Canines return to campus

Tuesday, May 31, through Thursday, June 9, Western Libraries will be joined by service animals ready to help students de-stress.

The program, titled “Canines on Campus,” and was formerly known as “Pet Partners.”

As students study in the library and finish their last projects and papers of the quarter, they can stop by the gallery space at the end of the Skybridge on the Wilson side of the library and meet new furry friends.

The animals will be available on and off between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.; a full schedule of the first week is listed below. Smoky the cat will be on campus on June 4.

On Tuesday, Pongo and his owner Chris are the first to help bring a smile to students’ exhausted faces.

Pongo is a Labrador retriever and is 11 years old. Chris got Pongo when he was 10 months old.

Chris enjoys the program because petting and playing with dogs helps both the people relax and the dogs stay friendly and active. She says it’s a win for both.

Pongo is a therapy dog, although Chris and her husband originally wanted to train Pongo as a guide dog.

Pongo is very social and has great obedience training which makes him a prime candidate for the program.

Chris says the program requires Pongo to have an evaluation done every two years.

Pongo and Chris help many different people. They go to hospitals and schools, among other places.

Chris says the younger students like to read to Pongo.

Pongo must have "Green Eggs and Ham" memorized by now, Chris says.

At Western, Pongo lies on the ground in the middle of a group of students. The students pull out their phones and show each other their animals. They talk about the experiences they have and how taking a break from dead week to play with Pongo is a sense of relief.

Pongo and Chris will not be in the library for the rest of the day, but they will be back on Friday, June 3, to help more students take a break.

The Canines on Campus schedule for May 31 through June 4:

Tuesday May 31:

• 10-12 Pongo and Chris
• 12-2 Jigi and Bonnie
• 2-4 Ducky and Lynn and Arizona and June
• 6-8 Inca and Jen

Wednesday, June 1:

• 10-12 George and Kathleen
• 12-2 Dash and Ginny
• 2-4 Bridger and Cindy

Thursday, June 2:

• 12-2 Sheyna and Jan

Friday, June 3:

• 10-12 Domino and Jen
• 12-2 Pongo and Chris
• 2-4 Bridger and Cindy
• 6-8 Diggs and Matt

Saturday, June 4:

• 12-2 Smokey and Jenny
• 2-4 Sage and Jenny and Callie and Jim