A part of a student’s time in college likely involves moving away from home and leaving behind family, friends and pets. UCCS offers a fun way to cheer up and get in a furry snuggle through Canine Connections.
Here, students can take time away from their hectic lives to hang out on campus with therapy dogs Scarlett, Erin, Mocha and Bergen. You can find the dogs at the Wellness Center, Math Excel Center, MOSAIC Lounge and the LaPlata or Copper Academic Commons.
Kristi Webb, Wellness Promotion Coordinator, was a pioneer for expanding the dogs’ reach on campus after seeing Pause for Paws, a program that offers time with therapy dogs during finals week to de-stress. Webb says she has seen a lot of interest in Canine Connections and often runs into students asking her where the next dog on campus will be.
“We want to try to make sure that everybody on campus has access to a pup at least once a month,” Webb said.
Through Canine Connections, the volunteers bring the dogs around campus. They use spaces such as the academic commons or Excel Centers to promote spaces students can utilize as resources.
Webb says it’s heartwarming to see students connect with the dogs and is training her own puppy to be a therapy dog for the program as well in hopes of having an “on-call” dog for school events. Webb says this would help fulfill student requests, as students often ask her, “Can we get a dog for this event?”
Therapy dog Bergen, 10, joined the UCCS therapy dog team in December 2017 Pause for Paws. Bergen’s owner, Cathrine Jensen, says Bergen has always loved meeting new people. Because of this, Jensen had Bergen trained as a therapy dog.
Bergen trained to be a therapy dog for a year and a half before graduating. She began her work with dementia patients before joining UCCS.
Bergen is a big fan of her job helping people. When Jensen prepares Bergen’s blanket and treats for the day at UCCS, Bergen gets excited to come to campus. After the long day of belly scratches and sniffing, Bergen is often worn out and has a great night’s sleep.
Bergen and her fellow therapy dog, Mocha, also partner with MOSAIC. MOSAIC rotates between offering study supplies, gratitude journals, fidget toys and wellness activities with the dogs.
The Wellness Center and therapy dog team have been working on growing the dogs’ presence on campus. They hope to continue to implement events where students can meet the dogs.
Webb says Canine Connections is working to apply for grant funds in order to research how passive interactions with dogs can help students’ wellness.
Students can meet the dogs biweekly and can be added to the email list by a quick email to Kristi Webb.
Editor’s Note: Co-Editor-in-Chief Zee O’Donnell partners with Brain Breaks with Bergen.
Photo by Logan Cole.