Programming Spotlights: Dog Therapy Days at USF Health Libraries

By: Janet Chan

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Dear Readers,

This is our first in a new series: Programming Spotlights,  which features library programs and classes in health science libraries across Florida. This month we will showcase USF Health Libraries' popular "Dog Therapy Days".

Snitch and Kip, USF Health Libraries' mascots, visit the libraries several times a year with their furry friends to the delight of faculty, staff, and students. Jill Baker, Fiscal Specialist, and Stephanie Tomlinson, Research & Education Librarian, with USF Health Libraries are members of the Library Committee who plan and host events at the libraries. Jill is also the owner of Kip and Snitch, who are certified therapy dogs. 

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Kip and Snitch, USF Health Libraries Ambassadors Photo credit: Larry Cramer

​Q. How did you come up with the idea for dog therapy days and when did they start?

Jill: We started them in 2014. One of the student assistants at the library knew I was taking Snitch for certification and suggested bringing dogs to the library. The first event was very popular and a little chaotic. We had a great turnout with very little advertising. 
     The person who planned the initial event left the library and I took over the program because of my connection with Pet Partners. That first year we started with 4 dog therapy days that coincided with other library events and have now worked up to having around 6-8 per year. Some coincide with other events and some are stand alone dog therapy days. 

Q. What does a dog therapy day look like? 

Stephanie: From a staffing perspective, it is getting things organized and set up: moving furniture, setting out snacks, decorations.  Once the event starts, we focus on keeping the food stocked and making sure that there is a flow and that spacing is appropriate. We try to keep an eye out for any bottlenecking areas as the students come in groups. Mostly the day is waves of lots of excitement, lots of joy, and just happy chaos. 

Jill: We get lots of students asking if they can take pictures or if we will take a picture for them. 

Stephanie: From our perspective, it is very rewarding. You can see the students come in and start to relax and decompress when they are with the dogs. The students love to reminisce about their puppies that they have left at home when they moved for college. 

Q. What feedback have you received about this event?

Jill: We get thanked a lot. The students say “I really needed this” or “This is great. I was having a terrible day”. 

Stephanie: Faculty and staff (especially library staff) are just as excited as the students. 

Jill: I’ve gotten feedback from a few of the administrators that they are happy with the dog therapy events. When they can come, they do. 

Stephanie: I don’t think we’ve had any negative reactions. We did have one student who was afraid of dogs and she actually ended up petting one of our small dogs. 

Q. Are there any challenges or special considerations in doing this type of event?
 
Jill: We have now grown to have three different organizations bringing dogs in. The initial group is a group where I knew all the dogs and was familiar with them. Now that we have expanded, it is a little more work placing the dogs as I get to know them. 
       We do event requests at our facility prior to any event. We also have to ask the organizations to add our library to their insurance policy. This will vary by institution and is something to check at your library. 
      The dogs may get tired and need breaks. This is largely the responsibility of the handler to determine if their dog has had a lot of people and is getting tired. They are always welcome to take them away for a break or even take them home if they need too. Two hours is a good time for most handler teams. You can stagger them if you have a longer event. 

Q. What advice would you give someone who wants to start a dog therapy program at their library?
 
Stephanie: First, check with your director or administration for approval. Next would be to check the logistics because even within the same organization, the logistics can be vastly different. See what kind of space approvals you need before you reach out to any therapy organizations. 

Jill: I would also say that it is hard to organize and manage these types of events yourself if you are not familiar with them. It helps if you have someone who has a certified dog who can manage that aspect. There are certain rules surrounding dogs and therapy work and you want to make sure all the team are in compliance with the types of leashes they use and how the dogs greet people. If you don’t have someone with a certified dog, it is very helpful to do some research, so you are familiar with the rules of therapy work. 

Stephanie: I would also add to be aware of your space and how many dogs can fit in that space. Be prepared for people to not want to leave. Expect crushes of people and plan accordingly. If you only have a small library, you may only want two dogs or to stagger them. These events tend to be popular and people love them.

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