Invasion of Privacy: Marci Frutkoff and Michele the Library Dog
Photo of Michele the library dog courtesy of The Lamron photo editor FP Zatlukal
I had the honor this week of speaking with SUNY Geneseo’s therapy dog, Michele, and her handler, Marci Frutkoff. Michele is a nine-year-old Labrador retriever who has been working at Geneseo as a therapy dog every Thursday for the past four semesters.
Michele works to provide emotional support for students in need of comfort, along with those who miss their dogs away from home. “A lot of kids come here, but I didn't know what to expect. I didn't realize how emotional it is to visit a school,” Frutkoff states. She added, “For me, it is very touching how much the kids adore her, even just walking in here from the parking lot.”
Frutkoff says, “[Michele] is a very low-key dog and very serious; she knows she has to lay here. That's what she does, and she only gets up when people come, she knows this is what is expected.” Frutkoff explains the ability to set work time and playtime is essential, just like when students go to class—there are certain expectations.
When asked about Michele’s home life, Frutkoff explained that “Michele has two families…she goes back and forth between both families, but when she's with me, we're a therapy dog team.” Not only does Michele have two families, she also has two jobs. Michele works on Fridays at a local elementary school, where first graders read to her to gain confidence reading aloud, alongside her one and a half hours at the college on Thursdays.
Frutkoff is a puppy raiser for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, she explained, “I got Michele and she chose not to be a guide dog.” Instead, Michele chose to become a therapy dog and has helped students for years. Frutkoff explains, “Everybody has to be tested to be a therapy dog.” Michele and Frutkoff took an eight-week class during which Michele practiced several new skills, including not eating food that has fallen on the floor, or food that people try to hand to her. This is because she is not allowed to eat while she works. She also practiced being near people with wheelchairs, crutches, and walkers in case she was later placed in a nursing home or hospital.
Later, Frutkoff discussed the privileges Michele has compared to those of household pets as a therapy dog on the Geneseo campus. According to Frutkoff, a therapy dog is only allowed to go into a public building when they are working, unlike guide dogs who can go wherever any person can go, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. “I cannot go in every building [with Michele] like the college union, and I cannot take her to Starbucks and get a cup of coffee,” said Frutkoff.
Frutkoff also shared some exciting news about our resident library dog, as the college is planning to make a separate room and special area just for Michele in the new Milne library. According to Frutkoff, they are “going to rotate her around and see what place is the best.”
Make sure to spend some time with Michele from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. on the first, third, and fifth Thursdays of the month and 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays in the Fraser Hall Library. If you are unable to hang out with Michele during her Thursday work hours, she will be returning to Geneseo for Great Day on Apr. 24, where you can meet up with Michele in the library from 9:30 to 11 o'clock a.m..