Overview

The Carleton Therapy Dog program supports student mental health and wellness on campus by encouraging students to “pawse” and connect with trained handlers and their dogs. This low-barrier and accessible program is a powerful complement to other mental health and wellness supports on campus. The program is run by volunteer staff and faculty handlers and relies on donations for training and evaluation. Donations help handlers go through specialized training to not just accompany their dog, but also to support students’ mental health and wellness.

The Background

This low-barrier and accessible program is a powerful complement to other mental health and wellness supports on campus. Thousands of students visit the therapy dogs each term, consistently reporting reduced stress levels and satisfaction with the program – often describing sessions as “the highlight” of their day.

The program is run by volunteer staff and faculty at Carleton and relies on donations for training and evaluation. Each session packs powerful impact: student surveys indicate, 100% of respondents said they felt more positive after visiting a therapy dog and 98% said they felt less stressed. By helping students manage stress, connect with peers and staff, and access resources, the program contributes to a more compassionate and resilient campus community.

The Rollout

Therapy dog programs are low-cost compared to clinical mental health services yet are highly effective in creating moments of connection and comfort.

Funding received from donors will be used to support mental health training for handlers, certification evaluations for new therapy dogs along with gear for dogs and resource kits and session supplies for handlers.

Donations will be used to train additional therapy dogs and handlers for January 2027. This will allow our program to expand to more campus locations and to offer sensory-friendly sessions for students who prefer quieter, more accessible spaces.

The cost to train and certify one team is as follows:

• Training: Our dogs go through six weeks of training to ensure they are prepared for the their role as a CU Therapy Dog. Training costs $175 per dog.
• Evaluation: Once training is complete, our dogs participate in a final evaluation to test their new skills. Dogs must pass this evaluation to certify for the program. Evaluations cost $500 per dog.
• Therapy Dog gear: Our certified Therapy Dogs require specific gear to support them on campus, such as branded vests, resource-sharing business cards, animal identity cards, and more. Gear costs $125 per dog.
• Handler Kits: Handler kits provide wellness resources and trainings for our handlers, ensuring our volunteers are equipped to provide wellness support and offer effective referrals to students on campus. Kits cost $50 per handler.

The Impact

The impact extends beyond the immediate benefits of stress reduction and emotional support. Academically, the program helps students manage the pressures associated with university life, supporting their ability to engage, persist, and succeed in their studies. On a personal level, it encourages help-seeking behaviours, promotes wellbeing, and provides moments of comfort during challenging times. Within the broader community, the program strengthens relationships across campus by bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds in a shared, welcoming space.

Over time, the Therapy Dog Program contributes to a culture of care and connection at Carleton, normalizing conversations about mental health and wellbeing while helping to build a more supportive and compassionate campus community for everyone.