Department of Wellness hosts Furry Friend Friday
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Media Contact: Shannon Rigsby | Associate Director of Public Information | 405-744-9081 | shannon.rigsby@okstate.edu
The Department of Wellness and Pete’s Pet Posse have teamed up this semester to host Furry Friend Friday every week from 10-11 a.m. in the Colvin Recreation Center.
Furry Friend Friday is a great way for students to relax, take a moment to pet therapy dogs, collect P3 trading cards and get some fun prizes.
“I love Furry Friend Friday because it gives students a way to de-stress and talk about mental health, so I think it's nice to do this every week to just reach out to the students,” said RanDea Bryant, Department of Wellness staff member.
Not only do Oklahoma State University students benefit from this event, but the dogs and the handlers love to interact with the students as well. The program was founded in 2013 and has dozens of dogs who travel around campus to cheer students up.
Cassie, one of the dogs at the most recent event, is the third dog to be sponsored by Honors College Dean Keith Garbutt and his wife, Christine.
“Cassie is about 3 years old and she just absolutely adores everyone, every person is her friend, every dog she meets is her friend and so I knew she would really love meeting everyone,” Christine Garbutt said.
For many students, seeing Pets’s Pet Posse brightens their day. P3’s mission is to promote wellness and encourage mental health.
“I came over to pet the dogs today because I feel like it's just a great way to start my Friday, end my week and just to be in a stress-free environment,” OSU student Emily Chavers said.
Sunny, a 2-year-old labradoodle puppy, is entering her first year as a P3 therapy dog, and she brings a fun and energetic aspect to the team.
“I had a lot of students tell me they wanted to see more high-energy dogs in Pete’s Pet Posse, a lot of them are really sweet and calm, but some people need to feel like someone is excited to see them, so Sunny serves that purpose on campus,” said Jordan Benson, Sunny’s handler and a member of the Department of Wellness marketing team.
For more information on P3, go to its website. To see information on the next Furry Friend Friday, keep an eye on the OSU events calendar.
Story By: Taylor Mabray | taylor.mabray@okstate.edu