The Franklin Police Department is stepping up its community engagement by collaborating with the Williamson County Animal Shelter (WCAC) to launch a new online initiative aimed at finding homes for local shelter animals. The program, titled "Blue-Collar," is set to begin today and will feature a series of monthly video segments hosted by Public Affairs Officer Ryan Schuman. In a move to harness the power of social media, these segments will be shared across the department's website, its X page, and through the City of Franklin's social media outlets.
Each episode of Blue-Collar will shine the spotlight on one dog and one cat from WCAC that are available for adoption. Schuman will share the animals' life stories and key information that potential adopters might find helpful. Additionally, the series will offer updates on pets previously featured, tracing their journey to a "furever" home. "The ultimate goal is to bring awareness in order to clear the shelter," Max Winitz, public information manager for the Franklin Police Department, told FranklinTN.gov.
WCAC operates as a public, open-intake facility and serves as a temporary refuge for roughly 3,500 domestic animals each year. This partnership with the Franklin Police Department promises to leverage the agency’s sizable online following to increase visibility for animals in need.
Ondrea Johnson, the director of WCAC, said in a statement to the city's news portal: “We have a long-standing relationship with the Franklin Police Department and are thankful that they want to help us promote some of our long-term residents.” She underlined the potential benefits of such exposure for the shelter’s animals, but also, emphasized the excitement around the collaborative effort which she described as "fun."
