Wildpups: Animal Assisted Intervention

WILDPUPS

The Wildpups are a part of NMU’s new Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) program. If you miss your pup back at home or need a way to ease the anxieties that come with being a college student, the Wildpups are here to help. All are welcome to enjoy time with these registered therapy dogs.

The Wildpups are NMU’s embedded animal-assisted intervention (AAI) program. AAI’s involves a human (handler)-animal team that has specialized training in their field. AAIs are intended to aid in the improvement of others’ physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning (Winkle, 2018).

AAI is a broad umbrella consisting of three sub-types of interventions that animals can provide: animal-assisted activity (AAA), animal-assisted education (AAE), and animal-assisted therapy (AAT). AAAs involve volunteers who provide recreational opportunities to enhance the quality of life of others (Pet Partners, 2017). These activities are more informal and include general therapy visits. AAE is when a handler-animal team is qualified to provide educational services on AAI (Winkle, 2018; Pet Partners, 2017). AAT is offered in a formal therapeutic capacity when a handler-animal team is qualified to provide a professional service such as physical, cognitive, or psychosocial therapies. These programs are efficient, flexible, and remove the stigma of “therapy” (Fine, 2019).

The goal of The Wildpups program is to provide recreation, education, motivation, and support to enrich campus.

References:

Fine, A. (2019). Handbook on Animal Assisted Therapy: Foundations and Guidelines for Animal Assisted- Interventions. Elsevier Academic Press.
Pet Partners. (2017). Terminology.
Winkle, M. & Linder, D. (2018). Animal-Assisted Interventions: Taxonomy and Best Practices.
Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin, 6, 24-36.

Location: Jamrich - 1st floor, common area next to Starbucks

Monday, September 9, 2024, 11:30 am-1 pm
Thursday, September 26, 2024 5p m- 6:30 pm
Monday, October 7, 2024, 11:30 am-1 pm
Thursday, October 24, 2024, 5 pm-6:30 pm
Monday, November 4, 2024, 11:30 am-1 pm
Thursday, November 21, 2024 5 pm-6:30 pm
Monday, December 9, 2024 11:30 am-1 pm

NMU Faculty Member Wildpups

Fonzie

Handler's Name:

Michelle Andriacchi, Nursing Professor & Dominic Andriacchi, Political Science Professor

Breed: Siberian Husky
Birthday: November 30, 2016
Favorite things: Napping, treats, cheese, belly rubs, and cuddling
Fun Fact: Fonzie was rescued and rehabilitated in Oklahoma by the Husky Halfway House

Boris

Handler's Name:

Casey Hopper, Nursing Professor

Breed: English Mastiff
Birthday: February 14, 2019
Favorite things: Napping, treats, swimming, and chasing the hose
Fun Facts: He weighs 200 pounds and drools a lot

Ramsey

Handler's Name:

Anne Stein, Nursing Professor

Breed: Australian Shepherd
Birthday: September 27, 2017
Favorite things: hiking, kayaking, & treats
Fun Fact: Ramsey’s owner traveled to Minnesota in a snowstorm during Super Bowl weekend to pick him up

Molly

Handler's Name:

Rachel Nye, Nursing Professor

Breed: Goldendoodle
Birthday: December 28, 2018
Favorite things: playing fetch with her spikey ball, peanut butter, spending time with her humans, naps with her head on a pillow, and going for car rides and letting the wind blow through her fur

Sadie

Handler's Name:

Katie Taylor, Nursing Professor

Breed: Golden Retriever
Birthday: October 2, 2017
Favorite things: naps, snuggles, watermelon, swimming, and side-by-side rides
Fun Fact: She was rehomed to Katie

Madison

Handler's Name:

Tanya Savage, Admissions

Breed: Labrador Retriever
Birthday: May 9, 2012
Favorite things: opening Christmas presents, getting cards in the mail, eating snacks
Fun Fact: She has been doing therapy work for 8 years and she loves to smile.

