Althouse: Pet therapy.

May 5, 2010

Pet therapy.

For students.

14 comments:

MadisonMan said...: You rarely see a dog on campus. I once walked our golden mix (back when she was alive) to the Union. Students swarmed to her. You can tell there are lots of pet owners living in the dorms who miss their furry friends.; 5/5/10, 11:37 AM
Ann Althouse said...: I thought of getting a dog (back before I got a husband). I wanted it him part for protection. I envisioned myself walking to work with him and keeping him with me in my office — him, meaning the dog! — and taking him to class. I wondered if that would be allowed and tried to imagine arguments based on physical/psychological need that would get me past whatever the restrictions are. There must be restrictions, or where are the dogs?; 5/5/10, 11:53 AM
JAL said...: My first read in skimming this was "Pot Therapy"

[To self: "What's to read?"]; 5/5/10, 12:12 PM
JAL said...: A dog would be cheaper than a husband. But in your case, not as much fun?

And you could take a husband to class without too many questions.; 5/5/10, 12:13 PM
Michael said...: A dog would have been a nice addition to class.; 5/5/10, 12:40 PM
Unknown said...: You can have it all, Ann. The dog, the husband, the blog.

Gloria Steinbrenner says so!!

PS I'm sure they'd let you keep Meade at the office. Just make sure to take him outside every couple of hours and give him lots of wawa.

PPS I always get a laugh at the guys who have the pinscher/rottweiler mix named Reinhard or something trying to show how macho they are so they can attract girls. You want girls? Get some ooky pooky Yorkie or cairn terrier; it's like ants to honey.; 5/5/10, 12:49 PM
al said...: One of my sisters dobermans is a certified pet therapy dog. She uses her as part of her visits to her physical therapy clients. Her patients love it when Mitzi comes to visit.

Back when my wife and I were newlyweds we bought a dog (not recommended. Great way to end the honeymoon....) I would take the dog with on Saturdays to pick her up at the nursing home she was working at. I'd sit out front with the residents who were out there and Coco would go from person to person saying hi. The residents loved having her there.

Something about dogs that people just respond to.; 5/5/10, 12:59 PM
Known Unknown said...: We have nearly completed the transformation into a nation of eternal adolescence.

Therapy for studying?; 5/5/10, 1:56 PM
Methadras said...: Ann Althouse said...

There must be restrictions, or where are the dogs?

It might be more a matter of convenience. Here where I work we are allowed to have our dogs come with us and stay in our cubes as long as there are doggy doors spanning the entrance, they have food, water and can go outside to relieve themselves. The founders of the company were all dog lovers and named their conference rooms all 7 of them after their dogs. However, my dogs are 500 miles away, but i swarm to the people who bring their dogs in because I miss mine so much.; 5/5/10, 2:01 PM
Irene said...: "There must be restrictions, or where are the dogs?"

UWS 18.06(5):

(5) Animals. The presence of dogs, cats, and
other pets is prohibited in all university buildings
and in arboretums at all times except as authorized
by the chief administrative officer. Dogs specially
trained or being specially trained to lead blind or
deaf persons or to provide support for mobilityimpaired
persons, and wearing harnesses or
leashes and special capes, shall be exempt from
these provisions. The presence of dogs, cats and
other pets shall be prohibited on all other university
lands unless they are on leash under the control of
and accompanied by a person. Any dog, cat or
other pet found in violation of this subsection may
be impounded and its owner subject to the penalty
provisions in s. UWS 18.07.

I once snuck Baci into a building and encountered a tattle tale ready to call the police.

Here is the exception for service animals. The "Requirements for Service Animals" provides that "Dogs and cats must be on a leash at all times."

Has anyone encountered a service cat?; 5/5/10, 2:04 PM
rhhardin said...: Try to find a nursing home that lets residents keep their dogs.

Dogs recognize neighborhoods but not the state, and so are a threat to the bureaucratic mind.; 5/5/10, 4:26 PM
Parker Smith said...: Actually, cats have service people.; 5/6/10, 10:59 AM
Irene said...: @Parker Smith How true!; 5/6/10, 5:32 PM
LegosnEggos said...: This is a nice idea. College students living away from home often have to leave their beloved pets and don't keep one while at college. ( know my daughter misses her dogs, which make for a cozy constant as opposed to the temporary feeling of a dorm/apartment residence.) So getting time with one would be a welcome respite if you're used to a pet being around. The only drawback is that it's nice to pet your dog while studying and as companionship, not necessarily just to have access to one for playtime.; 5/6/10, 10:55 PM