03/09/2025
Our shop dog and soul dog, Franklin, was promoted to Director of the Rainbow Branch of Sweet Tea Craftworks on February 24th, 2025. 🌈 🐶
Pet loss is a unique kind of grief. You get the joy of untouched, enduring love and companionship, but you also bear the devastating responsibility of whispering quiet reassurances, words of gratitude, and goodbye as their eyes flutter closed for the last time.
Franklin was there for everything. He came to our wedding and on vacations. He became our shop dog because he insisted on staying outside in the Woodshop to be near us despite the loud noises. He turned devout “not dog people” into dog lovers. When we adopted him at 3 years old, he was an old man trapped in a tiny body. He was a grump about the snow. He passed out candy at Halloween with us every year. He liked being the little spoon. He was a mole hunter. He never caught one, but his little snoot looked pretty cute covered in dirt.
He was also with us through life’s hardest moments — the chaos of COVID lockdowns, rescheduling a wedding, Phil’s military commitments that took him away from home for long stretches, health issues, and the challenge of building a community far from our support system. He helped make Virginia feel like home. When we adopted Franklin, we signed up to take care of him, but I didn’t expect him to take care of us. He taught us a lot about the bond between a dog and his people.
There will never be another Franklin. I miss coming home and seeing him sitting on the kitchen table keeping watch with his Batman ears. We were so lucky to have been his people. We are shattered, but so grateful for the love we had from this stray dog from Rayville, Louisiana. 5 years wasn’t nearly enough, but 500 wouldn’t have been either.
We love you forever, Frankie, Bubba, Frank the Tank, Frank and Beans, Sassy, Barky Boy, and Employee of the Month. The Shop won’t be the same without you. Keep Rocco in line until we get there. ❤️
