Dog days of August? Not with these welcoming pups
Five therapy dog trainees will be on the Oxford campus for Move-In Day
Dog days of August? Not with these welcoming pups
The Paws for a Cause student organization started on the Miami campus in 2012 in partnership with 4 Paws for Ability in Xenia as a training ground for service animals. Since that time, the program has expanded to include Circle Tail and Guiding Eyes for the Blind.
Miami will have five pups on the Oxford campus come move-in day, Friday, Aug. 23. A male goldendoodle, George, will join four females —Candy, a labrador retriever, Eloise and Biscuit, both golden labs, and Stormy, a golden lab/newfoundland mix.
“The mission of 4 Paws for Ability is to enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities by placing life-changing service dogs. This is made possible through the unwavering dedication of our volunteers,” said Meredith Koemer, volunteer manager. “Five Miami students have already taken on the role of primary volunteer trainer, providing around-the-clock care and socialization experiences that are essential to shaping confident service dogs. In addition, many more secondary volunteer trainers stand ready to provide short-term care, ensuring that our dogs receive the love and attention they need to succeed.”
Alexandria “Alex” Stalzer is a second-year student serving on the executive board of Paws for a Cause. She is certified as a secondary volunteer trainer with 4 Paws for Ability working with dogs on the Miami campus.
“I began watching campus dogs in the spring semester, and it has been so interesting to see how each of them differs from one another,” Stalzer said. “They all have different strengths, weaknesses, and personalities.”
Stalzer is very excited about an upcoming event. “We are working with 4 Paws to plan an event in October called Puppy Paws. A litter of puppies will come to Miami's campus and students can come pet and hold them as well as be able to learn more about Paws for a Cause.” For those interested in attending, this event will be Oct. 8 from 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. in the Atrium of the Armstrong Student Center.
In addition to service dogs in training, the first dogs of Miami, Ivy and Newton, along with President Greg Crawford and University Ambassador Dr. Renate Crawford, will welcome students and parents to campus.
Newton, named after Sir Isaac Newton, is a trained and registered therapy dog. Newton and Ivy are not just mascots; they are instrumental in promoting mental wellness and creating a positive atmosphere on campus. Most recently, Ivy and Newton assisted in the ceremonial first pitch at the Cincinnati Reds’ Bark in the Park game on Aug. 12.
Miami’s Student Counseling Service (SCS) also offers dog therapy. A primary goal of SCS is to promote positive mental health and well-being among Miami students, and the group’s dog therapy program is one way to meet this goal. Interacting with animals is a proven way to decrease stress and feel a sense of connection and acceptance.
SCS offers weekly dog therapy sessions at the Clinical Health Science and Wellness Building, 41 S. Campus Ave., Room 2002 “Wellness Suite.” Mondays 2-3 p.m. “Office Hours with Okie,” Tuesdays 1-2 p.m. “Pop in with Poppy,” and Thursdays 3-4 p.m. “Drop in with Duck.”
According to the Therapy Dogs International website, the primary objective of the therapy dog and handler is to provide comfort and companionship to increase emotional well-being, promote healing, and improve the quality of life for those who interact with the therapy dog. “Four-footed therapists give something special to enhance the health and well-being of others. It has been clinically proven that through petting, touching, and talking with animals, patients’ blood pressure is lowered, stress is relieved, and depression is eased.” (Therapy Dogs International, 2024).
When the stress of midterm and final exams creeps up, SCS will provide Therapy Dog Day at Midterms and during Finals week.
There is no cost for students attending one-to-one open therapy hours at the SCS. Attending a dog therapy event such as Therapy Dog Day at midterms/finals is free, as is arranging a visit to a campus residence hall or officially sanctioned student organization.
The best part of having these special four-legged friends on campus is at the end of each day the dogs, their handlers, and the students all benefit from the positive interactions.
