Pete’s Pet Posse serves students

Celebrating a decade of canine comfort making a difference on campus

Lumos never dresses for work before she leaves the house in the morning. Heather Orr, her human, secures her in the car for the drive to Oklahoma State University’s Stillwater campus. There, Orr dresses Lumos in her official collar with name tag, leash and OSU tartan vest and grabs her backpack containing, among other things, her blanket, water bottle, treats and trading cards – prized collectibles. In the office, Lumos greets everyone and waits to see if she has a special assignment.

Lumos is part of a unique wellness program initiated by former OSU first lady Ann Hargis during her husband Burns’ term as OSU president from 2008 to 2021. Indian Electric Cooperative member Kendria Cost, Ann Hargis’ assistant, says, “When the Hargises arrived at OSU, we had robust programs for physical activity and nutrition in place.” Ann Hargis and Cost began looking for ways to add a mental health component.

Their research showed a trend on other college campuses where therapy dogs were being used during stressful times such as finals week. A trial visit to OSU by a therapy dog and his handler drew enthusiastic responses from all they met. The women began planning Pete’s Pet Posse, named for OSU’s iconic mascot, Pistol Pete.

Handlers are OSU employees using their own dogs. The rigorous application process involves an interview for the human and a disposition evaluation and physical examination for the pup. Only 10 new dogs are accepted each year.

Once selected, the teams participate in eight to 10 weeks of classes, after which the dog must pass the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen obedience test. After a period of practicing pet therapy skills, the dog must also pass a national pet therapy certification test. Finally, in June, they celebrate with “Barkalaureate,” complete with a “Chewmensment” address.
While many of the activities are lighthearted, the heart and soul of the program is its impact on students, faculty and other employees who are experiencing difficulties — something Heather Orr knows firsthand.

One of her co-workers was killed in the tragic homecoming parade crash in 2015. The following Monday, Ann Hargis arrived at her office with members of the Posse and visits continued for the next month. Orr says, “I didn’t realize how much it helped until one day I heard the dog’s toenails clicking on the tiles and felt a great weight being lifted off of me.” She decided that one day she would pay this forward. Lumos gave her that opportunity.

She recounts, “We were walking across campus when we were approached by a student who began crying. She told us she was failing a class and was on the way to take her spring semester final.” Orr offered to walk her to the counseling office, but the girl said she had to take the test. Before she left, Orr asked the girl to promise Lumos she would contact a counselor.

The following semester, Orr encountered the student again. She says, “I asked her how she was doing and she told me we had saved her life.”

The student had planned to commit suicide after her exam. “But,” she said, “I promised Lumos and I felt it was something I had to keep.”

Not every encounter is as dramatic, but even one incident like this proves the purpose of Pete’s Pet Posse. Cost, now the director of the Ann Hargis OSU Center for Pet Therapy, oversees the program, which began with eight dog/handler teams. Now expanded to nearly 80 teams on five campuses, the Posse is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and is now the largest collegiate pet therapy program in the country.

As for Lumos, she’s enjoying her fourth year with the Posse – particularly when she’s assigned to Muttday Monday, Tuesday Yappy Hour or Waggin’ Wednesday at the library.

Lumos | Photos by Lance Shaw