About the Program

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Why Pet Therapy? 

The OSU Pet Therapy Program has been designed and developed to enhance the wellness of our campus population and contribute to the success of being America’s HEALTHIEST Campus^®.

 

The benefits of pet ownership have been well documented.  It makes sense that allowing animals in the workplace can have the same effect as living with them.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pets can decrease blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and feelings of loneliness. They can also provide greater opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities. 

According to PetMD, in addition to improving the lives of their owners, pets also strengthen relationships among humans. 

 

Therapy vs. Service Animals 

The broad definition of a therapy animal is defined as an animal trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, hospices, people with learning difficulties, and stressful situations such as disaster areas.

 

It is important to note there are differences between service animals, therapy animals, working animals, and emotional support animals. A service animal provides assistance for individuals and should not be touched while they are working. Therapy animals, on the other hand, are trained to interact with a variety of people — petting, touching, and asking questions are encouraged. A working dog is a purpose-trained canine that learns and performs tasks to assist its human companions.  Emotional support dogs are not considered service dogs under the ADA. They may be trained for a specific owner, but they are not trained for specific tasks or duties to aid a person with a disability, and this is the main difference between ESAs and service dogs. Because of these differences, you should always ask before touching an animal wearing a vest.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I recognize a Pet Therapy animal on campus?

  OSU-OKC Pet Therapy animals are required to wear an official OSU Tartan working vest, OSU Pete’s Pete Posse collar and matching leash while on campus. The vest will have the Pete’s Pet Posse star and pawprint, as well as the dog’s name. Owners/handlers will most likely be identified by a polo or shirt recognizing them as part of a pet therapy team, as well as a name tag. They will also carry a backpack with the pet therapy logo. 

   

  As a reminder, only dogs specifically recognized by Pete’s Pet Posse and dogs identified as service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act are allowed in campus buildings. Other than in the case of these limited exceptions, pets and emotional support animals are not to be in campus buildings. 

• Does the animal belong to OSU? 

  No, the animal lives with his/her family and acts as a volunteer on behalf of OSU-OKC. We simply ask OSU-OKC families to consider training their family pet to become a therapy animal on campus.

• What does the animal do as a Pet Therapy animal? 

  Animals will visit various departments across campus.  Each vice president determines the appropriate use of their pet therapy animal. The animal can be asked to do multiple things and the program serves a variety of purposes. Some animals may simply act as a greeter and others may serve in a true therapeutic or counseling setting. Again, the role of the animal will be determined by the department, vice president, and the owner/handler.

• Does my application guarantee acceptance into the program? 

  No, the application does not guarantee acceptance. Many factors go into the decision making process and the advisory board makes the final selections for the program. Class size is also limited.

• What happens after I apply? 

  The OSU-OKC Pet Therapy Program Coordinator will contact you upon receipt of your application. Additional instructions will be given regarding appointments and exact time frames. Owners/handlers will be interviewed by members of the Pet Therapy Advisory Board and will then be asked to schedule a physical exam and disposition evaluation for their animal.  

   

  The Advisory Board reviews applications and feedback regarding interviews, disposition evaluation and the physical examination. Teams are selected during the February board meeting. The entire selection process can take up to four months.

   

  The Advisory Board meets in February and results from each of the components will be discussed. The Advisory Board will then review and discuss the information that has been provided. The Board will vote to accept or deny application. Many factors are taken into consideration when accepting an animal into the program. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, number of animals currently in each department, amount of time owner/handler has to devote to the program, health of the animal, and affiliation with OSU-OKC.

• Do I have to use a specific trainer? 

  Yes, the program has identified a program trainer and training with the group is required. The program involves an 8-10 week group training class and owners/handlers are expected to attend the class with other dogs and owners/handlers in the program. This method creates a bond among the group and will prepare you for visits across campus. The class will also test together for both Canine Good Citizen and therapy dog registration. Training together will help create a stronger success rate.  

• What if my dog already has the Canine Good Citizen and is a registered therapy dog? 

  We ask that you pay the fees involved and still attend the group training sessions, as is required for all others accepted into the program. The class is a good way to “refresh” your skills and it will give you a stronger sense of the program and expectations. It will also help build a bond with other pet therapy teams.

• How much training does it take and how much does it cost? 

  Currently, the 8-10 week group training class cost $350 and there is a minimum number of classes required by our trainers. Classes typically meet on a weekday evening for one hour. Additional training is required/recommended on your own throughout the week.

   

  The class trains together and learns basic obedience skills as well as what it means to be a therapy animal on a college campus. Specific skills are practiced at each weekly session and homework assignments are given for the next week. At the conclusion of the 8-10 week group training class, your dog should successfully pass the Canine Good Citizen. Upon completion of the CGC, pet therapy teams then test for Alliance of Therapy Dogs registration.

   

  Your dog doesn’t have to be trained prior to being accepted. Each of our training classes has a variety of dogs and a wide range of training levels. The important piece is your dog is trainable and you are willing to work with him/her to prepare for the CGC and ATD registration.

• Are the Canine Good Citizen and Alliance of Therapy Dogs testing included in the initial fee? 

  No, as is consistent with OSU-OKC policy, any registrations/certifications received are the property of the individual and not the institution. Upon termination or retirement, these registrations/certifications go with the individual and are not tied to the university; therefore, they are not covered by the program. Cost for CGC testing is $20 (one time fee), and upon successful completion of the Alliance of Therapy Dogs registration, a $40 fee is required. Renewal of Alliance of Therapy Dogs membership is $30 annually thereafter.

