Since December 2013, the Welshimer Library has played host to visits from local therapy dogs and their owner/trainers to provide some much needed stress relief to students during Finals Week. “It is hard to believe that this last week marked the fifth year since we began inviting therapy dogs into the library,” noted Library Director Gary Daught. The tradition began after Daught was approached by retired biology professor Dr. Julie Wade who offered to bring her certified therapy dog, a Golden Retriever named “Jake”, to the library. In the years since, the library has had several dogs and owners come to visit. A couple times, we have also had “Kitten Cuddle Puddles” set up in the library by students from Milligan’s Occupational Therapy department.
This semester the library would like to extend “Thank Yous!” to retired Julie Wade with her Golden Retriever “Burton”, Bill Powley with his Golden Retriever “Will”, Mr. Lou Pesch with his twin Weimaraners “Indy” and “Lily”, and Lou’s sister-in-law, Ms. Molly Smolko with her Toy Fox Terrier “Rudy”.
