The therapy dogs at Virginia Tech are somewhat of a campus celebrities, widely known by staff and students alike. Whether you visit them at a campus event where they are gracing with their presence, or at their designated office hours, they are sure to put a smile on your face and make your day a little bit brighter.
The therapy dogs, Derek, Josie, and Epcot, are members of the Cook Counseling Center (CCC) at Virginia Tech, which provides a variety of mental health services to students. These services include but are not limited to, individual and group counseling sessions, therapy, psychiatry, medication management, crisis intervention services, self-help and academic resources, support groups, and opportunities for student leadership. The CCC at Virginia Tech implemented their Animal Assisted Therapy program more than ten years ago, beginning with therapy dog Moose Davis, partnered with Trent Davis. Davis is currently partnered with Derek and Epcot, and has been highly involved with the Animal Assisted Therapy program throughout the years. The praise and overwhelmingly positive response for this program has been irrefutable, with Moose even receiving several awards from Virginia Tech for his service, including an honorary doctorate in veterinary medicine.
This October and November, therapy dogs Derek and Josie each celebrated their birthdays with a birthday party at Newman library. The party was open to all Virginia Tech students and staff, and had quite the turn out. I attended Derek’s 7th birthday party, which hosted a variety of fun activities and resources for attendees. All of the dogs were at the event, along with special guests Wagner and Sarah, who were previously a part of the program. There was a plastic ball pit for the dogs to play in, which held the most attention for students out of any of the activities. Attendees crowded around the dogs, sitting down to pet them, taking photos, or throwing the balls for them to catch. There were light refreshments provided for just the humans, as well as two different cakes; one for the humans and one for the dogs. Despite having his own cake, Derek couldn’t help but swipe a bit of the human one first. The library and the pPride cCenter were the two main facilities that had booths set up around the party, providing helpful information and fun little swag items for students. All of the therapy dogs were sporting rainbow bandanas from the pPride cCenter, and the director gave me a sticker upon arrival. There was a giant birthday card to sign, a table for gifts, and activities such as a Derek themed bingo. I don’t think there was a moment where I did not see anyone in the room smiling; the joy and laughter was tangible.
Along with the birthday party, I have been to all of the therapy dog’s’ office hour days several times each this semester. A lot of the people I see are regulars, there are some that attend every single week without fail. But to me, these sessions are more than just a chance to interact with a dog, they provide a safe space for students to share and open up with one another. It is undeniable that the dogs bring people together, which is something so invaluable to a person who may feel like they have no one to turn to. Particularly towards the beginning of the semester, the kindness and comfort a dog can provide can make the transition to college life that much easier. When I spoke with other attendees, many talked about how much they missed their dogs at home and shared photos, while others were recently mourning their own pets. I originally decided to attend the first “Pawfice Hours” session when I myself was having a difficult time adjusting to my move to Blacksburg. I transferred to Virginia Tech this past fall semester, and the process has not been without its obstacles. These sessions helped me to ground myself, relax a little, and shine some light into my day.
Mental health has become an exceedingly popular topic, or even buzzword if you will, in recent media, educational, and corporate settings, but does that mean it is truly getting the proper attention that it requires? Mental health concerns have afflicted college students at noticeably high rates for years. According to the National Education Association, “The majority of college students today (more than 60%) meet the criteria for at least one mental-health problem.” Despite colleges’ best attempts at creating services that address these issues, students often have to navigate barriers to receive care at all. These may be financially related, while others could be due to a lack of transportation, lack of appointment availability, or even lack of providers altogether. Not to mention the stigma that often comes along with simply recognizing, let alone getting help for, these types of issues. It can be an incredibly intimidating process for many. However, Tthe therapy dog program does attempt to break down some of these barriers however; the weekly pPawfice hHours are open to all students for free, with no appointment or prior commitment needed. Even though these visits do not replace actual counseling or therapy, they still seem to make quite a difference in students’ lives, including my own. That being said, please contact a medical professional or a helpline if you are having mental health concerns that are an emergency or that need more personalized care to address properly, or if you are in crisis. Nonetheless, these sessions can be an accessible alternative to someone who may not have the means to receive counseling, or even an initial stepping stone towards becoming more comfortable with the idea of discussing mental health concerns. The dogs are determined to destigmatize receiving help and eliminate students’ fears, one tail wag at a time.
Josie’s hours are 4:00 P.M. to 5:00 PM on Mondays on the 2nd floor of Newman Library, Derek has office hours from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Tuesdays in the McComas Hall entrance, and Epcot’s hours are 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Thursdays on the 1st floor of Squires Student Center.