On Monday, some of the Northern Michigan University Wildpups stopped by Jamrich Hall so students could take a moment out of their busy days to enjoy the benefits of animal-assisted intervention, or AAI. The primary Wildpups on campus are assisted and cared for by faculty in the nursing, language, and admissions departments, and both handlers and dogs are trained in AAI for college campuses.
The program also includes dogs handled by community members, who perform AAI services in other capacities, but still make time to visit NMU and their friends on the Wildpup team. Several Wildpups-in-training, handled by other NMU faculty members throughout departments, are also being integrated onto campus and beginning to visit students at the monthly Wildpup events.
If faculty is interested in becoming part of a Wildpup team, not only to provide more support on campus but enrichment and companionship to their own lives, the NMU animal therapy program is always ready to train more handlers. Nursing associate professor Michelle Andriacchi, currently researching the impact animal therapy has at NMU, will be happy to help students learn what the next steps are to becoming a part of AAI in the community.
For anyone who isn’t ready for that commitment can volunteer at Wildpups events— nursing assistant professor Casey Hopper, co-author with Professor Andriacchi of several academic presentations and articles regarding the positive impact of the Wildpups, can help anyone who would like to be a part of the program’s volunteer effort. The next Wildpups event will be on September 25 at 5pm in the Jamrich common room, no registration needed.
