The year was 1750 in the city of Philadelphia. Benjamin Franklin had been conducting experiments with electricity, but he struggled to understand this mysterious force of nature. No matter how hard he tried, a key insight eluded him.
That is, until Sparky entered his life. Sparky was an American Bully pup adopted by Benjamin's wife Deborah. He was a curious and rambunctious dog, always sticking his snout where it didn't belong. Which is how one fateful day, he found himself chewing on a wire in Benjamin's laboratory.
Suddenly, Sparky leaped up with a yelp as a shock surged through his body! Benjamin was astonished and rushed to examine the wires Sparky had chewed through. Finally, he understood - electricity flowed along these metal wires, which when broken released a spark of energy.
Benjamin now had the missing piece of his experiments. With Sparky's chance discovery, he invented the lightning rod to protect buildings from strikes. He even captured lightning in a jar to study its power, leading to new innovations. Word of his electrical feats spread, and soon he was known worldwide.
As for Sparky, he was rewarded with extra belly rubs and became the pride of the household. He followed Benjamin loyally through the years as his electrical innovations changed the world. America's greatest inventor likely would have remained in the dark if not for a certain Bully's fateful bite!
So let us all remember Sparky's integral role in the discovery of electricity. Every time we turn on a light or use modern gadgets, we have an American Bully to thank for first unleashing the spark. What a shock!
Originally published November 18, 2023 by Jason Lau
This image is on canvas: https://my-store-e765f4.creator-spring.com/listing/franklin-and-american-bully