Pets Say Pistols Firing

Pete’s Pet Posse is a campus program that consists of a team of dogs and their owners who visit places around campus every weekday! There are a number of reasons why a student could benefit from meeting with pets while on campus. Some people might not be able to have their own emotional support pet, some people might just need to improve their mood or spirits, and some students might feel homesick or miss their dog at home. I personally underestimated how much I would miss my own dog while away at college. I’m proud to say Oklahoma State has a pet therapy program to assist their students and faculty, and I think everywhere else should too!

Pete’s Pet Posse has a schedule of where they will be that week, and you can always stop by! They are also on Instagram, which most of us students are as well, that is the easiest way to stay updated on the program, as they post very regularly during the school year. I visited this week with one of my friends, Maddie McIntyre, and all I had to do was pull up their schedule that they post every week on their Instagram, @pets4pete, to see when I could go. I wanted to know first hand what the impact that this program can have on students, so Maddie and I visited while they were scheduled to be at the Colvin Recreation Center. We had a great time with Darwin, a 7 year old yellow labrador! He was the sweetest and loved all the attention! He was very happy to be there and was wagging his tail the entire time! It was Maddie’s first time visiting one of the therapy dogs, so I asked her a few questions about her experience there. I wondered if a short interaction like that could leave an impact on her, and when I asked she responded that “even though it was only for 15 minutes, it honestly made my day.” It is great to know that “it is a really easy pick me up,” according to Maddie!

The Pete’s Pet Posse Mission is to “enhance the wellbeing of the Cowboy family through professionally trained and nationally certified pet therapy teams in collaboration with campus resources and generous supporters.” One of my favorite things about the program is it’s very informative website! There are so many things you can explore there, ranging from online donations, to a profile of every dog on the team! By surfing the website I found out that there are so many more dogs in the program than I had previously thought. If you visit with a dog but forget its breed or name, don’t worry, the dog can be found on the list! You can also apply to become a part of the program if you were interested! There is an interview and evaluation process that appears to be pretty extensive, and some required training. Like I mentioned earlier, you can donate online! This is very important because Pete’s Pet Posse is funded solely by private donations. The donations go towards the several necessary items for the dogs and their owners, as well as scholarships for owners towards the expensive training costs. You can learn more about pet therapy on the website and its benefits. According to the CDC, “pets can decrease blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and feelings of loneliness. They can also provide greater opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities.” Prior to this, I wasn’t aware of these benefits.  You can also request a visit to your college or department on the website. They are able to visit on campus and OSU sponsored events. If you are interested in the program, I definitely suggest checking out their website for information specific to P3 or pet therapy in general. Like many of us, Pete’s Pet Posse is on social media! That is a great way to get connected with students on campus, especially when so many of us use social media frequently.

I was curious as to what Maddie’s favorite part of the program was, as it was her first time. She said “I had heard of it but had never really learned what it was until I went” but followed with that she would “definitely be going back! I like how relaxed it is and it automatically could make anyone feel better,” and I couldn’t agree more. Although I haven’t spent a ton of time around this program yet, I can tell they are very special and have the best people pouring into it. I asked Maddie based on her personal experience, how she felt that the program could benefit the student body as a whole at Oklahoma State. She easily answered with “as a new college student, I quickly found out that it’s a very stressful, busy environment so this is a great way to take a break from everything going on around you!” I was very thankful for her point of view and how much I agreed. No matter if you are having the best or worst day, I believe a visit with P3 can only put you in a better mood or make your day better! It is so important to have something accessible like this on a college campus, and who doesn’t like dogs?

I am very glad I know about Pete’s Pet Posse, and I am so excited to visit these adorable, loving dogs as much as I can. It truly means so much to me that Oklahoma State has a program as important and special as this. I think all universities should have a pet therapy program if possible!