Wildpups Program Continues to Grow

The Lydia M. Olson Library was a little louder, a little happier and a little hairier one October afternoon, as the Northern Michigan University Wildpups and their handlers helped students de-stress and reconnect through this Animal Assisted Intervention program.

With around 10 Wildpups and their handlers participating that day, each pup had its specific spot as groups of students sat on the floor, petting the pups and chatting with their handlers.

The Wildpups program started back in 2020, a way to help combat stress. When students returned to campus after the COVID-19 pandemic, Michelle Andriacchi, coordinator of the Wildpups and nursing professor, along with other members of the nursing department, began looking for ways to help students reduce their anxiety. With finals approaching, they decided to bring therapy dogs to campus to see if the pups' presence could help relieve some student stress.

They were blown away when around 400 students showed up hoping to spend time with the dogs.

Andriacchi said from the first study she and her colleagues did on the AAI program, it was immediately clear that the dogs were incredibly successful stress relievers. They had students take pre- and post-self-evaluating tests on their stress level, and had students' vitals checked before and after spending time with the dogs. Across the board, students' vitals and mood improved after the visits.

The Wildpups program has been growing ever since.

Today, there are around 35 available teams of pets and handlers from all across NMU and the wider Marquette community, and around 30 events per semester that the Wildpups take part in.

At this October event, Nursing Professor Melissa Romero and her dog, Sweedee, were in the corner with Lena Myhren, a 2nd-year graphic design student, and a frequent attendee of Wildpup events.

Romero said one of the things she loves most about working with the program is being able to see the immediate impact her pup has.

"You can just visibly see (students) relax," Romero said.

And it's true.

"(The dogs) just make me so happy," Myhren said. "Look at her! I mean, she looks and draws you in. You need to pet her."

Engineering design major Kallie Knick agreed. Now in her final year at NMU, Kick said she goes to almost all the events.

"They're so great," she said.

But the program doesn't only benefit the students; the handlers and their pups get to share the love too. Sweedee, for example, loves the attention.

"I could tell when I got her. She just loves people - it wouldn't be fair to leave her home," Romero said.

Another volunteer, Gwen Erikson, said, "Being a volunteer with the wild pups is a very rewarding experience."

An NMU alumna who's had two pups participate in the program, Erikson and her Wildpup Maude, a 7-year-old golden retriever, love the opportunity to connect with the students and hear about their dogs back home.

"My favorite part of being a pet handler is seeing my dog connect with strangers, and then their smiles and giggles," Erikson said. "We just share happiness."

The community engagement and the student-community relationships built as a result are a huge additional benefit of the program, according to Andriacchi.

"We couldn't survive without our community," Andriacchi said. "The connection it's bringing Northern, the community and students, I mean, how often does that happen? The community knows our students… The dogs bring that together."

Visit https://nmu.edu/wellbeing/wildpups for upcoming scheduled events and more information.