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  GIVING COMFORT: Frank, the E. F. Rittmueller Middle School therapy dog, becomes a pillow for a young middle school student. Following eight years of dedicated service to the Frankenmuth School District, Frank retired at the end of the 2025-26 school year.

EFR therapy dog "Frank" now enjoying retirement

  Frank, the therapy dog at E. F. Rittmueller Middle School, recently retired, hanging up his vest following eight years of dedicated service to the Frankenmuth School District.

  Frank’s last day was Thursday, June 4 and the school students, teachers, parents and support staff honored Frank at their eighth grade Honors Night on Wednesday, June 10.

  Thanks to Frankenmuth Insurance, back in 2017, the news spread that EFR was going to get a fully-funded therapy dog. Kristen Hecht, the Rittmueller principal at that time, and Dave Compau, the former special education coordinator, connected with the Brighton School District, as they had just completed their therapy dog journey.

  The Brighton School District was the leader in the state for having therapy dogs within their district. The EFR administration connected with the lab breeder of the Brighton therapy dog and go their name on the waitlist.

  “The process for therapy dogs can be months, or even years, and Brighton’s connection paid off in the end,” EFR educator Emily Spaulding said. “They called a week later and said funding for one of their dogs fell through, and the dog they planned on was to be EFR’s.”

  Contact with the trainer was made, and the process to get a therapy canine was complete.

  Months passes and the Eric Jacob family, wife Laura, and daughters Aubrie, Macie, and Mylie was chosen to �opt” him. The name Frank was chosen in honor of Frankenmuth Insurance’s generosity to fund him.

  In October 2018, his training was complete, and Frank embarked on the EFR journey..... 

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