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Ann Hargis and her dog, Scruff.

OSU regents honor former First Cowgirl with Ann Hargis OSU Center for Pet Therapy

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Media Contact: Jordan Bishop | Editor, Department of Brand Management | 405-744-9782 | jordan.bishop@okstate.edu

Pete’s Pet Posse operates out of renamed pet therapy center

The OSU/A&M Board of Regents honored the legacy of a former Oklahoma State University first lady at their last meeting by renaming the Ann Hargis OSU Center for Pet Therapy after the First Cowgirl. 

Ann Hargis co-founded the Pete’s Pet Posse pet therapy program at OSU in 2013, growing the program from eight original dog/owner-handler teams to the largest and most comprehensive university-based pet therapy program in the nation. More than 100 teams have been trained over the past nine years, working on five OSU campuses and touching more than 300,000 lives.

In 2021, a surprise gift from the Women for OSU Council in Hargis’ name created an endowment for the pet therapy program to secure the long-term future of the now self-funded pet therapy center. Hargis and her therapy dog, Scruff, continue to regularly serve the students, faculty, staff and guests of OSU in Stillwater and at OSU-Oklahoma City.

The Ann Hargis OSU Center for Pet Therapy is based out of the OSU Student Union in Stillwater and serves as the hub for the Pete's Pet Posse administration, Pete’s Pet Posse Advisory board, the student auxiliary called Ruff Riders and the OSU pet therapy research team. Pet therapy is part of OSU’s commitment to wellness as America’s Healthiest Campus.

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