“I’ve actually seen some miracles,” Cheri Chavers, a Pet Partners therapy dog-handler, explained about her experience with therapy dog, Piper. Students were able to experience a calm before the storm when the Office of Student Involvement and Student Activities Board hosted “De-Stress with Therapy Dogs” during dead week. The event was held in the Firstenburg Student Commons and had a high attendance.
OSI and SAB teamed up with Pet Partners, a national organization sourced from Bellevue, Washington, to bring four dogs and their handlers/owners for a day at WSU Vancouver. The Pacific Northwest Massage Academy also made an appearance, offering free, professional massage treatments.
Recreation Coordinator Cambri Shanahan helped bring Pet Partners to campus. “I found them and they were really interested,” Shanahan said. “We paired with the Student Activities Board and they facilitated bringing in the massage chairs as well. So it’s a group collaborative effort between many people.”
“Dogs just love everybody and everybody loves them.” — Debbie Hayward
During the event, the dogs and their handlers were dispersed throughout the room for students to visit. Sitting on fleece blankets, each dog awaited students to pet them. The handlers had a small assortment of treats and often prompted the dogs to do tricks.
All of the handlers were enthusiastic about coming to WSU Vancouver and the students were equally excited to meet their dogs.
The handlers referred to themselves as a “team” with their canine partners. Each of the dogs were certified therapy animals through Pet Partners. “Therapy pets are by and large based on personality… so they don’t need training like service dogs do. All I had to do was take an online course, and then pass a little test,” Chavers said.
The canines, Molly, Piper, Scamp and Sammy are therapy veterans when it comes to providing care to those around the Portland metro area. The handlers have unique experiences with their therapy dogs, including what communities they donate their time to.
Sherry Amspacher said she brings her dog, Molly, to the library, elementary schools and retirement centers. “The kids love to read to her because they’re not judged. She just listens,” Amspacher said.
Debbie Hayward and therapy dog Sammy routinely visit a memory care unit. “Dogs and humans, it’s a bond. They are very therapeutic, it calms you down. Dogs just love everybody and everybody loves them,” Hayward said.
Students surrounded the dogs, offering pets and encouragements, while their worries melted away. Senior strategic communications major Sierra Swearingen said, “I just love staring at them sleeping, it’s just so nice [that] they’re so relaxing. Molly is a dog that you could read to. Who doesn’t love dogs, who doesn’t love calm dogs?”
Olivia is a senior studying English at WSU Vancouver.