph: people or pets?
Jonathan answers, “Many times it’s easier to photograph pets for the simple reason that they cannot help but be themselves and give you their honest emotions all the time. And really, a real emotion, feeling or action is what makes a photograph really stand out.”
Here’s a tip for even amateur photographers: “We find it’s best to find out what makes the pet happiest and photograph them doing just that. Some of my favorite photos of one of our dogs is her in a completely airborne, leaping position as she chases her little miniature soccer ball across the yard. Chasing the ball is what makes her the happiest, and you can’t help but see that and smile when you look at the photo,” he says.
“Sure sometimes a dog will lick the camera lens, whereas a human client might not,” he says. “But it’s all a part of the fun.”
Sandy in flight
Core Value 3: COMMUNITY AND ITS HERITAGE
We believe that as dogs can enhance the lives of families and individuals, they can also connect us on an individual and community level. We look for ways to use dogs to build bridges between members of our community. We recognize accomplishments of Franklin dogs, especially in the area of serve to the community, and also work with owners interested in using their dogs to reach out to others. The Franklin Dog brand embraces our community’s history and its pride as a significant Civil War battleground.
Piper is a little Franklin dog with a great big job! And as her owner, I’m glad to be teaming up with her! She was seemingly custom made to curl up in the lap of a child and lovingly listen as they read to her and play with her long silky ears.
A 5-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Piper is a Registered Delta Therapy Dog (Go to a Page, See Blogroll: Therapy ARC) and a Reading Education Assistance Dog (Go to a Page, See Blogroll: READ).
The mission of the READ program is to improve the literacy skills of children through the assistance of registered therapy teams as literacy mentors. Piper and I make up one of many READ teams in the Middle Tennessee area.
If you would like an opportunity to meet and READ to Piper or some of her buddies, join them at the Williamson County Library on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Several teams are available for individual 15-minute appointments with a child. Advanced reservation is required, so please call 595-1244 for your appointment.
We are proud of the good work Piper and her READing Dog friends are doing in our community!
Heather Pass
Becoming a READ team
Here’s the process Piper and I went through to become a team. It took about six months.
1. To become a READing dog, you must first become a Delta Registered Pet Partner Therapy Team. The process is detailed here: http://www.therapyarc.org/Pet_Partner_Process.htm. Because of scheduling conflict with the classes, we choose to order the workbook from the Delta website and self train for the evaluation. We spent about six weeks doing this.
2. We scheduled our evaluation through the local Delta chapter: Therapy ARC http://www.therapyarc.org/. Contact Ken Bell at kensk9comcast.net. Evaluations are scheduled about four times a year. They fill up quickly.
3. After passing the evaluation, we sent in our completed registration packet and became an official therapy team.
Then, we decided to focus our Therapy by becoming a READ team.
1. First, we had to fill out the initial application online: http://readingpaws.org/Application%20for%20Training%20FormFL.htm.
2. Then we attended the one-day class to become READ certified. This class is offered a few times a year (contact Helen Wahl at Helen@READingPaws.org).
3. We began by working with the Williamson County Library once a month, and then requested a placement in a local elementary school. We are now serving at Crockett Elementary once a week.
If you have a question concerning any type of therapy work with your Franklin Dog, email it to therapy@franklindog.com.
Core Value 3: OUR COMMUNITY AND ITS HERITAGE
We believe that as dogs can enhance the lives of families and individuals, they can also connect us on an individual and community level. We look for ways to use dogs to build bridges between members of our community. We recognize accomplishments of Franklin dogs, especially in the area of service to the community, and also work with owners interested in using their dogs to reach out to others. The Franklin Dog brand embraces our community’s history and its pride as a significant Civil War battleground.
Stop in at Keke’s Kitchen Dog Bakery and Boutique and meet another family that’s discovered that Franklin is a great place for dogs and dog lovers.
Located one block south of Moores Lane on Franklin Rd. (next to Gateway Village), Keke’s, owned by Keke, Leo and Stephanie Sotiros, is an extension of a business that opened in Wisconsin in 2005.
When they were ready to expand, Franklin was their choice. “This city fit all of our criteria,” says Stephanie.
“This is a very dog-loving community,” she says. “People open their hearts and their homes to dogs. The rescue effort is amazing and I admire how the community helps support the rescues, shelters and breed rescues.”
Among their best sellers are their cookies, freshly baked in Keke’s kitchen. Over 75 varieties are naturally preserved, made with nutritious ingredients with no sugar, salt, wheat, or or corn.
And even non-dog owners can find something for themselves: Greek Baklava and Stephanie’s Fudge Brownies are always available. Plus, there’s the boutique side of the business featuring Keke’s original artwork.
Collars, leashes, beds, toys, grooming products, naturally-preserved dog food and chew treats, protein treats and more are also in the inventory.
The Sotiros family has added to the Franklin dog population with Saxby (Scottish Terrier), Poppy (French Bulldog) and Vinne, a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen (PBGV) who is a trained Search and Rescue Canine for Williamson County.
For many years, Stephanie bred, raised and showed Bernese Mountain Dogs and Clumber Spaniels. In the past, a Maltese, Wirehaired Dachshund and a West Highland White Terrier have been a part of their lives.
Check out www.kekeskitchen.com. Keke’s does mail-order, and you can have gifts sent to others.
Remember our story about local musher Rodney Whaley? Well, Vickie , his wife, gave him an out-of-sight Christmas present: a 12-month-old husky. Koyuk (in the forefront of the picture) is already running with the team.
By the way, Rodney is one of the organizers of the inauguaral Music City Dryland Sled Dog Challenge. To find out more, contact Rodney at rodneywhaley@att.net or at www.tnsleddogs.com.
Are you starting 2010 with a new Franklin dog of your own? Let us know at randy@franklindog.com
It’s an event that every Franklin Dog needs to attend! The grand opening and dedication of a dog park at the historic Park at Harlinsdale Farm will be Monday, April 12 at 6 p.m.
