Pet Therapy on Campus: Universities Providing Furry Support

College is an exciting journey with thrilling experiences, new friends, opportunities, and the occasional stressful day. Universities that recognize the importance of taking care of your mental health and well-being of their students are increasingly turning to innovative and fun approaches to provide the support their students need. Having a bad day at school does not mean you don’t have what it takes to succeed, it just means you are human. But do you know who is not human? The furry friends that are coming to campuses throughout the nation! Universities are hopping on the trend of animals as stress-relieving therapists with the incorporation of pet therapy programs, where furry companions lend a helping paw in relieving the pressures of academic life.

Because we love schools that are not afraid to try new things to help their students, we round up a few of the Universities that offer pet therapy as part of their mental health care.

Oklahoma State University’s Pete Pet Posse.

Oklahoma State University has Pete’s Pet Posse, a program with over 20 certified therapy dogs that constantly visit the campus’ libraries, dorms and the stress-relief ReBoot Center. First founded in 2013, Pete’s Pet Posse was one of the first university-based pet therapy programs in the United States, and has since become a model for other institutions looking to implement similar initiatives. The program is named after the OSU’s mascot, Pete the Cowboy! These mental health ambassadors range from Labradors and Golden Retrievers to unique mixes and mutts that are trained to not only provide cuddles and companionship, but also respond to the unique needs of students facing academic pressures, homesickness, or plain stress.

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech has a team of therapy dogs on call. They even have “Doggie Pawfice Hours.” Mondays can be spent with Josie from 4 to 5pm at the 2nd floor Newman Library, Tuesdays are Derek’s at McComas Hall Entrance, while Epcot is on call on Thursdays in the 1st floor Squires Student Center. This fantastic team is also available for special events, such as finals week study breaks.

Yale University.

In 2011, Yale Law School launched a pilot program where students could “borrow” Monty! This started a tradition where students and therapy dogs have a close relationship in Yale. Yale’s most famous dog is Handsome Dan XIX, also known as Kingman. This two-year old Olde English Bulldog is much more than just a therapist. Kingmang continues a tradition of more than 130 years at Yale, the first U.S college to have a live animal mascot. Two of Yale’s celebrity therapists are Josie and Bodhi. These two furry heroes spend time with law students during reading week, providing a sense of relief as students prepare for exams. Meet more of Yale’s furry staff. 

Tartan Tails at Radford University

Tartan Tails is a wellness program established in 2022 and designed to promote wellbeing across the Radford community through positive interactions with trained and certified animals. Radford University recognizes that pet therapy has gained recognition for its benefits, which include reduced stress and anxiety, an improvement in mood and overall healing! According to the Tartan Tail’s website, they aim to ·further Radford’s approach of holistic wellness by using the advantages of pet therapy in order to enhance the lives of individuals within their campus community.” The initiative by Radford U’s First Lady Kay Danilowicz and her therapy dog Bainne is still going strong! The friendly staff with four paws at Tartan Tails include Bainne, Bella, Huckleberry, Poco, Riley, Louie, and Apollo.

Nazareth College 

Nazareth College in Rochester, NY, has the InterProfessional Animal-assisted Wellness (IPAW) Collaborative to thank for. At Nazareth, faculty members serve as handlers, which makes the dogs more involved and more integrated into the community! These furry therapists know college life, they understand student routines, demands, activities and, undoubtedly, stressors. Nazareth College claims to have the only faculty-handled campus integrated therapy dogs. The dogs provide therapy session work in the on-campus speech, occupational therapy, reading and interprofessional clinics! Orion, Rosie and Tilly are some of the local celebrities that make appearances at events such as orientation and family weekend!

Pet Therapy is here to stay.

These are just a few examples of universities and colleges that use pet therapy to help their students thrive as they pursue their careers. The therapeutic benefits of interacting with animals are actually supported by scientific research, and petting a dog has been shown to lower levels of cortisol, while increasing oxytocin. Actual superpowers, if you ask us! Students grappling with homesickness and academic pressures, not to mention the struggles of life itself, can definitely find support in pet therapy. Pet therapy programs are carefully structured to ensure their effectiveness, which is why therapy dogs undergo rigorous training and temperament evaluations to ensure they are well-suited for interacting with individuals of varying needs and backgrounds. By embracing the healing power of animal and human relationships, universities are creating inclusive and supportive environments where students and staff can thrive emotionally, academically, and socially!

So, what do you think? Comment your experience with pet therapy, we would love to know how it has impacted your life.