Allen Community College students got some much-needed therapy from the stress of preparing for finals today with the help of two canine volunteers.
Reno and Eva, 5 and 3 years old respectively, are doberman pinschers registered with Therapy Dogs International. Their owner, Sandy Woodruff, whose son Josef attends the college, has raised the dobermans since they were pups. This is the second time they have visited with ACC students.
Woodruff pitched the idea of bringing the canine duo to Ryan Bilderback, director of Student Life and Housing, who agreed that it could benefit not only students, but faculty and staff as well. More than 45 people waited in line on April 7 for a chance to interact with the dogs and to watch them demonstrate tricks.
“People enjoyed it,” Bilderback said. “I got a lot of positive feedback about it.”
The popular canine crusaders were to be back again today. Woodruff said the better people get to know the dogs, the more engaged the people will become with them.
Therapy dogs can be particularly helpful for residential students missing pets that have been left behind in their hometowns, Bilderback said.
“This gives those students an opportunity to spend some time with a dog.”
The two dogs have unique personalities and attract a diversity of people. They are able to pick up on human emotions, which can prove to be exhausting work.
“They come home and sleep really soundly,” Woodruff said.
Reno and Eva also help promote literacy by volunteering for the “Tail Waggin Tutors” program, designed for children with reading difficulties. To help ease the discomfort of reading aloud, the children read to Reno and Eva.
