STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 9
Influence of Pete’ s Pet Posse grows at home and abroad
P3 Director Kendria Cost ' s dog Charlie loves office visits. Charlie was on the inaugural team in 2013. PHOTO by JENNIFER JALBERT
Pete ' s Pet Posse graduated Class 12 of its pet therapy program. To celebrate, Stillwater Oklahoma Magazine invited members of the new team to take part in a photo shoot for our back-to-school magazine issue. For some of these dogs it was their first time meeting Pistol Pete, and they weren ' t quite sure what to think of that big noggin.
It was all love between Pete and the dogs, as well as the pups themselves. There are strict rules involved with the therapy dogs while in group settings such as staying two feet apart and their handler always holding their leash. They all passed this assignment with flying colors as well.
Pete ' s Pet Posse is the nation’ s most comprehensive university based pet therapy program. Its mission is to enhance the well-being of the Cowboy family through professionally trained and certified pet therapy teams in collaboration with campus resources and generous volunteers and donors. Founded by First Cowgirl Ann Hargis in 2013, P3 has grown to include all of OSU campuses at over 90 therapy teams.
Pet therapy has widespread positive effects on people’ s well-being, and these benefits are especially prominent on college campuses. Much like the students at OSU, the P3 dogs must graduate their classes to continue on to their full-time jobs as therapy and support canines.
The 90-plus dogs have completed courses in Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Off Leash Canine and Canine Good Citizen. These dogs( and their owners / handlers) are highly skilled and trained to provide comfort and anxiety relief during stressful situations such as new student orientation, finals week, graduation prep, students feeling homesick and more. The P3 dogs work through summer break. In July, Pete ' s Pet Posse partnered with
The Education and Teaching Library and Communication Sciences and Disorders to host the Paws to Read event, Reading Readiness Camp, to boost reader confidence in our local youth.
Earlier this year I attended P3 ' s first symposium where various advocates shared the program ' s story on how it has grown since its inception in 2013 and P3 ' s impact on the OSU Cowboy family over the years. Multiple speakers, a panel discussion and research results gave insight into how much this program has flourished across all campuses. A multi-phase case study began in the spring of 2023 and continued into the fall of 2024. Multiple grad students, undergraduates, staff and faculty were surveyed. With an average of 96 %( I ' m giving you the stink eye, 4 percenters!) favorable views and experiences with P3, the pet therapy program hopes to keep building more collaborative community connections and provide deeper social connections between people and dogs through P3.
Pet ownership has been proven to lower blood pressure, reduce stress and anxiety, encourage physical activity and promote pawsitive mental well-being. Studies have also shown that allowing dogs in work spaces increases productivity. According to PetMD, in addition to improving the lives of their owners, pets also strengthen relationships among humans. The love, companionship and healing that therapy dogs( or ANY pet) provide can put a smile on your face and melt the
Pete ' s Pet Posse is the nation’ s most comprehensive university based pet therapy program.
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 9