School Comfort Dog 'Retires,' Gets His Photo In The Yearbook With The Seniors
By Elise Solé, Shine Staff
Portage High School
One very furry high school graduate was honored this week with a yearbook photo of his own.
Prince “the therapy dog,” bred by Lutheran Church Charities is a 9-year-old golden retriever who works in the guidance office at Portage High School in Illinois. He's retiring and as a parting gift, he had a professional photo taken and published alongside the class of 2013.
"We've never done anything like this but it was a nice way to say goodbye to Prince," Melissa Deavers-Lowie, Portage High School's yearbook adviser, told Yahoo! Shine. "Parents and students thought it was so cute and funny. And on Sunday, he'll lead the graduating class of 2013 onto the football field for the ceremony." Naturally, he'll be dressed for the part, wearing a custom-made red cap and gown.
“Prince comes to school and works with me in therapy groups,” Tim Kunstek, Portage High School’s guidance counselor and Prince’s handler, told Yahoo! Shine. "It’s pretty phenomenal how much the kids love him.”
Prince, who lives with Kunstek and his family in Portage, Illinois, has worked a 9-5 gig for the past 4.5 years. Every day, he rides to school with Kunstek and spends his morning greeting students as they arrive at school. He also sits in on counseling sessions with Kunstek and his students, and patrols the hallways, making sure kids are going to class. During lunch, he hangs out in the cafeteria. “Kids would sit on the floor and feed him Tater Tots and other treats, but he started gaining weight, so we’ve scaled back on that,” said Kunstek. And Prince travels for work: In the wake of the tragic shootings in December at Sandy Hook Elementary School, he was on hand to make the sure the children had a smoother transition back to school. “The kids at Sandy Hook loved him and all the other therapy dogs so much that Lutheran Church Charities is now trying to raise money for therapy dogs at Sandy Hook,” said Kunstek.
At the end of a long day, Prince heads home with Kunstek for dinner. Upon his retirement, he’ll remain with Kunstek and work part-time, possibly with kids. And he won't be forgotten: His Facebook page boasts more than 1,500 likes and he keeps his friends updated with photos of his life at school and at home.
But Portage High School won’t be without a therapy dog for long. Isaiah, a 1-year-old golden retriever, is in training to be Prince’s replacement. “There’s something really calming about golden retrievers; they have a big effect on people,” said Kunstek.
Mansfield, MA - Jul 02, 2003; Mansfield, MA - Jul 03, 2003; Mansfield, MA - Jul 11, 2003; Boston, MA - Sep 29, 2004; Reading, PA - Oct 01, 2004; Hartford, CT - May 13, 2006; Boston, MA - May 24, 2006; Boston, MA - May 25, 2006; Hartford, CT - Jun 27, 2008; Mansfield, MA - Jun 28, 2008; Mansfield, MA - June 30, 2008; Hartford, CT - May 15, 2010; Boston, MA - May 17, 2010; [EV - Providence, RI - June 15, 2011; EV - Hartford, CT - June 18, 2011]; Worcester, MA - Oct. 15, 2013; Worcester, MA - Oct. 16, 2013; Hartford, CT - Oct. 25, 2013; Boston, MA - August 5, 2016; Boston, MA - August 7, 2016...
gracie got all her stitches and staples out today...and chemo, to boot it's hard to tell she's sick.
If I had known then what I know now...
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
gracie got all her stitches and staples out today...and chemo, to boot it's hard to tell she's sick.
that's his grumpy old man face
glad to hear gracie is doing well... now that the stitches are out i assume she'll be going to the park more often again. yay gracie!
Mansfield, MA - Jul 02, 2003; Mansfield, MA - Jul 03, 2003; Mansfield, MA - Jul 11, 2003; Boston, MA - Sep 29, 2004; Reading, PA - Oct 01, 2004; Hartford, CT - May 13, 2006; Boston, MA - May 24, 2006; Boston, MA - May 25, 2006; Hartford, CT - Jun 27, 2008; Mansfield, MA - Jun 28, 2008; Mansfield, MA - June 30, 2008; Hartford, CT - May 15, 2010; Boston, MA - May 17, 2010; [EV - Providence, RI - June 15, 2011; EV - Hartford, CT - June 18, 2011]; Worcester, MA - Oct. 15, 2013; Worcester, MA - Oct. 16, 2013; Hartford, CT - Oct. 25, 2013; Boston, MA - August 5, 2016; Boston, MA - August 7, 2016...
after five weeks of post surgery home confinement....gracie got to go to the park today!!!! she would have gone yesterday but bad dad had a bad hangover . anyway, she was quite happy to explore her old stomping grounds.
these were taken yesterday in the back yard:
If I had known then what I know now...
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
after five weeks of post surgery home confinement....gracie got to go to the park today!!!! she would have gone yesterday but bad dad had a bad hangover . anyway, she was quite happy to explore her old stomping grounds.
damn...haven't been in this thread awhile and did not know what Gracie was going thru.
Here's to a continued speedy Recovery for Gracie.
So I'll just lie down and wait for the dream Where I'm not ugly and you're lookin' at me
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
That picture is fantastic. I love when they fall asleep like that. Give Gracie a rub on the tummy from me please.
she is one back-laying dog. I will give her your tummy rub.
wonder why the picture gets cut off more and more each time you "quote it." must be this high tech website :?
If I had known then what I know now...
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
gracie had a really fun day yeaterday....first, we went to the park and she saw her boyfriend sasha for the first time in like six weeks. gracie was running, rolling, chewing sticks and just generally having fun
then, later, she went out drinking with mom and dad. gracie had never done the patio scene in SLC and she was a big hit with everyone.
after 3 hours, she was ready to head home
with all the chemo and pain she's had to endure, we sometimes questioned wheter we were doing the right thing. yesterday reinforced that it's all good....she is a happy girl
If I had known then what I know now...
