Three new canine graduates of 澳门老奇人论坛鈥檚 Tartan Tails were recognized alongside
their handlers at the latest 鈥淏arkalaureate鈥� celebration on Tuesday, April 23, for
completing the extensive training required for dogs that enter the group.
Tartan Tails is an animal therapy program, now in its second year, that supports the well-being of the university community by offering stress relief to students, faculty, and staff on the main campus and at the Roanoke location.
This year鈥檚 ceremony was held on the McConnell Library lawn.
The handlers and graduates included Radford Provost and Senior Vice President for
Academic Affairs Bethany Usher and her dog Harper, a 7-year-old mix of Labrador retriever,
Australian shepherd and Chow Chow; Director of Academic Advising Solitaire Kelley-Pepper
with Ruby, her 4-year-old French bulldog; and Lisa Aker, a literacy faculty member
in the School of Teacher Education, with Gina, her 5-year-old Labrador retriever.
At the event, Harper, Ruby and Gina all received graduation certificates and 鈥減upcakes,鈥�
a specially made cupcake that鈥檚 a safe snack for dogs.
Pet therapy has earned increasing recognition for alleviating stress, reducing anxiety,
enhancing moods and promoting overall healing, and each week, Tartan Tails hosts 鈥淵appy
Hours鈥� 鈥� open, interactive meetings with the dogs 鈥揻or those purposes.
鈥淢y vision is to grow the number of therapy dogs in this program,鈥� Radford First Lady
Kay Danilowicz told the event鈥檚 attendees. 鈥淣ot only will you be able to get to see
a therapy dog on their schedule, but we will have enough teams that you can request
one to come to your group event or your club meetings and student activities.鈥�
Susan Trageser, vice president for student affairs, said Tuesday that the group鈥檚
progress so far bodes well for the future: 鈥淲e've done more events this year, we've
gotten positive feedback from our students and from our community members, and we鈥檙e
excited to continue to grow the program.鈥�
Group members also praised Hi D Ho Dog Training of Blacksburg for its assistance with the program.
鈥淣one of this would've been possible without our fantastic trainers,鈥� Brian Lusk said in his remarks. 鈥淭hey have done a fantastic job of getting our teams up to speed.鈥�
For more information about Tartan Tails, click this link or visit: /tartan-tails/index.html