Thanks to Martha Keech for donating our beautiful
new dog sculpture to the shelter! We received
many, many suggestions on what to
name the dog, but the overwhelming favorite by a
large margin was definitely "Hope."

We think Hope is indeed the perfect name for our new mascot. She represents both the spirit of the people who work and volunteer here at the shelter and a symbol of promise for the dogs who have no other protector. Hope symbolizes the optimism of the dogs who come here. Even though a dog is lost or abandoned, and brought here to a strange place, he will still wag his tail at a stranger and hope for some small measure of kindness.

Now Hope lives at the Franklin County Dog Shelter.  She stands just outside the front door, and watches silently over the thousands of dogs who pass through the shelter each year. For many lost dogs it is a safe haven until they are reunited with their families.  For others who are simply unwanted, it represents a second chance for a better life.  Without the shelter there would be no hope for many of these animals.