K9 Franko

I met K-9 Franko in June 1997, after he emigrated from Czechoslovakia. Back then I was a deputy sheriff with the Lewis County Sheriff's Office in Washington State. For over 6 years we trained, worked, played and lived as a team, until he retired and spent his retirement in comfort with my wife, Sheila, our children and me. K-9 Franko was a truly dedicated working dog and he loved his job. His 95+ pounds served him well in the rugged terrain where we worked and against hostile suspects. He was courageous and never backed away from any duty, successfully tracking "bad guys" in the worst of conditions: swamps, mountains, snow, rivers & lakes and the thickest undergrowth Washington State has to offer.

K-9 Franko trained with me on the S.E.R.T. team and proved to be a valuable asset there as well. As a team, we were awarded the Red Cross Real Heroes Award twice; once for successfully tracking a woman who slit her wrists and fled her rural residence; and again for tracking and apprehending a suspect who beat a man with a tire iron and then fled into a swamp.

K-9 Franko loved people and demonstrations for kindergarteners and the elderly in nursing homes were happy times for us. It was truly amazing to see how courageous he was while apprehending a violent suspect; yet how loving and steady he was with the public. K-9 Franko assisted many different agencies and his tracking ability was well known in the area.

K-9 Franko passed away on June 20th, 2006 after battling a spleen tumor that caused internal bleeding. He was almost 11 years old. Sheila and I were blessed to have spent the last few minutes with him at home. We don't regret anything and are comforted that he knew he was home with family before he left. Even in his retirement he was our "child" and our protector. He was even more to me. Franko, you were my partner and my buddy. We had conversations where I did all the talking, but you were always there to listen and love me - regardless of what I said or how I said it. Our times together have given me life-long memories that only you and I share. I will miss you but I promise to keep you alive in my heart. I won't forget.

Thank you to Adlerhorst International for our initial training, which held us in good stead. Thanks also to the Timberland Valley Dog Fanciers, who donated the money to purchase K-9 Franko. Thank you to Sergeant Fred Wetzel, who spent so many hours quarrying for me and then being my back-up on many successful tracks. And a special thank you to Sgt. Patrick Smith, my sergeant, my mentor and my good friend. Your teaching, guidance, "butt-chewing" and friendship were responsible for our success. I'm forever grateful.

Deputy Tedd Betts
Snohomish County Sheriff's Office