Therapy dogs bring comfort to campus during midterm season

Lori Neily and Crème Brûlée, therapy Labradors, pose with their trainers, Zahra and Steve Neily, during their visit to St. Thomas University. (Credit: Sabrina Zabatiero)

On Oct. 20, Lori Neily and Crème Brûlée, along with their tutors, Zahra and Steve Neily, came to spread some Labrador sparkles to the ordinary and stressful routines of students at St. Thomas University. 

The visit lasted one hour, during which students gathered to watch a small fraction of the many tricks these two dogs could perform. 

“Grandma [Lori] knows over 100 tricks. She probably knew most of them by the time she was three,” said Zahra.

Between Lori’s show, Crème Brûlée wagged her tail, rested on people’s knees and received belly rubs, soaking in affection.

“I got a lot of fur on my clothes, but it was worth it,”  said Meghan DeHamel, a criminology and human rights student at STU. 

For many of the students, that simple moment of contact—a paw on the arm or a lick on the face—was enough to soften the tension of midterm season.

Zahra highlighted their efforts to apply positive reinforcement training, explaining how dogs learn best through encouragement, patience and reward.

“Every time you interact with the dog. You're teaching them something so they're never done learning," she said.

The trainers also offered a glimpse into scent detection as Lori tracked drops of essential oil hidden around the room. 

Zahra said that dogs use these same techniques in fields like search and rescue or service assistance—but on a larger scale.

STU students share laughter, cuddles, and stress relief with therapy dog Crème Brûlée during the Paws for Calm event. (Credit: Sabrina Zabatiero)

Beyond skill and obedience, the Labradors demonstrated remarkable emotional intelligence, an innate ability to sense human feelings and offer comfort. 

“If you're feeling sad, these dogs can feel it,” said Steve.

When asked how therapy dogs can help students, Steve said, “Because they bring a smile, they bring back memories.” 

Shane Clark, mental health coordinator at STU,  shared their perspective on the presence of therapy dogs on campus. 

“Dogs can be a source of conversation and bonding,” they said. “And just having the dogs can kind of be a catalyst to talking about other things.”    

Clark noted that these moments often lead to deeper discussions about homesickness, missing pets, or even grief and the dogs can help relieve these emotions. 

“I find they sort of have a softening effect on people.” 

Clark also highlighted the difference between therapy dogs and emotional support animals. 

“Therapy dogs provide services to groups, in places like universities, hospitals, and schools, whereas emotional support dogs offer comfort specifically to their owners,” they said. “But both have therapeutic impact. They bring connection, affection and unconditional love.”

For international students, that sense of connection can be meaningful. Being far from home, in a new country, can intensify feelings of loneliness. 

Aiko Kiribuchi, an exchange student from Japan, shared how much the visit meant to her. 

“I’m a cat person, but I love to pet animals and I miss my cat at home,” she said. “Before [the session] I was so tired and stressed, all the midterms and university stuff and after I felt so much better, relaxed.” 

Her favourite part wasn’t only the dogs themselves, but the community that was created around them. 

“Touching and communicating with the dogs was good, but also talking with people and sharing the experience was nice too,” she said.

The monthly event served as a gentle reminder of the power of kindness, patience and connection, bringing a calming touch to October.