The Center for Service and Social Justice (CSSJ) hosted its biannual Pet Therapy Day on April 30 on the Dionne Green.  

Students, faculty, staff and community members brought their dogs to greet the students and help them relax before finals. Professor Jack Strain from the communication department and Kevin Curry from the Leahy College of Health Sciences advising office were some of the faculty members who brought their dogs to the event.  

Political science major Kyle Kennelly, who works in the CSSJ office, said Pet Therapy is one of the most popular traditions on campus, and it has been going on for 20 years.  

“We get students who wouldn’t normally get involved. Everybody comes out and gets the benefit of destressing from finals,” Kennelly said.

Some of the dogs at the event are Pet Therapy Day veterans. Therapy dog Izzy comes every year, but her path to pet therapy was not an easy one.  

Her owner said she was found abandoned and pregnant. Then her owner adopted her and found homes for all her puppies.  

Izzy found her way to pet therapy because her owner works in dining services at the university. Now she comes back every year.  

Izzy’s owner said Izzy loves coming to pet therapy. And the students love it too. Izzy's owner let multiple students hold her at Pet Therapy Day, which brought many smiling faces to the Dionne Green.  

As a therapy dog, Izzy’s job doesn’t stop after Pet Therapy Day. Izzy’s owner said any time students need a pick-me-up, they can come to the P.O.D market where she works and ask to spend some time with Izzy.  

CSSJ hosts the pet therapy event once a semester, and it is a fan favorite on campus. Sophomore Allison Magee, a mathematical sciences and economics double major, said Pet Therapy Day gave her a break from the stress of the end of the semester.

“I was able to meet a mini dachshund named Copper and a dalmatian named Bean. It makes me excited to go home for summer break to see my pug Millie at home,” Magee said.  

Picture Caption:

Students pet Brady, a Bernese mountain dog, at Pet Therapy on the Dionne Green.

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