Everyone Loves Franklin

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Hello dear reader. My name is Benjamin Franklin. Yes, that’s honestly my full name. I’m sure
you’ve all heard it before. And it’s true, I am named after our early forefather. But you can just call
me Franklin. I am an extremely handsome and incredibly intelligent cream-colored Golden
Retriever. This might sound decidedly immodest. But, besides my gorgeous good looks, I was top of
my class in service-dog school. Don’t chuckle. I have been studying to be a service dog since I was
eight weeks old and fully weaned from my stunningly beautiful mother

It was not easy to be accepted into this competitive program and even harder to pass the tests. I spent two years studying to be a helpful companion to a human with life challenging disabilities at Golden Paws Assistance Dogs based in Naples, Florida. We were called cadets and all learned basic commands such as – sit, stay, come.

But I was further trained to walk backwards in a straight line, believe me it’s not so simple when you have four legs. This comes in handy when I’m at the movie theater and need to walk rearward out of a row of seats when it is too hard to turn around. You might ask why I would be in a theater? Well, as a certified service animal I am allowed to go anywhere my human goes. Which is great because I love going to the movies. This is also especially useful when you are in tight quarters, and you can’t turn around like in a bathroom stall. I could calmly reverse my steps to exit, as I said, I can go anywhere my human goes.

During my training, I accomplished the skill known as “brace”. I stand firmly on all fours, and my human presses on my shoulders if they are on the ground and need help getting up. This is especially useful if someone is prone to falling. Also, I am a very intuitive pup. I can recognize when someone feels sad and go to them. Then I put my head in their lap or hop on the bed with them and stay there until their breathing slows.

When I was finished with my training, and ready for service, I was placed with a young woman, and helped her with PTSD induced nightmares. After four years, for reasons beyond my control, I have returned to Golden Paws where I received a warm welcome. My handlers, especially my favorite one, Lisa, spoiled me with treats and hugs. It was tough awaiting a new placement, and I so
hoped that it would be my forever home this time.

I knew I would find the right home, but I was still feeling sad. Golden retrievers are known to be highly emotional creatures. That’s especially true in my case. For example I have found myself crying like a puppy when I was watching my favorite movie, Legally Blonde 2 – Red White and Blonde when I learned that Bruiser’s mom was imprisoned in a cosmetic testing site.

While I waited for my next placement, I lived at the GPAWS training facility. Volunteer handlers
took turns walking and training me. I watched young cadets train in class. Occasionally, I even
offered advice to the young pups. But after a few weeks the excitement began to wear off, and I
wondered what was next for me. According to conversations that I overheard, they were
unsure what my next assignment should be. When would I find my forever person? I am a service
dog, and I needed to get back to work.

 