Luna

Handler's Name:

Katie Menard, Nursing Professor

Breed: Golden Retriever
Birthday: May 3, 2018
Favorite things: People, toys, hiking in the woods, and swimming

Ben

Handler's Name:

Lori Nelson, Speech, Language, Hearing Science Professor

Breed: Miniature Poodle
Birthday: July 29, 2018
Favorite things: Chasing squirrels, watching the neighbors, his sister who is a cat, and playing hide-and-seek with his mom

Willow

Handler's Name:

Tara Schaffer, Student Success Specialist

Breed: Mini Goldendoodle
Birthday: February 26, 2021
Favorite things: visiting with friends, hikes, playing with sticks and tennis balls, and swimming in Lake Superior

Community Member Wildpups from Superior Land Pet Partners:

Dixie

Handler's Name:

Naomi Noordyk-Piirala

Breed: Collie
Birthday: January 28, 2016
Favorite things: walks in the woods, naps, and visit all her new human friends

Sal

Handler's Name:

Anna Dauffenbach

Breed: Golden Retriever
Birthday: September 1, 2019
Favorite things: playing with tennis balls, belly rubs, peanut butter, cheese, and snow

Hugo

Handler's Name:

Nik Hurley

Breed: Leonberger
Birthday: August 2, 2019
Favorite things: playing with dog friends, snow, water, visiting people, cuddles, nibbling, snow biking, and treats

Sissy

Handler's Name:

Gwen Erickson

Breed: Golden Retriever
Birthday: June 29, 2012
Favorite things: going for rides to camp and hiking on cross country ski trails in the winter

Rosie

Handler's Name:

Jo Foley

Breed: Mini Australian Shepherd
Birthday: November, 3, 2014
Favorite things: supervising the neighborhood and being near and on humans

Clara

Handler's Name:

Steve Reese

Breed: Yorkie mix with long hair Chihuahua
Birthday: April 10, 2013
Favorite things: people and motorcycles

Mo

Handler's Name:

Jo Garrish

Breed: English Cocker
Birthday: December 6, 2013
Favorite things: people, toys, food, and being a championship show dog

Franklin

Handler's Name:

Mary Lee Kirkum

Breed: English Springer Spaniel
Birthday: June 14, 2013
Favorite things: Carrots and stuffed toys

Madison

Handler's Name:

Keena Jones

Breed: Golden Retriever
Birthday: November 24, 2019
Favorite things: walks, going to school, and playing with my ball

Stanley

Handler's Name:

Wendy Beach

Breed: German Wirehaired Pointer/Border Collie Mix
Favorite things: herding sheep, traveling, carrying firewood, and snuggling

Daisy

Handler's Name:

Kelly December

Breed: Bernese Mountain Dog
Birthday: August 6, 2015
Favorite things: Sleeping, going for rides, and Culver’s ice cream

Otto

Handler's Name:

Naomi Noordyk-Piirala

Breed: Border collie
Birthday: December 24, 2020
Favorite things: running, cuddles, and blueberries

Dwight

Handler's Name:

Katie Miedona

Breed: Golden-border-doodle
Birthday: July 1, 2019
Favorite things: running, playing with friends, belly rubs

Future Wildpups

Seneca

Handler's Name:

Michelle Andriacchi, NMU Nursing Professor & Dominic Andriacchi, NMU Political Science Professor

Breed: German Shepherd
Birthday: October 7, 2019
Favorite things: Spikey balls, fetch, treats, following mom and dad, hiking, playing in the water, and playing “find it”

Bravo Foxtrot

Handler's Name:

Kendall Fladung, NMU Nursing Technology Center Supervisor

Breed: Golden Retriever
Birthday: May 14, 2021
Favorite things: Run, swim, paddle board, and eat

Rusty

Handler's Name:

Carol Johnson, NMU Dean of the College of Business

Breed: Shih Tuz
Birthday: March 4, 2015
Favorite things: Walks, playing with toys, cuddling, and swimming in Lake Superior

Myla

Handler's Name:

Sara Potter, NMU Communication and Media Studies Professor

Breed: Labrador and English Springer
Birthday: December 18, 2018
Favorite things: hikes and bike rides with her family, playing fetch, swimming, and snuggling in her chair