Dog Therapy @ The Library  

Do you need some unconditional dog love? Some reassurance, which only a dog can provide, that THINGS ARE OKAY and that you can make it through these last weeks of another hectic semester?

Spirit, a 16-month old therapy dog, will be making a return visit to the Library on Tuesday, December 11 (6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.). You can reserve a 15-minute therapy session with Spirit by signing up at the Library Circulation Desk beginning Wednesday, December 5. The maximum group size is 5 (plus Spirit and her trainer).

Spirit, a Leonberger, is owned and trained by CSS Math Instructor, Donna Kirk.

(Photo courtesy of Alyssa Walker.)

The use of therapy dogs in library programs has become increasingly popular in recent years. Initially, the dogs participated in reading programs for children in public libraries. More recently, they have been making appearances in academic libraries:

Library Dog Monty: The Toast of YLS (Yale)

Meet Cooper, the Countaway Library Therapy Dog (Harvard)

For Law Students with Everything, Dog Therapy for Stress (New York Times)

Therapy Dog Sessions Ease Exam Stress (U. of San Francisco)

Shine, a 2-year old Rottweiler with over 2000 hours of experience as a "dog therapist" in hospitals and libraries, visited the Library during National Library Week in April 2012. Her trainer, Pam Longville, has been working with therapy and service dogs at St. Mary's and Miller Dwan for over 20 years.