Lakeshore Technical College now has something never before offered to its students and staff. It’s warm, furry, and if time-tested knowledge holds true, it has a cold nose and a warm heart. “It” is Elliot, a Black Labrador therapy dog owned by LTC psychology instructor, Dr. Julie Konik and her wife, Christine Smith.
Elliot is one of two dogs the couple adopted from a rescue organization five years ago. Putting Elliot to work as a therapy dog occurred to Konik in the spring of 2021, deep within the COVID-19 pandemic. Colleges elsewhere had already begun offering pet therapy, and Konik, equipped with examples of their policies along with study results showing the benefits of the dogs on campus, met with LTC President Dr. Paul Carlsen to pitch the idea. Carlsen liked it and got approval from the college’s leadership team, cementing Elliot’s official position on the LTC staff. Dr. Konik now brings Elliiot along for regular visits on Mondays from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m..
Dr. Carlsen said that “Having therapy dog visits on campus is a unique way to help students and staff get a break from the stressors they may be facing in their lives.”
In addition to improving the mental well-being of students and staff, Konik says Elliot has helped many of the regular visitors get to know one another, adding that “This effort is helping build relationships, something wonderful that is lasting beyond the Monday visits.”
Comments