   

  Training may be paid for by the owner/handler, or by a donor to the Pet Therapy Program – or any combination thereof. An OSU-OKC Pet Therapy fund has been set up at the OSU Foundation for fees to be deposited. All money is due to the OSU-OKC Foundation prior to the first training class.

• What testing is required for the animals and is it covered by the cost of training? 

  Animals first test for their Canine Good Citizen (CGC) through the American Kennel Club. A CGC evaluator will come to OSU-OKC to test each animal, and the class tests individually, but at the same time. Cost of the Canine Good Citizen test is $20 and it is not covered by the cost of the group training class. The $20 fee is due when the animal is tested. The Alliance of Therapy Dogs registration test only requires a fee when passed. That fee is $40 ($30 membership fee, plus $10 processing fee), and then $30 annually to renew membership.

   

  If your animal passes the CGC, the next step is to test for registration with Alliance of Therapy Dogs. The process involves a handling test and three observed visits and all applicants are required to pass a background check.

  The handling test and the observed visits are coordinated by the pet therapy program. The $40 cost for the registration is also in addition to the group training class cost and must be paid at the time of submission of the membership application to Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Once the animal is registered, it requires a yearly $30 fee to maintain registration status with Alliance of Therapy Dogs. 

• What happens if my department doesn’t want to participate? 
  While the OSU-OKC Pet Therapy Program has many benefits, we realize it is not for all departments and all individuals. Ultimately, the department must agree to have the therapy dog in the office. If your department does not want the dog in the office, it is possible to apply and only be available for special appearances.
• How often do I bring my animal to work? 
  The animal’s schedule is to be agreed upon by the department, the vice president, and the owner/handler. The department and owner/handler should work together with the vice president to determine the best schedule for the animal, owner/handler, and the office.  In addition, each dog is different and will let you know how long and how many days they can work.
• What if someone in my office is afraid of or allergic to dogs? 
  Any staff issues related to the OSU-OKC Pet Therapy Program must be addressed by the department. The office of Human Resources may assist as needed. The pet therapy program is an added wellness benefit to those who wish to participate and should not be forced upon anyone who does not wish to participate.
• Besides my department, where do the animals visit? 
  Special Appearance requests for pet therapy teams vary.  Visits may be all across campus. In addition, days and times also vary. Some may be during normal working hours and others may be outside working hours. Some may be during the weekday and some may be during the weekend. Every pet therapy team should plan to volunteer hours outside of the normal workday to participate.
• Can I visit other places besides OSU-OKC with my pet? 
  Once the pet therapy team is certified with Alliance of Therapy Dogs, the certification is nationally recognized. Therefore, you can visit any facility (such as schools, nursing homes, hospitals, etc) that accepts pet therapy animals. However, all gear related to the OSU Pet Therapy program must be removed and it will not be considered a Pete’s Pet Posse visit. When visiting off campus and at non-OSU-OKC sponsored events, you are a representative of Alliance of Therapy Dogs and not OSU-OKC and should represent yourself accordingly.
• Once I am accepted into the program, am I always part of the OSU-OKC Pet Therapy Program? 

  Pet therapy teams will be evaluated each year. The OSU-OKC Pet Therapy Advisory Board will conduct a yearly review of the pet therapy teams in the program. Owners/handlers are asked to submit a monthly report to the pet therapy program coordinator showing dates, times, locations, groups, and number of people visited.

   

  If you leave the university within the first year of participation in the program, you will be required to reimburse the program for all benefits received up to the point of departure. This includes training (if paid for by your department), preventative medications, food, and any other expenses incurred by the department or the OSU Veterinary Hospital.

• What is involved for me as an owner/handler? 
  Owners/handlers should be committed to the program in all areas. This includes commitment to training, taking care of the pet as a member of the family, transporting in a safe manner, and understanding the requirements of the program. In addition to “office hours” pet therapy teams are requested at a variety of functions across campus and are expected to participate, even if that means volunteering your time.
• Does my pet have to be treated at the OSU Veterinary Medical Hospital? 
  You may continue to use your veterinarian if s/he is not at the OSU Veterinary Medical Hospital, but all documentation for your animal should be sent to Dr. Lara Sypniewski at OSUVMH to keep on file. If you wish to receive the Heartguard and Frontline benefits, then your pet must complete a yearly wellness exam at the OSUVMH.

 

Meet the Posse

Zoey

 

Zoey the amazing Golden Retriever wasborn in February 2022 and found her family the following April.  She is full of energy and loves to be outside running around chasing butterflies or bubbles.  In the summer, she loves to jump in the pool or just play in any water she can splash around in.  While she plays hard, she also likes to sleep hard in her spot on the couch or sprawled out on her back with all four legs in the air when she needs to recharge.  If there is a dog or any kind of ball on TV, she will sit and watch contently.  Zoey has her own Instagram account (@zoey_the_amazing_goldie) and has more followers that her Mom does!!  She loves visitors and thinks everyone should be her friend.  One of her favorite games is to take pinecones or small branches and run around with them, playing keep away from Mom and Dad as they try to get them from her.  She has one big sister, Bella, who isn’t as excited about playing and chasing things as Zoey.  You can visit Zoey in her mom’s office in the Administration building, room 218 or when she gets Mom out of the office and takes her for a walk.  She loves coming to the office and making the rounds on campus to see all her friends.  Zoey loves to learn new tricks and has earned the AKC Canine Good Citizen award and is certified with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs.