Hazel the dog | Photo by Arden Reimer | The Wright State Guardian
Hazel, the newest member of the Counseling and Wellness Services staff, is working to improve students’ mental health at Wright State University.
Hazel’s role at WSU
On August 13, Hazel joined the CWS team to provide comfort to students and visitors. Hazel is a certified animal-assisted therapy dog that the WSU community can visit at CWS on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and select campus events.
Hazel’s parents, David Toller and Amanda Thompson, took proper steps to raise a therapy dog that could assist in the community’s emotional and psychological well-being.
Toller, a WSU staff therapist, worked with his wife, Thompson to complete the therapy pet certification to ensure Hazel would be trained to provide effective support.
Completing the course entails learning basic human behavior and etiquette to properly handle Hazel, according to Toller.
“Amanda and I are both certified handlers, and we would go to these classes and learn different techniques about how to approach people, how to call our dogs, and how to learn different warning signs, like if she’s not doing okay,” Toller said.
After the proper courses were completed, Hazel was taken to on-site evaluations and passed with flying colors. After being certified in May and welcomed to WSU in August, Hazel is currently being slowly introduced to CWS therapy sessions and some events.
Hazel’s role at CWS is to provide mental health support to clients attending one-on-one therapy with Toller and uplift the staff and surrounding community.
“A lot of it is comforting. Clients, initially, get the option to determine whether or not they feel comfortable with Hazel being present,” Toller said.
Hazel’s personality has made many take a liking to the cavapoo therapy dog so quickly. Hazel is described as having a friendly and affectionate nature and enjoys meeting new people.
The therapy dog’s likable and inviting personality has been widely admired on campus and in the community.
Hazel’s impact on WSU and the community
The impact that Hazel has had on WSU and the surrounding community has been overwhelmingly positive for both students and faculty.
The presence of a therapy dog during one-on-one sessions can remove stress from therapy, which is intimidating for many.
“I think that having an animal, in general, kind of takes some of the pressure off of sitting down to talk about your feelings,” Abigail Boyd, a student at WSU, said.
Boyd described the many ways in which having Hazel present during sessions eased typical tensions that arise during therapy for many.
“You can look at the dog, check the dog while you’re talking about, you know, things that you struggle with,” Boyd said.
Hazel’s presence has affected not only students and visitors of CWS but also the staff.
“She is here to help us as staff because what we do is stressful,” Toller said.
Reaching out for mental health support is a difficult task that requires strength from the individual. Giving support and assistance to clients is a task that can be heavy on the provider’s mental health
Hazel’s therapy dog responsibilities are not restricted to only WSU’s campus. Several other events have had the pleasure of Hazel’s attendance.
So far, Hazel has attended the Breast Cancer Walk on campus and Coffee Hours For Counselors. As Hazel continues to get more comfortable and experienced in roles and responsibilities, Toller hopes to integrate her into more on-campus events and group therapy.
How to visit and interact with Hazel
There are a few ways to see Hazel whether visiting CWS or out and about on campus, if interested.
If attending a one-on-one session with Toller, students are asked to sign a waiver, consenting to the dog’s presence during the session.
Hazel, like most dogs, will want to sniff and say hello the first few minutes upon meeting, initially. Once acquainted, Hazel’s training is displayed through good behavior and providing animal-assisted support.
“This is her typical behavior in a session. She’s biting her bone, or she’ll be sleeping, for I would say, 45 minutes. And if the client would want the attention from Hazel, you would say her name now, and she would come and approach you again,” Toller said.
While Hazel’s duty is to provide comfort and joy to individuals, it is important to respect Hazel’s boundaries. Toller recommended asking permission first before petting the dog but said it is rare that an individual would be denied.
Hazel can be visited at volunteer campus events and on select days at CWS, in 053 Student Union, via request through Toller. To check and see if Hazel is available for a visit, call CWS at (937) 775-3407.
Therapy vs service dogs
Differentiating an animal-assisted therapy dog from the many service dogs seen walking on campus daily is important in respecting the needs of the dog and the owner. While both are adorable and provide assistance to individuals, the duties and boundaries of each are quite different.
Service dogs, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, is “any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.”
Service dogs are seen around campus and have the purpose of serving or assisting the individual owner. WSU has a strict policy, which the handler of the service animal must abide by. Handler responsibilities include being in control of the animal at all times, making it important nondisabled students can distinguish a service animal from a therapy animal.
“Individuals are discouraged from approaching service animals as they are working hard to keep their owners safe. The animals should not be approached, distracted, or otherwise engaged while working,” WSU’s website reads.
Therapy dogs and animals provide a different form of assistance to owners and consenting individuals with the permission of the owner.
“Therapy animals include various species of animals that participate in animal-assisted interventions such as animal-assisted therapy, education and activities,” AVMA’s website reads .
Hazel, a therapy dog, is on campus for the purpose of comforting students, staff and any individuals in need. Unlike service animals, Hazel’s harness reads “Please pet me,” encouraging interaction and support.
Through gentle support and comfort in therapy, events on campus or in the community and CWS’s work atmosphere, Hazel continues her duties to lift the spirits of those around, daily.
