The therapy dog is dead: Long live the therapy dog

BY Leslie Sullivan
Sparta — On the evening of Monday, April 3 Sparta High School Therapy dogs Franc and Stanley were victims of a hit and run.
The two French bulldogs belonged to guidance counselor Kacey Konwiser Dalton. After having escaped from her residential yard, both dogs were struck by a car.
Franc, the more seasoned therapist, who has been working at Sparta High School since 2014, did not survive and Stanley sustained critical injuries. After an intensive surgery performed by miracle doctors, Stanley returned to Sparta High School Tuesday, April 11. Though Franc did not survive his memory and legacy live on with students and faculty at Sparta High School.
“Now, I can only hope that I can be the person that my dog thought I was,” Dalton said.
Franc and Dalton’s story began just 8 weeks into his puppy life. In the spring of 2014, with the help of Katie Flannelly, a former guidance counselor at Sparta High School, Kacey began making an ‘out of the box’ educational dream come true.
“I proposed to Dr. Johnson, the principal of the high school at the time, the idea of a therapy dog program. ‘Write it up, Kace, he replied. Let’s get it to the curriculum committee,’” she said
As Dalton did her research she found that although her initial thought was to adopt an adult rescue dog and train it to be a therapy dog, she knew she’d have to take the time to find the right dog for the job. Not having background information about rescue dogs and possible triggers that might interfere with their job, Dalton decided that grooming a puppy for the job was the best way to go.
Following her research Dalton decided French bulldogs would fill the job requirements. They make great therapy dogs since they are almost 100% hypo allergenic for dander and saliva, and love to be cuddled. After being approved by the curriculum committee Dalton made her way to Pottstown, Pennsylvania in hopes of finding the perfect pup to take on the therapy dog program.
Franc was presented to Kacey in the breeder’s living room at only 8 weeks old. “She plopped him next to me and while sizing me up, he peed on the couch.”
Though apprehensive at first, knowing the task that was upon them, Kacey scooped up Franc and headed back to New Jersey to become Sparta High School's first successful Therapy Dog Program. The responsibility this tiny puppy had was huge and there was work to be done.
“It was our task to create a space in the high school where students could come to feel better. He had to tolerate everyone and everything," Dalton said. "He had to be compassionate, sympathetic and on call. How were he and I to accomplish this?”
Yet, as if he was born to do this great work, things started to unfold naturally. After some intensive training Franc was ready for the big leagues. Right before his first birthday Franc went off for five long weeks to become a certified service dog. In those weeks he was transformed.
It has been two school years since Franc’s promotion to Service Dog. He could now go with Dalton everywhere. Franc had an uncanny way of knowing who was upset. Walking through the halls he would sometimes take off leading Kacey to a crying student. “He just knew and led me to them.” Franc was not yet three years old when his accident happened. “I never imagined that I would only have him for this short a time," she said. "He is now buried in my backyard with a French bulldog emblem to mark his spot.”
This has been a tremendous loss for the Sparta High School community. “The only thing that consoles me is that Franc has touched so many people. Franc, the wonder dog, my heart goes with you. One student, Evan Marcino, put it into perspective for me, He said, ‘I don’t know every kid in the school, but every kid knows Franc.’”
The Therapy Dog program was brought to Sparta High School, and this year to the Middle School. Franc, who was a constant companion, was not even miffed when the breeder called and said suggested Dalton take on another therapy dog. “I was sent a picture of Stanley, and with that face he was ours within a month.” Franc and Stanley became inseparable buddies. The Puppy Project was born.
“I created this program as I felt, and still feel, that there is no therapy that can quite match that of what a dog can provide,” said Dalton.
While Franc primarily resided at the High School, Stanley has been spending his time at the Middle School with Life Skills students.
“Stanley is in training and I am now not sure that things are going to work out for him. He is a love, but shy. We were just about to start sending Franc with him to the Middle School to see if he could follow Franc’s lead,” Dalton said.
Dalton is overwhelmed by the response from the community on the loss of Franc. “Franc was my heart. He always had his eye on me and when I moved, he moved.”
The nurse who prepped Franc that night took his paw prints for Dalton to cherish. The woman who saw the accident happen held Franc as he passed and saved Stanley’s life. In a letter to students and faculty Dalton wrote, “In my past fourteen years at Sparta High, we have all had our share of losses. Some public, some private. While my current loss is so very private, it also involves all of you. To those of you that loved Franc, I can assure you that he loved you too. To those of you that love Stanley, he is still with us and in need of positive thoughts.”
“I will never be the same, however that is what life is about," Dalton said. "All the moments that shape us, tear us down, and build us up again. They make us better people.”