The newest addition to the the Housing & Residential Experience Center team is also the cutest. And the most popular around campus. Oh, and the fluffiest.
If you haven’t had the opportunity yet, meet Franklin.
Born on Valentine’s Day (no lie!), this golden retriever has stolen WPI’s heart. He lives in Founders Hall with community director Jordan Monts and his girlfriend, Annabel Shackett. Franklin is their family dog, but he is quickly becoming a friend to the entire WPI community, a fact that thrills Monts and Shackett.
“Mental health concerns really went up during the pandemic,” says Monts. “Connecting with a dog makes so many people so happy, so when Annabel and I decided to get a puppy, I asked my supervisor if it could be part of campus life to help give students a sense of being at home.”
Franklin got to work right away. Or almost right away. He spent the first two months of his life in a tiny town in Connecticut, and it took him a couple weeks to get used to campus noise and Worcester traffic. Once he got his (floppy) feet under him, he made appearances during Senior Week and other end-of-year events.
Monts also organized Finals with Franklin, inviting students to drop by Founders Hall, grab a donut, and enjoy some QT with this four-legged cutie. At any given time during that period, Monts says, 15–20 students hung out with the new canine member of the WPI family and decompressed.
In July Franklin will start training to become a certified therapy dog. The four-monthslong program includes going away, without Monts and Shackett, for two weeks of intensive sessions. “He’ll be learning how to care for humans,” says Shackett, who is a nurse and has always wanted to work with therapy animals.
Once Franklin has earned his certification, he’ll wear a special vest when he’s on duty and admirers should ask permission before petting him. Monts will have office hours with Franklin and plans to bring him to other events around campus as appropriate.
