FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WKRN) – When a puppy was spotted wandering near the interstate in Franklin, 911 calls began flooding into the Franklin Police Department.
Drivers saw the dog around the Murfreesboro Road exit off I-65 South. Callers said the puppy was scared and wearing a harness.
Franklin officers Jami Lawlor and Dillon Lipinski quickly arrived and, along with a good samaritan, tried to coax the frightened dog out of the wood line.
On body camera footage, you can see and hear the officers’ efforts for the 40 minutes they were on scene.
“This dog belongs to someone for sure,” Lipinski said.
Officer Lipinski quickly found the dog near a steep drop off in the thicket.
“There’s a little creek down there. It’s a bit of a far drop right there,” he said on body cam.
By this time, Animal Control Officer Craig Coe arrived on scene and, along with Lipinksi, made their way into the thicket. The men crawled on their knees, speaking softly trying to coax the dog to safety.
Coe had a hard time seeing the black and brown dog that appeared to blend into the darkening wood line, but Lipinski saw the tiny dog and pointed it out to Coe, who had the proper equipment with him.
“You have some great eyes there,” Coe told Lipinski.
“I used to do this for a living as K-9, being in the woods looking for mostly people,” Lipinski replied.
After about 40 minutes, the dog was found and Coe passed the dog to Lipinski, who clutched the frightened animal and brought her out of the woods.
Coe thanked the officers for their steadfast dedication to the tiny creature.
Lawlor chimed in with a smile.
“We get some resolution. It’s not very often we get good resolution for stuff.”
To her partner, Lipinski, she joked, “This is our manhunt for the day.”
The puppy is currently safe and sound at Williamson County Animal Control. Her ownership status is still being determined.
Officials told News 2 the 6-month-old female pup had no ID and was not microchipped. Shelter officials said they return about 40% of lost dogs to their owners. That number almost doubles when the dogs are microchipped.
If you recognize the puppy, call the Williamson County Animal Center at 615-790-5590.
