ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú

There’s nothing like the comforting presence of a dog after a long, stressful week. The wagging tail. The nuzzles. The unconditional acceptance. 

At ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University, therapy dogs bring comfort, calm, and a sense of home to students navigating the ups and downs of college life. In addition to the three weekly events hosted by Student Counseling Service in the Wellness Studio, the therapy dogs are often requested in residence halls, large events, and meetings.  

Behind every sweet therapy dog is a dedicated handler who brings their dog to campus to make a difference. Together, the handlers and dogs complete rigorous obedience training and pass a certification process to be effective in their roles.

For these handlers, therapy dog work is more than just time spent with a beloved pet; it's a meaningful way to connect with the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú community, share their love of dogs, and support students.

Mary O’Leary and Okie

For handler Mary O’Leary, dog therapy has been a long-standing passion. A retired ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú athletics employee, O’Leary founded ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s dog therapy program in 2007 after seeing how students were impacted when they interacted with her own dogs, and then learning about dog therapy through other universities.

“Students kept asking to see my dogs,” said O’Leary, talking about her time working in athletics in the early 2000s. “I would sneak the dogs in through the back, through the training door.”

At the time, ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú had a “no dogs on campus” rule. 

O’Leary recounted how the students responded to her dogs; how the dogs brightened students’ days, even through stressful situations. She wrote up a proposal to start a therapy dog program at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú. Despite initial resistance due to ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s policy, the program was eventually approved in affiliation with the Student Counseling Service in 2007. 

O’Leary’s current dog Okie is an American pitbull terrier mix rescue who seems to sense the needs of the people he encounters. She has seen Okie comfort countless students, many of whom return to visit week after week. “Some students don’t even need to talk,” O’Leary said. “They just sit with him and feel the comfort of his presence.” 

Though the work can be emotionally demanding—the dogs can absorb people’s emotions and can sometimes seem tired after a session—O’Leary believes it’s deeply rewarding. “I get to see students open up and feel relief. It’s a simple thing, but it means the world to them,” she reflected.

Marilyn Coffey and Duck

Marilyn Coffey and her dog Duck, an eight-year-old labrador retriever, have been working as a therapy dog team since Duck was just a year old. Coffey describes Duck as a loveable, laid-back dog who can match people’s energy. 

“The students love it,” Coffey said. “It’s a stress reliever for them. They miss their own dogs and they send pictures of Duck back to their parents.” 

For Coffey, the best part about being a dog handler is sharing her dog with others and being around people. In addition to weekly Dog Therapy at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, Coffey also brings Duck to local schools, where he offers similar comfort to middle school and high school children.

Dr. Renate Crawford and Newton

University Ambassador Dr. Renate Crawford knew she wanted to be part of ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s therapy dog program the moment she saw it in action. “I saw how much students loved interacting with the dogs, and I saw the incredible impact Mary and Marilyn were having,” she said. 

Crawford’s four-year-old Golden Retriever Newton thrives on the attention he gets from students. "He feels like he needs the attention, almost as if he’s entitled to it,” Crawford laughed. 

Being a dog handler at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú has also been an opportunity for Crawford to connect to students, faculty, staff, and families in her role as university ambassador. 

She acknowledges Newton can be a handful, especially when he spots a stress ball. “I have to be on guard!” she said. “But his playfulness is exactly what students need sometimes, and it’s a joy to watch him lift people’s spirits.”

Dr. Melanie Uy and Poppy

Dr. Melanie Uy, a psychologist in Student Counseling Service, described her six-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescue Poppy as “small but mighty” and the “queen of side-eye sass.”

“People meet her and immediately love her calm, chill demeanor,” Uy said. 

Uy has taken dog therapy to the next level over the past year, now offering animal-assisted therapy to students who come in for individual counseling appointments. 

“I knew Poppy had a calming presence, but it’s amazing to see her helping people feel safe and comfortable and open up in difficult moments,” said Uy. “People just keep talking when they are petting a dog.”

Beyond the positive effects that the animal-assisted therapy has had on students, Uy has seen positive effects on Poppy as well. Poppy was rescued from a breeding farm in 2023 after being crated nearly all the time for five years, with virtually no interaction with people. Uy has noticed an increase in Poppy’s confidence over the past year since beginning dog therapy. 

“She has more attitude and personality now,” said Uy. “She’s very comfortable on campus.” 

Uy loves being a dog handler. She enjoys connecting with the other handlers and seeing how giving they are of their time. She loves spending time with the dogs and seeing the impact on students. “It’s so rewarding in so many ways,” said Uy. 

The Power of Dog Therapy 

Handlers often see a profound effect on students who interact with their dogs, with some students becoming regular visitors. “They’ll come up and say, ‘Oh, I really needed this,’” said O’Leary. 

For all four handlers, seeing the smiles on students’ faces and knowing that their dogs provide a much-needed reprieve makes it worthwhile. “Each dog has its bonuses,” O’Leary explained. “Some love Okie because he’s so calm, others love Newton because he’s more energetic. They reach different students who need that.”

Students echo this sentiment, describing therapy sessions as a time to reset and recharge. “It’s super nice,” said ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú senior Emma Halcomb. “Even just spending five minutes with them, you can feel the shift—more calm, more relaxed.”

Sophomore Abby Meister works in the Wellness Studio and enjoys the energy that dog therapy brings to the space. “I like watching all the students come in,” she said. “I love seeing the dogs - especially Poppy because I have a little dog at home and I miss him.”

Dog therapy is more than a quick remedy for stress. It’s a testament to the power of connection—both between students and dogs, between handlers, and within the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú community itself. As the dogs continue to work their magic, handlers like O’Leary, Coffey, Crawford, and Uy look forward to expanding the program and providing ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s students with a place to unwind, feel seen, and, as one student put it, “just be.”

Dog therapy sessions are held three times a week throughout the fall and spring semesters. For a schedule and more information on how to get involved or support the program, visit .