Therapy dogs are animals that provide physical, mental, and social support to those who need it. Many people have created special bonds with their dogs or other pets, and therapy dogs connect with everyone as they visit hospitals, retirement homes, schools and more to spread love where it is most needed.
Records from back in the 1700s show that animals were used to help people with strange behavior, and some understood that animals assisted with the improvement of mental health and overall emotional well-being. The first therapy dog, Smoky, existed during the time of World War II. Corporal William Wynne discovered the abandoned female Yorkshire Terrier and began to take care of her. She would accompany Wynne on battle missions and provide him with comfort during the trials of war. When the corporal was hospitalized for an illness, Smoky was brought in to cheer him up and managed to engage other injured troopers. She became the first official therapy dog of all time.
Therapy dogs provide a friendly, easy-going atmosphere around people they are visiting, making them perfect for bringing around patients who may be sick or overwhelmed easily. Research has shown that when petting a dog, the chemical serotonin is released, and when looking into the eyes of a dog you love or know, oxytocin is released. (signaturehealthinc.org). When produced, serotonin contributes to feelings of confidence, well-being, self-esteem and overall happiness, and oxytocin is a chemical that lowers stress and anxiety and builds trust with others.
Studies have also shown that therapy dogs provide physical and social benefits to patients. Petting a dog can relieve tension, regulate the cardiovascular system, and even reduce blood pressure. Someone who may have an illness can be positively affected by petting a therapy dog. In addition, having a therapy dog around can improve social skills. For example, students may speak more frequently to therapy dogs or animals they have a connection with, leading to more conversation with peers.
When Charlotte Moore’s (10) younger sister had a therapy dog visit her in the hospital, she was grateful for the experience and now understands the impact that a therapy dog can have on a patient.
“My sister was introduced to a sweet therapy dog, Pearl. My sister loved meeting her and was so in love with her. My view on therapy dogs is that they help take your mind off things you might be anxious or stressed about. Therapy dogs play such a huge role in hospitals and mental health facilities helping with illnesses and hardships,” Moore said.
Dogs are animals with incredible capabilities, including sensing human emotions. When getting to know us, dogs become highly in tune with our feelings and can sense the changes in them due to our body language, facial expressions, smell, and tone of voice. Because of this, dogs can easily connect with people, making them the ideal choice for a therapy animal.
Riley Sturm (10) has a dog and notices that he can understand her emotions and is there to comfort her.
“I have a mini golden doodle, his name is Max. He always follows me around the house, and it makes me feel safe and loved when he does. When I am sad or crying Max comes up to me and licks my hand, so then I start petting him, and it does make me feel better,” Sturm said. “Dogs help with mental health, they make you feel happy, and comfort you when you are sad. But more importantly, you are able to take care of something other than yourself, you can provide them happiness and joy because it is not just about what you get but what you give.”
In the fall semester of 2022, Wofford College joined the JED Campus Program, a nationwide initiative founded by The Jed Foundation. This program includes bringing therapy dogs on campus to help students with their mental health. During exam study breaks in October 2023, therapy dogs were brought to Wofford to relieve the stress of students and occasionally during the year, therapy dogs can be found in the Mungo Student Center or their college library.
Riley Stastny is a junior at Wofford College and enjoys getting to experience therapy dogs on campus.
“I love going to pet them, they are always so cute and cuddly, and their owners are sweet too. My favorite dogs are these two labs, Finnegan and Fergus McTavish. They sound out where the dogs are going to be when in our daily announcement emails we get and it’s normally during lunch hours, so I always stop and pet them on my way to lunch,” Stastny said.
Whether it is helping retired soldiers, children in schools, or hospital patients, therapy dogs are beneficial for communities all around the world.
