'PAWSome' idea to have support dogs at University College Cork

In the University College Cork (UCC) staff common room, there’s a special place reserved for members of one hard-working team. Their days consist of lectures, meetings, fundraisers, yoga classes and trips to the library. On busy days, they always have time to take a walk and say hello to staff and students.

One member of the Promoting Academic Wellbeing Supports (PAWS) team is Romeo, a 15 month old poodle.

“They absolutely adore him in the common room,” says Romeo’s handler Kathryn Sheehan.

“He has his own little dog bowl and everything. Staff members come to spend a bit of time with them while we’re having our coffee.”

PAWS @ UCC is a three-year pilot project running from 2023-2026 and is Ireland’s first university dog programme. The project is a collaboration with the charity My Canine Companion (MCC), and is funded by the University Student Health Service.

The programme aims to enhance the overall wellbeing of UCC students and staff, with regular dog-based activities to foster a sense of belonging and promote social connections.

The project is led by Dr Irene Hartigan, a senior lecturer in the School of Nursing & Midwifery. In 2020, Irene started working in a voluntary capacity with My Canine Companion when she took in a breeding female dog from the charity, a labrador retriever named Jackie. When the Student Health Service wanted to bring dogs onto campus to support wellbeing, they asked for Irene’s help in setting up and running the programme.

Currently, there are four dogs on campus – Remi, Romeo, Ruby and Ruth. Irene says the dogs have all been “A-students” since settling into their roles.

“They love greeting people and the students have warmed to them as well,” she says.

As part of the programme, staff and students receive training from My Canine Companion on handling the dogs.

“The handler and dog undergo an intensive training programme where they attend weekly classes, progressing to twice monthly and monthly puppy classes under the supervision of an MCC instructor,” says Cliona O’ Rourke, co-founder of My Canine Companion.

The UCC handler and buddy handlers are taught how to handle the dogs in different environments and how to recognise how the dog is feeling in different situations and act accordingly.

The dogs are cared for by members of the UCC community who have been trained to be their primary handlers.

Kathryn Sheehan works in the Disability Support Service, and since the launch of the programme she has taken care of Romeo.

“He’s extremely placid, very calm, very loving, but also a character,” she says.

Kathryn loves animals, but couldn’t commit to owning a dog due to work.

“I’ve always wanted a dog. I’ve grown up with dogs my whole life, but in recent years I wouldn’t have been able to take on one because I wouldn’t have had anyone to mind them at home,” explains Kathryn. “The fact that I could bring a dog to work with me for wellbeing was a no-brainer.”

Since taking on Romeo, Kathryn has noticed a shift in her wellbeing.

“He’s improved my life greatly, because I have to get up and get out and get walking. So he’s made me get up and get exercise and fresh air every day,” she says.

There’s been a change at work too.

“Work can be quite stressful and busy, so it’s great having Romeo, because you need to take him for little breaks and walks,” Kathryn explains.

On every walk, you’re guaranteed to meet someone and to have what we call pawsitive moments.

Positivity ripples outwards whenever Romeo is around.

“I can see the difference in my own office that I work in,” says Kathryn. “People are happier because of Romeo.”

A love of animals is something universal that brings people together.

“Romeo has made all interactions in work really positive,” says Kathryn Sheehan.

“I’ve worked in UCC eight years now, and I’ve walked past staff members without even saying hello, and now I know people by first name, so he’s really connected me with a lot of people within the university.”

The dogs in the programme have varied and busy days.

“We might have up to five one-to-one appointments a day with students,” says Kathryn.

Outside of one-to-one appointments, there are regularly scheduled opportunities for the university community to meet Romeo and the other dogs.

“Every Wednesday, the dogs are in the library between 11am and 1pm. That’s called pawsome moments, for students and staff to come and meet the dogs,” she says.

These events provide opportunities for students to form connections over their shared love of dogs.

“I’ve seen students spark up conversations amongst one another when we have the dogs at one of the pawsome moments, especially students who might be on their own,” says Kathryn.

“I see the impact on all students, but especially students who are coming from abroad,” she says.

A lot of them speak about having dogs at home and they miss them.

Kathryn believes Romeo has a way of tuning into people’s moods and emotions.

“If there’s someone in the room that needs a little bit of extra attention or care, he’ll pick up on the person that needs him the most,” she says.

Romeo has been trained to spend an afternoon in the Student Health Department with the Mental Health Team.

“He spends Thursday afternoons with the receptionist there, meeting students coming in to see the medical team there or the psychiatrist,” says Kathryn. “So he’s a busy boy.”

Irene Hartigan acknowledges the contribution of Kathryn and the other volunteer dog handlers, Patrick Cotter and Nóirín Deady, as well as Sarah Nolan who looks after communications. The team’s commitment ensures the welfare of the dogs and builds relationships across campus.

“Without the dedicated work and time of each of the UCC staff handlers, the programme would not be possible,” says Irene.

Irene’s clinical background is in older adults and stroke, and she is involved with a project with stroke patients in Cork University Hospital. She has seen first-hand the impact dogs have on the rehabilitation process.

“A patient coming into the gym after a stroke will not be looking forward to the session,” she explains.

“The dog will be there to greet them, and they’ll just spend maybe two minutes rubbing the dog, petting the dog, talking to the dog, and it just puts them in the right place.”

On campus, the dogs have helped with approaching sensitive but necessary topics with students. Last May, UCC launched the Safe and Sound report on sexual health, which covered the issue of consent. The dogs attended the launch event, and My Canine Companion brought along puppies.

“For the puppies, we say to students, you just can’t walk over and pick them up. You’ve got to look for their consent,” says Irene. 

There’s a lot of synergies with gaining consent in other intimate situations for students and they’re more confident in knowing what’s acceptable and what’s not acceptable.

Irene says the dogs have the ability to lighten the mood when serious topics are on the table.

“You’re in a classroom and people are just not settled, or it’s an intense topic, the dog lightens the load a little bit.”

The programme coordinators are now focused on building on the initial success of the project.

“Following a hugely successful first year, we are continuing to develop the programme with our partners in UCC,” says Cliona O’Rourke.

“We will be hoping to reach many more students this year, helping them to navigate their way through college life.”