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.
The Tennessean came out to Honey Bear’s home in the Hillsboro Acres neighborhood in Franklin to talk about the Meadowgreen/Grassland area sewer project. Well actually, it was the opinion of owner Eddie Benzon that mattered most. But Honey Bear looks mighty photogenic in pictures on 1W and 5W.
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.
US Police Canine Assn. Competition
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, they 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:
I ask you – is there a bigger personality among Franklin dogs than Sally, the Weimaraner? In the dog-eat-dog world of newspaper journalism, she’s the only gal we know that has her own column, The Wag, in the Williamson A.M. section of The Tennessean.
And now, Franklin Dog has one of the biggest scoops of the year…..Her Mom, Vicki Stout, interceded for us and talk Sally into granting Franklin Dog what is believed to be her first one-on-one interview. Read on to get answers to all those questions you’ve always wanted to ask Sally.
FD: Sally, since your columns are written in first-person (first-dog?) it
begs the obvious question: PC or Mac?
Sally: Oh, dog, we are PC but Mom promises me a Mac next time. We have had so much doggie trouble with our desktop and our laptop; and as you might imagine, a laptop is tough for a dog anyway. I can’t hold it, but Mom puts it on an ottoman so I can type. The keyboard is so different, still and all, we’ve decided next time, we’re going Mac!
FD: Where do you get your inspiration for The Wag? Do you ever have
writer’s block? Are you ever left scratching your head for ideas?
Sally: Dog, no. We live an interesting life over here. There’s always plenty to write about. I have never had doggie writer’s block, and I don’t think my Mom has either.
FD: Our goal is to make Franklin dogs famous. So in your opinion, who do
you see as up-and-coming socialites in the world of Franklin dogs?
Sally: Well, of course Watson and Lizzie Schroer (Mayor John Schroer, owner), first dogs, are at the top of the heap. Truthfully after that, I just like to write about all dogs….and some kitties…..we furry folks could care less about who’s who. Dogs are dogs and cats are cats and we are pretty much equal opportunity breeds.
FD: Do you, or Pup, fetch The Tennessean for Mom?
Sally: Oh, dog, Pup used to chew up the paper so Mom just brings it in on her own, and she and I read it together. Pup is just not as literary as I.
FD: Paws down, you’re the Number One news hound in Franklin. In your
opinion, where’s the best hang-out in Franklin to sniff out the latest
tales and hear “all that’s good about the famous dogs of Franklin?”
Sally: Well, Pup and I love Pinkerton Park. We also love Curious Gourmet cause we can sit on their patio…well I think it’s a sidewalk….with our people. More restaurants should be pet friendly! We also meet lots of dogs walking out at Carnton Plantation, on the battlefield…………….word to the wise….take your peeps out there to walk.
FD: Thanks, Sally! We look forward to reading more of The Wag!
Join our Facebook Group, Franklin Dog of Tennessee
A story and picture to make every Franklin Dog proud is on pg. 5 of the May 20th Franklin Review Appeal section of The Tennessean. Lisa Kirchner and her therapy dog Emily served in Project READ (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) at Franklin’s Moore Elementary School.
And in “The Wag”….oh dog! Sally mentions just about every Franklin dog there is! Check it out on pg. 12.
…….show up on pg. 7W of the June 28 Williamson A.M. section of The Tennessean. Pictures of these Franklin dogs and owners were snapped as they stopped in at “”One Big Wag,” a fundraiser celebration staged by Happy Tales Humane, Franklin’s no-kill animal shelter.
You can always keep up with Happy Tales by clicking on the link in our blogroll.
Rodney Whaley’s dogsledding epics have his pack some of our most famous Franklin dogs. Even while Rodney’s serving in Kuwait, Muktuk showed up on p. 5W of Williamson A.M. today, Tuesday, April 21 in connection with an appearance at Woodland Middle School.
