Market Customers frequently cast their votes and comments the past few weeks

To a lot of people, dogs are just like their kids. So we knew when we asked the question of whether dogs should be banned or allowed at the Franklin Farmers Market that a huge number of you would voice your opinions.  The question really struck a nerve on both sides of the issue. A lot of people told us how disappointing it would be if dogs were not allowed at the market anymore while many others told us about their concerns over the safety and sanitary issues that the dogs bring about.

We’ve heard from people who used to bring their dogs to market, but no longer do so because they worry about dog fights and other safety concerns. We’ve heard from people who said they would no longer come to the market if dogs were banned. Many people have told us they saw dogs relieving themselves in the market shed, while others said they had never seen any dog misbehaving.  And we’ve also heard from people who worry about their kids being bitten by an otherwise gentle dog because of the tight spaces under the shed on a busy market day.

Rapid growth in 2013 has crowded the shopping isles during peak spring and summer months pushing young children and dogs close together

The FFM assembles the largest group of Tennessee Farmers available to Middle Tennesseans each Saturday morning of the year

The Franklin Farmers Market has grown into one of the largest and most popular farmers markets in the state and the number of people visiting the market each Saturday has skyrocketed. But the number of dogs at the market has also increased rapidly and a packed market with people and dogs can cause big problems.

During peak season a long line of cars wait for entrance into the market

The FFM is no longer just under the big shed having doubled in size to include the parking lot next to the shed

We love dogs. Whether they’re little or big; pedigreed or mutts, we love them all. There are dogs that have been coming to the market for years now that we know by name and look forward to seeing every Saturday. So making a decision on whether dogs should stay or go has been very tough. For over a year, we’ve looked for solutions. We’ve researched markets across the country on their dog policies. We’ve considered alternatives, such having dog-friendly hours at the market. We’ve talked to health safety officials about the dogs coming in contact with food at the market and we’ve gone through all of the responses to our questions about having dogs at the market.

Most of the larger farmer markets across the United States have found the need to keep dogs out of the food and produce area of markets as this photo shows at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in downtown San Francisco, California

As a result of all of the above, the board of the Franklin Farmers Market has decided that dogs will no longer be allowed at the market. It wasn’t an easy decision. Board president Ralph Cole summed it up by saying that experiences in the last two years have shown that the market will be safer for everyone if dogs are no longer allowed at the market and that the board’s decision will ultimately be best for everyone.

The ban on dogs at the Franklin Farmers Market will go into effect on January 1^st, 2014. The ban does not apply to service dogs.

As covered by the Tennessean.

The Franklin Farmers Market supplies fresh farm produce, baked goods and ready to eat food to thousands of Franklin area families each Saturday all year long