I miss my dog, and I bet you do, too. At the start of each semester, college students must tragically leave their family pets at home and return to dog-less dorms or apartments. Throughout the semester, parents might bring their dog along on a visit or share photos via text, but these glimpses of their furry friends are a poor substitute for the real thing.
Luckily for Skidmore students, there’s a solution, and it happens every week—a group of therapy dogs come to campus.
Each week, Skidmore therapy dogs visit the second floor of Case Center or the Wellness Center to comfort stressed, overworked college students — or anyone else on campus. The Wellness Center started bringing therapy dogs to campus years ago after contacting and coordinating with the dogs’ handlers.
These dogs are trained through Therapy Dogs International (TDI). By having therapy dogs on campus, students can destress and pet their favorite dogs in a relaxed, stress-free environment. Now that you have a little background, let’s meet the dogs!
Jackson and Rayna enjoying a day outside.
Meet Jackson, a lovable, gray labradoodle pup. A New York native, Jackson is a quiet, gentle dog who is eager to please. Jackson usually spends his time playing with his squeaky ball, pulling the marrow out of his bones, and playing with his sister, Rayna. Jackson’s owner, Eva Lau, says the two love each other but bicker like true siblings. Rayna is the more energetic half of this labradoodle duo. She’s very excitable and enjoys bothering Jackson by licking him repeatedly or wrestling him in the backyard. The two are so inseparable that they were even born in the same month: Jackson on February 1st and Rayna on February 4th.
Allie loves visiting the Wellness Center every week.
When I interviewed Allie’s handler, Mary Anne Koson, she handed me a small card with all of Allie’s information on it. Allie hails from Ohio and since she became a therapy dog, the rottweiler has spread joy to everyone she meets. Her favorite activities include meeting new people and exploring new places as well as playing with her beloved toys.
Agent Steve is ready for his close-up.
Agent Steve is a lovable German Shepherd who takes his job very seriously. His handler, Dianne DelPozzo, says that he’s very intelligent and protective like a typical German Shepard. In Steve’s free time, he enjoys going for walks at Saratoga Lake, swimming, and training other dogs.
Bennie may be small, but his impact on the Skidmore community is huge. Bennie is a King Charles Spaniel from Clifton park who loves his monthly trips to Skidmore. In his free time, Bennie loves to play tug of war and do nose work, which includes correctly identifying different smells. Bennie’s handler, Wendy Kalias, says that Bennie is a quick learner and eager to please.
Bennie and Wendy enjoying an afternoon in Case Center.
Abbi is so excited that she can’t sit still.
When I visited the Wellness Center, Abbi the Yellow Lab was full of smiles! Abbi’s owner, Nancy Sakayan, says that Abbi is just as excitable and friendly around anyone she visits. When Abbi isn’t going for walks and begging for treats, you can find her playing with her favorite toys or running in the backyard.
Melinda wonders if a student if coming to give her treats.
Abbi isn’t the only yellow lab working as a therapy dog at Skidmore; Melinda has been coming to Skidmore for as long as handler Walter Kosinska can remember. Melinda is a mellow, older dog who is always happy to visit schools and colleges in the area. Even though she’s not as active as she used to be, Melinda still enjoys bothering the neighbors to give her treats.
Feel free to follow @skidphes on Instagram in order to see the weekly therapy dog schedules, or just stop by Case Center to give them some love!