Meet Basil, the therapy dog who arrived at URI in September 2022 and has been melting hearts and making smiles every day since then.
Basil is based in URI’s Psychological Consultation Center. Center director Lindsey Anderson, M.A. ’07, Ph.D. ’11, M.S. ’22, reached out to Boonefield Labradors in New Hampshire after hearing they had donated a therapy dog to the East Providence, R.I., Police Department. She knew a therapy dog would be invaluable on a college campus.
“The goal is really to get animals into spaces where they are most needed. And there is no greater need than college campuses, given what’s happening with mental health among college students,” Anderson says.
“So far everyone who has interacted with her is smitten.”
The dog shown in the video and image is obviously a pup. I don’t know of a single therapy pet organization that evaluates and registers dogs under one year of age. Yes, the pup is very cute, and I’m sure brings much joy, relief, comfort and destress to your students, but it’s still got a ways to go. However, it certainly does look like you’re on the right track!
Good luck as you move forward with Basil’s training and future therapy dog registration!