How to get a Campus Therapy Dog at your College

Each step within these guidelines will be assisted by Join Our PACK.

Any financial assistance can also be obtained through Join Our PACK.

DETERMINE THE COLLEGE’S INTEREST & APPROVAL

Meet with the college counseling/wellbeing center to discuss the benefits

  • Improve student mental health

  • Achieve a stronger sense of belonging amongst the campus community

  • Students, especially freshman, better deal with being homesick and lonely

  • Reduces anxiety and stress

Obtain college approval

  • Work with college administration to ensure all are onboard

  • Determine who the point person will be for Join Our PACK

FIND YOUR CAMPUS THERAPY DOG

Determine if there is an existing family dog within the campus community who would be interested in becoming the campus therapy dog

  • College counselor who lives on campus

  • College counselor who commutes to campus

  • Faculty Member

  • College Employee

  • Advantages to using an existing dog

    • No initial costs

    • You don’t need to leave your dog at home alone

    • Already aware of the dog’s temperament around people

    • Unlimited joy for the dog with all the added love and attention

Look into adopting a dog from a local animal shelters

  • Work with those at the animal shelter to identify a dog with a good demeanor

  • Identify someone within the college community (counselor/faculty/employee) who would be the dog’s owner

  • Advantages to adopting a dog

    • No initial costs

    • Improving the life of a pup in need

    • Equally helping a local animal shelter while also helping student mental health

Look into buying a puppy

  • Investigate local breeders

  • Identify someone within the college community (counselor/faculty/employee) who would be the dog’s owner

  • Advantages to buying a puppy

    • Rally the college community with a fundraising effort to work together to obtain the new campus therapy dog

    • Have a naming competition bringing the college community together

    • Establishes an immediate bond to the campus therapy dog

THERAPY DOG CERTIFICATION

Review the general step-by-step guide on How to Certify a Therapy Dog

Investigate local therapy dog certification organizations near the college

  • Determine their specific requirements for certification

  • Come up with a plan for timing and expenses

Examples of Therapy Dog Certification Organizations

LIFE ON CAMPUS AFTER CERTIFICATION

Determine who will be the campus therapy dog manager

(not necessarily the dog’s owner)

  • Manage the dog’s schedule (counseling center time / walks / naps)

  • Establish a shared responsibility schedule with student handlers - Most popular job on campus!

  • Manage the dog’s health (vet / groomers)

Determine maintenance plan for ongoing costs

  • Vet / Groomers

  • Food / Supplies