More Than Dogs – Why I'm Raising Funds for Prevail.
I didn’t know Chris Garrett personally.
He was a friend of a friend—one of those names you hear in passing, someone living a life of quiet significance. Chris was working in Ukraine with a charity called Prevail, doing humanitarian EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) and mine clearance. It’s the kind of work that doesn’t come with fanfare or followers—but it changes lives. It saves lives.
Chris was killed recently, and while I didn’t know him, I haven’t stopped thinking about him since.
The more I learned about his work with Prevail, the more it moved me. I kept thinking: I wish I’d known about him while he was alive. I wish I could have supported what he was doing then, not just after the fact.
So this is me doing what I can now.
Why This Matters to Me
I’ve spent my career working with dogs—military, detection, behaviour, bitework. I’ve seen firsthand how dogs save lives and how people put themselves in harm’s way to do good. Chris’s story struck me because I understand what it means to serve quietly, to work in dangerous places for something bigger than yourself. His cause resonates far beyond the front lines.
I didn’t want to just post about it. I wanted to do something.
OnlyFransK9 T-Shirts for a Cause
I decided to launch a small fundraiser through OnlyFransK9, my dog training brand, to raise money for Prevail in Chris’s honour. The t-shirts are a way to carry that message further—to give people a way to support something meaningful. All proceeds go directly to the charity. None of it comes to me. I just wanted to use my platform—however small—to make even a bit of difference.
Why You Should Care, Too
This isn’t a typical blog post about dogs or training tips. But it’s about something that underpins why I do what I do—service, purpose, and using your skillset to help others.
Maybe you didn’t know Chris either. But if you believe in quiet courage, in doing what’s right even when no one’s watching, and in helping where you can—you’ll understand why this matters.
How to Support
🛒 Buy a t-shirt - https://www.customink.com/fundraising/in-memory-of-chris-garret-swampy
📢 Share the fundraiser
💬 Talk about it—raise awareness for Prevail and the work still being done in Chris’s memory
Final Thoughts
This blog is usually about dogs. But this post is about people—and about one person in particular whose legacy deserves to be remembered. If you’ve ever wondered how to make a small difference, this might be it.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for supporting.
— Fran
OnlyFransK9