Today, Bright Spot Therapy Dogs were at Bay Path College. Students had the opportunity to spend time relaxing with nine super friendly, ultra-gentle Therapy Dogs while taking a study break, before heading into an exam or after completing one.
There was Max, the retired racing Greyhound who enjoys his new career as a Therapy Dog far more than he did as a racer. His teammate Wayne tells people that Max never won a race, so his racing career was cut short. Lucky for Max, and for Wayne. Max now spends his week visiting two nursing homes, and listening to young children read him stories as one of our Bright Spot Reading Buddies.
There was Velvet, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, who was the tiniest Therapy Dog present. When Velvet isn’t attending a Therapy Dog Stress-Relief Event on a college campus, she is comforting patients – and staff – at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.
Lily, an English Setter, made her fourth appearance at Bay Path College today, She reunited with many of the students she has gotten to know over the academic year during mid-terms and finals. Lily eats up the attention she gets at these Stress-Relief events. At home, she has to share attention with her brother King and sister Annie. Lily is also a Reading Buddy for first and second graders.
Dehli, a Bouvier des Flandres, is always a huge attraction on college campuses. It’s not often one sees a Bouvier outside the dog show ring. Dehli, too, is a Bright Spot Reading Buddy for fourth and fifth graders.
Oscar, an Australian Labradoodle, made his first appearance at Bay Path College today. Oscar is a sweet, gentle soul who quietly comforts patients in our Therapy Dog Program at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.
Referred to as The Boys, Niles and Caber become lounging pillows for college students wherever they go. They always travel together and look like small, cuddly honey bears. They are irresistible. They do amazing work visiting hospice patients, who receive soothing comfort from this gentle pair of canines in their final days of life.
The giants in the group, Great Danes Lilo and Tucker are a show-stopping duo. Although they are massive in size, this pair is astonishingly gentle and docile. They have an incredible visiting schedule: children at Providence Hospital, veterans at the Soldiers Home, Reading Buddies in two different schools. I don’t think I have covered it all, but these dogs – like all of our Bright Spot Therapy Dogs – are very, very special.
Tomorrow, we’re off to UMass Amherst with sixteen Bright Spots. From 11:30-2:30, students can stop by the Student Union Ballroom for some special canine loving.