On a rainy afternoon in Oxford, Poppy strolls into Miami University’s Clinical Health Sciences and Wellness Facility clad in a bright pink raincoat.
Poppy, a certified therapy dog with an Instagram account, can be found at the facility’s wellness studio every Tuesday from 2 to 3 p.m. with handler Melanie Uy, who has a doctoral degree in psychology.
Poppy, a six-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, has also visited local elementary and high schools and will start visiting local hospitals this summer.
“I love animals and dogs,” said Uy. “I especially loved the thought of being with them at work.”
Uy is associate director for multicultural initiatives at Miami, as well as dog therapy for the Student Counseling Service. Uy has been involved with dog therapy for four years.
Miami’s dog therapy program began in 2008, but Poppy has only been working since last December. Uy adopted Poppy from a rescue last April. Before that, Poppy was a breeding dog at a puppy mill.
Since then, Uy has worked to get Poppy certified as a therapy dog and began getting involved with different events around the community.
Miami’s dog therapy program features a variety of different dogs for students to interact with. According to its website, dog therapy can benefit “any student stressed by a demanding schedule, distance from loved ones, or perhaps especially missing a family pet companion.”
As dog therapy coordinator, Uy works with different volunteers and dogs. Miami’s program also features Okie, an American pitbull terrier mix; Enya, an Irish red and white setter; and Duck, a black English Labrador.
“I love our volunteers who really love coming to campus,” said Uy. “Whether they are retired or don’t have much social interaction, they love coming and talking to students.”
Emma Halcomb, a junior biology and gerontology student at Miami who works at the wellness studio, said the room on the second floor of the health building is “ a safe space for people who need a break from studying or academics.”
Normally, students can come to the wellness center to see a single dog at a time. However, there are occasionally group sessions as well. On May 13, from 1 to 4 p.m., a whole pack of furry therapists are expected to converge at outdoor seal outside Upham Hall for what is billed as Miami’s therapy dog day at finals.