Then one day my handler mom – Lisa, took me aside and said, “Franklin, I have an idea. I think I might have the perfect person for you, sweet boy. His name is Dan, and he just lost his hearing service dog. He needs a companion. When he removes his hearing aids, he is, for all practical purposes, deaf. It will be your job Franklin to alert him if the fire alarm goes off. Or a car is behind him on the street. It’s going to take a few more weeks. But I am working on something special that will change your life forever.” I barked my approval. I couldn’t imagine what she had up her sleeve, but I trusted her and was very much interested in her plan. After all, she had been there for me when I was eight weeks old.
On the morning of March 23rd, 2022, my handler mom, Lisa, said to me, “Franklin, are you ready to go on a trip? I have two special friends that I want you to meet.” Yes, of course I am,” I barked. She is fluent in my golden-speak. As we were leaving, everyone shouted, “Goodbye Franklin and good luck Franklin!” Some people hugged me with tears in their eyes as Lisa led me out of the Golden Paws Center and into a big black SUV.
I had been in cars before, so it was no big deal, but this one made me feel very important. When we arrived at the airport, I was escorted through security like a VIP because we were met by one of the GPAWS handlers who is a former law enforcement officer
and works closely with the TSA at our local airport. I felt very special. I sensed everyone stopping to watch me as I trotted by.
Finally we traversed down a long narrow terminal through an entryway and sat in the first row, so I had plenty of room to stretch out. I had never been on one of these contraptions before. Once, as a young pup at the training center, I heard a story about
these big cars that flew in the air, but I was skeptical. How could people and dogs fly in the sky?
But here we were high above the ground in a bird-like machine called a jet. I am tall enough that I
could look out the window to see that we went higher and higher into the sky. We passed through
lots of fluffy white clouds. This jet was noisy and shook a lot too. A couple of hours went by when
I heard squealing noises beneath me. Then from the window I could see we were approaching terra
firma. The jet bounced and skipped on the ground. Passengers lurched in their seats several times
before a female voice said, “Welcome to Boston.” Being in the first row we disembarked before anyone else. The flight attendants all said, “Goodbye Franklin. Thank you for your service.”
From here we were whizzed away in another SUV. From the back window I saw houses and
factories, water and bridges, zoom by. I didn’t know where we were going; I just knew that this was
something to do with my handler mom’s plans for me and I couldn’t wait to arrive. One thing
was for sure, this place had no palm trees.
Then we slowly drove into a driveway and the car stopped. Peering out the window, I spied a tidy
yellow house. I couldn’t wait to get out of the car. I just knew that something good was about to
happen. I could feel it in my bones. When the door opened I jumped out and greeted the two men
standing in the doorway. Then Lisa let me off of my leash to explore my new surroundings. I
couldn’t contain myself; I dashed from room to room sniffing everywhere I went. There were no
kennels, no other dogs. It was a whole house just for me, Franklin!
I knew it instantly. These guys were my new people. They were my new dads. Dan and James. I was certain. They knelt down on
the floor and hugged me and stroked my soft golden head and shoulders with both hands. Let me
say here that I have a big broad golden retriever head, and it took both their hands to rub all of me.
By their actions, I could tell that they were as excited to meet me as I was to meet them. Then we
went outside to the backyard, where I got to play with toys. I ran around and around the yard, and
I heard Dan say, “This is all yours Franklin.”
All mine! I knew it already. I’m sensitive to things like this. I can feel it. I had never had my own
yard before. Now I could run and roll anytime I wanted to without a leash. My very own yard
with lots of grass. I sniffed around to make sure there was no smell of another dog. Or worse – a
cat.
Then my handler mom Lisa said, “I think someone has found a home.”
“I don’t think he’s leaving,” said James.
“I think he’s here for good,” Dan stated.
Over the next few days, my new dads couldn’t believe I was there. I heard them wonder how they
could have been so lucky to get this beautiful golden boy named Franklin? It just didn’t seem
possible to them. When Dan posted my first picture on Facebook, people were saying that his
former service dog, Morgan, had sent me to them. My dad wasn’t sure about this, but he
responded, “Well, if he did, he did it spectacularly.”
I had no idea what they meant by Facebook. Or why I had to pose for a picture. They kept telling
me to smile but I didn’t understand. From my picture, everyone could tell that I was a big boy. But
in real life I am positively huge. Polar bear huge!
Dan, who is a writer, wrote a blog about me and said, “Franklin had big shoes to fill. But we soon
realized that not only did he have a big head, and big paws, but he also had an even bigger heart,
and he helped mend our fractured lives.”
That night I discovered that I had my own bed set up right by my new dads’ bed. It had been a long
exciting day. From FLA to CC. I curled up on my new firm mattress and drifted off to dreamland
in nothing flat.

FranklinDanLisaBeach

FranklinDanJamesBackyard2025

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22 replies
    • Dan Perdios
      Dan Perdios says:

      Thanks Rick. Trying different marketing tools. Sorry the print was so weird. I couldn’t get it all in line. After several tries I just gave up.

      Reply
  3. Paula Smith
    Paula Smith says:

    That was very beautiful I love golden retrievers someday I will get one I lost my precious golden retriever when he was just a puppy I have so many golden retriever shirts that I buy but thanks so much for sharing your story

    Reply
    • Dan Perdios
      Dan Perdios says:

      You are so welcome Paula. Thank you for all your support. Sorry it came out so weird. I tried getting it all to print evenly but after several tries I gave up.

      Reply
  6. Barbara Gulbish
    Barbara Gulbish says:

    What a wonderful story Franklin, I’ve been following ur adventures since ur Dad list Morgan ! Iam so very happy that they have you and their life now I wish you the best. Continue to follow your stories. Take care and keep healthy and be happy cause life is too short

    Reply
  9. Bill
    Bill says:

    Loved the story of acquiring Franklin & “his” dog’s view of his dad’s & their caring for him …such a movable & meaningful early story about Franklin….one amazing dog & new family member!!!

    Reply
  10. Mary Ann Harris
    Mary Ann Harris says:

    I LOVE this article about Franklin! It makes me cry to read about how he went through his life to become a service dog. Franklin is so sensitive and intuitive about his entire journey. His “Dads” are VERY, VERY FORTUNATE to have such an exceptional dog in their lives. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE FRANKLIN IN MY LIFE!!! FRANKLIN YOU ARE AN AWESOME DOG AND LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU!!

    Reply

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