Mount De Sales Academy welcomes therapy dog Frankie to ease student stress

We all know that school can be stressful for students, but life can take a toll on them as well. For that reason, Mount De Sales Academy brought in 'Francis De-Tails'—a 12-week-old golden retriever—to help students get through those rough days.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – We all know that school can be stressful for students, but life can take a toll on them as well. For that reason, Mount De Sales Academy brought in ‘Francis De-Tails’—a 12-week-old golden retriever—to help students get through those rough days.

Frankie was brought in to reduce stress, support students with differentiated learning and enhance the students’ social skills. Principal Kaylee Freeman she knew after first meeting Frankie that he would be perfect for the students.

“On the day we were trying to find our puppy of what we needed, I sat down, and a few puppies we released, and Frankie came right over and climbed right in my lap and nestled in,” she said. “And I was like, ‘Ohhh. The snuggles. I love it.’ So I took him out and let him run around a little bit. He ran around and sat right back in my lap, and I said, ‘That’s our puppy, that’s our dog.'”

Freeman believes with the challenges of everyday life, students sometimes need an outlet and that a friend like Frankie can make a huge difference.

“These kids are dealing with a lot,” she said. “They’re dealing with pressures of social media, the pressures of the world, pressure to make good grades, and to do the right thing, and we’re hoping that Frankie can just be this reminder that life can be happy, and that they’re excited to come to a place that not only they’re loved by their teachers and they’re loved by their peers, but they’re also loved by Frankie too, and that’s been fun to see that shift happen.”

Eight grader Brycen Stephens his school days are smoother thanks to Frankie.

“I feel really good about Frankie,” Stephens said. “It helps me during the day. I might be having a bad day or a bad class, so I get to see Frankie, and it makes my day better.”

Seventh grader Miles McMickle visits with Frankie to help him get through challenging days. 

“Stress on work and being on time, all those things, turning in assignments and homework can be a lot,” he said. “So you can just go see him, and it kind of relieves it.”

Another seventh grader, Katelyn Battle, says Frankie has helped her manage a recent loss in her life. 

“My dog passed away a few months ago that I had at home, and Frankie has been like another dog for me,” she said. “I really love him. He’s really helpful: like if you have a test and you’re stressed out about it, you can go pet Frankie, and it makes you feel so much better.”