The Loyola Wellness Center adopted a new therapy dog at the beginning of the semester. Eight-month-old Sullivan became Loyola’s resident support animal in August after completing three months of training, following in the former footsteps of Loyola therapy dog Ashlar.
Sully is Loyola’s fourth therapy dog on campus and has continued to benefit students like his predecessors did. As a young puppy, Sully displayed the proper characteristics and temperament of a therapy dog and began training at four months old, according to Director of Health Promotion Mira Krivoshey.
Sully’s roles on campus revolve around the care of students, including attending events and hosting ‘Sully Sessions,’ where students can take a break from their day and hang out with Sully, according to Krivoshey.
Sully was first introduced to Loyola students at the end of April on Instagram. The announcement followed the news that previous therapy dog Ashler would be graduating from Loyola after eight years of service. Ashlar entered retirement with his handler at the end of the spring semester, making way for Sully to begin his new job in the fall, the Phoenix previously reported.
Krivoshey serves as Sully’s handler, providing his primary care and staying with him throughout his sessions. Like all previous therapy dogs at Loyola, Sully spends his time on and off duty with his handler, who also aids in teaching commands and getting Sully adjusted to his new position. Krivoshey’s job extends to her home as Sully is also a new addition to her family.
Krivoshey said while Sully brings joy to her day, she’s also seen the same effects on Loyola students.
“Students light up when they see him,” she said. “People let out breaths of stress.”
Sully hasn’t only made an impact on students but on Loyola instructors as well. Director of Counseling Brian Krylowicz spends his days sharing an office building with Sully, where he — along with the Wellness Center staff — have reaped many benefits, like bringing students into the Wellness Center.
“Part of this is to destigmatize mental health,” Krylowicz said. “Sully has thus far — though a young dog still under training — has been wonderful in getting students to feel a little comfort and a little more comfort with us at the Wellness Center.”
Students across campus are getting involved in mental health with help from Sully. Fourth-year behavior and cognitive neuroscience major Mehr Brar has worked closely with student mental health as a student leader of the Wellness Wolfpack at Loyola, which promotes different kinds of wellness by holding events on campus and bringing attention to mental health.
Brar said Sully serves as an environment coordinator at Wellness Wolfpack events, where he provides comfort to students.
“Sully does a great job of making a lot of these spaces – a lot more welcoming,” Brar said. “Seeing him for a few seconds a day can really brighten someone’s day”
Sully also provides consolation on campus to students battling the struggles of moving away from home. Fourth-year public health major Paige Lillegard said she has worked closely with Sully as a student leader of the Wellness Wolfpack. Lillegard said she’s witnessed the serenity Sully brings students who are entering a new environment.
“We have had some students talk about how Sully reminds them of a pet they’ve had back home,” she said. “He could just be a really comforting presence”
While students and staff alike have enjoyed being with Sully thus far, Lillegard said Sully has enjoyed being at Loyola equally as much.
“He really does love his job,” Lillegard said.
Both Krivoshey and Krylowicz said Sully has lots of training ahead of him, but in the short time he has been at Loyola, his positive impact is extremely apparent. Krivoshey said she’s already seen his growth at Loyola.
“He’s just really comfortable with students,” Krivoshey said.
While Sully was unable to describe his favorite parts of being a Rambler, Krivoshey said his impact on the student body was noticeable.
“People see him and they gasp, they exclaim, and they get so excited,” she said. “It’s just a joy to see students react to him.”
