In the student lounge in the Idaho Student Union Building, the Associated Students University of Idaho enlisted the help of Palouse Paws to bring in some sweet dogs for a moment of relaxation from a busy schedule.
Jocelyn Stewart, a peer health educator for Vandal Health, said the biggest reason they put on this event is to “give students an opportunity to take a breather, destress, enjoy some dogs.”
Unless they are service dogs, there aren’t many floofs around campus and this event is always popular. People miss their dogs back home, and it’s good to take a break from the homework . Two of the dogs from Palouse Paws were at the ASUI Student Lounge, and they had a lot to say.
Houdini, a mixed breed black pup who is 13.5-years-old and is mostly deaf. His handler, Molly Hallock, has had him since he was a newborn. Houdini loves bread, going on hikes and meeting people. He has a calm exterior, but that doesn’t keep his tail from wagging when he reccives pets.
Hallock said her and Houdini have been doing this for 10 years, so they are nothing short of professionals.
“I volunteer for this because it provides some comfort to individuals who need it,” Hallock said. “These are comfort therapy dogs, and someone can get pleasure of petting them.”
Even though Houdini has a full-time job, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t know how to play. Living up to his name, Houdini will break out of everywhere to go and explore. Hallock said he brings home anything he can find, like yard lights and loaves of bread.
“He’s very proud of himself,” Hallock said.
Houdini’s coworker, Calvin — and they are different — a Newfoundland white and black pup, who is only 11.5 months old, has a much more excited presence. Calvin’s handler, Danielle Delamater, has had him since he was 14 weeks old.
Delamater trains therapy dogs because she can’t bear to give them away like she did when she trained service dogs, and this was her way to give back to the community. This is her second dog and she said, “he is a rowdy boy.” Calvin lives on a farm, and one of his favorite things to do is hang out with his horse and other dog friends.
Houdini and Calvin aren’t the only working dogs on campus. Raquel Dimond has a service dog who is a well-traveled D.A.D., a Diabetic Alert Dog, from Indiana.
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Dimond is a Type 1 Diabetic, and her dog can smell the change in her blood sugar if it gets too low. She has had him for about six years, and he helps her out by barking, or simply just staring at her if she is at risk. Even though his primary purpose is to keep Dimond safe and healthy, she said “He’s my best friend.”
The pair lives on a farm back home in Jerome, Idaho and her dog gets along with all the animals, especially the kittens. Even though being a service dog is a full-time job, Dimond said he’s a good sleeper, and will slack off in class sometimes, but doesn’t think he can be blamed for that.
“When I need him to pull through, he always does,” Dimond says.
The dogs can be a great resource to use to take a breather and destress. The Vandal Health Center and the Well Space, located in the Student Recreation Center, are great resources for any mental, sexual or nutritional health for students at any time.
Emily Fales can be reached at [email protected]