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
with all the chemo and pain she's had to endure, we sometimes questioned wheter we were doing the right thing. yesterday reinforced that it's all good....she is a happy girl
Glad to hear that Gracie is living life and loving it.
gracie had a really fun day yeaterday....first, we went to the park and she saw her boyfriend sasha for the first time in like six weeks. gracie was running, rolling, chewing sticks and just generally having fun
then, later, she went out drinking with mom and dad. gracie had never done the patio scene in SLC and she was a big hit with everyone.
after 3 hours, she was ready to head home
with all the chemo and pain she's had to endure, we sometimes questioned wheter we were doing the right thing. yesterday reinforced that it's all good....she is a happy girl
Glad to hear Gracie had a fun time out on the town... and also that your feeling good about your decision to help her fight that asshat Cancer!
Flickr messed with their format and it's almost impossible to upload photos from my phone
I just recently realized that my S3 didn't come w/ the flikr app. After reading reviews of a recent upgrade to the official flickr app... deleting photos from people's phones and causing all sorts of issues... I decided to steer clear of the flikr app. Ended up downloading instagram instead. When you upload the pics to instagram you can also send them to your flickr acct (or twitter, facebook, etc.) pretty simple. Works good so far.
Mansfield, MA - Jul 02, 2003; Mansfield, MA - Jul 03, 2003; Mansfield, MA - Jul 11, 2003; Boston, MA - Sep 29, 2004; Reading, PA - Oct 01, 2004; Hartford, CT - May 13, 2006; Boston, MA - May 24, 2006; Boston, MA - May 25, 2006; Hartford, CT - Jun 27, 2008; Mansfield, MA - Jun 28, 2008; Mansfield, MA - June 30, 2008; Hartford, CT - May 15, 2010; Boston, MA - May 17, 2010; [EV - Providence, RI - June 15, 2011; EV - Hartford, CT - June 18, 2011]; Worcester, MA - Oct. 15, 2013; Worcester, MA - Oct. 16, 2013; Hartford, CT - Oct. 25, 2013; Boston, MA - August 5, 2016; Boston, MA - August 7, 2016...
with all the chemo and pain she's had to endure, we sometimes questioned wheter we were doing the right thing. yesterday reinforced that it's all good....she is a happy girl
Has to be hard. So glad to see she is having some fun!
Comments
1995 San Francisco
San Jose
San Diego 2 shows
2003 Missoula
2005 Missoula
2006 Denver 2 shows with Tom Petty
Gorge 2 shows
2009 Utah
LA1
LA2
2012 Missoula : Meet and Greet : "Instant Classic show"
2013 Portland
Spokane
2018 Missoula
1995 San Francisco
San Jose
San Diego 2 shows
2003 Missoula
2005 Missoula
2006 Denver 2 shows with Tom Petty
Gorge 2 shows
2009 Utah
LA1
LA2
2012 Missoula : Meet and Greet : "Instant Classic show"
2013 Portland
Spokane
2018 Missoula
that's quite a look
gracie got all her stitches and staples out today...and chemo, to boot
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
that's his grumpy old man face
glad to hear gracie is doing well... now that the stitches are out i assume she'll be going to the park more often again. yay gracie!
Have you checked out the medical marijuana for dogs thread?
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=209020
Or maybe she could just hit your bong. :P
very good news all around...
1995 San Francisco
San Jose
San Diego 2 shows
2003 Missoula
2005 Missoula
2006 Denver 2 shows with Tom Petty
Gorge 2 shows
2009 Utah
LA1
LA2
2012 Missoula : Meet and Greet : "Instant Classic show"
2013 Portland
Spokane
2018 Missoula
these were taken yesterday in the back yard:
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
damn...haven't been in this thread awhile and did not know what Gracie was going thru.
Here's to a continued speedy Recovery for Gracie.
Where I'm not ugly and you're lookin' at me
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
That picture is fantastic. I love when they fall asleep like that. Give Gracie a rub on the tummy from me please.
nice color choice...
:P
1995 San Francisco
San Jose
San Diego 2 shows
2003 Missoula
2005 Missoula
2006 Denver 2 shows with Tom Petty
Gorge 2 shows
2009 Utah
LA1
LA2
2012 Missoula : Meet and Greet : "Instant Classic show"
2013 Portland
Spokane
2018 Missoula
she is one back-laying dog. I will give her your tummy rub.
wonder why the picture gets cut off more and more each time you "quote it." must be this high tech website :?
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
then, later, she went out drinking with mom and dad. gracie had never done the patio scene in SLC and she was a big hit with everyone.
after 3 hours, she was ready to head home
with all the chemo and pain she's had to endure, we sometimes questioned wheter we were doing the right thing. yesterday reinforced that it's all good....she is a happy girl
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
love that face
Are you in Mammoth? We were there Friday, stayed at Tamarack. Norm's looking good.
yep! got here friday...may never leave
Where I'm not ugly and you're lookin' at me
Glad to hear Gracie had a fun time out on the town... and also that your feeling good about your decision to help her fight that asshat Cancer!
^^^
Love this pic!!!
I just recently realized that my S3 didn't come w/ the flikr app. After reading reviews of a recent upgrade to the official flickr app... deleting photos from people's phones and causing all sorts of issues... I decided to steer clear of the flikr app. Ended up downloading instagram instead. When you upload the pics to instagram you can also send them to your flickr acct (or twitter, facebook, etc.) pretty simple. Works good so far.
Has to be hard. So glad to see she is having some fun!
"...I changed by not changing at all..."