In America and beyond, Golden Retrievers are a well-loved breed. And for a Golden in distress, there’s no better friend than the Middle Tennessee Golden Retriever Rescue, headquartered right here in Franklin.

Ginger is a MTGRR success story who happily calls herself a Franklin dog. She’s part of the Waller family consisting of Gerald, Marcie, Aaron and Daniel.

Ginger’s “before” story is not a happy one.  Rescued in late 2008 by MTGRR, she was one of six dogs that had been used all their lives to produce litters.

MTGRR volunteer Sarah Sherck explains, “Over-breeding and lack of vet treatment caused them to develop painful infection called mastitis. The infection can kill the litter and cause severe swelling and huge tumors. In addition, the excessive breeding resulted in an aggressive form of malignant ovarian cancer for at least one dog. MTGRR paid extensive medical bills to treat these dogs and placed them into loving and responsible hands, where they are getting affection, care, and kind attention for the first time in their lives.

Marcie, the “mom” at Ginger’s forever Franklin home, says, “It has taken some time for us to win Ginger over. We have had her a little over a year and I think she is finally convinced this is her forever home and that we are safe and love her very much.”

As dog-lovers the Wallers are truly golden. After they sadly had to say good-by to their oldest Golden due to bone cancer, they added another to their family — Bama, adopted a week before Thanksgiving.

MTGRR is regularly in need of foster homes before dogs are placed in their forever home. You can access their website through our blogroll

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.

Your pet will be overwhelmed with emotion.

Prior to a family vacation a few years ago, I stopped by our Williamson County Public Library and checked out the audio version of Lad, a Dog. I recalled seeing the 1962 movie version at a drive-in theatre with my parents on a vacation of our own and thought it would make good listening while my passengers slept. I under-estimated the power of Terhune’s picturesque writing. Everyone was interested.

Only recently I recalled that the name I choose for the American Eskimo Dog of my boyhood was from another Terhune book, A Dog Named Chips. Nowadays, sitting on my bookshelf is the appropriately weathered copy that my wife, Lisa, thoughtfully searched out as a gift for me.

A Dog Named Chips, though more light-hearted than other Terhune novels, is just as engaging…enough to make a dog-loving boy name his best friend Chips.

Randy Smith

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 a wonderful article. Jake’s many heroics included tracking a disoriented diabetic who had wandered into the woods.

Jake began a legacy that continues through all our local law enforcement K9 units.

Later last night, I was thinking about her question and realized that the bottomline answer is really pretty simple: We paid attention. We knew simply by observing him that something wasn’t right, and closer inspection revealed the problem. Here comes the spiritual part: People don’t always just say what areas of their lives could use a little tender, loving care. Sometimes you have to pay attention and take note of moments when they don’t seem quite like themselves. You don’t then have to pry into their private matters, but a gentle prayer or unexpected word of encouragement might be just what they need. Before you can offer that, however, you have to be paying enough attention to realize something is wrong. I encourage you this week to take a careful look at the people around you, whether strangers, friends or family members. Their pain may not be spoken, but that doesn’t mean you can’t notice and care.

Blessings,

Brooklyn Lowery

_____________________________

Though she now lives in nearby Crieve Hall, Brooklyn grew up in Franklin and graduated from Centennial High School. As for Jersey, her handsome dog that’s pictured above…..well, he was fortunate enough to be chosen by Brooklyn at a puppy adoption day at Happy Tales Humane.

Brooklyn is an editor with LifeWay Christian Resources.

2. Once you’ve reached a “Page” look at down the left hand column, and under “Blogroll,” click on “Create a Profile for You and Your Franklin Dog.” This will take you to a page headed “Franklin Dog: Create Your Own Profile.”

3. On the right of the page, you’ll see a block that says, “Welcome to

Franklin Dog: Create Your Own Profile.” Click on “Sign Up.”

4. Fill in the requested information. Write down your password for future reference. On this “Create Your Profile”page, entered your Full Name and, if you have a picture of you, your dog, or you AND your dog, upload it.

Fill in the last two questions and click “Join.”

Voila! You’ll see a page with a message that says “Welcome to Franklin

Dog: Create you Own Profile, (Your Name)!”

5. Now, why don’t you go to the left of the page.

*Click on the individual pictures of Members to see other people who have joined.

*Or add some photos!

*Or go to the middle column under “Latest Activity” and see information

that other members have recently posted.

*Or go to the brown banner at the top of the page, click on “Add content,” and post some information about you and your Franklin Dog.

–

http://www.chuys.com/#/nashville

What’s it got to do with Franklin Dogs? It seems that they’re building a wall of pictures of our famous Franklin Dogs.

They’re accepting framed dog photos from now until the end of October. The Chuy’s team will be available Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Facebook members can check it out at

http://www.facebook.com/ChuysNashville#/photo.php?pid=3123356&id=81925186839

Your pet will be overwhelmed with emotion.